tootooba/SMU_FAQDataset huggingface dataset:
Question: How can students, staff, and faculty help with enforcement?
Answer: All students, staff, and faculty have collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and, therefore, share in the responsibility of enforcement. We are offering a polite and cooperative campaign and as such, have developed thank you cards. The cards read: Reminder that Saint Mary's University is a tobacco-free campus. Thank you for helping make our University a healthier place! We appreciate your cooperation. These cards are held at all front-line service and information desks for departments to hand out across campus. We encourage everyone to take some cards and hand them out as you move about the campus on your daily journey. They can be used to thank people who are respecting the policy by using tobacco off property or as a reminder for people using tobacco on property. We need everyone's cooperation to make the policy work across our campus. We are optimistic that students, staff, and faculty will all champion the message behind the policy and do their parts by promoting good will as they ask individuals to nicely move off campus. The following are suggested scripts to use as a helpful guide to promote the policy: Example Script #1: Situation: You see a person using a tobacco product on University property. Response: "Hello. I want to make you aware that we are a tobacco-free campus. Use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited on our grounds. We would appreciate it if you would not use tobacco products while visiting our campus. Thank you for your cooperation." Example Script #2: Question: "Where am I allowed to smoke?" Response: "If you need to use tobacco-related products you will need to leave the campus. Example Script #3: Situation: For registration, admission, and front-line office staff who are speaking to students and families: "I'd like to let you know that our campus is a tobacco-free environment. Use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited on our grounds. We would appreciate if you would not use tobacco products while visiting our campus. Thank you for your cooperation." If you do not feel comfortable approaching individuals, or experience rude comments and/or aggressive behaviour from tobacco users after approaching them, you may report individuals anonymously to Security at 420-5577. Security will advise individuals of the policy and ask that they refrain from using tobacco products on campus.
Question: How will the policy be enforced?
Answer: University Security will advise the individual of the policy and ask the individual to leave campus. The University Security officers are authorized to issue notices for violations of the policy. If the individual does not leave, or is a repeat offender, University Security will request the person's identification and complete an incident form. If the individual does not provide identification, University Security will ask the person to leave campus. The University Security Office will give out notices, much like the parking notices, as well as track these notices to identify repeat offenders. After three violations, names of individuals will go back to the appropriate Supervisor. University Security will forward names of: Students to the Senior Director of Student Services (420-5761) Staff to the Senior Director of Human Resources who will forward the complaint to the appropriate manager (420-5564) Faculty to the Senior Director of Human Resources (420-5564); who will forward the complaint to the Office of the Vice-President of Academic and Research Visitors to the Department being visited Employees of contractor to the Senior Director of Facilities Management. (420-5572) Complaints may be also reported to University Security at 420-5577. Our University residences have been smoke-free for a number of years and will remain so under this new tobacco-free campus policy. Residence staff (including RSOs, RCs, RAs, and administrators) are authorized to issue fines and/or citations for violations of residence smoking policies and the tobacco-free campus policy within the residence complex. The Tobacco Policy Working Committee will evaluate reports of repeated offenders, neighborhood concerns, and overall policy issues and will recommend actions for resolution.
Question: Is there a place on campus where individuals can smoke?
Answer: There is a small outdoor area which is restricted to students who live in Residence. We have created a small pilot area which only operates from 10 pm until 6 am. This area is intended only for those students living in Residence and still need to remain in a safe area. The Tobacco Policy Working Committee will evaluate the value of this pilot area.
Question: What efforts will be made towards educating stakeholders and departments about the policy?
Answer: The InBalance Health & Wellness Program Coordinator will be providing ongoing orientations and education across the University. For visitors, we believe reminders about the tobacco-free campus will be important. The University will provide on-going messaging on University affiliated materials, website, conference and vendor contracts, and as part of its various sporting events. The InBalance Health & Wellness Program Coordinator is also working closely with various Student groups, including the International Student Centre staff and volunteers, to ensure that we bring awareness and expectations of the policy forward to all students. In addition, SMUSA (Student Union Association), TARS (Tobacco & Alcohol Research Society) and the Coordinator will be offering various activities towards an awareness campaign for all students.
Question: What about concerns from the neighbors?
