INFORM: Inclusive Futures in Information Science is a two-year pilot program led by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information. It introduces high school students from historically underrepresented communities to academic and career opportunities in data science, archival studies, digital humanities, and related fields. Through school visits, campus tours, workshops, hybrid modules, and student-led panels, INFORM demystifies the field and promotes university as accessible and achievable. To support the transition to post-secondary education, students receive tailored guidance on university applications, funding, and academic expectations. Each participant is paired with a mentor from the Bachelor of Information (BI) community and gains skills through workshops in writing, research, and critical thinking.
Focus
- Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Features
- Alumni engagement
- Community engagement
- Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
- Participant incentive(s) (e.g., expense reimbursement, bursaries, scholarships)
- Wrap-around services (e.g. provision of food, skills development workshops, writing centre and library access, etc.)
Timeframe
- Fall Term
- Summer
- Winter Term
Participants
Ages
- High school students