Get Involved

The  (PDF file) Arts Ambassador Program is a 4 stage program that focuses on personal, professional and academic development through experiential learning. The program has 4 stages:

Stage 1: Transition (for first year students only)
             Focusing on the transition into University, this stage is an extended orientation opportunity for students that connects them to services and resources on campus. This stage allows students to set up their university network in order to achieve personal and academic success in their time at Ryerson.

Stage 2: Engagement
             This stage focuses on student life and campus engagement. Ryerson is full of enriching programs, student clubs and extracurricular programs. There are work and volunteer opportunities for students. There are opportunities to network and work with students from other faculties. This stage of the Arts Ambassador Program encourages students to make the most out of all that is available to them. Getting involved on campus not only helps one develop personally, but studies show that students who are engaged do well academically too!

Stage 3: Preparation
             By the time a student reaches stage 3, they have had the opportunity to experience much of what Ryerson has to offer. They are familiar with services and resources and have a wealth of knowledge themselves. In stage 3, we focus on presentation and facilitation skills in order to prepare students to become student leaders on and off campus. We also work on their professional skills to set them up for success when they begin looking for employment opportunities.

Stage 4: Leadership
              Finally, stage 4 students take on the leadership role in the Arts Ambassador Program. They apply the skills that they learned in the program and in their past few years at Ryerson and share their knowledge with others. This gives students the opportunity to use their learned skills, reflect on their learning and make a difference in the experience of other students in the community. Coupled with other professional development and networking opportunities, this stage aims to help prepare students for their post-graduation life.

The Arts Ambassador Program works in collaboration with the Ryerson Career and Co-Op Center, The Student Experience Center, Tri-Mentoring, Student Life, The Ryerson Liberal Arts Society and other campus departments. This brings student life professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table to help Arts Ambassadors get the most out of their University experience while maintaining a strong Arts focus and sense of community.

At the end of each stage, students receive a certificate of completion.

For more information, email the Student Liaison Administrator Rahma Hilowle at rahma.hilowle@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) .

 (PDF file) Download the Arts Ambasador Program brochure.

Take the opportunity to build your skills, create friendships and become an active part of the many exciting things that are happening in the Faculty of Arts and on campus. Getting involved in campus life early on in your undergraduate studies has many benefits. Volunteer and work opportunities allow you to build friendships, develop leadership and interpersonal skills, and may lead to future volunteer and employment opportunities.

Here are just some of the ways you can get involved in your program, the Faculty of Arts, and in other on-campus activities. 

• Faculty of Arts Enrollment Workshops / Assist new students in your program with their first experience of course enrollment at Ryerson by being a volunteer for the August Faculty of Arts Enrollment Workshops.
• Faculty of Arts Orientation / As an Orientation Leader volunteer, you will help incoming Faculty of Arts students get to know the campus, learn about their program and what to expect in the first term, make connections with other students, and have fun!
• Faculty of Arts Program Representative / Represent and promote your program to prospective students at one of the many on-campus or off-campus recruitment events, such as Ontario University Fair and Discover Ryerson.
• Campus Life / Whether it's joining a student club or association, participating in sports and recreation, or becoming a mentor or orientation leader, you will find many opportunities to get involved in
  campus life.

SASSH

The Society of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (SASSH) represents all undergraduate Faculty of Arts students at Ryerson University. Founded in 2015, SASSH (recently renamed) is a student-led group that was formed to promote community within the Faculty of Arts, to create an environment where arts students can thrive in their field of study as well to give them a stronger voice within Ryerson University and the Greater Toronto Area.

The SASSH mandate is to represent, promote, and enhance the Faculty of Arts and all respective programs and to strive to protect the best interests of its members. They encourage activities and events that will enhance the educational, professional, and co-curricular experience to its members and contribute to the educational values of the University; encourage all members to become active participants in SASSH and University affairs and afford opportunity and a forum for the expression of opinions upon all questions bearing on or affecting their educational and co-curricular interests; and encourage equity and fairness for all members within the Faculty of Arts, as well as within the University and to ensure all members’ rights are protected as individuals in their education and co-curricular activities.

