Summer Jobs +

Many University students are currently busy working over the summer, gaining valuable experience as well as offsetting the ever increasing cost of university studies. Along with many other students, I am employed through the Ontario Work-Study program, McWork, for the summer. This program provides full-time employment during the summer for current full-time undergraduate students returning to McMaster University, who are continuing in their undergraduate program in the next fall/winter session. As with government-funded Work-Study Programs, McWork offers full time on-campus summer jobs for full-time eligible undergraduate students.

The Ontario Work-Study Program also offers part-time jobs to undergraduate and graduate students who are studying full-time at McMaster during the academic term. The Ontario Work-Study Program assists students, who demonstrate financial need, to meet exceptional costs, often unexpected, and not recognized under OSAP. It also helps students who lack the resources expected under OSAP criteria or, whose assessed need under OSAP is not met because of loan maximums or, who do not wish to borrow further due to high debt load. More information about Work Programs is available at http://sfas.mcmaster.ca.

As a full-time undergraduate student at McMaster University, I have participated in the Ontario Work-Study Program for three consecutive years. In my opinion, The Ontario Work-Study Program is an excellent employment opportunity for those students who are seeking part-time employment during the academic year. The flexible scheduling of hours offered under the Ontario Work-Study Program allows for students to strike a fine balance between the demands of managing a full course-load while maintaining a part-time job. Positions offered in the various departments at McMaster provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the University and how its campus functions. The Ontario Work-Study Program has enabled me to fine-tune my professionalism and provided me with valuable experience which I can use in future endeavours in the workplace.

For your convenience, all Ontario Work-Study positions will be available through McMaster University’s online job posting service, eRecruiting as of August 1st, 2004. Once you have been approved for Financial Aid, you can log on and apply to these positions through http://careers.mcmaster.ca in order to be able to view these postings. I recommend that you encourage your son/daughter to register for eRecruiting and take advantage of the many job postings available. McMaster is happy to post all Full Time, Part Time, Volunteer, Summer, and Work Study positions for our students and graduates on eRecruiting throughout the year!

Shabnam Dhanji
Career Services Assistant
Career Planning & Employment Centre

Orientation

A year ago, as I started university, my head was filled with every thought imaginable. I thought I was the only one feeling nervous. Slowly, I began to realize that other students felt exactly as I did and that eased some of my anxieties about university.

As I reflect on Welcome Week I have only positive things to say about it. Regardless of where you live or what faculty you are in, university is a shared experience and Welcome Week helped to bring everyone together in a unique way. Welcome Week was well organized and the Welcome Week Representatives ensured first year students felt welcomed and that they belonged to the university. Welcome Week is organized by upper-year students for first year students. It is an opportunity to meet other first year students, upper year students, faculty members, and new friends. Many students wish they could relive Welcome Week because of their positive experience and return in their second year as Welcome Week Representatives to welcome first year students to campus.

The atmosphere on campus during Welcome Week was unique. From the moment I arrived on campus the diversity was evident yet we were one McMaster community united in the shared goal of beginning university. I feel fortunate to have participated in Welcome Week as it gave me a shared experience with other first year students and it helped to change my view of the life ahead of me. Welcome Week was exciting, fun, full of possibilities and the support offered ensured a great start to an important year, the beginning of my university career. I hope your son/daughter has a similar opportunity when he/she arrives on campus in September.

Mazen Zehairi
Science Level 2

There was once a girl terrified to embark on the journey to post-secondary education. As the move-in day quickly approached, she grew frightened that she had made the wrong decision and pleaded with her wise mother to make it all go away. Her mother turned to her and said “there’s no monster under that residence bed so you’ll be fine. You’ll make lots of new friends in no time.” Despite this advice, she couldn’t get rid of the butterflies in her tummy. The dreaded day finally arrived. She loaded up the car with all her worldly possessions and headed off to Hamilton and her new home, Brandon Hall. When she arrived, friendly Welcome Week reps, affectionately known as jumping beans, carried her belongings up to her new room and introduced her to the Residence Life Staff. As the shy girl looked around the hall and began to meet some really cool people, she quickly discovered that this whole university thing might not be as scary as she first thought. So with a quick kiss and hug to her mother, the not-so shy girl ran off to join her new friends in the Welcome Week events. Her mother smiled and waved goodbye, knowing that everything was as it should be.

