rezONE First Year Experience Program

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Living and Learning as ONE!

rezONE begins the day you accept your offer of residence with UofT Mississauga. This award-winning transition program is specifically designed to give students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in first year. In fact, our research shows that students who complete rezONE achieve a significantly higher GPA than students who do not complete. Furthermore, research shows that students who complete the program have significantly more completed class credits after four years than students who do not complete.

rezONE is composed of five parts:

Each component is aimed at providing you and with the information and skills needed to address various challenges that arise in the first year of living and learning away from home.

Experiences vary among students dependidivng on their academic majors, but you can expect to further develop reading and writing skillsdiv, master fundamental research techniques for your discipline, understand your individual learning style to better prepare for tests and exams, all while learning valuable life skills for living away from home for the first time. Before you arrive in residence, you will be matched with a group of 25 other first year students in the same of similar academic discipline to your own, and placed in a first year residence community. Our Academic Living Communities are residence communities built around academic disciplines. In your Academic Living Communities you will have the opportunity to know other students in your courses, organize study groups in residence, or simply meet other students with similar interests.

Simply by virtue of being a first year UofT Mississauga residence student, you are automatically connected to the rezONE program and the variety of supports associated with living on campus. While rezONE is designed to provide you with the support needed for success, it does not restrict you from defining your own experience. The experience is yours to create. 

Academic Living Communities (ALCs)


All first year residence communities at UTM are organized as Academic Living Communities. This means you will be living in a community (floor/row/townhouse) with students who are in the same or a similar academic discipline. You will instantly be connected with peers who are in many of the same classes and who, by virtue of being in the same program, share similar interests with you. Moreover, to support your academic transition, your rezPAL lives nearby to help answer questions, lead Seminars and facilitate Peer Assisted Study Sessions. The UTM Academic Living Communities make it easy to walk to class, review notes and study for exams with your neighbours and roommates!
 

Residence Peer Academic Leaders (rezPALs)

Laura - rezPAL Brian - rezPAL Kevin - rezPAL
        

rezONE Peer Academic Leaders (rezPALs) are successful upper year students in the same or a similar program as the first year participants, and live in the same academic living community. They hold weekly Seminars in the fall semester, facilitate year long Peer Assisted Study Sessions, and support a Capstone Project in the winter semester. Each rezPAL acts as a positive academic role model, and is able to share their insight and experience of being a first year student studying the various programs offered at UTM.
 

Weekly Seminars

 

 

rezONE weekly seminars focus on providing opportunities for new students to successfully transition into their new academic and social roles.  These programs extend the transition programming provided through new student orientation within a curricular context.  This allows for more concentrated focus on the academic and personal development issues that are part of the first year transition.  

Each week in the fall semester, rezONE Peer Academic Leaders (rezPALs) host a one-hour student success seminar that is designed specifically to help participants navigate the university, and more importantly, to assist in developing the personal, social and academic skills that will position students for success.  Seminars focus on transition issues that are often sources of stress, worry, and anxiety, which can be barriers to academic success.  Topics include:

  • Learning Styles and Strategies;
  • Academic Integrity;
  • Library Resources;
  • Health & Wellness;
  • Career Development.

The seminar series is a collaborative effort by the UTM Department of Student Affairs & Services, Student Housing & Residence Life, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, Student Affairs & Services, Career Centre, Health and Counselling Centre, International Centre, and various UTM faculties.

Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)

Learning how to study for university level courses is a major adjustment for first year students.  To support students in mastering major academic milestones (such as tests, mid-terms, lab reports, assignments, and exams) rezPALs facilitate bi-weekly group study sessions for traditionally difficult courses.

Based on a quasi-supplemental instruction model, PASS promote collaborative learning through structured activities that model effective study skills for the particular course content.  Students have the opportunity to meet peers who are taking the same course and learn with one another.  Together, they review lectures, analyze readings, predict possible test questions, and share different learning techniques.  The rezPAL is there to guide this process.  PASS do not take the place of regular lectures, tutorials, or labs; rather, they utilize peer knowledge and support to supplement learning in a fun and interactive way.

Peer & Community Mentoring

Mentorship fosters strong connections with upper year student leaders (rezPALs), and supportive networks between peers, in an effort to encourage success. A rezPAL is a successful upper year student who maintains a minimum 3.0 CGPA and studies the same or a similar academic discipline.  The PAL contributes to the mentoring experience, beyond their defined leadership role, by acting as a guide to navigate first year.  Meaningful relationships with students are further developed through one-on-ones, in which students receive more individualized support.

By fostering healthy relationships amongst peers in the community, first year students are able to support and encourage each other to thrive in the new university environment.  Throughout the year, students can attend many events and activities hosted by rezPALs with the purpose of welcoming and creating peer connections.  Participants can expect to meet other students who share similar interests, network with potential study partners, and build lifelong connections.

rezONE Capstone Projects

 

 

 

During the second semester, students expand their learning outside of the classroom, by engaging with faculty and industry professionals.  Designed and implemented by the students, in consultation with their rezPAL, the Capstone Projects enhance the student experience by creating applied discipline specific academic learning projects.

Some examples of projects include:

  • Curate an art exhibit with a local gallery;
  • Host a faculty led book discussion;
  • Implement and monitor a virtual stock exchange;
  • Visit the forensic unit at the local Police Department;
  • Conduct and review psychological experiments.