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Academics
Level II Program Admission
Progression from Level I into Level II requires an assessment by the Faculty/Program office that manages the program(s). This takes place in May once the Fall/Winter grades are received. It may be possible for students to use Spring/Summer courses in order to qualify for a Fall/Winter program, but students should contact the appropriate Faculty/Program office for more information. Please keep in mind that students can contact any Faculty/Program office on campus to discuss a program transfer.
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SOLAR is McMaster's Student On Line Academic Registration system.
The procedure of progression into Level II for each Faculty/Program is as follows:
Arts and Science
- See the ‘Level II SOLAR Program Application’ section below.
School of Business
- Students will be automatically assessed for entrance into Commerce II. No application on SOLAR is required.
- Students will be notified of their eligibility on their final grade reports in May.
Faculty of Engineering
- A Level I Engineering Information Fair will be held on February 17, 2011 in ETB from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to provide information about the various engineering programs. Students will be able to speak with faculty members and current program students about their field of engineering.
- Information on the application process and answers to many FAQ’s will be posted on ‘Avenue to Learn’.
- See the ‘Level II SOLAR Program Application’ section below.
Faculty of Health Sciences
- Students in this Faculty will be automatically assessed for entrance into Level II. No application on SOLAR is required.
- Students will be notified of their eligibility on their final grade reports in May.
Faculty of Humanities
- A Majors Fair will be held on Friday, March 4, 2011 in Council Chambers (GH/111) from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to provide information on matters such as undergraduate programs, course offerings and career opportunities. Students will be able to speak with faculty members from each Humanities discipline.
- Academic Advisors will hold Level II Information sessions for students on March 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th regarding degree options and the Level II application procedure.
- See the ‘Level II SOLAR Program Application’ section below.
Faculty of Science
- A Programs Fair will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Convocation Hall.
- Department-specific information nights will be scheduled soon.
- See the ‘Level II SOLAR Program Application’ section below.
Faculty of Social Sciences
- A Departmental Academic Advising Week will be scheduled soon.
- Academic Advisors will hold Level II Information sessions for students on March 7th, 9th and 15th regarding degree options and the Level II application procedure.
- See the ‘Level II SOLAR Program Application’ section below.
Level II SOLAR Program Application
Unless noted above, students seeking admission to a Level II program for the following Fall/Winter session must complete an application for admission to Level II through SOLAR from March 8 to April 6, 2011. This application process allows students to rank up to four program choices, and students will be notified of their eligibility for these choices on their final grade reports in May. Students should rank their program choice(s) since some programs have limited enrolment.
In-Course Students
- Transfers into other programs
The SOLAR system cannot accept a program change request from upper-level students. Students must advise their Academic Advisors of their intentions to change programs by the end of April. Eligibility to enter the new programs will be stated on the final grade reports in May so that students can proceed with their fall/winter registration.
- Potential Graduands from a 3-year B.A.
Students registered in their final year of a B.A. program who do NOT want to graduate in June, but who instead wish to transfer into Level IV of an Honours program, must indicate their intention to their Academic Advisor no later than the last day of classes. Decisions regarding eligibility to transfer into Honours programs will be conveyed to students on their final grade reports in May.
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Spring/Summer Courses
Students may register for up to 12 units in the Spring/Summer session. Please note that it may be possible to use Spring/Summer courses in order to qualify for a Fall/Winter program, but students should contact their Faculty/Program office for more information.
The Spring/Summer 2011 timetable will be available around the middle of March 2011 at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/scheduling/coursett.html.
The Spring/Summer sessional dates can be found at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/registered/sessional.html. Registration on SOLAR begins March 21, 2011.
Information about OSAP eligibility can be found at http://sfas.mcmaster.ca.