While this story might sound like a fairy tale, I can assure you it’s a true story; in fact, it’s my story. I was absolutely sure that I would hate university and that I should stay at home. However, that all changed the minute I stepped onto campus and was welcomed into the McMaster community. As I look back over my several years here at McMaster, I can honestly say it was my Welcome Week experience that helped to shape my journey through university. Welcome Week is so much more than a bunch of really exciting and fun activities. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get to know the people and services that make McMaster University a great place to live and learn. During that first week in September, I met people who became my best friends, I was introduced to great professors who would help me discover my passion for learning and I realized how much I had to offer the world. I’ve also come to realize that I’d probably still be that shy little girl if I wasn’t given all of these wonderful opportunities.

If your son or daughter is nervous about coming to McMaster, share my story with them. The many people working on Welcome Week have all been there and understand how it feels. Encourage them to buy the MacPass and participate in Welcome Week because it really is a great way to feel connected to the University. Enjoy the rest of the summer and we look forward to welcoming you to McMaster University in September.

Meghann Haggerty, B.A.
Honours Anthropology, IV
Welcome Week Coordinator 2004

Residence Move-in

Greetings from Housing & Conference Services!
It’s July, and Residence move in is just six weeks away! Your son/daughter is about to begin a challenging university education both inside and outside the classroom. It marks a life transition for not only your son/daughter, but for you the parent as well. We believe that your knowledge and understanding of what life in residence has to offer will help make your son/daughter’s first year here a positive one and will ease the transition for both students and parents. We are eager to share this incredible residence-experience with you because we consider parents to be part of the extended McMaster University Residence Community.

About Us……
The Department of Housing & Conference Services is happy to provide a “living and learning” environment that supports the academic mission of McMaster University. Under the Umbrella of Housing & Conference Services is Residence Admissions, Residence Life, Facilities and Conferences, all working co-operatively together to ensure a positive, well-maintained, safe and inclusive residence hall community. Our goal is that all students enjoy their stay in residence and accept the rewarding and educational possibilities of the residence experience.

To assist in meeting the needs of students living in Residence, Housing & Conference Services operate two Service Centres. The Service Centres are the information stations for residence halls and are open 24hrs a day! Your son/daughter is just steps away from a Service Centre and one telephone call away from an answer to a question, concern or need.

PARENTS have a lot of questions! The Residence Handbook, which is part of the information package along with room assignment that your son/daughter will receive in late July, contains detailed information about moving in, residence living, services and residence rules and policies. Please ask your son/daughter to let you read the Residence Information package. You’ll find a wealth of information about residence resources, welcome week events, and staff. We also encourage you to read the Residence Agreements and rules and regulations outlined in the Residence Handbook. The following are brief answers to some frequently asked questions about living in Residence and about Moving In. Take a look to see if some are among yours.

What is living in residence like?
Every year, McMaster’s Residence Community is filled with approximately 3,400 energetic and interesting students who come from all sorts of cultural, economic and social backgrounds. It is a diverse community of students, all who bring with them an eagerness to learn and share ideas and knowledge. We look forward to welcoming more of the same at move in 2004!

Are there rules in residence?
Yes. In order for students to have the best residence experience possible, the wonderful rules of residence help maintain a positive and safe environment. As well, the carefully developed policies and guidelines protect the rights and well-being of each member of the Residence Community. The spirit of residence living, in a nutshell, is mutual respect and cooperation. (The complete and detailed rules of residence are in your son/daughter’s Residence Handbook)

Are the residences safe?
Access to all residence buildings is governed by a computerized 24hr electronic control system. Access to each residence building is limited to only those students that reside in the building. At move-in, each student will receive a properly encoded access card for the residence building he/she is assigned to. Most importantly, Security programs help students play a role in maintaining a safe residence by locking their doors when they leave their rooms, making sure that exterior doors are not propped open and escorting their guests at all times. The Residence Hall Community can become a strong one where students know, care, and watch out for each other.

