Facilities & Resources

Student E-mail Accounts

Tel: CNS - 416-736-5800

Effective January 1, 2005 graduate students will be required to have an official York e-mail account, i.e. an e-mail account ending in yorku.ca, for all correspondence to be received from York.

The reasons for this policy are many:

• In the past Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Offices have had difficulties ensuring that graduate students have received official communications.
• Outside e-mail accounts like AOL, or Hotmail, sometimes perceive York e-mails as spam and as a result, the messages do not go through.
• We have had instances where people have misrepresented themselves through outside e-mail accounts as though they were graduate students.
• In the Faculty of Graduate Studies many students are both students and employees. For this reason, York official communications should be going out to a York e-mail account.

Effective May 1, 2005
All official communications from the Faculty of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Program Offices or any other University office will only be sent to official York University e-mail addresses. If the graduate student has not yet opened up his/her York University e-mail account, and because of this misses the information being communicated, the responsibility will rest with the student. Students will be expected to check their York account on a regular basis to see if they are in receipt of official communications. Again, if graduate students do not check their e-mail accounts regularly, the responsibility will rest with them.

To activate your York e-mail account go to the York Home page (www.yorku.ca), then click on "Current Students," then click on "My Mail" on the left side of the screen and then follow the prompts.

MSW Listserv

An electronic announcement board (listserv) is established each year as a way for the Graduate Program Director and Program Assistant to communicate with the students. Students may also post to the listserv. The listserv is comprised of graduate faculty members, staff and students. Information relayed includes upcoming conferences and seminars, financial awards, employment positions, and program deadlines and information. Please ensure that you inform the Graduate Program office of a change in e-mail address.

Resource Centre (formerly the 'In-House Library')

There are books, past students' theses and some PRPs available for two week loan from the Social Work Office. These are here for students' convenience and we ask you to please sign out the books with an office staff member. The resource centre is located in the main social work office. Please ask a staff member to assist you with the cabinets if the doors are locked.

Students can also access an online database of all the resources contained in our Resource Centre.

Student Lockers

Lockers are available to students in the lobby of the Kinsmen Building. Indicate in writing to the Graduate Program Assistant the locker you have claimed for use, and put a lock on it. Please remember to remove the lock at the end of the academic year. Locks not removed by May 30th will be cut off.

Graduate Student Association

Tel: 416-736-5865

The Graduate Student Association is a Student Government body, funded by the university. All program level student associations are part of this student government body. Please contact the GSA directly or visit their website for further information. GSA Heath and Dental Plan Information - FAQ (taken from www.yugsa.ca)
*please note that dates are subject to change without notice - please consult with the GSA to confirm deadlines

Who is automatically opted into the GSA health plan?
If you are NOT a TA or a GA, and you are enrolled as a full-time graduate student, you will be automatically opted into the GSA health plan.

Who can opt-out?
Students who have alternative coverage for drugs AND dental can opt-out before December 2*, provided they fill out the online opt-out form and follow its instructions. After December 2, there is an opt-out fee of $20.
After December 2, opt-outs must be done at our office, during regular office hours.

How do I opt-in to the GSA health plan if I am not automatically opted-in?
Fill out an opt-in form and bring the form and a cheque (or cash) to our office. Find a copy of the opt-in forms under the Health Plan/Forms link.

How do I opt-in dependents?
You can fill out the family opt-in form and bring it to our office with cheque or cash. Find a copy of the opt-in forms under the Health Plan/Forms link.

Will I get a health plan card?
You do not require a card to make claims, simply download the claim form from this site, fill out the information and send it in. You only need to provide Greenshield with your own student number with the three letter prefix "YGS" in order to make a claim. This number is referred to as the "personal identity number." If you would like a card, you can pick one up at the Graduate Students' Association Health Plan Office or download from our Health Plan/Forms page.

THE GSA WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LATE, LOST, INCOMPLETE OR MISGUIDED FORMS.

Location
We are located in the main university core - between Vari Hall and York Lanes, on the 3rd floor - Rm 325 of the Student Centre Complex. Our meeting space is located in Rm 430 of the Student Centre Complex.

Main Office Hours
The GSA Main Office is open Monday to Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Health Plan Office Hours
The GSA Health Plan Office is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

We are closed on religious holidays observed by the University, and any other holidays during which classes are cancelled.

Mailing Address
Graduate Students' Association,
Suite 325 Student Centre Complex,
4700 Keele St,
Toronto ON,
M3J 1P3

Phone:
Main Office - (416) 736-5865
Health Plan Office - (416) 736-5213

Fax: (416) 736-5729

Email:
Main Office - gsa@yorku.ca
Health Plan - gsahp@yorku.ca

Social Work Graduate Student Association/Social Work Association of Graduate Students (SWAGS)

The Social Work Graduate Student Association represents the voice of graduate students in the MSW program, providing leadership and opportunities for those interested in organizing and participating in student events and activities. This association is an initiative of the students.

The Association is comprised of student representatives who meet on a regular basis to address student's. concerns, and maximize student participation in the program.

The Association has a yearly budget, however, fundraising and faculty support are pursued for specific projects. The Association has standing on the York Graduate Student Association and the Tri-university Committee, comprised of the Ryerson, U of T, and York Schools of Social Work.

Over the years the Association has hosted student events such as Seminar Series and Workshops, has supported social justice events in the city, and has participated on Social Work Faculty committees. The Association has representatives on the following committees: Social Work Practicum Committee, Social Work Graduate Executive Committee, Faculty of Graduate Studies Council, and Graduate Student Association.

Interested students are invited to attend meetings. Please refer to the MSW Bulletin Board in the Graduate Student's Lounge at the School of Social Work for times and locations of these meetings.

Campus Facilities and Services

Scott Library - 416-736-5181
York University's main library, Scott Library, is attached to the Ross Building - Central Square.

To obtain a library card: take your sessional student card, which you receive each session you register (F/W and Summer) to the library where they will issue you a library card. Graduate students have the opportunity of getting an "extended 90 day loan" period from the library. However, there is a memo that must be obtained from the Social Work Office and signed by the Graduate Program Director before this privilege can be extended by the library. Contact Kathleen if you would like one of these memos.

If you have any questions about social work library services, please contact Lois Spencer, the Atkinson Librarian at 416-736-2100 Extension 88896.

Library hours and other information can be obtained by calling 416-736-5150. A telephone book renewal service is available at 416-736-5760 until 9pm

Parking - 416-736-5335
To park at York University, it is advisable, and in the end probably cheaper and more convenient, to purchase a parking pass. Parking passes can be purchased from the Parking Office . phone number 416-736-5335. Please note that the Kinsmen Building Parking Lot is a Reserved Lot . if you do not hold a Reserved Decal issued by the Parking Office, your car will be tagged and/or towed.

Career Services - 416-736-5351
Located in 108 North Ross, Career Services offer a wide variety of opportunities, from learning the basics of job search techniques to conducting computerized occupation/job searches on the Internet. They offer year-round workshops on writing effective resumes, acing interviews and much more. Their phone number is 416-736-5351.

Counselling and Development Centre (CDC) - 416-736-5297
CDC offers personal counselling and workshops on a wide range of topics and provide community mental health consultation. The Centre also has a specialized learning disabilities program, social groups and workshops, a self-help program and a learnng skills program. Confidential counselling services are available free of charge to all York students. This centre is located in room 145 Behavioural Sciences Building and their phone number is 736-5297.