Else Grech, who teaches Accounting: The Fundamentals, and Business Ethics, recently received our Excellence in Online Teaching Award. She was nominated by her learners for her outstanding instructional presence, her ability to create an inclusive digital learning environment, and her talent for encouraging meaningful online interaction.

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Else is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), and a member in good standing at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. A graduate of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Commerce program, Else has worked in a wide range of senior accounting positions, as well as in recruitment, publishing, and retail web sales. She has taught continuing education courses in-class since 1998, and online since 2003. Else completed her Bachelor of Education in 2007, and is an Ontario Certificated Teacher (primary).  In 2013, she completed her Master’s in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE).  Else plans to continue her studies in the near future in order to obtain her Ph.D. in Education at OISE. 

One of the courses she instructs, Accounting: The Fundamentals, grounds learners in the basics of financial accounting. Else begins by sharing an introduction to basic financial statements, then moves through the accounting cycle and the notion of debit and credit. Learners end the course knowing what questions to ask about a company's financial statements and how to make better business decisions based on sound analysis.

Else is also passionate about instructing Business Ethics, teaching learners that ethics and communication are central to the credibility of those who analyze financial information for employers, clients, and other financial users. She introduces the CPA’s Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (ACAF) Method, which is a road map learners can use to navigate accounting and finance problems.

Originally from California, Leslie lived in England for many years before settling in Toronto. She is a medical anthropologist, and a research associate in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto.

Her prize-winning short story, Natalie, Happy, follows the life of a Canadian anthropologist named Natalie who lives in a fictional town in northern England. The story revolves around her marriage to a man named Erik, a fellow anthropologist from Zimbabwe, and their journey toward building a family and their careers.  Natalie, Happy explores the meanings and challenges of being a mother, a woman, a wife, and an academic.

Leslie sat down with SCS to discuss her story inspiration and passion for creative writing.

SCS: What inspired you to take Creative Writing at SCS?

LC: I loved creative writing when I was younger. When my family moved to Toronto nine years ago, I was struggling to finish a paper I was writing, and at the same time felt overwhelmed by the task of keeping all my friends and family in England up-to-date on my new life in Toronto. A friend suggested I start a blog to keep everyone updated on my new adventures, which inspired me to explore fun ways to reinvigorate my writing.  I took a class at SCS and got hooked, and just this year completed my Certificate in Creative Writing.

SCS: What was your inspiration for this story?

LC: Natalie, Happy wasn’t inspired by one particular event. It’s an amalgamation of many stories and people I have known throughout my life, mixed with my own original ideas and twists. It’s also the product of my personal interrogations of motherhood, professionalism, marriage, and family.

SCS: How has winning this award influenced your creative writing future?

LC: It’s still so fresh, but it’s wonderful. I’d entered other stories in this competition in the past, and had been a runner up more than once. It was becoming an ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’ situation, so winning was really special. I’m inspired to carry on writing and taking courses at SCS.

SCS: Any advice for aspiring writers?

LC: I would highly recommend the SCS Creative Writing program; there’s really something for everyone here. Classes are flexible, so you can learn in-person or online (which I chose to do in the dead of winter to avoid the cold)! I also suggest finding a writing community. Being an author isn’t just about learning the practical aspects of writing, but finding a community and becoming part of a conversation around writing, reading, and creative possibilities.

Dave Jailal, who teaches Financial Management at SCS, recently received an Excellence in Teaching Award. Learners were inspired by his love of instruction and mentorship, and nominated Dave for his industry expertise and use of tangible, real-world examples to highlight and explore course content.

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Dave is currently a Director in the Banking Supervision area at the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), and a part-time post-secondary instructor. He has over 19 years of experience in progressively responsible roles within the financial services industry, ranging from external auditor to bank supervisor. He has been an instructor for the last 10 years with a specialization in Accounting, Corporate Finance, and Auditing courses. At OSFI, he leads a team of bank supervisors involved in the assessment of risks, governance, and risk mitigation processes for a portfolio of 21 financial institutions. Dave holds an Executive MBA degree, with distinction, from Ivey Business School at Western University, a Chartered Professional Accountant designation, and a Chartered Investment Manager designation.

