BIPOC Student Supports

Services include:

Complaints/Concerns Support Services (website link):
Addresses harassment and discrimination concerns (direct and systemic) based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, and creed. Students, staff and faculty can access the office to raise a concern or experience.

Education Programming (website link):
Including trainings, workshops, and professional development for students, staff, and faculty.

Reflect. Restore. Action. Series (website link):
ARCDO and community partners curate spaces of wellness, healing and critical dialogue to address the impacts of racial discrimination through restorative activities.

Same-Day Counselling Appointments (website link)
If you self-identify as Black, Indigenous and/or a Person of Colour (BIPOC), you can make a same-day counselling appointment with a wellness counsellor who self-identifies as BIPOC and has expertise in supporting students from these communities.

BIPOC Workshops/Group Programming
Check the CLNx portal (under “Events & Workshops” on the left-hand menu) for upcoming events. BIPOC Wellness Dialogues (a group where undergraduate and graduate students can meet, share, and connect) is on hold for the Winter 2024 term.

Student Engagement programming and support provides connections to academic, career, wellness and many other services to foster a sense of belonging and community. Programs include one-to-one appointments, drop-ins, and events.

African Black Caribbean Student Engagement (website link)

Latin American Student Engagement (website link)

Southeast Asian Student Engagement (website link)

First Generation Student Engagement (website link)


Indigenous Student Supports

Services include:

Indigenous Programming (website link):
Including Indigenous Orientation, Indigenous Education Week, and Indigenous Student Graduation. Check the CLNx portal (under “Events & Workshops” on the left-hand menu) for regular events.

Traditional Teacher Support (website link):
Opportunities to meet with Traditional Teachers for support, guidance and teachings.

Advising and Support Appointments:

Accessibility Services aims to provide a safe, caring, respectful and culturally supportive environment for Indigenous students with disabilities. They have an Indigenous Liaison, available to all Indigenous students with disabilities to offer pathways through the Accessibility Services registration process, and an Indigenous Accessibility Advisor. Information about service delivery can be found through the link above.


Sexual & Gender Diversity Supports

Services include:

Confidential Consultations, Support, and Advice (website link):
Free, confidential, and sensitive support on matters of homophobia, transphobia and other forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Resources (website link):
Covering campus communities, washroom locations, health resources, career resources, UofT ID, terminology, and more.

Positive Space Committee (website link):
Has raised 2SLGBTQ+ visibility at the University and focused on connecting 2SLGBTQ+ students, faculty, librarians, and staff at the University of Toronto since 1995.

Family medicine physicians at Health & Wellness provide gender-affirming medical care through assessment, advice and treatment regarding medical transition with hormone therapy. This includes both new assessments and ongoing care. They can also provide documentation (including referrals) to support access to medical transition-related and gender-affirming surgery. Nurses at Health & Wellness provide gender-affirming medical care by performing injections and teaching clients to self-inject hormones.

Open to New College 2SLGBTQ+ community and allies, New College Writing Centre (NCWC) is creating an inclusive space to provide writing support and help hold you accountable to get your assignments done this semester!

  • Inclusive space to support you through your assignments and creative projects
  • Receive feedback at all stages of the writing process from writing instructors and peers
  • Consult with NCWC writing instructor
  • Free snacks, coffee and tea

Programs and Events:

  • Gender Justice and Faith (website link):
    • Join the Multi-Faith Centre for a variety of programming that looks at the intersections of gender justice and faith.
  • The Queer Spiritual Spaces peer support program (website link):
    • Queer Spiritual Spaces centers and celebrates queer and trans and faith communities. The purpose of this program is to provide one-on-one support, referrals and build communal multi-faith spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ students who want to explore spirituality.

Access Supports

Accessibility Services provides assistance with navigating disability-related barriers at the University of Toronto for on-going and temporary disabilities. You can find information about service registration and documentation requirements here. Services include:

Accessibility Advisor Support (website link)
After registration, advisors can assist with letters of accommodations to course and program staff about accommodation needs (website link); residence accommodations (website link); and more

Learning Strategist Support

If you do not have a family physician or a care provider and you require disability documentation for academic accommodations, Health & Wellness may be able to assist you. See the link above for information about service delivery.


