Campus Safety / en 茄子直播 to improve how campus safety services respond to mental health crises on its three campuses /news/u-t-improve-how-campus-safety-services-respond-mental-health-crises-its-three-campuses <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播 to improve how campus safety services respond to mental health crises on its three campuses</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86432_u-of-t-engineering_50514437827_o-lpr_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=0wRmx9Rp 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/UofT86432_u-of-t-engineering_50514437827_o-lpr_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ko2jCoU_ 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/UofT86432_u-of-t-engineering_50514437827_o-lpr_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=LmixQ31z 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/UofT86432_u-of-t-engineering_50514437827_o-lpr_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=0wRmx9Rp" alt="University of Toronto sign"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-10-13T17:13:48-04:00" title="Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 17:13" class="datetime">Thu, 10/13/2022 - 17:13</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by Daria Perevezentsev)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/rahul-kalvapalle" hreflang="en">Rahul Kalvapalle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-safety" hreflang="en">Campus Safety</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/kelly-hannah-moffat" hreflang="en">Kelly Hannah-Moffat</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p style="margin-bottom:11px">The University of Toronto is working to improve how campus safety staff respond to students experiencing mental health crises 鈥 with improvements planned in key areas ranging from training and after-hours crisis response to ensuring a consistent application of policies and procedures across the three campuses.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In response to <a href="https://people.utoronto.ca/culture/accountability/rcs-rsmhc/">the final report</a> of the Review Committee on the Role of Campus Safety (Special Constable Services) in Responding to Students in Mental Health Crises, the university described how it has been working with <a href="https://www.campussafety.utoronto.ca/">Campus Safety</a> 鈥 as well as the vice-provost, students and student mental health services 鈥 to make changes to policies and practices.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The changes emphasize the need for understanding and compassion, as well as a recognition of the 茄子直播 community鈥檚 diversity of identities and lived experiences. Both are overarching themes of the review committee鈥檚 recommendations.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淪tudents are at the heart of everything we do at the University of Toronto and supporting them entails both celebrating their successes and helping them during difficult times 鈥 which, in some cases, can involve struggles with mental health,鈥 said <b>Kelly Hannah-Moffat</b>, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-president, people strategy, equity and culture. 鈥淚n rare cases, a mental health crisis can result in an emergency that鈥檚 attended by campus safety staff 鈥 which is why, in recent years, 茄子直播 has accelerated efforts to equip staff with the knowledge, training and cultural competencies required to manage such situations with compassion, sensitivity and an understanding of the diverse lived experiences that comprise our student body.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淗owever, we also acknowledge that more improvements to policies and practices are needed.鈥</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The review of campus safety services was launched in spring 2021. It builds on <a href="/news/we-heard-call-change-task-force-student-mental-health-issues-report-and-recommendations">the final report of the Presidential and Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health</a>, which called for the expansion of supports and resources pertinent to direct crisis response 鈥 including mental health training for campus safety services and enhanced co-ordination with other first responders and mental health service providers.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淭his report affirms 茄子直播鈥檚 belief that the most effective responses to students in mental health crisis are those that are rooted in deep expertise, inter-cultural awareness and humanity,鈥 said <b>Sandy Welsh</b>, 茄子直播鈥檚 vice-provost, students. She noted that student consultations will be ongoing and feedback integrated into planning around key components of crisis response, such as peer supports.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Welsh added that the report comes amid a sweeping <a href="/news/we-re-here-you-how-u-t-supporting-students-mental-health-now-and-future">transformation of the way mental health services are delivered across the three campuses</a>, including the recent elimination of wait times for mental health appointments and the ongoing hiring of mental health navigators to bridge support services between 茄子直播 and partner hospitals like CAMH.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淎s our approach to mental health service delivery evolves, so too must our strategies around responding to incidents of crisis,鈥 Welsh said. 鈥淚 am heartened to see that the path forward proposed by the review committee aligns with the direction of collaborative efforts underway between the offices of student life and student affairs, mental health services and campus safety divisions across the tri-campus.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">In its final report, the review committee 鈥 chaired by Professor <b>Joseph Desloges</b> of the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science 鈥 made 19 recommendations that address student mental health and wellness as it relates to campus safety services under the overarching theme of promoting an empathy-driven approach and recognizing and respecting the diversity of the 茄子直播 community.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Hannah-Moffat said she welcomed the review committee鈥檚 鈥渢houghtful and informed recommendations,鈥 which align with the work underway to improve how campus safety services support the 茄子直播 community and respond to students in crisis. She also noted that the recommendations recognize the significant challenges faced by campus first responders, and the importance of devoting resources to safeguarding their own well-being.