tootooba/SMU_FAQDataset huggingface dataset:
Question: Are my transfer credits applicable to any program?
Answer: Receiving transfer credit does not automatically imply that these credits can be applied to a particular program. Some programs have minimum grade requirements for a credit to apply (e.g. B.Sc. students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses for their major). Each program has a provision for elective credit, but you may receive transfer credits for more electives that can be applied to your program.
Question: Do my prior credits factor into my grade point average (GPA) at Saint Mary's University?
Answer: The grades for transfer credit do not factor into your grade point average (GPA) or in the calculations for academic distinction. Credit awarded upon admission appears on your transcript with the institution's name, course name, Saint Mary's University equivalent and a grade of TR.
Question: How can I appeal my evaluation?
Answer: Transfer Credit Office at?transfer@smu.ca.
Question: Who can I contact for more information?
Answer: General information: recruitment@smu.ca Academic advice: Arts: BAadvsing@smu.ca Business: bcomm.advising@smu.ca Science: advisor.science@smu.ca
Question: What are key scholarship deadlines?
Answer: All complete applications are assessed for entrance scholarships by March 1. Don't wait until you complete your high school or post-secondary courses before applying. Submit your application using your most recent official grades, and make sure that your final grades are submitted when they become available. Please include a list of all courses in which you are currently enrolled.
Question: What are the key timelines if I want to enroll in particular courses?
Answer: Mid-May:All accepted new students set to begin their studies in September or January can register in courses for September and the following January semesters.It is possible to change your mind or to register in courses right up to the first week of classes, but by that time your choices will be limited to courses where space is still available.
Question: How long will it take to secure my study permit and, if necessary, temporary resident permit for Canada?
Answer: This will depend on your country of residence, and where you need to apply. You can find country-specific information by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. As soon as you receive your official letter of acceptance from Saint Mary's University in the mail, begin the process of applying for your study permit.
Question: What is Epass program?
Answer: The EPass program offers an annual discounted transit Xpass, purchased by SMU employees through payroll deduction. Currently, there are two enrolment periods: one in May for July 1 XPasses and another in November for January 1 XPasses. You can find our FAQ on the EPass at the bottom of this page. If you have any additional questions, please email us at epass@smu.ca Employees who enroll in the EPass program and receive their XPass will: Reduce the number of cars on the road during rush hour traffic, experiencing less stress during their commute Save money, given that the cost of an XPass works out to approximately $3 a day Save the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution
Question: Who is eligible for EPass?
Answer: To be eligible, you must be a full-time or part-time employee of Saint Mary's University. This includes full and part-time contract employees. Casual employees and part-time faculty members are not eligible for an XPass.
Question: How do I sign up for Epass?
Answer: New Participants: Email your registration form and photo of yourself to epass@smu.ca by May 31st, 2024 New participants will have to fill out a digital registration form and provide a photo to add to their XPass. Please attach your completed registration form linked below in PDF format and attach your photo in jpg format and submit by email to epass@smu.ca Returning Participants: Email only your registration form to epass@smu.ca by Thursday, May 31st, 2024 Returning participants will only have to fill out a digital registration form. Please attach your completed registration form linked below in PDF format and submit by email to epass@smu.ca If you need assistance with your application, please contact Facilities Management by email (facilities.management@smu.ca) or in-person (MS011) and we can assist you.
Question: What is the rates for Xpass?
Answer: The monthly fee for an XPass is $61.88, and employees participating will pay by payroll deduction. The EPass program offers an annual 12-month XPass (this includes Regional Routes at no additional charge) at the discounted rate of 9 months compared to the cost of purchasing a standard monthly Halifax Transit pass
Question: What do I need to do to register for an XPass?
Answer: Fill in a registration form and take a photo of yourself. Please ensure the photo is a basic headshot of yourself with a neutral background. Submit your registration form and your photo in .jpg format to epass@smu.ca
Question: Are all employees at SMU eligible for an Xpass?
Answer: Full-time and part-time employees of Saint Mary's are eligible for an XPass. Casual employees, contractors, Aramark, SMUSA and part-time faculty employees are not eligible for an Xpass.
Question: I lost my XPass. What do I do?
Answer: A lost, stolen or damaged XPass is subject to a replacement fee of $25, which will be deducted from the employee's payroll. If your card is lost or stolen, please contact epass@smu.ca and we will work with Halifax Transit to replace your card.
Question: Why can't I register or opt-out of the program mid-year?
Answer: Saint Mary's does not set the terms and conditions of the EPass program. Saint Mary's cannot change these terms for special considerations. Due to the number of registered participants enrolled in the city-wide program, Halifax Transit requires that employees remain enrolled in the program for the full year.