Answer: The University asks that our students, staff, and faculty help maintain a positive relationship with the neighbors who border the campus. We encourage respect for neighboring properties and ask tobacco users to refrain from congregating in large groups on sidewalks to smoke. We raise this as we want to avoid creating a lot of noise, littering with tobacco products, or even generating a cloud of second-hand smoke for people to walk through. We also ask that individuals be extremely careful not to use tobacco products around the day care and nearby schools where children and families are close by.
Question: Where is the Records Centre Located?
Answer: The Records Centre is a part of the University Archives, located on the 3rd floor of the Patrick Power Library.
Question: What kind of material is sent to the Records Centre?
Answer: The records centre is the place to send your semi-active records. These are records that are no longer in day-to-day use by your department but may need to be accessed from time to time. After a record is no longer used at all it is considered to be inactive. It will usually be kept on file for a while after it becomes inactive for a variety of reasons (i.e. legal necessity). This is its retention period. No record stays in the Records Centre permanently. Examples of the kind of semi-active records that can be sent to the Records Centre include: student records for students no longer involved with your department, staff files for recent former employees, official correspondence from previous years, etc.
Question: Should I send my files to the Archival Collection instead of the Records Centre?
Answer: The Archival Collection is for inactive records that have a permanent historical value. It is not expected that these records will need to be used by the department, though they are still available. Archival material will be available to researchers using the archives, subject to any restrictions put on them by the department.
Question: Do I lose access to files I send to you?
Answer: No. Each department retains control of any material deposited with the records centre. They can request material from the records centre at any time Using theRecord Access Request Form. Please fill out a Department Retrieval Authorization Formif you want people other than the person whose name is on theTransfer Formto have access to the material.
Question: Who can look at material in the Records Centre?
Answer: Material in the Records Centre is considered to be restricted, and people from other departments and researchers will not be able to access the material without getting permission from your department first.
Question: How are Freedom of Information/Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) requests handled?
Answer: The Records Centre does not directly handle FOIPOP requests for material deposited with us. Formal FOIPOP requests are subject to formal procedures and regulations, and are handled in confidence in consultation with the appropriate departments and individuals. The current FOIPOP Administrator is Suzanne van den Hoogen, University Librarian. She can be reached at 420-5532.
Question: How do I prepare material for delivery to the Records Centre?
Answer: All loose material should be in clearly identified files, with everything packed in file boxes. Ideally, the boxes should be 15"x12"x10" file boxes ("banker's boxes"). Each box should have a packing list attached indicating its contents. Bound volumes and binders do not need to be in file folders but do need to be clearly identified. There is a more detailed description of the transfer process elsewhere on this site, as well as copies of the required forms.
Question: How do I get access to my material?
Answer: Consult ourrecords retrieval proceduresand fill out aRecord Access Request Formand send it to the Archives. The material will be retrieved from the Records Centre and made available to the department.
Question: Can I change the retention period of material in the Centre, or request that material be permanently returned to us?
Answer: Absolutely. If you wish to change retention schedule(s) simply fill out a newRecord Disposition Scheduleand forward it to us.
Question: Does material stay in the Records Centre indefinitely?
Answer: No. All material, at the end of its retention period, is disposed of. Disposal can mean transfer to the Archival Collection (for permanent records of long term historical value) or destruction of the material. The decision on how to dispose of the records will be made by the department, in consultation with the Archives if needed. Nothing will be destroyed without the department being given advance notice.
Question: What kind of programs and events does residence have?
Answer: Res AfterDark: interactive weekly events at night to bring students together and provide safe opportunities to have fun with other residence students. Adulting 101: educational programming to teach students life skills RA special projects: including the annual Battle of the Floors, science fair, Trick or Eat and Talent show Committee events: a mixture of events from our Multicultural Committee and RainBEAU Committee
Question: How can I get involved in residence more than just going to events?
Answer: There are ample opportunities to get involved in residence outside of attending events. We have 2 residence committees: the Multicultural Committee and RainBEAU Committee, who recruit members at the beginning of term and throughout the year. At the end of your first year if you love being involved in the residence community you can also apply to be an RA!
Question: What can I go to my RA for? What are their job requirements?
Answer: 3 events per month (mixture of educational and social) 2 floor meetings per month Source of resources and assistance when necessary RAs are meant to be a support for students on their floor, and provide resources when necessary to assist in a student's transition to residence. Additionally, RAs must plan 3 events per month for their floor, both educational and social, and have 2 meetings a month to connect with and inform their floor about upcoming events in residence.
Question: What resources are available on campus for residence students?