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">As many of the recommendations are interconnected and will require engaging in consultations across different portfolios and services, Hannah-Moffat said the administrative response is being released in phases. Subsequent phases will address timelines for implementation, and the Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture and Office of the Vice-Provost, Students will share progress updates on the <a href="https://people.utoronto.ca/culture/accountability/"><span style="text-decoration-line:none">People Strategy, Equity &amp; Culture website</span></a>.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淚 would like to extend my gratitude to Professor Desloges and all the members of the review committee for their diligence in exploring this issue and helping us to chart a way forward,鈥 Hannah-Moffat said.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The review committee comprised four working groups focused on the following mandates:</p> <p style="text-indent:-18pt; margin-left:48px">路&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Access to health and wellness supports on campus and in the broader community</p> <p style="text-indent:-18pt; margin-left:48px">路&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The role of special constables in managing situations where students may represent a risk to themselves or others, and the implications of these interactions on individuals in crisis</p> <p style="text-indent:-18pt; margin-left:48px">路&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Application of the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI) and accessibility in responses to mental health crises</p> <p style="text-indent:-18pt; margin-bottom:11px; margin-left:48px">路&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Resources, training and practices available to support the mental health wellness of special constables themselves</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">A key concern that informed the report's recommendations is the need for greater consistency across the three campuses. In response, 茄子直播 has created a new tri-campus leadership table. Campus safety leaders from each of the three campuses 鈥 <b>Michael Munroe</b> from the St. George campus, <b>Tanya Poppleton</b> from 茄子直播 Scarborough and <b>Deb Fritz</b> from 茄子直播 Mississauga 鈥 will work together and, where appropriate, collaborate with tri-campus Health and Wellness centres to develop consistent approaches to campus safety operations, relevant policies and institutional responses to students experiencing mental health crises. Any solutions would recognize and respect the local contexts of each campus.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">茄子直播 is also committing to steps to foster 鈥渄eeper integration of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism competencies and mental health knowledges throughout education programs鈥 for campus safety staff, as recommended in the report.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">While special constables and other campus safety personnel are already required to receive training in EDI, Indigenous rights and culture, mental health and de-escalation and conflict resolution strategies, 茄子直播 is backing the report鈥檚 calls for greater progress. Accordingly, managers responsible for education planning for campus safety services will expand training opportunities and implement evaluation processes to assess the training their teams receive in EDI- and mental health-related competencies.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">Managers will also be tasked with ensuring that training procedures and policies integrate an awareness of how mental health intersects with different forms of racism and discrimination.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">To improve after-hours crisis response, 茄子直播 is taking steps to strengthen consultation and collaboration among relevant partners. This includes integration of peer-support models into the university's crisis response protocols. Campus safety staff and tri-campus mental health providers will also work to review protocols around the transportation of students experiencing mental health crises to hospital, including addressing concerns about the use of restraints.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The improvement of strategies to recruit and retain campus safety services staff is another area highlighted by the report. To that end, leaders from campus safety services will work with the Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture to forge a plan to attract staff with proven mental health expertise and lived experiences that reflect the diversity of the 茄子直播 community. These plans include measures to boost staff numbers to mitigate burnout, as well as expanding wellness supports available to campus safety staff directly affected by crisis situations.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">The report recommended that action be taken to close communication gaps between campus safety services and the broader 茄子直播 community. To address this recommendation, the Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture and 茄子直播 Communications will play a major role in proactively enhancing cordial community relationships.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淭he review committee鈥檚 work represents a key moment in the evolution of campus safety services,鈥 Hannah-Moffat said. 鈥淚t has laid the groundwork for a redoubling of 茄子直播鈥檚 efforts to strengthen the sharing of skills and resources across offices and units, and among students, faculty and staff.</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">鈥淚t also underscores the critical importance of grounding all our efforts in a profound understanding of 鈥 as well as compassion and respect for 鈥 those who experience the trauma of a mental health crisis.