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Spring Convocation
| May 20, 2011 |
Afternoon |
Health Sciences |
| June 13, 2011 |
Afternoon |
Humanities and Arts & Science |
| June 14, 2011 |
All day |
Science |
| June 15, 2011 |
Morning |
Business |
| June 16, 2011 |
All day |
Social Sciences |
| June 17, 2011 |
Morning |
Nursing and Medical Radiation Sciences |
| June 17, 2011 |
Afternoon |
Engineering |
Live broadcasts of Convocation ceremonies will be available for viewing by family and friends of graduands on the Registrar's Office Convocation website at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/convocation . Ceremony videos will also be archived and will be available for viewing after the ceremonies.
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Employment
Tips on Finding Summer Employment
Summer employment for most students is a necessity to earn money for tuition and other expenses. It is also an opportunity to build employment references, gain work experience, and, perhaps most of all, learn more about themselves and careers. While students may be tempted to take the first job that offers a little cash, students may want to consider trying to find positions that will allow them to explore career fields of interest.
Certainly a summer position is a great way to check out careers and experience different work environments, but even a job that is not related to one’s career goals demonstrates initiative and dependability, as well as establishing a work record.
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Where to find a summer job
On Campus Jobs: Work programs provide part-time and full-time on-campus employment opportunities for currently registered students who demonstrate financial need. These programs are designed to provide financial aid to students through provision of on-campus employment. Students can inquire about their eligibility for McWork opportunities through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship or at http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/index.html.
Summer Jobs posted on OSCAR (Online Student Career and Recruitment system): The Student Success Centre manages the on-line job posting portal for employment opportunities. This is a great place to begin a search for off campus positions: https://oscar.mcmaster.ca/mcauth/.
Government Opportunities: Various programs exist for post secondary students through both the Federal and Provincial governments. All positions must be applied for on-line and in most cases requires an individual to complete a profile. Visit http://jobs.gc.ca/fswep-pfete/student/index_e.htm or www.jobbank.gc.ca.
Unadvertised Openings: The majority of summer jobs never get advertised! This means that one of the best ways to find employment is to identify employers students are interested in and approach them directly. Students may want to develop a resume so that they can submit targeted cover letters and resumes to places they would like to work. One way to identify potential employers is by using directories that list local and national organizations. The Student Success Centre has many directories that students can use to start their search.
Often, unadvertised openings are found through friends, family and acquaintances, so students shouldn’t hesitate to go to them for help. They should tell everyone they know that they are looking for a position; they may be surprised at the leads they get simply because they asked!
How to get started
Identify interests. The first step is for students to think about what they would like to do so they can find appropriate positions. Working in a position that is not a good fit for a student’s interests and skills can make for some very long hours. Identifying a job that allows a person to cultivate skills and explore potential occupational areas would be the best scenario for most summer positions.
Research employers. The more students know about an organization, the more likely they are to find out whether working for them would be a good experience. Learning all they can gives them a much better chance of connecting skills to an employer's needs. To begin, students may want to review employer websites, contact employers directly for brochures and publications, or have a conversation with someone working in the organization.
Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applications. Many summer positions will require completion of an application, sometimes in place of a resume. Filling out applications completely and neatly is important, as employers will be looking at a person’s ability to follow instructions. Other employers may ask for a resume and cover letter. Even if a student does not have a lot of experience at this point, they should make every effort to convey skills and education in the most effective manner possible. Students will need to write an individualized cover letter for each position.
Follow Up. Follow up on all applications, leads, and resumes. Students should contact the employer by phone, or consider visiting the organization. After the interview, encourage your student to write a thank you letter within 24 hours to show appreciation and reiterate interest.
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The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)
This program is the primary vehicle through which federal organizations recruit students. This program was established in 1990 and provides some 10,000 students a year with temporary/summer employment in different federal organizations.
The prime objective of FSWEP is to provide full-time students with work experience related to their field of study and to provide them with learning opportunities.
The program is also designed to:
- Enrich their academic programs;
- Help fund their education and encourage them to complete their studies;
- Develop their employability;
- Improve their ability to find good jobs after graduation;
- Offer insights into future employment opportunities; and
- Help them evaluate their career options within the public service.