Answer: Counselling Centre RAs Writing Centre Career Services There are a wide variety of resources available on campus for any students wishing to access them. Saint Mary's has free counselling services in the student union building, as well as career services for any future planning needs. RAs are available to their floor members when needed for support and to provide additional resources when needed.
Question: How can I stay informed about residence life?
Answer: Residence Life is active on most forms of social media to keep you updated about upcoming events. Follow us on Instagram, and like our Facebook Page, plus subscribe to our Res Top 5 email list to never miss and event!
Question: How do I place a work order?
Answer: If you are a departmental secretary or administrator, you should have a login to the Que Centre Work Order system. At http://www4.quecentre.com/smu/Login.aspx, you can log in and click "Create Work Order" under the Work Order menu. If you do not have a login and want to place a work order, contact us at facilities.management@smu.ca to get a login account or contact your departmental secretary or administrator and he/she can place the work order for you. Click here to learn more about using Que Centre.
Question: Who do I contact to get new furniture or if I would like to have existing furniture moved from one office to another?
Answer: All furniture requests, for new or used, must be submitted via the Furniture Request form. To have existing furniture moved from one location to another, an office move request must be submitted. Both forms can be found on the Facilities Management homepage.
Question: How do I order keys?
Answer: Key request forms may be downloaded from the Facilities Management web site or picked up at the Facilities Management office, McNally South, Rm011.
Question: Where do I pay or appeal parking tickets?
Answer: Tickets should be paid for in the Facilities Management office located in McNally South 011, basement. If you would like to appeal your ticket, you may do so within 24 hours of receiving your ticket by visiting University Security in the McNally Main basement or by calling (902)420-5577.
Question: What is the Code of Student Conduct?
Answer: The Saint Mary's UniversityCode of Student Conductoutlines individual and community expectations regarding student actions and behaviour. The Code defines that students are responsible for acting in a manner that respects others and promotes their well-being and safety.
Question: Who can file a complaint or concern?
Answer: Any member of the Saint Mary's community (student, staff or faculty) can contact the Office of Student Affairs and Services (email studentconduct@smu.ca) during business hours to consult about a matter or to lodge formal complaint.
Question: What are my responsibilities under the Code?
Answer: Students have a responsibility to be aware of policies and codes that guide their expectations of conduct in various environments where there is university-related activity. All community members are expected to treat one another with mutual respect. When this expectation is not met and is not resolved informally, formal processes may be engaged. Students are also held accountable for the behaviour of their guests under the Code. In sum, students are expected to: Abide by university policies, procedures and regulations Respect the rights and safety of others Take responsibility for their actions
Question: What are my rights under the Code?
Answer: Students have the right to make a complaint against any student who violates their right to a safe and welcoming educational environment. All Saint Mary's community members have rights which are protected under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These rights are subject to limitations and some activities which are acceptable in public space may not be appropriate in certain contexts in a post-secondary institution. Students have a right to know this Code and other policies and regulations, in order to ensure a safe and positive learning environment. Students have a right to procedural fairness in an investigation and determination of responsibility (as it relates to the Code). These rights include: Right to a fair hearing Right to appeal Right to have an advisor or support person present at hearings or meetings
Question: What is 'balance of probabilities' and what does it mean?
Answer: Balance of Probabilities is the standard of proof used in the Code of Student Conduct. Balance of probabilities is the "more likely (or probable) than not" standard. In other words, if the available evidence convinces the decision-maker to the point that they are 50% + 1 certain that a student has committed an offence, the standard of proof has been met.
Question: Who can be a support person and what is their role?
Answer: A support person should be someone you trust and someone not directly involved in the incident/case. They do not speak on your behalf but you may consult with them at any time during the process.
Question: What is the difference between the Code of Student Conduct and the Residence Code of Conduct and the Academic Regulations?
Answer: The Code of Student Conduct applies to the non-academic behavior of all current students within Saint Mary's University. The Residence Code of Conduct is also bound by the Code of Student Conduct. This means that all sections of the Code of Student Conduct apply to those living in residence. The Residence Code of Conduct (RCC) outlines additional regulations for living in residence and defines acceptable behaviour. These regulations serve to protect the health, well-being, and safety of the community. The Academic Regulations apply to all students enrolled in courses or programs at Saint Mary's University. These policies and procedures outline the requirements students need to fulfill in order to uphold their academic responsibilities. It also provides an outline of the processes involved in resolving issues when informal resolution is not possible.