Question: Does the XPass include access to Metro Transit's Park and Ride program?
Answer: Yes, the XPass includes access to this program. Parking at most Halifax lots is free except Dartmouth Sportsplex, Woodside Ferry Terminal and Alderney Gate, which have low monthly parking rates.
Question: What can I do to prevent harming people affected by scents?
Answer: You can adopt scent-free practices by avoiding perfumes, aftershaves, colognes and scented lotions, and opting for 'fragrance-free', 'scent-free' or 'unscented' versions of such personal care products as hand and body lotions, soaps, hair products and deodorants. Many scent-free personal care products can be found at your local supermarket and pharmacy. As well, there are a variety of special stores throughout the area.
Question: I know a few people who have allergies to certain foods or suffer from hay fever. But I don't know anyone who has a reaction from coming into contact with scented products. How real is this concern?
Answer: It is very real. It's well documented that the incidence of asthma is on the increase, especially in young people. In fact, there are many environmental illnessesillnesses that are triggered by things in our environment. Among the best known are spring and late summer allergies to the pollen from flowers, grasses or trees. Another is smog. Smog alerts have become common in many North American cities. It literally is not safe for some people to go outdoors on smoggy days.
Question: What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)?
Answer: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an acquired illness characterized by severe reaction to exposures easily tolerated by most individuals. Common triggers include volatile organic compounds of the sort often found in paints, cleaning products, perfumes and fragranced personal care products, gasoline and similar products, as well as such naturally-occurring substances as citrus oils and turpenes in softwood. Reactions range from sinus congestion and watery eyes through more serious reactions such as temporary rashes, flu-like symptoms with headache, nausea, and muscle or joint pain, to debilitating reactions including migraine and asthma attack. There are many theories about the cause of this illness, and at present there is much that we do not understand about the condition. But while the research continues, the only reliable way to avoid painful and dangerous reactions is for the MCS sufferer to avoid as many triggers as possible. While people with MCS are responsible for ensuring that their home environments are as free as possible from chemical triggers, they require the cooperation of others to make their classrooms, workplaces and recreational sites safe.
Question: What happens if I don't adopt scent-free practices?
Answer: You are taking the risk of possibly causing harm, perhaps even severe pain and discomfort, to someone around you; harm that could easily be avoided. Second, when employees or students miss time from work or school because of illnessasthma, allergies, migraine, MCSthere is a cost. Illness means lost productivity and lost opportunities for learning. Finally, you undermine Saint Mary's efforts to meet its moral and legal obligations to provide an environment which supports all members of the University community.
Question: I would resent being told, or feel uncomfortable telling others, what kind of personal care product to use. Isn't the request to adopt scent-free practices intrusive on the individual's right to wear whatever he or she wants?
Answer: It may at first seem that asking people to use scent-free personal care products touches on a personal and private matter. But when the scents from these products affect the health and well-being of other people, it then goes beyond just being a matter of private concerns. The goal of this awareness campaign is not to target people personally or to criticize people's preferences. Rather, it's to prevent real harm to real people.
Question: Why should I adopt scent-free practices when there isn't anyone in my unit, classroom or residence who suffers from an allergy or sensitivity? The perfume I wear and the scented products I use aren't bothering anyone.
Answer: Do you know that for a fact? Perhaps someone is suffering in silence. Or maybe you will come in contact with someone with a chemical sensitivity during the dayin the cafeteria, at the gym, in a meeting, at a concert, in the classroom, or in the library. By putting all the responsibility for coming forward on the person who is at most risk of becoming ill, you increase their chances of having a reactionthey have to approach the person wearing a scent that triggers a reaction in them, in order to tell that person to refrain from wearing the scent.
Question: If we ask people to avoid using scented products, perhaps they will stop using personal care products altogether. Poor hygiene and strong body odour might be the result. Surely we want to avoid this?
Answer: This is not the likely consequence of adopting scent-free practices. The products section offers more than 100 alternatives to scented personal care products, from the most essential (soap, shampoo, deodorant), to the additional products we rely on to make us look good and feel good (body wash, hand cream, body lotion, hairspray, gel and more).
Question: What's the difference between products labelled 'fragrance-free', 'scent-free' or 'unscented'?
