I (Dr O’Brien) am sharing some general useful resources below: openly-accessible freely-available information from the University. I use these resources a lot in the advising side of my work, you might also find them helpful, and they could also help you to help someone else. There are many people here at UBC who can help; even if it is “just” talking to someone with whom you feel comfortable and whom you trust, who will listen to you, that alone is already a vital service.
The same goes for any need to talk and to find support, whether something has happened to you or to someone you know, and also if nothing has happened but you worry that it might. Even if sometimes this seems like an overwhelmingly large university, and impersonal through its size and complexity: UBC is a compassionate caring community, made up of individual human beings.
QUICK NAVIGATION:
- UBC French
- Academic advising
- Student support, including how to help other students
- Stress, anxiety, sleep, well-being, exam preparation
- Safety, accidents, emergencies
- UBC policies, procedures, rules, & regulations
UBC FRENCH
- FREN 101 and 102 contact information for your instructor—
FHIS Faculty
FHIS Graduate Students
—and your course coordinator - Days, times, and classroom locations for all the sections for FREN 101 and FREN 102 are at UBC Student Services > Course Schedule
- The Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies
- FHIS > Undergraduate French > Advising and their FAQ
- FHIS French tutors list (not free)
- NEW FHIS Learning Centre (free and fabulous!)
What shouldn’t I expect from my session?
- We will NOT proofread papers or compositions for you.
- We will NOT write last minute papers for you so please plan accordingly.
For further information, please view our Prezi:
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Through talking with them about academic matters during your time here, you may have already formed relationships with individuals with whom you would consider talking about other matters.
Academic advising at the departmental level may be another set of people to talk to, and again as with advising at the Faculty or School level, this is not just about a narrow sense of immediately academic matters: for example, here are the Academic Advisers in French, Hispanic & Italian Studies; students regularly talk to us about many things, all of which (and pastoral care) form part of any individual’s whole well-being.
UBC FACULTY OF ARTS
Arts Student Support: students.arts.ubc.ca/student-support
Arts Academic Advising: students.arts.ubc.ca/advising
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed weekends and statutory holidays.
Location: Buchanan D111, 1866 Main Mall
Phone: 604.822.4028 | Fax: 604.822.4923
Help With
- Medical and Emotional Difficulties
- Degree Requirements
- Course Planning
- Transfer Credits
- Graduation Check
Before Contacting Arts Advising
- Look through the UBC Academic Calendar (the official rule book for UBC) and search the UBC Arts website.
- Attend an Advising workshop.
- Review your Degree Navigator report.
The answers to the majority of questions are found in these places.
Newly admitted students are also required to fill in the First-Year Planning Tool before their appointment.
Drop-in Advising
Monday – Friday, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
+ New Virtual Line:
Extended Hours: First two weeks of September and January (add/drop period), 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Aug 28 – Sep 1: The virtual line opens at 12:45pm. Sep 5 – 19: The virtual line opens at 9:45am.
Rather than standing in line, you now join the queue from your phone or at the kiosk at the Arts Advising entrance. Text “UBC” to 604-229-4098 and follow the prompts. An approximate wait time will be given. The virtual line opens 15 min before drop-in hours and closes then the day’s appointment capacity is reached.
Email
Please include your student number
Domestic Students – arts.advisor@ubc.ca
International Students – arts.international@ubc.ca
Aboriginal Students – arts.aboriginal@ubc.ca
Facebook
Quick Question? Ask Arts Advising on Facebook. Arts Peer Advisors answer advising-related questions in visitor posts (Mon-Fri). Please do not post personal information.
Faculty of Arts grading guidelines
Any course marks and your final grade may be adjusted to comply with these guidelines. For a version of these guidelines used by FHIS, see: Grading Guidelines for Content-Based Courses (Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies, UBC)
IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS…
- Academic advising for all Faculties and Schools (not just the Faculty of Arts)
STUDENT SUPPORT
IN IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY + YOUR AMS
Undergraduate residential advisers, and other student leaders who have had bystander & ally training
Neighbours, friends, and classmates
Faculty and other instructors (graduate-student teaching assistants, for example): you see us a lot, and we are here for you
AMS:
- Speakeasy:
Need to talk? Speakeasy provides free, confidential, one-on-one peer support for UBC people facing a wide variety of challenges.
AMS Nest 1314
(Soon moving to a more private and confidential space, 3rd floor of the Nest just past SASC)
Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC):
Education, support, and empowerment of people of all genders who are survivors of sexualized violence as well as their friends and family. Serving UBC students, staff, faculty, and people with a connection to the UBC campus through various resources and services.
AMS Nest 3127
Monday-Sunday (7 days a week) 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. - Resource groups: Colour Connected, Pride, Social Justice Centre, Student Environment Centre, Women’s Centre
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Through talking with them about academic matters during your time here, you may have already formed relationships with individuals with whom you would consider talking about other matters.
Academic advising at the departmental level may be another set of people to talk to, and again as with advising at the Faculty or School level, this is not just about a narrow sense of immediately academic matters: for example, here are the Academic Advisers in French, Hispanic & Italian Studies; students regularly talk to us about many things, all of which (and pastoral care) form part of any individual’s whole well-being.
- Arts Student Support: students.arts.ubc.ca/student-support
- If you are in another faculty: Academic advising for all Faculties and Schools
STUDENT SUPPORT: LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER
- Information for students, and for students concerned about other students
- Arts Student Support: students.arts.ubc.ca/student-support
- UBC Student Services: students.ubc.ca
- UBC Wellness Centre
Life BuildingRoom 1400, 6138 Student Union Boulevard
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 11:00-3:00
CENTRE FOR ACCESSIBILITY
- The Centre for Accessibility works with the University to create an inclusive living and learning environment in which all students can thrive
- Brock Hall 1203
- Email: accessibility@ubc.ca
- ‘Phone: 604.822.5844
Monday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Drop-in appointments are available to students who are registered with Centre for Accessibility.