Multi-Faith Supports

Services include:

Worship Space on Campus (website Link)

Campus Chaplains Association (website Link):
Students can connect with campus chaplains to find community, for counselling, for events information, for worship opportunities on campus, and more.

Interfaith Group Activities:
Including interfaith meals (website link), movie nights (website link), mini-trips to local sites of worship (website link).

Grief Support:
Including a support group for students who have experienced the death of a significant person or anticipatory grief (website link); communal spaces for students with personal connections to global issues (website link); and spaces where nuanced, multi-faceted experiences of (individual and collective) grief can be addressed, acknowledged and held (website link).

Programs and Events:

A boxed breakfast program for students* observing Ramadan will be available at the New College, Chestnut and CampusOne Dining Halls from March 10 to April 8, 2024 for order and pick up through the U of T Mobile Order App.

Information is available on the website here.


Safety Supports

The Centre has locations on each campus to help students, staff, and faculty who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment access support, services and accommodations.

The Centre offers:

  • Confidential, non-judgmental, client-centered services
  • Coordination and navigation of University supports, services and accommodations
  • Support in making a disclosure
  • Assistance with reporting
  • Referrals to on- and off-campus services
  • Self-care resources

The Community Safety Office is a service that offers short-term support and assistance to students, staff, and faculty members who have experienced personal safety concerns including:

  • Stalking and Harassment
  • Bullying and Intimidation
  • Threats
  • Intimate Partner Violence
  • Family Violence
  • Workplace Conflict and Volatile Behaviour

Services include:

Complaints/Concerns Support Services (website link):
ARCDO addresses harassment and discrimination concerns (direct and systemic) based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, and creed. Students, staff and faculty can access the office to raise a concern or experience.

Education Programming (website link):
Including trainings, workshops, and professional development for students, staff, and faculty.

Reflect. Restore. Action. Series (website link):
ARCDO and community partners curate spaces of wellness, healing and critical dialogue to address the impacts of racial discrimination through restorative activities.


Mental Health Supports

Who is the Coordinator, Student Wellness and Community Support (CSWCS)? 

Shari is a Social Worker by training and has worked in mental health and wellness for 15+ years.  She’s also an alumna of New College and is delighted to be back after many, many moons! Outside of work, she’s the mom of 2 young boys and a golden-doodle pup. She loves spicy food and travel – recommendations for both are welcome! 

What does the CSWCS do? 

The CSWCS is a wellness specialist dedicated to supporting and promoting a culture of holistic wellness at New College. In addition to developing wellness programs and events throughout the year, the CSWCS offers in-person and virtual one-on-one appointments to New College students and consultation appointments for staff and faculty. 

Appointments can be made by contacting Shari at new.wellness@utoronto.ca.

What can I expect at an individual appointment with the CSWCS? 

Appointments are between 30-60 minutes, entirely voluntary, private, and student-centered. This means that you can expect to receive non-judgmental support to identify your needs, determine goals, and develop a wellness plan that is right for you. There are 3 types of individual appointments you can book with the CSWCS: 

  • Wellness Advising: Learn about health and wellness resources on campus and in the community; 
  • Wellness Coordination: Practical support connecting to servicestailored to your individual needs and goals;
  • Wellness Conversation: Supportive and private environment to explore and identify health and wellness goals and needs.

Unfortunately, the CSWCS is not able to provide clinical counselling at this time. If you’re a student looking for clinical counselling, please feel free to book an appointment for advising with the CSWCS to learn about counselling resources or click here for info on counselling resources (website)

If you’re looking for mental health clinical services, Health & Wellness offers a variety of options to suit your needs. These include:

  • Same-day counselling appointments
  • On-location counselling
  • Wellness counselling for BIPOC students
  • Evidence-based group therapy
  • Short-term intensive counselling or psychotherapy
  • Pharmacotherapy
  • Psychiatric care
  • Wellness navigation