It’s not just Flu season, its Sick note season!

It’s that time of year again, when students start getting stressed about big midterms and big assignments being due. It’s also the time of year when many of us start getting sick. There is sometimes a little bit of confusion around what to do if you are too sick to go to class, and you have a big test that day, or even worse: if you get sick the day of a big final exam.

Students who require a sick note for their professor should contact Student Health at Saint Mary’s, or your family doctor. Student Health is located on the 4th floor of the Student Centre. The Nurse, Jane, can fill out a sick note for you. It’s best to phone the health centre the day you are sick and let them know. Their phone number is 420-5611 or 496-8778. They can make a note in your file, it saves you from coming to campus when you are sick, and you won’t be spreading whatever you have around to other people. Then, the next day, or when you are feeling better, you can come in and get your sick note filled out.

The nurse commonly fills out sick notes to keep the doctors from charging you and the health plan a lot of money. Costs can double or triple of you are an international student. If your professor requires the note be filled out by a doctor, it can be arranged too. Don’t bother going to the emergency room at the hospital for a sick note, spending tons of time waiting, and tons of money to see the doctor.

Don’t fail a class or do poorly on an exam just because you are sick and the professor didn’t accept your excuse. Make sure you know your rights as a student, and make sure you get your sick note if you need one! Some professors require it be filled out on the day you were sick by your doctor, while others just want something to file away. If your note isn’t accepted, take it back to the health centre and talk to the nurse, or talk to me, your VP Academic. Ask your professors before you get sick to find out what they require, just in case that flu bug strikes at a bad time.

Make sure you know what to do if you’re sick. Get well soon!

Graduating this fall??

This is a reminder to all students who will be attending convocation this Fall. Don’t forget to invite all your professors and other Faculty to Convocation. Convocation will take place this Sunday, October 26th. It is a very special day for many graduating students who are finishing up 4 or 5 long years of hard work. To many students, having faculty represented on stage is very important. Students get to see many of the mentors and inspiring people who have helped them along the way while at Saint Mary’s. Congrats to all the graduates!

Share your awesome cheap text book stories!

Do you know any faculty or staff on your campus who have made a commitment to keeping the price of academic materials low for students?

Do you have any stories about any creative initiatives taken by local groups or associations that are making a difference at your University in regards to textbook costs?

We want to hear your stories!! Log on to - www.theCRAM.ca - and connect to the FORUM (upper right hand corner), register for a portal name and document how local efforts are changing the way post-secondary institutions are taking on the academic materials issue. We need lots of Saint Mary’s students to log on and share! Here is an example from the University of Calgary:

"The U of C Students' Union Faculty of Science representative (Ms. Mohajer) asked me if I ever had a professor that helps students by cutting some of the course costs. I am currently enrolled in Psyc 369: Sensation and Perception, and the professor (His name is Charles Thomas Scialfa) provided us with an online textbook so we did not have to buy one. We had 24/7 access to the text, we could print out certain portions of it if we needed, saving me about $80. I was very appreciative of the fact that I did not have to spend another $100 for at least one of my 5 courses." - Malik El-Bekai

So, log onto the forum and share your stories! Or send them to vpacademic@smusa.ca

Balancing school with paying for school

My friend was interviewed by Metro, one of the local daily newspapers. It shows a pretty accurate example of how students are struggling with attending school while paying for school at the same time. Don't forget about all the academic resources on campus to help keep your marks up, like the Library, Student services, and the SMUSA Tutor database!

Student life a juggling act - Skipping class to do course work or go to a job not an uncommon practice
JON TATTRIE

Originally published in 'Metro', October 14, 2008

It’s hard work putting yourself $40,000 in debt; ask Chelsea Adams. The 22-year-old Saint Mary’s University student is taking an honours in environmental studies and a major in biology.

In addition to her 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. role as a student, she’s working 20 hours a week at three jobs. Nova Scotia tuition is among the highest in Canada: Adams pays more than $6,000 a year. Living expenses put that at more than $12,000.

“It’s stressful,” she says, “but I know other people are in the same boat. It’s a rough time now, in the hope that in the end, I’ll get a better job.”