For more information on SASSH, or how to get involved, please visit their website: sasshonline.ca (external link, opens in new window) . 

Course Unions

Similar to SASSH, the Course Unions represent Faculty of Arts students. However, they focus on the representation of students from their specific program. Each Course Union hosts discipline related events, liaises between their students and their department and between their students and SASSH. They are responsible for making sure that the voices of their programs’ students are heard and that information from their departments that is relevant to students reaches their membership. Many Course Unions do this in collaboration with SASSH.

The Faculty of Arts has 12 Course Unions and they are for the following programs:

• Arts and Contemporary Studies
• Criminology
• English
• Environment and Urban Sustainability
• Geographic Analysis
• History
• International Economics and Finance
• Language and Intercultural Relations
• Philosophy
• Politics and Governance
• Psychology
• Sociology

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) / ASB Ryerson is an entirely student-run and locally operated group. ASB can be simply described as travelling with a purpose. Ryerson students volunteer their time and work in developing countries while they experience and learn from another culture. The program is open to all faculties, giving students an opportunity to learn from other team members' perspectives, as well as their own experience on the project.  The ASB requires dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work, but it is exciting and life-changing; not only for you, but for those you will be helping overseas. It inspires and challenges you every day, while altering your perceptions of this world and your place in it. ASB is simply an amazing experience. / Contact: asb@torontomu.ca.

Arteries Undergraduate Research Conference / Join the Arteries Committee! We are looking for enthusiastic faculty and student volunteers to plan the annual Arteries Undergraduate Research Conference. The conference is held in March and showcases the ideas and work of Ryerson students enrolled in programs and courses administered by the Faculty of Arts. We are looking for program representatives; submission coordinators; fundraisers; event planners; and general volunteers. Not enough time? Your level of involvement is up to you.  Why join? It looks great on a resume, and you'll have opportunities to network and be a team leader. / Contact: arteries@arts.ryerson.ca.

The Continuist / Hello Faculty of Arts students! The Continuist is your Faculty of Arts magazine, and we want to share your artistic efforts and build a creative community beyond your Ryerson classrooms. Our theme this year is The Hunger: working with the passions that motivate you to create and express. Whatever moves you to put pen to paper, film in your camera, or tune your piano, we want to know about it!  We've set up a new blog to ensure that you can send us your work throughout the year, as often as you like. This can range from a long-time project to your in-class doodles to YouTube links – we want it all! Please send anything and everything to thecontinuist@gmail.com.  Join us on Facebook for more updates! We have some exciting plans in the works for our events, so keep your ear to the ground!

History Club / The RHC (Ryerson History Club) creates a community for Ryerson students interested in history. We aim to be equally social and academic – a healthy mix of pub nights, movie nights, and more pub nights, as well as guest lectures and events at historic sites around Toronto. Join our Facebook group (look for the RHC – Ryerson History Club) to help put some names to faces, and check back at this website regularly for news. Finally, if you're interested in getting involved with the club on a more organizational or administrative level, we still have spaces available on our "Board of Directors". Even if you just have a suggestion, or a contact for a potential guest lecturer, we'd love to hear from you! / Contact: ryehistorysociety@gmail.com.

Philosophy Club / The Philosophy Club is interested in philosophical issues as well as critical and literary theory. Members are planning an exciting variety of upcoming projects, including seminars and special guest lectures. The Philosophy Club is a RSU student group. / Contact: phiclub@rsuonline.ca.

The Tri-Mentoring Program strives to assist Ryerson’s culturally diverse student body in their pursuit of personal goals, academic achievements and career success. The Tri-Mentoring Program aims to assist students at all levels of study in successful achievement of their goals.