Answer: These terms are used in industry virtually without restrictions. They may only mean that the product has less scent than the scented version of the same product from that manufacturer. Therefore, these labels can offer no guarantee that a product won't trigger a reaction in someone who is chemically sensitive. Nonetheless, choosing products with these labels is still safer than choosing the scented versions. While it is possible that somebody could have a reaction to your personal care product even if you've taken all precautions to avoid this outcome, the important thing is that you realize this and are prepared to react in a positive way, should this situation ever arise. For more on this, see How to Handle 'Scent-Sensitive Situations'.
Question: Another source of indoor air pollution is from exhaust fumes from idling truck and car engines near ventilation systems. What is Saint Mary's doing about that problem?
Answer: To protect air quality, notices have been posed asking motorists to shut off their engines. The University also works with firms that provide services to the University, Metro Transit, and drivers of University vehicles, to try to prevent exhaust of large vehicles from entering Saint Mary's buildings.
Question: What about the use of dangerous cleaning and maintenance chemicals in Saint Mary's buildings?
Answer: The University has dramatically altered its use of custodial and maintenance chemicals. As a matter of routine, it only uses environmentally-friendly paints and adhesives. On the custodial side, the University has systematically replaced problematic chemicals with less scented and generally safer products. In areas where more environmentally friendly products are required, every effort is made to use an appropriate product. If you have concerns about any particular product, contact Facilities Management or the safety Coordinator.
Question: What is the difference between an allergy and a sensitivity?
Answer: Physicians and the general public often use these words differently. An allergy is a condition in which exposure to material prompts the body's immune system to respond inappropriately. One can have a skin or a respiratory system allergy. For many people, the workings of the human immune system are a mystery and they sometimes report that they are allergic to something when they are adversely affected by something in their environment. The situation regarding sensitivities is even more complicated. Some people have been coming forward to report that they are adversely affected by chemical exposures in their environment. There is much we do not understand about the problems that these people experience. Because they report a wide range of adverse impacts often following exposures that most people tolerate without difficulty many of the suggested names have included the terms sensitivity or hypersensitivity.
Question: I made an account on the parking website, but I can't see any permits. What's going on?
Answer: After creating your account, it must first be validated. It takes 1-2 business days for facilities management to validate your account. After it is validated and you have received a confirmation email, you will be able to see the permits available to you.
Question: I have a hang tag, but I got a ticket. Why is that?
Answer: The Saint Mary's parking system has transitioned to a paperless model, using an online parking portal called Ops-com. All hang tags and tangible permits from previous years are no longer valid. To obtain a permit you must register an account on our online parking portal. For more information on how to buy a permit, please see the Purchase a Permitpage.
Question: Why doesn't a permit guarantee me a spot? That's not fair.
Answer: General permits are sold based on the best utilization of parking spaces available on campus. This assumes that not everyone with a permit will be on-site at the same time every day. Parking is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Most spots fill in the morning, with minimal turnover until later that day. We realize it is frustrating not being able to find a spot, but we state in our policy that purchasing a permit does not guarantee a spot.
Question: Why isn't there a parking space for everyone that has a permit?
Answer: Parking in the city is difficult to find as is. It is important to consider that thousands of students attend Saint Mary's, and the school spans merely one large block in the city. There are far more people that come to campus every day than there are spots available. For this reason, parking spots are first-come, first-served
Question: I only attend classes/come to campus a couple of times a week. What would my parking options be?
Answer: Daily, weekly and monthly parking options are no longer available to students. The most convenient spots to park would be street parking surrounding the university, metered parking, or pay & display parking in the Arena lot. Metered parking is free after 5:00 pm Monday-Friday and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Please refer to our Temporary Parking page for more information.
Question: How do I put my name on a waiting list for a permit?
Answer: Please create an account on our parking portal Ops-com, enter all your vehicle information and wait for a verification email. Once your account is verified, you will be able to put yourself on a waitlist in the permits tab on Ops-com.
Question: I purchased a permit; now where do I pick it up?
Answer: We have transitioned to an online system that no longer requires the display of hang tags for parking. Your permit will register to your license plate number on your profile, so no need to pick anything up or display anything in the car.
Question: Do I need a parking permit to park on campus in the evening or on the weekend?
Answer: Parking permits are not required in the general parking lots after 5:00 pm Monday-Friday or on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Question: Can I use my general permit to park at a meter, or in a pay & display spot?
Answer: No. General permits are not valid at meters or pay & display parking spots.
Question: I got a ticket, but I have a permit. What happened?
Answer: There could be a few reasons why you received a ticket. Check to make sure that your license plate number is registered correctly onto your Ops-com profile. It could be off by one letter or one number, and therefore does not register to your permit. Check that you are parked in the right spot. Only faculty permit holders can park in faculty designated spaces and pay & display users in their designated spaces. If you are a general permit holder, make sure you are in a general spot that is not designated for other users. Please refer to our parking map. Check on your Ops-com profile that your payment has been processed and that your permit is showing on your homepage. If you do not complete your payment, your permit will be held for 2 days, then released back into the system.
