FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Guiding Students Online

Student Success Online

The Student Success Centre has developed a website with tips for online learning success for students. Co-developed by academic skills experts and University Technology Services (UTS), this is the place to find tips, tools and resources to support student academic success online.

 

With enough information and a little bit of guidance, students will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of online learning.

 

Access the Student Success Centre – Online Learning Support Page

Resources

Learning in Colour

Learning in Colour aims to consolidate information, resources and guidance for university community members regarding the cultivation of safer classroom and campus spaces informed by the experiences and narratives of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students.

Emergency Financial Support for Students

No money for food, rent, utilities or uninsured medical/dental expenses? Pending eviction from your rental residence? Emergency support is available to support you.

Back to Mac

This is your return to in-person on campus at McMaster and all current COVID updates. The Back to Mac website has ongoing COVID-19 reporting and campus updates for students, faculty and staff.

Student Wellness Centre

Student Wellness provides a range of counselling options, medical services and wellness programs so students can get the most out of their McMaster experience.

McMaster Student Experience App

A webportal for both virtual and in-person student-centred activities and events brought to you by Student Affairs and the MSU.

Archway Program

A McMaster program to support incoming first-year students during these times of uncertainty.

Financial Resources for Students

Find information on OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, work programs and more.

New to Mac

Mac 101: Introduction to university life

In July, the Student Success Centre facilitated a week-long program for incoming first-year students: Mac101: Introduction to University Life (July 20–27). Introductory sessions covered learning strategies, skills, programs, tools and campus resources. Session recordings are available on the Student Success Centre website.

 

View Mac 101 recordings

 

 

Academic Skills

The Academic Skills team helps students develop their academic and personal management skills, including reading, writing, studying, online learning and time management. They promote resource-seeking behaviour and encourage academic growth at all skill levels. Highlights include: One-on-one support from academic coaches, writing advisors, and academic skills professional staff, skills development workshops, both regularly scheduled and available by faculty request, and a tutoring program for course-specific support.

 

The following digital brochures — one for students and one for faculty — provide details of their programming:

Academic Skills Development: A Guide for Undergrad Students 2020–21 (PDF)
Academic Skills Development: A Guide for Faculty and Staff 2020–21 (PDF)

 

Access the Student Success Centre – Writing and Academic Skills Page

Resources for Indigenous Students

Indigenous students in all programs are welcome to connect with our office in LR Wilson Hall 1811, Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 4:30pm & Friday 12:00pm to 4:30pm.

 

Students can subscribe to our Indigenous Student Services mailing list and are invited to schedule an appointment with Jade Johnson, Senior Advisor, indigsc@mcmaster.ca to learn more about our programs and services or visit the Indigenous Student Services website. You can also follow Indigenous Student Services on Instagram.

 

If you are a current Indigenous student at McMaster and do not have reliable internet contact Kari Hill issrec@mcmaster.ca to let us know as there are supports available to assist you.

 

Peer Support Groups

Indigenous Two-Spirit & LGBTQ community members aged 16+ virtual sharing & social circle

A new peer support group facilitated by Peer Outreach Worker, River Holland-Valade (They/Them) is now avaialble via De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre. This peer group is specifically for Indigenous Two-Spirit & LGBTQ community members aged 16+. It will be a biweekly virtual sharing & social circle taking place online through a secure online meeting platform. Please contact River Holland-Valade in order to receive the link.

 

Indigenous Chronic Illness & Chronic Pain Peer Support Group

Are you Indigenous and living with chronic illiness?  Feeling more isolated than ever due to the pandemic?  Connect with others like you…Anyone who self-identifies as Indigenous, living with a chronic illness/chronic health condition (no professional diagnosed required) and lives in Hamilton, Brantford or Niagara regions are welcome to join this group. Please contact River Holland-Valade in order to register.

 

Contact River Holland-Valade in order to register.
Cell: 289-683-1452 (Call/Text)
email:  rholland-valade@dahac.ca

Instructor Resources for Students

Student Focused Accessibility Resources

As McMaster courses and meetings are transitioning to online and virtual spaces, we want to ensure that all students, and particularly those with disabilities, have the resources and supports for academic success.

 

Access student focused accessibility resources

 

 

Virtual Computer Access for Students via the Library

The Library is providing McMaster users with remote access to dozens of software programs installed on the public computers in Mills, Innis and Thode libraries, as well as to the specialized media creation software available on the computers in the Lyons New Media Centre.

 

Connect remotely to library computers

 

 

Student Technology Support and Resources

UTS has created a webpage outlining key technology information and resources for students. The page provides online security recommendations, device recommendations, common tools and VPN for international students. This is the one-stop-shop for student technology support at McMaster.

 

Access Student Technology Support and Resources

 

 

Bookable Study Spaces

A limited number of bookable study spaces will be available to provide students with physically-distanced workspaces and dependable wi-fi – away from the noise and distractions of their living quarters.

 

The study space in Mills Library will be available Monday through Friday, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., starting Sept. 14.  All visits must be booked in advance (no drop-ins are permitted). Students must wear face masks, complete the COVID-19 Awareness Training in Mosaic in advance, and complete the provincial COVID-19 self-assessment tool one hour before coming to campus. Additional information about how to book the space will be shared soon on the library website. The Health Sciences Library will also open bookable space, beginning Sept. 8.

 

Additional information about booking and safety requirements will be posted on the Health Sciences Library later this week. Contact hslib@mcmaster.ca for more information.

 

Book a Study Room

 

 

Online Proctoring Privacy FAQs for Students

The implementation of Respondus as a tool at McMaster University has raised many questions among our campus community members. The university will endeavour to update the information on the Proctoring Privacy page regularly based on new inquiries and changes in policy.

 

 

Information on McMaster Microsoft 365 Student Email

McMaster Mail (powered by Microsoft 365) is the email and calendaring service for the McMaster community. All accounts have now been migrated to Microsoft 365, stay tuned to this page for upcoming information.

 

Student Email: Microsoft 365 Support

Student Technology Overviews

Student Focused Video Playlist

Looking to guide students through the various technology platforms at McMaster? These helpful student focused overviews give students a sense of most of the major technology platforms used in teaching at McMaster University. Individual videos can be sent directly to students by clicking on the video and sending the URL.

 

View the video playlist

 

 

Learn how to navigate Brightspace Pulse, including how to access courses, view upcoming due dates, utilize the calendar and more.

 

View Tutorial video