Monday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
You can make an appointment by phone or by coming into the Centre for Accessibility front desk in Brock Hall.
THE GREEN FOLDER
- The Green Folder : Student services > Assisting students in distress
= a very useful resource for faculty and for students, as everyone plays a role in supporting student wellbeing: we are all one community - Step 1: Observe
- Steps 2 and 3: Reflect and respond
- Step 4: Use Early Alert
- Talking to a student in distress
- Where students can go for help
- Encouraging a student to seek support
- downloadable PDF
EARLY ALERT
- Student Services – Faculty & Staff Resources > Early Alert
= a one-stop shop for help, that brings together all of UBC’s support services under one virtual roof. Faculty and other instructors may use this to refer you for help and expert advice. (We’re all fabulous but we’re not superhuman: yes, there are limits to academic faculty expertise and abilities!) - Early Alert > Information for students
- The faculty version, FYI: because all this information is open to all, and it’s always good to see all perspectives in order to understand something better
AND HERE’S EVEN MORE UBC SUPPORT, SERVICES, RESOURCES …
- Resources for students c/o UBC Student Services have information and offer help:
Academic matters
Accommodation for disability
Career
Discrimination and harassment
Fair treatment
Financial concerns
Health
Indigenous student matters
International student matters
Legal advice
Mental, emotional, physical, and sexual wellbeing
Personal safety and security
Sexualised violence
Student-led programs
Wellbeing - the Office of the Ombudsperson for Students
→ their overview
→ fairness info sheet, fairness toolkits & other resources
→ their FAQs
STRESS, ANXIETY, SLEEP, WELL-BEING, EXAM PREPARATION
UBC resources for stress-relief for students:
- Stress & anxiety: https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/self-help/stress-anxiety
- Anxiety: http://students.ubc.ca/livewell/topics/anxiety
- Sleep: http://students.ubc.ca/livewell/topics/sleep (I cannot over-emphasise the importance of sleep, for general health as well as for brains & exams; UBC and research colleagues in psychology and neuroscience do too. It’s not just me.)
- Nutrition: http://students.ubc.ca/livewell/topics/nutrition-and-food
- Physical activity and recreation: http://students.ubc.ca/livewell/topics/physical-activity-and-recreation
- Exam preparation and self-care: http://students.ubc.ca/success/stress-less-exam-success
O’Brien personal recommendations on and near campus (all are free to access):
- Beaches, especially in winter: Acadia, Jericho, Spanish Banks, etc.
- H.R. MacMillan Space Centre (1100 Chestnut Street, by Vanier Park): http://www.spacecentre.ca
- Pacific Spirit Park
- UBC Beaty Biodiversity Museum, inc. blue whale skeleton (free for UBC students): https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca
- UBC Belkin Art Gallery (free for UBC students): http://www.belkin.ubc.ca
- UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden (free for UBC students): http://botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
- UBC Koerner (Arts & Humanities) Library: https://koerner.library.ubc.ca
- UBC Museum of Anthropology / world arts and cultures (free for UBC students): https://moa.ubc.ca
- UBC Rare Books and Special Collections: https://rbsc.library.ubc.ca
- UBC School of Music concerts; many are free or cheap, often in the daytime, and include student recitals: https://music.ubc.ca/calendar/
- Vancouver Public Library, especially the Central Library (350 West Georgia Street): https://www.vpl.ca
- Volunteer (and learn) at UBC Farm: http://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/get-involved/volunteer-program/
Broken links:
- UBC Learning Commons: in the main menu, see especially the pages in
“(tutoring and) studying” and
“student toolkits” - exam preparation (via UBC CTLT), see especially:
- learning & memory (UBC Learning Commons)
- exam preparation & writing (SFU)
- overcoming exam anxiety (SFU)
SAFETY, ACCIDENTS, EMERGENCIES
- Student Services > assisting students in distress
- UBC Green Folder, for assisting students in distress
- 604.822.2222 = UBC Campus Security
- 604.822.4444 = Campus First Aid
- 911 = emergency services (ambulance, fire, police): on the UBC campus, call UBC Campus Security first (for practical reasons: the fastest response)
UBC POLICIES & PROCEDURES & RULES & REGULATIONS
A quick selection of some of the most important ones…
- expectations:
student declaration and responsibilities: a reminder that upon registering as a student, you initiated a contract with the University and are bound by the following declaration:
“I hereby accept and submit myself to the statutes, rules and regulations, and ordinances (including bylaws, codes, and policies) of The University of British Columbia, and of the faculty or faculties in which I am registered, and to any amendments thereto which may be made while I am a student of the University, and I promise to observe the same.”
[…] Students are required to inform themselves of the statutes, rules and regulations, and ordinances (including bylaws, codes, and policies) and to any amendments thereto applicable at the University. For policies and procedures issued by the Board of Governors, see the University of British Columbia Policy and Procedure Handbook or the Office of the University Counsel for the official text. For policies issued by the Vancouver Senate, see the Senate for up-to-date copies.
The University authorities do not assume responsibilities for others that naturally rest with adults themselves. This being so, the University relies on the good sense and on the home training of students for the preservation of good moral standards and for appropriate modes of behaviour […]
The University and University authorities are not obligated to enforce any statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances (including bylaws, codes or policies) if discretionarily enforceable by law or made under its, or their, power or authority.