Question: I got a parking ticket, but I'm not registered on the parking website. How do I pay for it?
Answer: : Parking violations can be paid online anonymously via Guest Payment. Please visit the link below and follow these steps to make a secure online payment. http://smu.ops-com.com Navigate to the login window and select Lookup your ticket. From there, enter the ticket number, and search. Click on anonymous payment to display the payment window. Select your payment option and your email address for the receipt. Click submit payment. Enter your payment information and click pay now. Users who choose not to use the online payment option can pay their ticket in-person in the Facilities Management office - McNally South basement, room MS011.
Question: Where is my final exam?
Answer: For detailed locations of on-campus building, visit our Registration FAQs page.
Question: When will the exam schedule be posted?
Answer: The final exam schedule for the fall term is posted in early November. The winter term exam schedule is posted in early March. Summer session I and II exam schedules are posted within 3 weeks after the term begins.
Question: Where is the exam schedule posted?
Answer: The exam schedule is posted in Self Service Banner.
Question: What if I have two or more exams scheduled at the same time?
Answer: If you have an exam conflict on your schedule, contact your Academic Advising Office as soon as possible. Exam scheduling conflicts include: More than one exam scheduled at the same time. Exam(s) scheduled outside of the official exam timeframe (8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.), according to your local time. More than two exams or more than six hours of exams scheduled in one day.
Question: What happens if I miss an exam?
Answer: If for extraordinary reasons you are unable to write your final exam, submit a Deferred Exam Request to your Academic Advising Office for that course as soon as possible. Information on the deferred final exam process can be found underAcademic Regulation 10.
Question: When are my final grades posted?
Answer: In the case of courses in which no formal examination was scheduled within the formal examination period, final grades should be posted within one week from the beginning of the formal examination period. In the case of courses in which a formal examination was scheduled within the formal examination period, final grades should be posted within a week from the day on which the formal examination was written. In the case of courses taught in Summer Sessions, grades are posted no later than one week from the last day of instruction in the course.
Question: What happens when I repeat a course?
Answer: In the case of a repeated course, the highest grade is included in GPA calculations. Adjustments for repeated courses are processed after all final grades for a specified term are received. If you have retaken a course, allow 3-4 weeks after the official final exam period for your CGPA to be adjusted. Both the final grades will appear on your transcript, but the first grade of the repeated course is not included in the GPA calculation.
Question: Where do I get an unofficial transcript?
Answer: Unofficial transcripts are available online through Self Service Banner. If you need an official transcript, please complete a Transcript Request Form.
Question: What is the Student Account Centre?
Answer: The Student Account Centre is an online dashboard that provides students access to: View your student account balance; Make a payment; View payment history; Setup a payment plan; Enrol authorized users; And more!
Question: How do I access the Student Account Centre?
Answer: To access the Student Account Centre, first log on to your Self Service Banner account. Click on the Student Tab, select the Student Account tile then select the Student Account Centre link.
Question: How do I access the Student Account Centre as an Authorized User?
Answer: As an authorized user, you would have received a username and password sent to the email your student provided when they gave you access. You can view the Student Account Centre by clicking the Authorized User Access tab.
Question: How much do I owe and when is tuition due?
Answer: All term statements are available through the Student Account Center. Notifications will be sent to your SMU email address when future terms' statements are available. Tuition due dates will be listed at the bottom of your statement and can be found in the Academic Calendar of Events.
Question: What are my online tuition payment options?
Answer: You can make online bank payments by Pre-authorized debit through Student Account Centre.
Question: How do I make payemnt through student acoount centre?
Answer: To make a payment, click the Make a Payment tab on the home page of the Student Account Center. You will have the option to pay the full current account balance or make a partial payment by identifying a specific dollar amount.
Question: How do I know my payment through the SAC was made?
Answer: Once payment is approved, a payment confirmation screen will appear. This screen displays the amount paid and provides a reference number for the transaction. You will also receive an email to your SMU email address with the same information. This can serve as your receipt. If payment is not approved, check your bank account to ensure sufficient funds are available and try again.
Question: How do I set up a payment plan?
Answer: Payment Plans can be set-up by the student through the Student Account Center.?Applications are available under the Payment Plan option. You must complete the online application each semester, pay any setup fees and agree to the terms and conditions before the plan is in effect. If you have a previous term balance, you will not be eligible to enrol in a pla