Learning Skills Services
Policies and Procedures
The information below provides details regarding policies and procedures of Learning Skills Services that are located within Counselling & Disability Services ("CDS").
Student Success
Student success at university depends on many factors, including motivation, self-discipline, psychological wellness, and physical health. Where appropriate, we consider all of these areas in learning skills counselling, and may recommend referrals or alternate resources as needed.
Privacy of Information
Our clients' personal information is held in utmost confidence, as set out in the attached CDS Client Privacy Statement. Personal information is maintained and disposed of in a secure manner, in compliance with relevant privacy legislation. Electronic files are stored in an encrypted database.
Flow of Information
Client records are maintained in locked file cabinets in CDS. Occasionally, consultation may be necessary between Learning Skills staff and other professional staff within CDS. This sharing of relevant information may result in other staff in CDS sometimes having access to the information in the client’s Learning Skills Services file. All staff that do have access to Learning Skills Services files are required to maintain strict levels of confidentiality as outlined above and to refer only to information relevant to the services they are providing.
Workshops
Clients may take an unlimited number of learning skills workshops, on topics such as: Time Management, Reading and Note-Taking, Learning Style, Memory, Academic Anxiety, Essays and Term papers, and Exam Preparation. Please see the monthly workshop calendar for up-to-date course offerings, and register for these ahead of time, using a separate form designated for this purpose.
Individual Counselling Appointments
Students have the option of meeting individually with a learning skills counsellor to address specific learning skills issues. Such counselling is intended primarily as a short-term intervention and learning experience, rather than a permanent ongoing arrangement. The Learning Skills Services focuses on helping students acquire and practise learning and study strategies, but is not a tutoring service. We do not provide tutoring services.
Appointment Times
While we understand that circumstances may occasionally prevent you from keeping your appointment with us, we expect you to schedule and keep appointments responsibly and punctually. In the event that you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please notify us at least 24 hours before the appointment time.
Unless warranted by exceptional circumstances, if you miss two (2) consecutive appointments without notifying us prior to the scheduled appointment time, we assume that you are no longer interested in counselling. You will not be allowed to book another appointment for the rest of the academic term
Please note that you must call during office hours (Hours of Operation) as there is no voicemail.
We have a maximum waiting period of 15 minutes past your scheduled appointment time. After this grace period, you may be asked to reschedule.
E-mail and Internet Policy
Email is not a confidential form of communication and therefore CDS does not conduct counselling by email and discourages the use of email communication between clients and counselling and disability staff. CDS practitioners do not accept invitations from clients to participate in their online social networks, nor do they invite clients to participate in their own personal online social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace).
Letters of Reference
CDS practitioners are unable to provide letters of reference for students unless they have supervised the student in a work, volunteer or academic capacity.
Questions or Comments
Should you have any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding the information above or any other aspects of the Learning Skills Services, feel free to discuss them with your learning skills counsellor at any time. You may also ask to meet your counsellor’s supervisor at any time.
Please sign below to affirm that you have read and received a copy of these Policies and Procedures
and the CDS Client Privacy Statement.
Signature: ____________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________
Counselling & Disability Services (CDS)
Tel: 416-736-5297
Location: N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services