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Through FSWEP students obtain:
- Fair and equal access to student jobs offered by the public service;
- Opportunities to learn about the federal government; and
- Valuable work experience while developing and improving their employability.
How do Students apply for FSWEP jobs?
The core of the program is a computerized national inventory of students seeking a job with the public service. This inventory is managed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Canada the agency that administers various federal government staffing programs.
Students who would like to find a job within the federal government must first complete the FSWEP application form, which is only
For more information go to: http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/index-eng.htm
Canada Summer Jobs
A Government of Canada initiative, it provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create work experiences for students between the ages of 15 and 30.
The program is about:
- providing work experiences for students;
- supporting organizations, including those that provide important community services
For more information: servicecanada.gc.ca
Students can access the job bank at: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/Intro-eng.aspx
Summer Job Service
Summer Company
Ontario Public Service Summer Employment Opportunities
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Reading Week (February 19 - 17)
Staying in Hamilton during Reading Week 
As a fourth year student, I have spent many Reading Weeks right here in Hamilton. While some of my friends use the week to travel or go back home I have always enjoyed the week without classes, zero lineups on campus and a nice quite place to get caught up on school work. Luckily, there is also so much happening on campus and in the community that I never feel bored or lonely and the week without school related commitments provides a perfect opportunity to see all that the city has to offer! If your son or daughter is planning on staying in Hamilton for the week and complaining that they are board send them some ideas or come down for a visit and a night on the town!!
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Ideas for the sports enthusiast:
Saturday February 19th 2011
1:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm |
McMaster Marauders Basketball vs Waterloo Warriors
Women’s Game
Men’s Game
Hamilton Bulldogs vs. San Antonio |
Monday February 21th 2011
2:00pm |
Hamilton Bulldogs vs. Rochester |
Ideas for the Arts enthusiast:
- Theatre Aquarius is showing Dinner with Friends and StageWrite: Bittergirl,
- Sleeping Beauty is being put on by the Binbrook Theatre (www.binbrooktheatre.ca)
- 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is on at the Hamilton Theatre (www.hamiltontheatre.com)
- Wrong Turn at Lungfish is on at The Player’s Guild of Hamilton, Inc. (www.playersguild.org)
- Clean House is being put on at the Village Theatre Waterdown (www.villagetheatrewaterdown.ca)
- The Art Gallery of Hamilton Impressionism Event Claude Monet and Bethe Morisot on February 24 at 6:30 pm
- Women’s Art Association of Hamilton hosting the 105th Annual Juried Exhibition on February 26th www.artgalleryofhamilton.com
Students visiting the Art Gallery of Hamilton get in free with their student cards!
Submitted by Meggie MacDougall
4th Year Psychology Student
Intern, Student and Young Alumni Programs
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Service Learning opportunities during Reading Week
The Student Success Centre through its Community Service-Learning, Civic Engagement and Leadership arm provides students with opportunities to learn, discover, and grow by making the world their classroom. Over Reading week groups of students will travel to work on projects in Mexico, explore disaster relief in New Orleans, make their way to Vancouver to learn more about Food Security or delve into youth poverty in Hamilton.
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Mexico - Development and Social Action
Mexico, the gateway of Central and South America, stands at the crossroads between the conflicting ideologies of the increasingly conservative North and the increasingly leftist South. Cuernavaca, originally kuánouáka meaning the place of long and thin trees, is approximately 40 miles south of Mexico City in the state of Morelos. Its climate has earned it the nickname of the City of Eternal Spring and for hundreds of years it was a retreat for indigenous leaders and the conquistadors. Now with a burgeoning population of approximately 500,000 it too faces the complexity of a globalized world. It stands at a different crossroads, the one between the north and south of Mexico. CCIDD, with its location in Cuernavaca Mexico, is an ideal location to explore urban and rural realities of Mexico and to think critically regarding the current economic and political processes governing our world.