鈥</p> <p style="margin-bottom:11px">&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 13 Oct 2022 21:13:48 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 177416 at 'It's OK to ask questions': Four tips for new and returning 茄子直播 students /news/it-s-ok-ask-questions-four-tips-new-and-returning-u-t-students <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'It's OK to ask questions': Four tips for new and returning 茄子直播 students</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=DmvRNLUE 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xH-5dOWt 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=LDeRm98K 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=DmvRNLUE" alt="AskMe volunteers help students outside the King's College Road gate at the St. George campus of 茄子直播"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2022-09-07T10:26:14-04:00" title="Wednesday, September 7, 2022 - 10:26" class="datetime">Wed, 09/07/2022 - 10:26</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">ASKme Anything booths and volunteers, which can be found across 茄子直播's three campuses, aim to create a friendly and welcoming community for new and returning students (photo by David Lee)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-safety" hreflang="en">Campus Safety</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utogether" hreflang="en">UTogether</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-experience" hreflang="en">Student Experience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/first-nations-house" hreflang="en">First Nations House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/indigenous" hreflang="en">Indigenous</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sports" hreflang="en">Sports</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/student-life" hreflang="en">Student Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/toronto-pan-am-sports-centre" hreflang="en">Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>University of Toronto students are kicking off the fall term this week with in-person classes and orientation events across the three campuses.</p> <p>It鈥檚 the biggest-ever back-to-school season as incoming students 鈥 and some upper-year students who have attended university remotely until now 鈥 arrive on campus for the first time.</p> <p><i>茄子直播 News</i> has rounded up a back-to-school starter kit of four key things new or returning students should know to help start the 2022-2023 academic year off on the right foot.</p> <hr> <h3>Need help navigating campus? Just ask!</h3> <p>How and where do I get my TCard? What are some gym and recreational activities at 茄子直播? Where can I meet new people around campus? For new students, navigating campus can initially feel a little daunting. Fortunately, 茄子直播鈥檚 ASKme Anything booths and ambassadors are here to help.</p> <p>The program is aimed at creating a friendly and welcoming community for students across all three campuses.</p> <p>On the St. George campus, t<a>here are four booths set up near</a>&nbsp;the Koffler Student Services Centre, the main campus gates on College Street, Sidney Smith Hall and Robarts Library until Sept. 23. There will also be hundreds of individuals on campus wearing an orange ASKme Anything button, who are ready and willing to assist students.</p> <p>鈥淎SKme has become somewhat of an icon of the back-to-school season,鈥 says<b> </b><b>Ashley Yim</b>, an ASKme program assistant and student ambassador. 鈥淥ur booths and student ambassadors not only make everyone feel welcomed on campus, but we also make everyone look forward to the new school year.</p> <p>鈥淭he welcoming atmosphere is especially important for new students who are on campus, or even in Toronto, for the first time.鈥</p> <p>At 茄子直播 Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be located by the bus loop outside Highland Hall, at the front of the Student Centre and at the front of the Instructional Centre. There will also be ASKme ambassadors with orange buttons around campus to help students out. Some staff and faculty will participate by displaying ASKme signs in their offices.</p> <p>On the 茄子直播 Mississauga campus, there will be individuals wearing ASKme Anything buttons from Sept. 3 to Sept. 23 at orientation and various events. Students are also encouraged to visit the <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/utm-engage/centre-student-engagement">Centre for Student Engagement</a> front desk office to have their questions answered.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" height width> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">ASKme ambassadors are at campus <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UofTBackToSchool?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UofTBackToSchool</a> events this month.<br> Look for staff, librarians, faculty and senior students wearing ASKme buttons if you have questions about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UTM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UTM</a>. We're here to help! <a href="https://t.co/44WhQNOeVu">pic.twitter.com/44WhQNOeVu</a></p> 鈥 茄子直播 Mississauga (@UTM) <a href="https://twitter.com/UTM/status/1567543475893112832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async charset="utf-8" height src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" width></script></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>AskMe booth outside of the 茄子直播 Bookstore, St. George campus (photo by David Lee)</em></p> <p>Yim, a 茄子直播 alumna of the Faculty of Arts &amp; Science, says the ASKMe Anything booths and ambassadors create an inviting space for students while also sending the message that 鈥渋t鈥檚 OK to ask questions and reach out. In fact, we encourage you to do so.鈥</p> <p>鈥淭his way, new students will more likely make connections in the future, whether it鈥檚 with their peers, instructors, staff or community members.鈥</p> <p>Students who need&nbsp;help navigating the three campuses can also access&nbsp;茄子直播鈥檚&nbsp;<a href="/utogether/#maps">new campus map feature</a>.</p> <h3>Remember to prioritize health and wellness&nbsp;</h3> <p>茄子直播 is home to a range of services and opportunities that support students鈥 physical and mental health.</p> <p>On the St. George campus, students have a variety of gym options including the <a href="https://harthouse.ca/fitness">Hart House Fitness Centre</a>, <a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/facility/athletic-centre">Athletic Centre</a> and the <a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/facility/goldring-centre-high-performance-sport">Goldring Centre for High Performance</a>. Across the facilities, students can find swimming pools, strength and conditioning centres, indoor tracks, dance studios, cardio machines, tennis and squash courts and so much more. At 茄子直播 Mississauga, <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/athletics/">The Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre</a> offers programs such as yoga to relieve stress, group fitness, women鈥檚 only classes, personal training session and more. <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/athletics/recreation">Athletics and Recreation</a> at 茄子直播 Scarborough is similarly a hub of activity on campus, which is home to the <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/athletics/toronto-pan-am-sports-centre">Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre</a>.