Question: Can I submit an anonymous complaint?
Answer: Anonymous complaints will be acknowledged and resources for the anonymous complainant will be provided. Whether or not an anonymous allegation can proceed in the absence of an identified complainant will be determined by the Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services (or designate) having regard to all of the circumstances of the case and the evidence available. Information provided by the anonymous source may also be used as the basis to decide to engage a process aimed at addressing systemic or cultural concerns. The university requires everyone involved in the complaints process to respect the confidentiality of individuals. Any member of the Saint Mary's community can contact the Assistant Director, Student Culture and Experience during business hours to consult about a matter and without lodging a formal complaint. Under exceptional circumstances, such as situations involving a serious risk of harm to a community member, proceedings under the Code may be initiated without a written complaint.
Question: My Code complaint involves criminal behaviour. Can I report to the police if I have already put in a Code complaint?
Answer: Members of the Saint Mary's community who have been affected by a student's behaviour that is criminal in nature can contact the Halifax Regional Police to report the incident(s) at any time. In the case of emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency reporting to police, contact 902-490-5020. A Code complaint can be submitted even if a person has reported to the police, however in most cases, formal resolution by the University of any allegations which are the subject of a criminal or civil court proceeding will be suspended until the resolution of that proceeding. In cases in which criminal or civil proceedings have not been taken, or the proceedings would not adequately protect the university's interests, and/or provide adequate safety and risk mitigation measures, the university reserves the right to take action under this Code, including the application of interim measures.
Question: I don't want to see the person who harmed me. Will I have to be in the same room with them during the Code process?
Answer: The only time a complainant would be required to be in the same room as the respondent is during an Adjudication Panel Hearing and not all cases are resolved through this type of hearing. Additionally, the Code of Student Conduct states that a complainant may submit a request for accommodations to not appear in the same room as the respondent during the Adjudication Panel Hearing. The complainant should note any safety concerns that they have upon submitting the written complaint or when meeting with the Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services or their designate.
Question: Can I make a complaint against a student who is making racist comments?
Answer: There are several offences outlined in the Code that prohibit racist comments or other behaviours. Anyone who experiences racism by a student should seek guidance on how to submit a Code complaint by emailing studentconduct@smu.ca.
Question: I have experienced sexualized violence. Do I make a complaint under the Code of Student Conduct?
Answer: Saint Mary's has a separate standaloneSexual Violence Policy. You can email sexualviolence@smu.ca to discuss your reporting options and access supports.
Question: How do I transfer my credits?
Answer: When applying to Saint Mary's University, you must submit official transcripts from every institution attended. To be considered an official transcript, it must be sent to Saint Mary's University directly from the institution. Photocopies and transcripts delivered by the student are not acceptable. In cases where we have recently reviewed the courses from an institution, the transcript is sufficient documentation. If the course has not previously been reviewed, then an official course outline is required. The outline should include: A full description of topics covered Number of course hours Methods of assessment Textbook(s)used Be sure to make an extra copy of these documents for your records because we cannot return them to you.
Question: When can I apply at SMU?
Answer: If you are still taking courses at another institution, you do not have to wait until you have a final transcript before applying for admission. If a course is in progress, we will still evaluate it for advanced standing. This evaluation will be based on the assumption that you will complete the course successfully. At that time, we will require an official final transcript. If the final grades differ from the preliminary transcript submitted earlier, your evaluation will be changed accordingly. If your grades drop significantly, the University reserves the right to withdraw your offer of admission.
Question: When will I receive my transfer credits?
Answer: When a course is reviewed for the first time, it may take up to 6 weeks to complete your transfer credit evaluation.?
Question: What is the maximum amount of credits I can receive?
Answer: Transferring students can receive up to 60 credit hours. To graduate, you must complete at least 50% of your degree requirements and 50% of the concentration, major, honours, and minor requirements at Saint Mary's University.
Question: Can I register for courses before I receive my advanced standing?
Answer: You may be permitted to register before your advanced standing is assessed, but prerequisites must be satisfied. Courses beyond the first year (those numbered 2000 and above) usually have prerequisites. For this reason, we advise you to submit your final transcript as early as possible so that your registration is not compromised.
Question: What courses do I choose?
Answer: We suggest that you reach out to your Academic Advisor for course suggestions: Arts: BAadvising@smu.ca Business:? bcomm.advising@smu.ca Science:? advisor.science@smu.ca