He has a strong interest in mentorship, and is inspired by the commitment of his Financial Management learners. In his course, Dave introduces learners to the principles of finance and their application. He explores topics such as the time value of money, valuation of financial securities, capital budgeting, determining appropriate discount rates, and short- and long-term financing.

Gabriel Musso is the recent recipient of our Outstanding New Instructor Award. Learners in his course, Statistics for Data Science, nominated Gabriel for his ability to tailor challenging content, and meet the needs of diverse learning styles. His talent for teaching innovative, adaptive, and current material, while being highly accessible to his learners, earned him this exciting honour.

As Chief Scientific Officer at BioSymetrics Inc., Gabriel is focused on growing the company’s AI platform and applying it in the areas of genomics, drug discovery, imaging, and clinical diagnosis. Prior to joining BioSymetrics, Gabriel was a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School where his work focused on using machine learning frameworks to predict gene and small molecule function, and identification of disease-causal genes using large-scale genomic datasets. Gabriel received his PhD in Molecular Genetics and Computational Biology from the University of Toronto (U of T). He also received his Master of Science and undergraduate degrees from U of T.

Gabriel is passionate about teaching data science at SCS. In his course, learners explore probability and descriptive statistics, and cover data analysis from both a classical and contemporary viewpoint while learning how to extract insight from datasets. The course content also covers part of the body of knowledge of INFORMS’ Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) certification.

People of the jury, we have an exciting update to share.

If you are looking to gain a solid introduction to the Canadian legal system, we offer an online, self-directed course that will guide your bold first steps into the world of legal thinking and analysis.  Introduction to Legal Principles, Thinking and Reasoning delves deep into four groundbreaking cases.  Exploration and discussion will help you understand why certain decisions were reached. You will complete hands-on projects, such as preparing case briefs, while completing quizzes to ensure comprehension of all course materials.

Introduction to Legal Principles, Thinking and Reasoning illuminates how past decisions influence future cases, and prepares you for your next steps-whether that be sitting an exam, or incorporating your new understanding of legal frameworks into your daily work. Prepared and delivered by leading academics from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, the course materials are relevant and thought-provoking, enhancing your ability to read, analyze, and effectively brief legal cases.

Moving through modules at your own pace, you have three months to complete all course materials, but are welcome to expedite your learning if you prefer. Our fully online course allows you to learn where and when it best suits your busy schedule.

This flexible course isn’t just for aspiring law students. Business professionals who directly or indirectly deal with legal matters, entrepreneurs, and internationally educated professionals can all benefit from learning the foundations of our legal system. Our dynamic instructors, Anthony Niblett and Yasmin Dawood, offer perfect examples of the interdisciplinary nature of law. While both are highly accomplished Canada Research Chairs, they leverage their legal skills in a variety of unique ways. Anthony is an entrepreneur whose work brings together dig data, law and economics, contract law, and judicial behaviour. His start-up company, Blue J Legal, proves that law and creative potential go hand-in-hand. Yasmin, an expert in election law, has shared her legal savvy with the media, and has even testified as an expert before Parliamentary House Committees; her legal knowledge allows her to stand at the forefront of important public issues in Canada.

A new offering of this course is offered every month with our next course starting August 1! If you need further evidence, click here to learn more.

Also, check out this short video to meet our instructors and further explore this exciting opportunity.

$1000 Winner: Erin Conway-Smith for After Mining

Erin Conway-Smith is a journalist reporting on southern Africa for The Economist, and other publications. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, she has lived in Johannesburg since 2009. She was previously based in Beijing. Her reporting has appeared in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Financial Times, Foreign Policy, and The Independent.

Juror’s citation:
The poems in After Mining collide to create a vivid and devastating portrait of the mining industries in South Africa. The poet re-visions the extracted and stripped landscape and the people who live there using bold and dynamic language of place and identity. In these poems fracture reigns, and both land and language are opened up in ways that are brutal and necessary to read. 