</p> <p>All three campuses offer an intramural sports program 鈥 a great opportunity to create or join a team, meet new people and stay physically active.</p> <p>Self-care and wellness are also a key part of maintaining a healthy student lifestyle 鈥 and, across the university, resources include peer support from trained students, yoga clubs, and workshops on managing stress or studying smarter. Programming includes a <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/program/community-support-group/">Community Support Group</a>, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/program/mindful-moments/">Mindful Moments</a> classes, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/program/better-coping-skills/">Better Coping Skills</a> sessions and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/utmhccwellness/">live cooking classes</a>. Check out the <a href="https://mentalhealth.utoronto.ca/find-support-and-services/">Student Mental Health Resource</a> for a tri-campus list of programs and workshops.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed" width="1px"> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiKvvW3OnU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" height style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" width="1px"> <div style="padding:16px;"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiKvvW3OnU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></a></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiKvvW3OnU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div> </div> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiKvvW3OnU4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Hart House Fitness Centre UofT (@harthousefitnesscentre)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <script async height src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js" width="1px"></script></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For students seeking mental health support, 茄子直播 has <a href="https://mentalhealth.utoronto.ca/">many virtual and in-person services and programs</a>. <a href="https://prod.virtualagent.utoronto.ca/">Navi, short for navigator, is a chat-based virtual assistant</a> that can be used to search all mental health services and resources offered by all campuses. The tool is accessible 24/7 and communication is anonymous.</p> <p>茄子直播 My Student Support Program (MySSP) offers 24-hour support for any school, health or general life concern. Students can access it by downloading an app or by calling 1-844-451-9700 (for outside of North America, call 001-416-380-6578). The service is available in 146 languages.</p> <h3>Seek out places to find your community</h3> <p>Making connections at university goes well beyond the classroom. <a href="/news/esports-k-pop-u-t-hosts-hundreds-community-oriented-clubs-and-student-groups?utm_source=UofTHome&amp;utm_medium=WebsiteBanner&amp;utm_content=ESportsKPopClubs">From hundreds of clubs and student groups</a> to volunteer opportunities, events and more, all three 茄子直播 campuses are home to extensive programming to help find your community.</p> <p>At St. George, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/">Student Life</a> is a great first stop for <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/mentorship-peer-programs/">mentorship and peer programs</a> that offer support from upper year students, coaching skills and opportunities to network and make connections. Programs include Latin American Student Engagement, African Black Caribbean Student Engagement, Southeast Asian Student Engagement, First Generation Student Engagement and more.</p> <p><img alt src="/sites/default/files/U-of-T-Cheer-05-crop.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 500px;"></p> <p><em>茄子直播 is home to hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups, including UTSC Cheer (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)</em></p> <p>On Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., undergraduate students are invited to attend a virtual workshop called <a href="https://sites.studentlife.utoronto.ca/slCalendar/sleventcalendar.aspx">Talking to New People</a>. The session is meant to help students who may be feeling anxious or fearful about making new connections at university. And, on Sept. 12 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., a learning strategist will lead a virtual workshop called <a href="https://sites.studentlife.utoronto.ca/slCalendar/sleventcalendar.aspx">Planning for the Semester</a>, which will focus on helping students create strategies to manage the semester workload.</p> <p>For more workshops and events, check out the <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/events/">Student Life calendar</a>.</p> <p>Another key destination is Hart House, a student centre on the St. George campus that offers programming and clubs ranging from archery and debate to photography and chess 鈥 all housed in a beautiful, century-old building.</p> <p>For Indigenous students, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/department/first-nations-house/">First Nations House</a> at the St. George campus is an important cultural hub. The space offers academic support, opportunities to meet with Elders and traditional teachers for support and guidance, financial aid advising and other services. On Sept. 14, First Nations House will host an Indigenous student orientation from 3 to 5 p.m.