By joining the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (EEB) Second-Year Learning Community (SLC) you will be surrounded by a small community of second-year students who are learning to navigate their academic and co-curricular pathways to make the most of their experiences as an EEB student. The SLC program is designed to help you make the most out of your degree by engaging in various social, academic and professional development opportunities.
For more information about EEB, visit the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology website.
Apply to a Ecology & Evolutionary Biology SLC
SLC applications are currently closed for the 2023-24 academic year, and they will reopen in Summer 2024.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the EEB SLC you must be a second-year student enrolled in any of the following EEB programs:
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (Specialist, Major)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (Major)
- Environmental Biology (Major)
- Quantitative Biology (Major)
- Biology (Specialist, Major), with majority of courses being EEB-related
SLC Course Overview
Students in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology SLC will meet at a welcome session during the first week of classes and then every other week starting September 18, 2023.
Time: Every other week on Fridays from 12 pm to 1:30 pm
Location: TBD
Your SLC Team
Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Title: Associate Professor and Associate Chair Undergraduate
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: 10
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Zoology & Math, University of Toronto
Hometown: Sharon, ON
Why you decided to serve as a faculty advisor: I've been a faculty advisor for a few First-Year Learning Communities and I appreciate the sense of community they can generate for students. I'm happy to try to help make this happen for second-year students too!
One piece of advice for a second-year student: There are no (or at least few) wrong decisions. If you don't like where things are heading, you can make a different decision.
Hobby or interest: Yoga and running modest distances
Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Title: Undergraduate and Student Outreach Coordinator
Years worked for your current department and/or U of T: Nine years at U of T; five at EEB
Undergraduate major/specialist and institution: Anthropology & Communications, York University
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Why you decided to serve as a staff advisor: I believe that a sense of community is crucial to student success. Second-year students are new to our programs and department and sometimes can feel isolated and lack a sense of direction. SLCs provide an inclusive, supportive community to collaborate, learn and grow. I am honoured to serve as the staff advisor for the SLC to help students find their place in EEB.
One piece of advice for a second-year student: Make the most of the resources that are available to you!
Hobby or interest: Just started a beginner pottery class and enjoying it very much!
Title: Peer Mentor
Program: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Specialist, Molecular Genetics Major, Environmental Science Minor
Year: Fourth Year
College: Woodsworth College
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
An interesting fact: I am constantly around, studying, and/or physically in bodies of water. I swam competitively for the majority of my childhood and now play water polo and teach lots of swim lessons. When I’m not physically in the water, I’m contemplating life as a freshwater aquatic organism and/or studying them.
Studies: I absolutely love learning about the world around me from many perspectives and lenses and integrating them together. Seeing how humans are impacting the environment is not always the most joyful thing to learn about, but it's so important to understand our impact on the world from a social human perspecitve as well as an ecological one. I also get to gather tons of environmental “fun facts” that I can dump on unsuspecting people.
Hobby or interest: I have played french horn for the past 11 years! I play with many groups around U of T and you'll likely see me hauling my horn case around campus.
Title: Peer Mentor
Program: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Specialist
Year: Third Year
College: Victoria College
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
An interesting fact: I learnt to scuba dive when I was 12.
Studies: One thing that I love about studying EEB at U of T is the emphasis on current research. I love learning about recent publications and ongoing work in my lectures.
Hobby or interest: I spend most of my free time either reading or cross stitching.
Alumni Testimonials
“I think the most important thing I learned with the program was to think strategically about my undergrad (i.e courses, work-study, volunteering) and how I want them to help me in the future. I’ve applied this learning for choosing what I want to pursue in the summer as well as research opportunities.” – SLC EEB Mentee
“Being in the EEB SLC was a fantastic opportunity to meet other EEB students. It was so helpful being able to hear about and better understand course selection, research opportunities, internships and many other EEB-related opportunities. Getting recommendations from our mentors, as well as, meeting and hearing from other current and graduated EEB students was both useful and reassuring that I’m on the right path.” – SLC EEB Mentee
“I am so grateful for all the advice and peer support I gained from the EEB SLC program. The mentors made my second-year much more approachable through open conversation about their experiences and also fun activities. Due to the mentors’ and my fellow mentees’ support, I gained the confidence to apply and achieve a summer research position! I also learned so much more about the vast web of opportunities and courses the EEB program provides. For anyone considering joining, there is so much to gain from this community!“ – SLC EEB Mentee