Through meaningful relationships with fellow students, industry professionals and the community at large, Tri-Mentoring supports the unique needs of Ryerson’s culturally diverse student body. All participants will benefit from the opportunities to grow as a student and a person through guidance, communication, leadership and a supportive community.

Sign up to become a mentor or a mentee today!
https://ryerson.peoplegrove.com/ (external link) 

Interested in getting involved in the community? Whether you have lots of experience or are just curious and motivated, we want you to find a place in the community where you can learn and make a difference.  In addition to gaining invaluable experience, volunteering in the community:

• Provides you with a chance to apply your learning outside the classroom
• Enhances your personal development
• Helps you clarify your career goals and interests
• Gives you a chance to help others while you learn
• Allows you contribute to the development of your community
• Introduces you to individuals who will be able to attest to your skills when you apply for graduate studies, scholarships, and jobs

The Faculty of Arts INVOLVED program can help you identify your interests and skills and match them with existing community opportunities.

What’s INVOLVED?

Sign up for and come out to a Get INVOLVED workshop.  This workshop will help you explore and identify your interests, provide an overview of existing community partners and volunteer opportunities and will show you how to navigate the wide range of opportunities across the Greater Toronto Area.   Workshops are offered on an on-going basis, but registration is required since space is limited. To register, link here. 

After you have completed a Get INVOLVED workshop, you have access to the INVOLVED drop ins, where you will learn about emerging opportunities, receive help with applications, and meet others who are looking for or are active in community initiatives.  You will also have access to one-on-one support from an advisor who can help you set and meet your goals.  You will have the option to develop an e-portfolio, which serves as a valuable resource for future job searches.  Active participants are eligible to receive a letter of reference documenting their participation in the program. 

There are many benefits to participating in the INVOLVED program. You will:

• acquire a better understanding of community involvement opportunities and inroads that relate to your interests;
• receive support and feedback from a advisor who is interested in your progress and in connecting you to resources;
• have opportunities to reflect on learning experiences and skills acquired through your involvement, which can be documented in e-portfolio;
• receive a letter of reference that describes your involvement in the program.

Register for a Get INVOLVED workshop or contact the Community Liaison for more information. 

The VAST Program (Volunteers Assisting Students and Teachers) is an opportunity for Ryerson Faculty of Arts students to play a positive role in the community and gain valuable experience working with children. In partnership with local elementary schools Ryerson students serve as classroom assistants with students from JK to Grade 8. The schools are looking for Ryerson students who are committed, confident, competent and caring.

What will I do? / Typically VAST volunteers work with students in the classroom that need extra support. They may be struggling academically or simply need more attention than the teacher is able to give. You may spend your time reading with a student, helping with an assignment, leading an activity with a small group or helping the teacher gather materials to prepare a lesson.

Where is the school? / Lord Dufferin (external link)  is a 20 min walk to the East of Ryerson in Regent Park. 

When would I go? / A minimum of one morning (8:55 – 11:40 a.m.) or afternoon (12:35 – 3:15 p.m.) a week for a semester is required. The day and time depend on your schedule.

Who is eligible? / You must be an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts and have already completed the first semester of your program to participate.

What is a Police Reference Check (Vulnerable Sector Screening)? / In order to participate in the VAST Program, you will need a Police Reference Check + vulnerable sector search (PRC-VSS) clearance. The PRC-VSS is standard for those volunteering to work with children or youth. The paperwork can take up to 4 months, which is why we require applications the semester before placement. You’ll receive the PRC-VSS paperwork when you apply.

Participant Feedback

• “VAST taught me patience, helped to further develop my communication and multitasking skills and allowed me to learn about many different cultures from the children. It was rewarding being able to give back to the community near the university I attend.”

• “VAST is the most enriching and involved volunteer experience that I have personally ever been a part of. It teaches you how to handle difficult situations and how to properly support people, especially young children.”

To Apply / Contact Jill Careless, Experiential Learning Coordinator at jill.careless@torontomu.ca.