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed" width="1px"> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgepsYIvy2D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" height style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);" width="1px"> <div style="padding:16px;"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgepsYIvy2D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"><svg height="50px" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 60 60" width="50px" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd" stroke="none" stroke-width="1"><g fill="#000000" transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631" /></g></g></g></svg></a></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgepsYIvy2D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank">View this post on Instagram</a></div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)">&nbsp;</div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div> </div> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgepsYIvy2D/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by 茄子直播 Student Life (@uoftstudentlife)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <script async height src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js" width="1px"></script></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>At 茄子直播 Mississauga, the <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/indigenous-centre/welcome-indigenous-centre">Indigenous Centre</a> invites students, staff and faculty to ongoing monthly lunch and learn for an informal chat about Indigenous cultures.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/indigenous-outreach-program-overview">Indigenous Outreach Program</a> at 茄子直播 Scarborough, meanwhile, provides students learning opportunities and resources as well as a chance to meet with Elders and traditional teachers for guidance and support (A dedicated <a href="/news/inclusive-space-u-t-scarborough-breaks-ground-indigenous-house">Indigenous Centre</a> is under construction).</p> <h3>Be conscious of online and campus safety</h3> <p>With several scams targeting students, it鈥檚 more important than ever to safeguard your personal information.</p> <p><b>Shannon Howes</b>, director, high risk, community safety and crisis and emergency preparedness at 茄子直播, says students should be aware of scare tactics used in emails, text messages and phone calls.</p> <p>鈥淟egitimate government organizations and law enforcement agencies will never threaten you in exchange for payment of funds,鈥 says Howes.</p> <p>When contacted by someone, Howes recommends stopping whatever you鈥檙e doing, taking a breath and evaluating whether what you鈥檙e being told to do actually makes sense.</p> <p>鈥淚s this an organization that you normally deal with and is known to you? Is this a person who you actually know in real life? Does what they鈥檙e asking you to do make sense? If the answer is no, talk to someone you trust about the situation before you take any action.鈥</p> <p>Howes adds that scammers have ways of changing the call display on a phone to say things like 鈥減olice鈥 or can create spoof email accounts to trick users into thinking a message is coming from someone who they trust.</p> <p>鈥淏e aware of receiving offers from people you do not know, jobs you didn鈥檛 apply for or prizes from contests you didn鈥檛 enter,鈥 she says. 鈥淚f an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is.鈥</p> <p>Students should watch for job scams, rental scams, law enforcement impersonations and phishing scams, Howes says, adding that students&nbsp;who wish to discuss any safety concerns can book an appointment to meet with a community safety case manager at 茄子直播鈥檚 <a href="https://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/">Community Safety Office</a>.</p> <p>鈥淭he office also has a has a dedicated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/fraud-prevention/types-of-frauds-and-scams/employment-scams/" title="https://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/fraud-prevention/types-of-frauds-and-scams/employment-scams/">Fraud Prevention Page</a>&nbsp;on its website with information about different types of frauds and scams, fraud prevention tips, tips for safety on social media and a list of resources and supports available,鈥 says Howes. &nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/">Security Matters</a> 鈥 茄子直播鈥檚 security awareness and education initiative 鈥 publishes regular blog posts, news and educational resources including helpful <a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/four-online-safety-tips-for-students-going-back-to-school/">tip sheets</a>.</p> <p>Also available to 茄子直播 students are <a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/category/phish-bowl/">Phish Bowl</a>, which provides examples of recently reported phishing incidents, and Housing Services 鈥 a resource for the St. George campus that provides workshop and assistance to individuals seeking housing or dealing with housing issues.</p> <p>Safety is a priority across all three 茄子直播 campuses. The <a href="https://www.campussafety.utoronto.ca/u-of-t-safety-app">茄子直播 Campus Safety app</a> features emergency contacts, tips, support services, and a live chat feature that connects users with 茄子直播 safety staff in real-time. App users can also use a Mobile Bluelight feature which sends the user鈥檚 on-campus location to the safety team in case of a crisis. Other features include TravelSafer, which allows safety staff to monitor a user鈥檚 walk on campus, and Friend Walk, which allows a trusted contact to monitor your walk anywhere in the world.</p> <p>As well, students and all current members of the 茄子直播 community are <a href="/alerts">automatically subscribed to UTAlert</a> 鈥 a service that allows the university to send important messages via email and text.&nbsp;</p> <h3><a href="/utogether">Learn more at UTogether</a></h3> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 07 Sep 2022 14:26:14 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 176414 at With cyber scams on the rise, 茄子直播 expert offers tips on how to protect yourself 聽聽 /news/cyber-scams-rise-u-t-expert-offers-tips-how-protect-yourself <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">With cyber scams on the rise, 茄子直播 expert offers tips on how to protect yourself &nbsp;&nbsp;</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-1134624698-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pJOLQPcx 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/GettyImages-1134624698-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pfsfRzei 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/GettyImages-1134624698-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=nCFFynPL 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/GettyImages-1134624698-crop.