-Hazel Millar, Co-Publisher, Book*hug Press

$500 Winner: Melany Franklin for Triptych

Melany Franklin is a former Bay Street litigator, now part-time lawyer with the YMCA of Greater Toronto. She is writing her first novel, thanks in no small part to Dennis Bock’s Novel Writing Workshop at SCS, and ongoing encouragement from her writing groups, the Sceniuses, the Ladies of Balmoral, and Stillpoint writers. Melany is currently adjunct faculty to Osgoode Law School’s Certificate in Human Rights: Theory and Practice, and previously taught labour and employment law at Woodsworth College, University of Toronto. Melany has been published in the Law Society’s Special Lectures Series (2013) and her high school year book. Her absolute favourite poem is Gwendolyn MacEwen’s Sunlight at Sherbourne & Bloor.

Juror’s citation:
In her Triptych of poems, Melany Franklin demonstrates a light touch; her images are unhurried and yet precise, a ‘gentle tumble’ of perceptions that manage, very quietly, to dramatize grief. No mean accomplishment, that these pieces hold the darkness so softly, like a sleeping bird in hand.

               -John O’Neill, poet

$500 Winner: Jane Macdonald for Bread Creek Runs Under Our Village and Other Poems

Jane Macdonald lived in California for fifteen years, where she was a student of the poet Ellen Bass, and where she was ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest under her teacher, poet Angie Boissevain. Jane has participated in workshops with Marie Howe, Sharon Olds, Jane Hirshfield, Tony Hoagland, Dorianne Laux, Frank Gaspar, and Mark Doty. In 2009, Jane returned to Canada, where she now lives in Prince Edward County and is enrolled in the Poetry Certificate Program at SCS. 

Juror’s citation:
This collection of poetry vibrantly captures the idyllic life of sound and shape, of animals and family, air and water. Macdonald expertly uses concrete language and imagery to hold both the universal and the local on the page. Swift and subtle in their immersive nature, these poems highlight the smallest moments to paint a pastoral community in words, excellent to the ear and eye.

                -Terese Mason Pierre, poet

Finalists for the Penguin Random House Canada Student Award for Fiction 2019

Established in 2002 Value: $2,500, plus two finalist awards of $1,000 each annually

This generous award supports emerging writers (learners) taking Creative Writing courses at SCS. The competition for this endowed award is open to all creative writing learners who have taken a course in the previous year. Winners and Honourable Mentions will be announced in August! Here is a list of the finalists and the title of their entry.

Leslie Carlin, Natalie Happy

Diana Catargiu, Saint

Stephanie Cesca, Dotted Lines

Sheila Chapman, Departure Lounge

Suzanne Dugard, The Book of How Things Used to Be

Laurie Elmquist, Max the Drag Queen

Stephanie Mark, Animal Intelligence

Pratheesh Nair, The Signalman

Sherman Snukel, Behind the Miracle Bakery

Benno Tutter, Boxes

Finalists for the Marina Nemat Award 2019

Established in 2008 Value: up to two awards of $1,000 annually 

Thanks in part to the generosity of writer Marina Nemat, this award is given each year to the most outstanding Final Project of a Creative Writing Certificate student. Winners are chosen by a panel of Canadian publishing-industry professionals.  Winner(s) will be announced in late August! Until then, here is a list of finalists and the title of their entry.

Logan Broeckaert, Boyish And Other Stories About Home

Leslie Carlin, The Richley Chronicles

Kathleen Kampeas-Rittenhouse, 2200 Avenue Ste. Gertrude

Catherine Taman, Life Without Limbs

SCS is excited to celebrate our partnership with The EDUCAFIN Scholarship Program, a decentralized initiative from the Guanajuato government in central Mexico, that pursues international professionalization for young university grads. Eligible learners who enter the program can choose to study in our English Language Program (ELP) to improve their English language skills and prepare for graduate studies. 

The EDUCAFIN Scholarship Program is a unique pilot that is inspiring other states in Mexico to pursue similar initiatives. “SCS and ELP are so pleased to be a part of this exciting collaboration” says Lisa Morgan, Director of our English Language Program (ELP) and International Initiatives. “It’s encouraging to see international learners so eager to advance their English skills, and we are honoured to be a part of their learning journey.”

Today, along with the School of Graduate Studies and the Office of the Vice-President, International, we will be hosting a barbeque to recognize this important partnership. “Our team at ELP looks forward to discovering future collaborations with international programs that share our passion for language education,” says Lisa Morgan. “Congratulations to all our EDUCAFIN learners who display an admiral commitment to lifelong learning.”