Participants will travel to Cuernavaca, Mexico where they will work and reside with our longstanding partner- the Cuernavaca Centre for Intercultural Dialogue on Development. Work projects vary, but often involve build/construction projects in local settlements. In addition to work projects, the week contains workshops and presentations from local leaders, artisans, activists and professors. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the local community throughout the week during social events, workshops and trips to local community groups.
New Orleans - Politics of Disaster Relief
New Orleans, Louisiana, is a city of rich cultural history. It is located in the Southern United States along the Mississippi River. New Orleans is famous for its cuisine, music and festival scene – most notably as the home of Mardi Gras. It has also become a topic of conversation over the past five years because of a variety of different disasters that have occurred there. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina caused the city to flood and then in 2010 the BP oil spill demonstrated that manmade environmental disasters can have just as big an impact as natural ones. The city has spent the past five years rebuilding, showing their resilience and the strength of their culture.
Participants will travel to New Orleans to explore the impact of Hurricane Katrina and more recently, the BP oil spill. Working with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, participants will explore how help is organized during disasters and the long-term social, economic and cultural repercussions of such events. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the city through some day trips and social activities. They will also explore a number of different community groups through presentations and workshops.
Hamilton (Youth Poverty)
Hamilton is located in the center of the Golden Horseshoe, approximately between Toronto and Buffalo. It makes use of land below and above the Niagara Escarpment. Founded by George Hamilton, a settler and local politician, Hamilton has become a densely populated and industrialized region. It has an atmosphere centred on arts, culture and a diverse economy. The opportunities for youth in Hamilton are endless. The vibrant local communities work to foster positive environments for young people in many different ways and are certainly worth exploring.
Participants will gain a new perspective on Hamilton as they explore it through the lens of youth poverty. Working with organizations such as the Living Rock and Good Shepherd, students will examine youth poverty from multiple perspectives such as poverty-reduction at governmental, community and individual levels. Students who participate in this experience do not look at Hamilton, or themselves, in the same way. Social events will be organized for students during the week to explore the city. This will be up to the group and could be shopping at the farmer’s market, bowling or other social activities.
Vancouver (Food Security)
The beautiful coastal city of Vancouver is located in the lower mainland of British Columbia. Vancouver is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada and ranks third largest in the country. While forestry remains its largest industry, Vancouver is well known as an urban centre surrounded by nature, making tourism its second largest industry. Vancouver is a centre for arts, culture and a temperate climate not to mention its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver grew from its oldest neighbourhood known as the Downtown Eastside. This area has an exciting history of community activism that will be explored throughout this trip.
Participants will work with various organizations throughout Vancouver to explore food systems and why some people have no access to food while others waste so much. One agency that we have worked with for many years is QUEST Outreach which is a food re-distribution organization who believes 'we don't have a hunger problem, we have a food distribution problem.' We hope to experience and explore ‘food security’ through urban communities, advocacy and sustainable development models. Participants will have opportunities to explore the city. Past activities have included bike-riding in Stanley Park, Bus Tours and the Vancouver Aquarium.
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Lyons New Media Centre (LNMC) officially opened!
In September 2010, the Lyons New Media Centre (LNMC) officially opened. Built as a space for the innovative use of new and traditional media in teaching, learning and research at McMaster, the Centre has quickly become one of the most popular areas of the library for students. Equipped with the latest technology, it is a space designed for a digital generation.
Some of the services in the LNMC include:
- Mac desktops with large screens for editing and creating new media
- PCs and an Axiom 61 music keyboard in the edit studios for more in-depth editing
- Green screen for advanced video and photography use
- Large video wall to showcase the media creation process and to display student media projects
- Gaming console stations
Yes, that’s right: gaming console stations. As a parent, you may be wondering why the library offers procrastination tools but in fact, by providing access to gaming consoles, the library is supporting a 21st century tool for teaching and learning in higher education.