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=pJOLQPcx" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2021-12-09T12:28:17-05:00" title="Thursday, December 9, 2021 - 12:28" class="datetime">Thu, 12/09/2021 - 12:28</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo by Issouf Sanago/AFP via Getty Images)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/geoffrey-vendeville" hreflang="en">Geoffrey Vendeville</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-safety" hreflang="en">Campus Safety</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cyber-security-0" hreflang="en">Cyber Security</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An email lands in a student鈥檚 inbox pretending to be from an unnamed recruiter at the University of Toronto. It claims to have received an application for an easy-sounding, part-time and remote job that pays $700 every two weeks 鈥 no experience required. Just follow the link to apply.</p> <div class="image-with-caption left"> <div><img alt src="/sites/default/files/IMG_2151-crop.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 300px;"><em>Shannon Howes</em></div> </div> <p>The fake job offer is one of many real phishing attempts recounted on the university鈥檚 <a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/">Security Matters page</a> in an effort to warn the 茄子直播 community about recent cyber scams.</p> <p><b>Shannon Howes</b>, 茄子直播鈥檚 director, high risk, community safety and crisis and emergency preparedness, says such cyber frauds are not only becoming more common 鈥 they are also becoming sneakier.</p> <p>鈥淓ven rudimentary phishing attempts, there鈥檚 an estimate that one in 10 people will fall victim to them,鈥 she says. 鈥淚f you think about some of the more sophisticated attempts being made, the statistic jumps up to more like three in 10. So, it is a pervasive problem right now and we have had a lot of people who have been targeted at the university.鈥</p> <p>Howes recently spoke to <i>茄子直播 News </i>about how people can protect themselves from cyber fraud and what they should do if they are duped.</p> <div align="center" style="text-align:center"> <hr align="center" size="0" width="100%"></div> <p><b>What do these cyber scams look like?</b></p> <p>There are a number of different types of frauds and scams that we鈥檙e seeing right now. One kind that is really prevalent 鈥&nbsp;and members of the community will have seen examples in their inboxes 鈥&nbsp;are phishing attempts.</p> <p>These attempts are perpetrated by people who are trying to mine user information so that they can compromise personal accounts such as bank or credit cards, or engage in identity theft. There are very sophisticated ways of masking an email address so that an email appears to be from someone who might be an actual official at the university, a bank employee or someone from the Canada Revenue Agency, for example. When recipients click on the embedded link they are redirected to an online form, where the scammer requests a number of different pieces of personal information. That could include a date of birth, social insurance number, credit card numbers and photos of personal IDs such as a driver鈥檚 license. There are many different types of information that can be requested and then used against you.</p> <p>Some of the scams we are seeing reported at 茄子直播 are admission frauds, where individuals are posing as faculty members and are advertising supposed 鈥減athways鈥 for gaining admission to 茄子直播 in exchange for a hefty application fee, or, in some cases, full tuition fees paid up front. There鈥檚 quite a wide range of types of scams, but for the most part they're monetarily driven.</p> <p>We have also seen a lot of frauds targeting our international students. Incoming international students can be particularly vulnerable because they鈥檙e new to Canada. They don't necessarily have local supports that can help them do things like open a bank account or seek trusted advice when confronted with something like apparent criminal charges or threats of deportation. They may also be less familiar with how things work in another country (the consumer protections, privacy rules, etc.) and may not realize how suspect some of these demands are.</p> <p><b>How big is this problem?</b></p> <p>The scams we are seeing are actually growing in prevalence and in sophistication. There is some research that indicates that scams, and especially email scams, go up in frequency during times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a ripe environment for fraudsters to try to take advantage of people, particularly while people have been facing a lot of change, isolation, instability and uncertainty. Email scams are socially engineered to prey on the emotions of readers and to instill a sense of urgency to respond, and these emotions are already heightened during a time of crisis.</p> <p>I think most people will be familiar with seeing an email come into their inbox that doesn鈥檛 look quite right. The sender could be posing as your bank, asking you to log in through a link or an email could come in looking like it鈥檚 from the Canada Revenue Agency, saying there鈥檚 a problem with your Social Insurance Number. There may be spelling mistakes or generic greetings used in these emails, whereas you would expect to be contacted by your name if the email was legitimate.</p> <p>Unfortunately, these types of attempts, while they've been around for a long time, are increasing in sophistication and the credibility of how they present themselves. So, it鈥檚 actually becoming much more commonplace right now 鈥 and people are falling victim.</p> <p>Even with rudimentary phishing attempts, there鈥檚 an estimate that one in 10 people will fall victim to the ruses. If you think about some of the more sophisticated attempts being made, the statistic jumps up to more like three in 10. So, it is a pervasive problem right now and we have had a lot of people who have been targeted at the university.</p> <p>Some of the frauds that have been reported at the university this fall involve relatively small amounts of money and some involve very large amounts. It鈥檚 important to note that falling victim to fraud is not just a student issue 鈥 this is affecting faculty and staff as well.</p> <p><b>What are the red flags to spot in a phishing attempt?</b></p> <p>There are a lot of good recommendations <u>on the </u><a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/tips-for-identifying-and-reporting-a-phishing-attempt/">Security Matters Website</a> and there鈥檚 <a href="https://citizenlab.ca/docs/recommendations.html">another good list of </a><a href="https://citizenlab.ca/docs/recommendations.html">tips</a> for protecting yourself against cyber fraud by 茄子直播鈥檚 Citizen Lab.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Office of the Chief Information Security Officer is currently piloting an online training session that they are hoping to roll out broadly to members of the university community about different types of cyber fraud 鈥 not only specific to phishing, but also ransomware and other cyber threats and fraud attempts.