“For me, teaching is a means of giving back, and sharing the skills I’ve acquired throughout my training and career” says Christine Misquitta, a research scientist and project manager. This attitude towards teaching inspired Christine to join SCS to teach our new Project Management for Research course.

“A few years ago I sat on a panel discussion about large-scale project grants. I was the only project manager in attendance, and shared the observation that many investigators lack the administrative resources to put together these large projects, and manage them effectively. The Office of the Vice President – Research and Innovation at U of T worked with SCS and Alison Paprica (also an SCS instructor) to develop a course that would meet these needs” she says. “Now, as an instructor, it’s refreshing to see the many scenarios in which learners from various research backgrounds can use the project management skills I teach. It’s eye opening.”

Based at the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research at the University of Toronto, Christine uses her project management skills to coordinate large, interinstitutional projects funded by organizations such as the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), and Genome Canada.

She is excited to bring her project management experience to SCS. “It’s encouraging to see project management becoming more widely accepted and utilized in non-traditional industries, such as education and research” she says. “In the future, I would like to see project management skills become core competencies that all members of a team can possess. When project management is embraced and used by an entire team or organization, it’s bound to lead to increased efficiency”.

Christine enjoys working with adult learners who are seeking novel ways to bring better organization and management strategies to their work. “The people in my class are making a time commitment, and putting themselves out of their comfort zone to acquire new skills, as a way to enhance their efficiency on the job” she says. “This is very admirable in my opinion.”

Despite a demanding roster of responsibilities, including her additional role as Vice President of Administration and Communications for the Centre for the Commercialization of Antibodies and Biologics (CCAB), Christine still finds time to stay in fighting form.

Literally.

She, her husband, and two sons all hold black belts in Taekwon Do, and all four of them teach the martial art in their spare time. “I love encouraging others to challenge themselves and take the next step, or hooking kick, forward.”

Starting your career after graduating from university is an exciting time!

You developed strong knowledge and abilities in your degree, and now it’s time to bring those qualities to the workplace.

Our Professional Edge program is designed to translate the knowledge you learned in your undergraduate degree into tangible, marketable, real-world skills that will ensure you thrive in a business environment.

Employers want to know what value you will bring to their business; this program gives you the confidence and perspective to implement your academic abilities in a fast-paced, real-life, competitive work setting.

EARN A CERTIFICATE IN 4 WEEKS

GAIN HANDS-ON, WORKPLACE-RELEVANT SKILLS

Learning outcomes are different depending on the certificate you choose to pursue, however each certificate program is designed specifically for recent graduates who want to learn fundamental skills that are critical to excel in today’s market.

You will develop:

• Hands-on skills by working on real-life inspired business projects from start to finish
• Business acumen
• Important workplace communication skills (both written and presentation)
• Effective resume writing abilities
• Strategic networking skills
• The ability to nail an interview
• An online profile that stands out from the crowd and highlights the unique value you will bring to an organization

LEARN FROM EXPERTS

Instructors at SCS are experts in their field who are passionate about sharing their knowledge, tips for success, and lessons learned over the years. By turning theory into action, your instructors will show you how to implement and enhance your teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking abilities in a work environment.

THE EDGE EXPERIENCE

This program is open to everyone, however, it is designed specifically for recent grads seeking an intensive, full-time program to develop job-ready skills.

You can expect:

• Open enrollment with no admissions process
• To be in class, on campus, every day for four weeks
• Take-home projects and online resources
• To work independently and within a dynamic team (mimicking a work environment)
• A variety networking opportunities
• Small class sizes so you can connect other learners who are equally as motivated
• Upon successful completion, you will receive a University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Certificate, an important credential to back up the knowledge and skills you have already worked so hard to develop

Take the next step towards your future. Register now before spaces fill up!

U of T's Career Exploration & Education will provide career-ready workshops throughout the program. These workshops will help all learners to develop a stellar resume, learn skills that will prepare you to knock it out of the park in an interview and create a professional online profile that stands out from the crowd." 

Imagine if enterprises had more access to vital organizational information. We would see improved efficiency, productivity, profit, and reduced risk[1]. However, most organizations have access to only a minuscule amount of their own data and knowledge base, leaving a huge void of missed opportunity[2]. With access to the right information, businesses can save time and money, while making strategic business decisions.