The first casualty of the super-busy student is studying. She sometimes has to skip class to do course work, and “during class, I’m not sitting there absorbing things. I’m doing my homework for my next class.

“You stay up late, get up early — whenever you can fit it in.”

Fuelled by power drinks, the P.E.I. native puts in four or five all-nighters each semester just to get the work done.

Adams also volunteers every week at the Teach English as a Second Language centre and at a cat-rescue clinic.

“You have to,” she says. “On your resumé, education is just part of it. Volunteer work is as important as your marks.”

Part of the problem is that bursaries and scholarships go to students pulling in high GPAs, Adams says. The money gives them time to maintain a 4.0 and volunteer, because they don’t have to work.

“The people who need the money don’t have time to volunteer and don’t have time to study 24/7,” she says.

Asked to imagine a life where she didn’t have to work 20 hours a week and volunteer on top of her studies, she laughs.

“Obviously, my grades would go up. There’s no doubt in my mind. It’s not so much the time, it’s the stress and pressure of it all.”

But she doesn’t regret coming to Nova Scotia. She wanted to study in a big city near home; Halifax, despite its punishing tuitions, was the best option.

And after all that work and money earn Adams her degree in January, she’s heading back to school.

“You can’t get anything with a degree these days,” she explains, so she’s pursuing a master’s.


For the original link the the story, click here: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/learn/article/125383

Cheaper textbook campaign

Yesterday, we had SMUSA representatives in the lobby of the student centre take over the four computers. The homepages were set to www.cheapertextbooks.ca and students were encouraged to log on and send the federal candidates in their riding an email outlining how they can help with the issue of cheaper textbooks. About 70 students participated throughout the day. We also sent information to the RAs and Res students and had announcements and posters in all computer labs across campus.


Matt Anderson sits at a table in the Student Centre lobby encouraging students to log onto the website.


Students send their federal candidates an email explaining why textbooks are too expensive and how they can help if they get elected.

Cheaper Textbooks!

A federal election means that politicians are listening. It is important to reach out to them and explain how a simple regulatory change will mean more money in your pocket, without them having to spend a single tax dollar. Click on the link below to find a web form that lets you send candidates in your riding a message asking them to support lower textbook prices. Please take a second to fill it out, and help make textbooks cheaper.

http://www.cheapertextbooks.ca/

Tutor Database!

All about the SMUSA Online Tutor Database

The SMUSA Online Tutor Database was designed for students looking for a tutor and for students looking to become a tutor. The database, which was set up online only a few years ago, is an important resource for students. Registering to be a tutor and looking for a tutor is free! SMUSA posts the information and sets the rules. It is up to the tutor and the student to arrange meetings, location, and any charges or transactions. There are categories and tutors listed for almost all majors, as well as a new category for student looking to receive help with proofreading and editing.

There are several terms for the database that helps the process to be more efficient and reliable. Tutors registered will provide a free 20 minute consultation with the student. The maximum amount a tutor can charge is $15 per hour. Tutors must have an A- average or above in the classes in which they wish to tutor.
Not doing as well as you would like in a class? Or just looking for some extra help? Go to www.smusa.ca and click on the Tutor Database tab on the left-hand site. Clock “Search”, and begin you search for a tutor. There are many benefits of searching for a tutor through the SMUSA database. You will be finding a tutor who is also a student and who has taken the class already and got a good mark. The service is also very affordable for students on a tight budget.

Looking to become a tutor? To apply to the tutor database, go to www.smusa.ca and click on the Tutor Database tab on the left-hand side. Click “Apply” and fill out your information. After you application is received, you will get an email asking for a letter of reference and your transcript. The letter can be from another student in one of your classes or a professor. You can copy and paste your transcript off of Banner into an email to make things easier. SMUSA will only be stamping posters for registered tutors, so if you want to post your information around campus, make sure you register with us. Students wishing to charge for tutoring must also register with SMUSA before they can book rooms on campus with Conference Services. This is a great way to help out your fellow students and make some extra cash.