Here at McMaster, for instance, students in the Multimedia program have the opportunity to take the course Digital Game, a study of the form, content, and playing of digital games. The library supports courses in history, sociology and science through the purchase of textbooks and other resources; gaming consoles are simply next generation textbooks for communication and media courses.
So parents, when your children return home for reading week excited about the game playing opportunities offered in the library, don’t fret; gaming is becoming an integral part of many disciplines in higher education.
Please visit the Lyons New Media Centre website for more information on available services for students.
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Sustainability @ McMaster
Secure Bike Storage Facility
McMaster maintains a secure bike storage facility; located at the west side of Chest New Hall. This facility can hold up to 48 bikes, has video surveillance, and swipe-card access. Those interested in renting a bicycling parking space in this facility can do so for $10 per academic term. All students need to do is to fill out an application form at the Parking Office in the E.T. Clarke Centre. More information about cycling at McMaster can be found on the Office of Sustainability website.
Hamilton Car Share
McMaster is working with Hamilton Car Share to bring car sharing to McMaster. Hamilton Car Share is a not-for-
profit, community organization that makes short-term vehicle rentals available to its members who require an automobile on occasion. Learn more about car sharing at McMaster on the Office of Sustainability website.
The Mac Farmstand
In 2010, McMaster launched the Mac Farmstand a mini farmer’s market held on campus. The Mac Farmstand makes fresh, local produce and preserves available to staff, faculty and students of McMaster as well as to the surrounding community. Farmstand items include peaches, tomatoes, apples, corn, and beets, to name just a few. More information about the Mac Farmstand can be found at http://www.macfarmstand.com/
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Colour Your Passion
It is shown in countless studies that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities at university score higher in the classroom than those who do not. The new athletic marketing campaign “Colour Your Passion” is designed to create a lasting bond between McMaster University and its students. School spirit is often portrayed through athletic competition, however not all students compete on a varsity Marauder team. The colour maroon is all across campus and we have found that students identify with this colour.
The goal of the campaign is to transcend athletics to other part of campus so that students will become involved. Athletics & Recreation is all about enhancing and adding to the student experience, not just for varsity athletes, but everyone who comes to watch or participate.
The "Colour Your Passion" campaign has had some significant success such as increased traffic through the athletic facilities and attendance at our varsity events. This year we broke a regular season attendance number in football of 17,563 in 4 games!
To see a video on the Colour Your Passion campaign, please visit http://www-athrec.mcmaster.ca/colouryourpassion/index.htm
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Philanthropy
Alumnus doing good
Adam Spence
B.A. '04
Since graduating from McMaster University, Adam has focused his work on community development, social innovation, and public policy change focused on poverty reduction and education.
Adam worked as a community animator for the skilled trades in Hamilton, and was the Executive Director of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), where he successfully advanced a number of reforms during Ontario’s Postsecondary Review including low-income grants for Ontario’s students.
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Since 2005, Adam has been the Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB). In this position, he has lead a number of groundbreaking research studies including Canada's first review of the cost of poverty, successfully pressed the provincial government to implement a poverty reduction strategy in collaboration with many partners, and grown the organization’s ability to acquire and distribute fresh, healthy food.
Adam has spoken to audiences from students to CEOs, and politicians to front line community organizers across Canada on issues related to education, poverty, and social issues. He has written extensively on these topics, and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including CNN International, TVO, CTV, CBC Television and Radio, GlobalTV, The Toronto Star, and The Globe & Mail.
Over the past three years, Adam has supported the development of a community food centre project in Sandy Lake First Nation, a fly-in reserve community 700 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. He is also the founder of the Toronto-based Social Venture Exchange (SVX) project, an initiative to increase access to capital for non-profit and for-profit ventures focused on improved social and environmental outcomes.
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IMPACT 2010
McMaster’s annual giving program has the mission to reach out to as many people as possible to raise unrestricted support for the University. Gifts are vital to the health and continued growth of students and the entire university. To join over 200 parents that support McMaster annually CLICK HERE.
Faces of Your Gift - John McIntyre - view video
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