</p> <p>One of the top recommendations to identify a phishing attempt is for people to pause and assess an email. Often, these fraudulent emails try to prey on our emotions. If it鈥檚 a phishing attempt, it could say you鈥檝e won this fantastic cruise in a lottery 鈥 even though you never entered a sweepstakes. Your sense of curiosity, your excitement triggers this emotional response leading you to think, 鈥淥h my gosh, did I actually win something?鈥</p> <p>Likewise, a lot of phishing attempts manufacture a sense of urgency. They might say your system has been compromised, or your SIN number has been compromised 鈥 act now by clicking this link. This triggers a fear response.</p> <p>One of the best things you can do is 鈥減ractise the pause鈥 鈥 stop what you鈥檙e doing, take a breath, and actually evaluate what you鈥檙e being told to do, and whether it makes sense. Is this an organization that you normally deal with and is known to you? Is this a person who you actually know in real life? Does what they鈥檙e asking you to do make sense?</p> <p><b><img alt="Things to look for in a phishing email include impersonating you boss, incorrect utoronto email address, urgency, no greeting, spelling/grammar errors and no signature" src="/sites/default/files/phish22_0.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 423px;"></b></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>What happens if the person contacting you says that they are from an official agency 鈥 law enforcement for example?</b></p> <p>The same recommendations apply here. Pause, take a breath and assess what you are being told and what you are being asked to do. Does it make sense? Did they use your proper name when they addressed you? Were you contacted by a recorded message?</p> <p>It is important to note that no legitimate agency will ever hold it against you for hanging up the call and taking the time to follow up with them on the phone through a legitimate number 鈥 that you might find on the back of your credit card, for example, or on their website. Tell the person that you are speaking with that you would like to verify who they are and will call them back. No legitimate government agent or member of law enforcement personnel will fault you for double checking that they are who they say they are. If they get upset or start to escalate on the phone they are more likely a fraudster trying to use a sense of urgency and fear to prey upon you.</p> <p>Another very important point: Bitcoin and gift cards are not a legitimate currency for official purposes in Canada. The university won鈥檛 accept them and neither will the Canadian government or law enforcement authorities.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also, you should never have to pay to avoid criminal charges. That鈥檚 not something law enforcement does. If you鈥檙e being asked to pay someone claiming to be a police officer to avoid being charged with criminal activity, that鈥檚 a big red flag.</p> <p><b>Would you recommend adjusting your email filter to prevent being targeted by scams?</b></p> <p>Definitely look into your security settings, including your email filters, on your personal accounts.</p> <p>Through our UTmail+ accounts, we鈥檙e really lucky to have a good filter feature already built in and a reporting structure in place for when phishing emails find their way through. You can click on 鈥淩eport Email鈥 and send it through to <a href="mailto:report.phishing@utoronto.ca" target="_blank"><span style="background:white">report.phishing@utoronto.ca</span></a> for IT Security鈥檚 awareness and action. There鈥檚 also something at the university called <a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/category/phish-bowl/">the Phish Bowl</a>, where real-life examples of fraudulent emails that have been reported are posted. It's a good idea to review the Phish Bowl from time to time to stay current on the types of scams that are actively going around.</p> <p>The IT Security team also has excellent resources about getting 鈥渃yber safe鈥 on their <a href="https://securitymatters.utoronto.ca/">Security Matters Website</a>. They also address how to maintain your UTORid safety and share a lot of information about how to identify phishing or ransomware attacks.</p> <p><span style="background:white">Additional steps that can be taken include: paying attention to the&nbsp;<a href="https://easi.its.utoronto.ca/initiatives/external-email-banner-project/" target="_blank">external email notification banners</a>&nbsp;that have been activated on UTmail+ accounts; connecting to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) when accessing the university鈥檚 system from remote locations; and ensuring that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is set up for your Microsoft account 鈥 茄子直播 recently introduced a new MFA program to the tri-campus community called UTORMFA.</span></p> <p><span style="background:white"><b>What about safety on social media platforms?</b></span></p> <p>In terms of social media safety, one of the things we recommend is conducting an annual refresh on the privacy policies on your different platforms and reviewing who your online friends are. Do you actually know everyone on your friends list personally? If you are engaged in some work online around influencing and you need to have a platform with followers who are unknown to you, make sure you keep a distinct platform for your personal pages and be cautious about what information you share on your public-facing accounts.</p> <p>Additionally, consider whether moments need to be shared live or if they can be shared at a later date/location. Geo-tagging can unwittingly let scammers know where you are physically and when, especially if you are active with your posting. Consider turning off geo-location tags all together. Also, know how to actually delete your accounts when you close them. Inactive accounts that are still accessible to other users can often be a source of a lot of information about you.</p> <p>Finally, be wary of who you connect with online, especially if you do not know them in real life. Online dating sites and chat rooms can be a dangerous breeding ground for different types of romance scams and catfishing. These can sometimes lead to sextortion attempts. Sextortion is a form of extortion where scammers create fake profiles on social media and dating websites. They use these profiles to lure victims into a relationship and coerce them into performing sexual acts on camera with the intent to record the session. Once the images are in the scammer鈥檚 possession they threaten to distribute if the victim doesn鈥檛 pay them, or sometimes provide additional sexual images.