Getting ready for move in…….

How does my son/daughter check in to residence?
Look for signs directing you to the check-in area of your son/daughter’s assigned residence building.

Will anyone be available to assist my son/daughter and I with the move?
McMaster University Residence Leaders will greet you and your family providing directions and assistance for moving into residence. These friendly helpers are upper year students and are easy to spot------just look for someone wearing a Housing & Conference Services shirt and a big smile!

Where can I park to unload my son/daughter’s belongings?
Volunteers, (the ones wearing the safety vests) will be available to assist with parking information and traffic flow. There will be signage with clearly marked move-in routes. Once you unload your belongings, please move your vehicle to a parking lot nearby.

What can I expect on my son/daughter’s assigned move-in day?
Many cars, luggage and boxes everywhere! Traffic will flow slowly, but steadily, into the residential areas. There will be a wait for some of the elevators. If possible, you may want to bring extra family members or a trolley/cart to help carry boxes. Move-in can be frustrating, but it’s also a fun and exciting experience! We will be doing our best to make it a smooth and enjoyable one for you.

How can we make the move-in less stressful?

• With approximately 1,300 students of students moving in on one day, it can get kind of crazy! Many students’ belongings look similar. With this in mind, have all boxes/luggage labeled with name and assigned Residence Hall/Room number.
• Encourage your son/daughter to inspect their room in the first week after move-in and complete the Room Condition Report that will be found in their room to note the existing condition of their assigned room. This initial inspection is important so that we can correct any deficiencies promptly. Deficiencies or damages not noted will result in charges to the student(s) at move-out.
• Arrive early on the day of your son/daughter’s assigned move-in date so you and your family can see different parts of the campus and get a “feel” for her/his new home. Bring a camera. Enjoy a meal together at one of the Campus Dining outlets. Check out the Bookstore and buy your first MAC sweater or T-shirt!

Staying Connected after Move-in: Tips for Parents
We at Housing & Conferences Services like to call Residence the “home” away from home, but parents are still a student’s major support system, even when you’re miles away.

• Write down your son/daughter’s mailing address, phone number, email address and class schedule
• Students check their mailbox often! Send letters/cards, family & pet photos, care packages, money….especially in the first few weeks
• Visit. Students like planned visits, especially visits that are planned around dinner and shopping
• Find out what is important in Residence each month by subscribing to the Residence online newsletter called the Resnote

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 905-525-9140, Ext. 24223 or email resnote@mcmaster.ca

Enjoy the summer and we’ll see you at Move In!
Housing & Conference Services

Finding accommodation off-campus

September is fast approaching, and your son or daughter is getting anxious and excited about coming to McMaster. You, too, are experiencing the same emotions, but perhaps for different - or some of the same - reasons! If you are concerned because your young adult will be living off-campus - fear not. There are many resources available here at Mac to provide support and ensure they receive the “complete university experience”.

Whether living at home and commuting, or living in a local off-campus rental, all are encouraged to get involved at McMaster, and it all begins with Welcome Week (the first week of September). Welcome Week includes all sorts of fun activities to help integrate the newcomer into life at Mac. The Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS) organizes and coordinates the week’s activities for all off-campus students. Your son/daughter will be receiving details and an open invitation for participation in Welcome Week later this summer. Watch for the package in the mail!

Students can continue their involvement throughout the year by joining a student club or committee (such as SOCS), or getting involved with their Faculty society. You can view some of the student organizations by visiting http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/clubs/listings.php.

If your son or daughter is planning to rent an accommodation close to campus, s/he should check out the Off-Campus Resource Centre (OCRC), located inside the Student Centre, Room B112, or visit http://www.macocho.com. All available listings can be accessed on-line or in the office, as well as a variety of other details about the City of Hamilton, transportation maps, rights and responsibilities of tenants and lots of other useful stuff.