The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), an international certifying body of and for professional records and information managers, sees a bright future for the field of Records and Information Management (RIM), and is excited to announce a new partnership with the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies.

Now, if you complete the SCS Certificate of Records and Information Management, you can fast track earning your ICRM credentials. To be eligible, SCS Certificate of Records and Information Management holders must have achieved a minimum of 70% in each of the required courses. If you meet this requirement, you are exempt from ICRM’s three-part Certified Records Analyst (CRA) examinations.

Both ICRM and SCS know that information management professionals are key players in future facing organizations. Today, this growing and critically important field is all about using technology and intelligent automation to provide knowledge asset management and value preservation[3]. This discipline holds significant opportunity and potential for young professionals looking to enter a growing and vital field[4].

“This is ICRM’s first international continuing education partnership, as well as our first international collaboration. We are excited to work with SCS, knowing that the University of Toronto is the top ranked university in Canada, and is one of the world’s top 10 public universities” says Cheryl Pederson, President of ICRM. “Now, adults wanting to enter the RIM field, or RIM professionals determined to advance their career, can earn an SCS certificate, while fast tracking their path to becoming a Certified Records Analyst (CRA).”

“The future of RIM is all about providing access to the right information at the right time, which is more important than ever in this digital information age. We offer our Certificate in Records and Information Management in collaboration with the University of Toronto Faculty of Information (iSchool), ensuring our curriculum is current and innovative” says Maureen MacDonald, Dean of SCS. “This certificate is fully online, making it accessible for anyone wanting to succeed in this dynamic and growing field. ICRM’s designations have strong industry recognition, and we’re delighted to partner with them to help advance careers.”

Click here for more information about this collaboration.

About the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

At the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS), we celebrate the continuous journey towards knowledge, expansion, and new understandings. We’re here to help you step up and take ownership of your future, again and again.

Our roster of over 800 courses, over 50 program areas, and more than 110 certificates across a wide range of fields gives you the opportunity to customize your unique learning path. Whether you are looking to upgrade your skills, learn a new language, feed a curiosity, or take your career to the next level, we’re here to help you journey forward. We also know that flexibility is key to learning success, and offer over 540 online learning options.

Learning is a vital lifelong process. Keep exploring and own your future.
 

About The Institute of Certified Records Managers
The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM), is an international certifying body of and for professional records and information managers. It was established in 1975 to define and document the knowledge, skills, and competencies in the growing field of Records and Information Management (RIM).  ICRM is committed to the professional development of the RIM community, and their designations are a valuable part of this diverse, interdisciplinary, and global constituency.

The ICRM provides 100% Online Testing and Virtual Exam Prep Workshops. Advance your career from home or work!

Contacts
ICRM Administrator - Certifications and Online Exam and Exam Prep
admin@icrm.org

or

Rae Lynn Haliday, MBA, CRM, Chairman
ICRM Strategic Alliance Committee
haliday@stlzoo.org

SCS Certificate of Records and Information Management Inquiries
learn@utoronto.ca

Amy Baier, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Director, Strategic Communication and Marketing
amy.baier@utoronto.ca

Happy International Women’s Day (IWD)!

This year’s theme is “better the balance, better the world”, which I am proud to say are words we live by here at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. As IWD puts it, “balance is not a women's issue, it's a business issue.” I know that gender balance is crucial to our success as an educational organization.

Our 524 active female instructors share their expertise and unique experiences with our learners. In the past five years, over 100 women have developed courses at SCS, which our staff members (more than half of whom are female), have worked collaboratively to implement, support, and market. In this same timeframe, we saw 87,605 female learner enrolments.

Our female instructors and learners are incredibly diverse. Some are CEOs, artists, business owners, government leaders, and advocates. All of them are seeking to make the world a better place.

Essentially, gender balance plays a huge role in our organization, and we are always working to support this important dynamic.

As a provider of continuing education, we encourage gender balance in boardrooms, workplaces, government, media coverage, and income. Our focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion has us working together to reinforce this balance. As the Dean, my goal is to ensure that anyone who identifies as a woman will receive support, opportunity, and equality when they interact with SCS.

Sincerely,

Maureen MacDonald
Dean, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies