Black Youth Mentorship Program in Medicinal Chemistry
APUF Funded in 2022
Through this initiative, Black high school students are introduced to the wonders of science, helping to address barriers and combat discouragement often encountered in science-based academic and career paths. It offers opportunities to explore diverse fields, gain independence, and develop critical scientific and life skills, such as confidence and resilience. This program aligns with unit, division, and institutional goals to promote STEM education among Black students from underrepresented communities. It leverages extensive experience in engaging youth and recruiting students to the University of Toronto. Over the past nine years, this program has made a tangible impact, motivating many Black high school students to enroll at UTM.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
Community engagement
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
Tutoring & mentorship
Timeframe
March Break
Summer
Participants
Ages
High school students
Groups
Racialized students
Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS)
APUF Funded in 2020
Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) is Canada’s leading law school youth access diversity pipeline program and is recognized as a leader across North America. LAWS operates as an education engagement and support program for high school students facing barriers to access due to personal and systemic factors, including low socioeconomic status, race, culture, newcomer status, living in low-income neighborhoods, and being the first in their families to consider postsecondary. From workshops, mentoring programs and more, LAWS increases legal knowledge, self-advocacy, leadership, and belonging. Housed at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, LAWS was established in 2005 as a partnership with the Toronto District School Board. LAWS’ overarching goal is to increase the diversity of the legal sector, as well as broaden perspectives and experiences shaping the justice system and community.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
Academic credit: dual
Career exploration
Community engagement
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
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
Groups
First-generation students
Low-income students
Newcomers to Canada
Racialized students
Students from communities with limited access to post-secondary education (e.g. rural or remote communities)
Students requiring outreach/transition support
Law Youth Summer Program (YSP)
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law offers high school students a unique law school experience through the Law YSP summer camp. This program features seven week-long modules, providing unique exposure to various areas of law, including corporate law, criminal law, international law, and social justice. Students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 spend their summer discussing advanced legal concepts, learning about the reality of the Canadian legal system, and applying their knowledge in a variety of stimulating environments. For high school students interested in the law and legal issues, the Law YSP offers an unprecedented opportunity to spend time in the fascinating world of Canadian and international law, legal thinking and advocacy.
Focus
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
Career exploration
Community engagement
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
Participant fee(s)
Timeframe
March Break
Summer
Participants
Ages
High school students
Black Future Lawyers
APUF Funded in 2019
Black Future Lawyers (BFL) represents a groundbreaking collaboration involving UofT Law, the Black Law Students Association, Black alumni, and the wider legal community. BFL provides support and engagement opportunities for Black undergraduate students aspiring to attend law school and pursue legal careers. The initiative aims to boost the number of Black students attending law school and joining the legal profession.
The BFL Annual Conference is a dynamic and empowering one-day undergraduate conference. This event aims to provide valuable insights, resources, and networking opportunities to support Black students on their journey to law school and beyond.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
Alumni engagement
Career exploration
Community engagement
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
Timeframe
Evenings
Fall Term
Weekends
Winter Term
Participants
Ages
Undergraduate students
Groups
Racialized students
Summer Mentorship Program
The Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) is a unique initiative designed for high school students who are Indigenous or identify as Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, or multi-racial with connections to Black heritage. Participants join hands-on activities, experiments, lectures, and specialized projects led by professionals at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. They explore fields such as Nursing, Public Health, Social Work, Dentistry, Kinesiology, Physiotherapy, and Medicine, among others. Additionally, participants can shadow professionals during clinical placements at hospitals across the Greater Toronto Area. Each student is paired with a mentor—an undergraduate or recent graduate from a health sciences program—offering personalized guidance on post-secondary pathways.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Secondary school students with low credit accumulation and/or achievement rates
Students from communities with limited access to post-secondary education (e.g. rural or remote communities)
Indigenous Peer Mentorship Group
The Indigenous Peer Mentorship Group (IPMG) was created to build community among new to UTM Indigenous students while introducing them to supports and services around campus that foster their holistic well-being during a transitional time in their education journeys. Additionally, this program is designed to empower Indigenous Students in their identities and create a space for open dialogue on similar experiences. Participating students attend workshops and events with upper-year Indigenous students who offer mentorship, coaching, and advice based on their post-secondary experiences.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Retention & Persistence: help participants complete and graduate from postsecondary programs
Features
Academic success
Career exploration
Community engagement
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
Tutoring & mentorship
Wrap-around services (e.g. provision of food, skills development workshops, writing centre and library access, etc.)
Timeframe
Fall Term
Winter Term
Participants
Ages
Graduate students
Mature students
Undergraduate students
Groups
Indigenous students
Black Engaging Faculty Event
Black Engaging Faculty Events (EFE)  are facilitated experiences meant to provide connection and visibility to Black faculty on campus. This event allows students to network and build relationships with peers and faculty through intentional activity and conversation.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Retention & Persistence: help participants complete and graduate from postsecondary programs
Features
Academic success
Career exploration
Community engagement
Timeframe
Evenings
Fall Term
Winter Term
Participants
Ages
Undergraduate students
Groups
Racialized students
SEE @ UTM
Support, Engage, Experience University of Toronto Mississauga (SEE UTM) is an access program and collaboration between the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and Peel District School Board. SEE UTM aims to make post-secondary education more accessible to students who come from communities historically underrepresented at UTM. These students may have been marginalized due to socio-economic status, race or ethnicity, family history, or other factors but have the potential, given the opportunity, to excel. Students experience university education, earn an OSSD, and university credit at University of Toronto Mississauga.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Features
Academic credit: dual
Academic success
Career exploration
Experiential learning (e.g., co-op, internship, design challenges, field trips, etc.)
Participant fee(s)
Tutoring & mentorship
Wrap-around services (e.g. provision of food, skills development workshops, writing centre and library access, etc.)
Timeframe
Fall Term
Participants
Ages
High school students
Groups
Racialized students
Indigenous Access Day
APUF Funded in 2024
Indigenous Access Days is an initiative aimed at giving Indigenous students the opportunity to experience the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus and become familiar with the support and services available at UTM and other institutions. This program is intended to empower Indigenous students to view post-secondary education as a viable option by demonstrating how the integration of traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western education can uplift our respective communities. During Indigenous Access Days, students are introduced to various academic, cultural, social, and financial supports and programs at UTM, such as the Indigenous Tuition Waiver, Indigenous Student Support Specialist, and Indigenous Counsellors.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Outreach & Engagement: increase awareness and understanding of post-secondary pathways
Features
Alumni engagement
Career exploration
Community engagement
Tutoring & mentorship
Timeframe
Fall Term
Participants
Ages
High school students
Groups
Indigenous students
UTM Bridging Pathway (UTMBP) Mentorship Program
The U of T Mississauga Bridging Pathway (UTMBP) provides mature students (over 20 years of age) with the opportunity to gain admission to undergraduate studies, even if they do not meet traditional admission requirements and have been away from formal education for some time. Participants can choose to join a mentorship program that includes peer mentorship, transitional workshops, and community-building events.
Focus
Access & Transition: promote successful academic and social transitions to post-secondary education
Retention & Persistence: help participants complete and graduate from postsecondary programs