As a first-year student living off-campus, one might be worried about living with people they’ve never met. That’s where the Housemate Connector can offer some relief. The Housemate Connector is an on-line tool (accessible through the OCRC website, above), designed to help students “connect” with others before looking for accommodations. Once students register themselves, they can browse the list to see who else is registered, with common interests or lifestyle as their own, with a view to finding an accommodation together. We have heard of many successful connections in the past from using this service; we’re confident we have improved the service even more for this year.

So whatever your son or daughter’s off-campus living arrangements may be, rest assured support is only a phone call - or a ‘click’ - away!

Welcome to McMaster and the surrounding Hamilton community……..

Rita Cossa has been a lecturer at McMaster since 1999 and teaches level one and two courses in the Faculty of Business. After graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree, she pursued a career in the financial services industry. With her staff, she developed and implemented strategic and marketing initiatives. During this time, her love of learning brought her to McMaster where she received her MBA with a marketing focus. She now has her "dream job" housed in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business.

This three time nominee for the McMaster Student Union teaching award has coauthored the number one Canadian introduction to business textbook for university and college students (Understanding Canadian Business, 4th Edition). She is liked by her students who know her to be tough but fair, and approachable. She believes that university is a great experience for students and she strongly encourages students to get to know their professors and establish connections with them.

When she isn't involved in writing the next edition of her textbook, she is spending her free time with her husband Stephen and their one year old daughter, Mattia.

Jane Radix is the Health & Wellness Education Coordinator at the Campus Health Centre http://www.mcmaster.ca/health/hwc/wellnesshome.html and recent winner of the President’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service. Jane started working at the Centre 15 years ago as a staff nurse, and excelled in providing high quality nursing care to students. Since then, Jane has educated, supported, encouraged, mentored and cared for both students and staff at McMaster. Among Jane’s many projects and accomplishments are:

• Lobbying to add a formal health education program to Student Health with a focus on disease prevention and health promotion, which resulted in the Health & Wellness Centre. Today the Health & Wellness Centre is staffed by three with 40 student volunteers contributing to the wellness of their peers.
• “HealthTalk@Mac” http://www.mcmaster.ca/health/hwc/Newsletters/main.htm newsletter
• ‘Alcohol Education Fair’, the first on a Canadian university campus providing awareness and promoting responsible drinking
• Exploring Men’s Voices
• Mesh the Flesh
• Leave the Pack Behind
• Founding member of Soul Food Fair
• Reality Check
• Nurse in Residence program
• Executive member of the Anti-Violence Network
• And many many more.

At the core of Jane’s work is her commitment to students and student success both in their personal and academic lives. Jane has an outstanding reputation on campus for her hard work and dedication.

Entering First Year University can be an exciting yet daunting time of transition for students, parents and families. McMaster University is committed to supporting first year students during this transition by providing a wide range of services and programs. The First Year Experience Office (FYEO), http://fye.mcmaster.ca, offers a variety of programs to support your daughter/son in making a smooth and successful transition from High School to her/his first year at McMaster University.

To this end, the First Year Experience Office coordinates and oversees a number of Orientation and Leadership training programs and works in collaboration with Associate Deans/Faculty Offices and Student Affairs Offices and student groups to support first year students in achieving their academic and life goals.

Student Leadership Training

Welcome Week Planners and Coordinators
Each year over 50 upper-year student leaders, selected/elected by their respective organizations to assume positions of leadership in Welcome Week, are trained by the First Year Experience Office in the areas of teambuilding, budgeting, risk management policies and procedures, project management, and interview skills. In addition, the FYE Office works in collaboration with the student Welcome Week Coordinators to train over 1000 Welcome Week Representatives from student faculty associations, the Society of Off-Campus Students and Residences to be upper-year peer leaders.

Orientation to McMaster University
We offer a twelve-week comprehensive orientation program to McMaster University beginning 7 weeks prior to a student’s arrival on campus, including a Week of Welcome and continuing for the first six weeks of first term. Orientation programs include:

Prelude to Mac, an on-line orientation program beginning July 19th and continuing until Thanksgiving weekend. Prelude to Mac features seven weeks of thematic videos and relevant web links, weekly quizzes to test your knowledge and 30-40 message boards organized around academic programs, living options (off-campus, commuter, residences) and other topics of interest. Upper year on-line peer mentors and program administrators from the First Year Experience Office, the Centre for Student Development, Residence Life, Career Services and Academic Faculties will moderate the message boards.

Welcome Day @ MAC is an open house for students and families on Friday August 6th. Welcome Day @ Mac features library/campus/residence tours, an interactive simulation on the challenges and opportunities of first year university and workshops and information sessions on topics such as; Budgets, Bursaries and Managing Your Student Account, First Year Success Strategies, and Preparing for Professional Schools to name a few. Check out the web site for a complete listing.

Welcome Week, is a series of programs and activities, beginning September 4 or 5 (depending on move-in day for residence students), designed to assist students in easing the transition to McMaster University. During Welcome Week students can expect to meet new friends, connect with upper-year student leaders who are positive role models, develop a sense of belonging to McMaster University and connect with university support services.

First Year Ignition, is a re-orientation program six weeks in to the first term, on October 12th, reintroducing information and support services at mid-term examination time. Student success presentations/panels, information tables and leadership and Peer Helping Programs are a key feature of this re-orientation program.

The staff in the First Year Experience Office is excited to welcome you and your daughter/son to McMaster University this summer through Prelude to Mac and to campus at Welcome Day @ Mac and Welcome Week. Please call, e-mail or visit the office and let us know how we may be of assistance. We look forward to meeting you.

You can visit/contact us at the following:

Commons Building
Room B101B
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4K1

Telephone: (905) 525-9140 extension 26292/23865
Fax: (905) 524-0222
E-mail: fyeo@mcmaster.ca
Web site: http://fye.mcmaster.ca

New Initiatives

Prelude to Mac - Coming July 19th, 2004

Encourage your son/daughter to check out our newest orientation program, an on-line introduction to the McMaster University community. Beginning July 19th, Prelude to Mac will feature a new video each week introducing campus / community people, resources and services along with relevant web links to different areas of interest at the University and weekly quizzes to challenge and test your knowledge on what you have learned. A key feature of Prelude to Mac are the message boards. Students can chat on-line and ask questions of upper year peer mentors and staff / administrators as questions arise over the summer. Check out the web site for information to login.

http://maclife.mcmaster.ca/prelude/

Interesting Reading

McMaster Buildings

McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) - http://www.mcmaster.ca/musc/about.html

More Interesting Reading

The Daily News web site is the primary source of information at the University
http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/

Athletics & Recreation’s Back to Mac: Alumni Marauder Newsletter http://www.athrec.mcmaster.ca/alumni/backtomac/

Health Talk @ Mac
http://www.mcmaster.ca/health/hwc/Newsletters/main.htm

Community Report
http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/opr/community/report/

The MacEngineer
http://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/engalumni/macengineer/macengineer spring 2004.pdf

GSA Today: Graduate Students Association
http://www.mcmaster.ca/gsa/gsatoday.html

The Link Newsletter: McMaster Association of Part-Time Students (MAPS) http://www.mcmaster.ca/maps/thelink.html

McMaster Review
http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/opr/review/

The McMaster Times
http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/opr/times/

Physics & Astronomy Newsletter
http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/currentevents/P&Anewsletter_Fall2002.pdf

Religious Studies Newsletter
http://www.socsci.mcmaster.ca/relstud/newsletters.cfm

Residence Life Newsletter http://housing.mcmaster.ca/PDF Files/Res_Life_Newsletter.pdf

The Silhouette, official newspaper of the McMaster Students’’ Union (MSU) http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/sil/

Sociology Newsletter
http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/sociology/newsletter03.pdf