</p> <p><b>What should you do if you鈥檝e been duped, clicked on a malicious link or, worse, transferred money to a stranger?</b></p> <p>If you believe you鈥檝e become a victim of a fraud you should contact <a href="https://www.campussafety.utoronto.ca/">Campus Safety</a>, Special Constable Service to file a formal report. They are a tri-campus service and work directly with local law enforcement 鈥 Toronto Police for 茄子直播 Scarborough and St. George and Peel Police for 茄子直播 Mississauga 鈥 on criminal matters. Campus Safety officers work closely with the fraud divisions within municipal police services on incidents of fraud.</p> <p>If the fraud occurred via your UTmail+ accounts or if your UTORid may be compromised, you should also report the incident to <a href="mailto:report.phishing@utoronto.ca">report.phishing@utoronto.ca</a></p> <p>In terms of university resources and support services, if you think that you鈥檙e in a situation where you鈥檝e mis-stepped or divulged too much personal information 鈥 perhaps shared photos of yourself or your personal identification cards 鈥 we advise you to contact the <a href="mailto:community.safety@utoronto.ca">Community Safety Office</a> (CSO), even if you鈥檙e not being scammed yet. This team has case managers available that can meet with you to try and do some proactive work to help prevent you from falling victim to fraud, to help you consider what may be compromised and whether there are organizations you need to proactively reach out to, and how to set up a monitoring plan.</p> <p>In the event that a critical piece of information has been compromised, such as your Social Insurance Number, a member of the CSO team can help you manage the reporting pathway. &nbsp;They can also provide personal support and assist you in navigating any accommodations that may be needed as a result.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="media_embed" height="422px" width="750px"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="422px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZp4mBtJBNQ" title="YouTube video player" width="750px"></iframe></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><b>What is the university doing to protect its community from cyber fraud?</b></p> <p>The university is taking a very proactive stance on fraud. University offices are engaged with local law enforcement and cyber security to stay on the cutting edge of data security and protection software, as well as practices and areas of concern for law enforcement. Additionally, the university has established a Fraud Prevention Working Group that will be rolling out a number of education and awareness initiatives across the three campuses.</p> <p>One of the most effective ways to prevent fraud is to educate members of our community about what fraud looks like. We have been working on a central <a href="https://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/fraud-prevention/">Fraud Prevention Website</a> that will offer members of the university community a one-stop location to learn about different types of scams with real life scam examples, tips on how to protect yourself from fraud attempts, as well as resources 鈥 both at the university and in the community 鈥 that can assist individuals who find themselves targeted.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Knowing that a significant number of the frauds that have been reported to Campus Safety are by international and first-year students, a lot of the initial education efforts will be focused around residences, commuter students and international students 鈥 with additional focus around issues such as income tax season, application scams and personal data hygiene to come.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>How else can you protect yourself?</b></p> <p>Again, one of the best ways you can take steps to protect yourself is to 鈥減ractise the pause.鈥 That pause is something that helps us in a number of ways in our daily lives. Stop, take a breath, and think about the situation. If we know that scams are socially engineered to prey on our emotional responses 鈥 be it fear, excitement, curiosity, etc. 鈥 then a great way to combat fraud is to give ourselves the time to evaluate the request objectively.</p> <p>Another way of protecting yourself is by protecting your personal information. This includes good password hygiene (using different passwords for your different accounts). It sounds like a lot to remember, but you can download some very secure apps that can help you with password management.</p> <p>Protecting your privacy also means being careful about your social media presence, including making sure that your geo-locators are off when you鈥檙e posting things so your location isn鈥檛 being tracked and being wary about how much information you share. One thing scammers do to appear more legitimate is mine your social media, so they know your parents鈥 names, your birth date and even your dog鈥檚 name when they make contact with you.</p> <p>Finally, identify who you are dealing with. Verify the identity of the email sender or the person on the other end of the line. Make sure there are no spelling mistakes in URLs and email addresses. Remember 鈥 no legitimate authority figure will question you hanging up and calling them back to verify their identity through a trusted source. The same principle is true for social media. Know who you are speaking with. Be wary of requests from people you only know via online chat rooms and social media platforms.</p> <p>Being careful about what you share, how you share it, and who you are sharing it with, is a key way to protect yourself.</p> <hr> <h4>More information can be found at the following websites:</h4> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/international-students/international-students-and-safety/">Community Safety Office</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/international/fraud-alert">International Education Centre at 茄子直播 Mississauga</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/utscinternational/article/scams-targeting-international-students">International Student Centre at 茄子直播 Scarborough</a></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 09 Dec 2021 17:28:17 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 171634 at