A Handbook for Parents
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A HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS #CUparents #CUalumni THE CONCORDIA Members of the association will receive our alumni publication, Concordia University Magazine, as well as Accent — our monthly PARENTS ASSOCIATION alumni e-newsletter — and invitations to upcoming university and Congratulations! Your son or daughter has joined the Concordia alumni events in Montreal and in your hometown. family. As a parent, you play a vital role in their academic journey Sign up to be part of the Concordia Parents Association at and we would love for you to be part of our community, too. The concordia.ca/parentsassociation. Any information you provide will Concordia Parents Association is our way to keep you informed. be kept confidential. MONTREAL BIENVENUE A STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT À MONTRÉAL! FOR LEARNING AND GROWING • Montreal attracts the best acts on the planet for The results are in: Montreal is the world’s top city for students, outdoor musical events like Osheaga and the Montreal according to the QS Best Student Cities rankings. It’s a great time International Jazz Festival. Culture is front and centre in to be part of this city and Concordia. We’re an open and engaged LOYOLA CAMPUS everyday life. Winter events like Montréal en lumière university that encourages our students to become active, critical and Nuit blanche draw performers and creators of all and concerned citizens. Our approach has also made us the top- kinds. ranking university under 50 in Canada and the second in North America, according to the QS World University Rankings. We • The United Nations agency UNESCO designated are also one of the world’s 200 most international universities, Montreal a City of Design, one of only two in according to Times Higher Education. North America, because of our “innovative living environments that enhance daily life and Here’s why Montreal suits students so well: existence.” The cityscape forms a beautiful • We have the highest concentration of postsecondary students environment that injects Montrealers with of any large city in North America. That means lots of student- creative energy and inspiration. oriented pricing, activities and services. • French is the official language of Montreal, • Rent is affordable. It’s the best deal in Canada for big-city yet the city has a strong English heritage dwellers. and presence. Living here provides an • Transportation is convenient and comparatively cheap, featuring opportunity to learn and improve our award-winning underground transportation system. French in a friendly environment. • The Copenhagenize Index of bike-friendly cities puts Montreal • The city’s population includes at the top in North America. The revolutionary Bixi bike- people from all around the world. sharing system was born here. The city’s extensive network of This astonishing diversity creates bike paths link Concordia’s two campuses. a rich linguistic, musical, literary and culinary scene. ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY POLICIES In Quebec, an 8-year-old is considered an adult and as such has Concordia is a next-generation university focused on students, the right to confidentiality. The following webpage provides the ideas and society. Our academic goals are grounded in an ethos of university policy on access to academic information as well as dynamism and social responsibility. This remarkable environment other official policies that may be of interest to parents. was created in 974, after merging two proud Montreal traditions They include the Concordia Code of Rights and Responsibilities, — the classic liberal arts education offered by Loyola College and the Policy on Residence and the Academic Code of Conduct: the practical educational opportunities offered by Sir George concordia.ca/about/policies. Williams University. PAYING TUITION AND FEES We are leading the way to a new kind of university, one that The easiest way to pay tuition is online. Students log into their makes higher education accessible. We share ideas through free MyConcordia portal and choose “My Student Centre.” Under the and open access to scientific findings and seek ways to make “Finances” section, they can select “Make a payment.” social and economic justice more prevalent. Concordia offers some 500 undergraduate and graduate programs, diplomas and Anyone who banks with a Canadian chartered bank can pay his or certificates, while maintaining formal ties with more than her tuition by telephone banking, online, at the bank or by ATM. 00 institutions in 33 countries. Tuition can also be paid in person at the Birks Student Service Centre by personal or certified cheque, money order, bank draft or debit. CONCORDIA’S ALUMNI NETWORK Concordia, including its founding institutions Loyola College and NEW STUDENT CHECKLIST Sir George Williams University, boasts an alumni network of 220,000 Before your son or daughter heads to Concordia, be sure to engaged citizens who live and work around the world. We have review our handy checklists. vibrant alumni chapters in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Undergraduate student checklist: bit.ly/concordia-new-student-checklist Boston and New York City — to name a few. International student checklist: bit.ly/concordia-ISO-checklist We wish to welcome you as a Concordia parent to our diverse and cosmopolitan community through an array of events and activities. Visit: concordia.ca/alumni-friends. 50,000+ STUDENTS 220,000+ ALUMNI “It’s an exciting time to be part of Concordia. I hope you share my pride in how we prepare our students for the world of tomorrow, today.” — Graham Carr Interim president, Concordia 1 GRADUATION RATE FOR FULL-TIME 75% UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS VANIER LIBRARY LOYOLA CAMPUS GREY NUNS READING ROOM “Thank you for joining the Concordia Parents Association and welcome to our community. As a parent of a university student, I’m keenly aware of the desire to set your student on the path to success. This handbook was produced to help Concordia families make the transition to university life.” — Leisha LeCouvie Senior director, Alumni Relations 2 LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES HEALTHY, AND THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTRE BALANCED LIVING Learning Support Services work with students to find the HEALTH SERVICES academic assistance that best suits their needs. Students can meet Life as a student is busy and intense and requires a lot of energy. with a professional learning specialist to discuss strategies on how Maintaining good health is key. Concordia Health Services provides to improve writing, studying or presentation skills: high-quality health care on both of our campuses. From clinical concordia.ca/learning-support. care to nutrition and lifestyle education, Health Services helps Peer tutors and mentors are widely available through the Student students stay in top shape so they can focus on studies. To learn Success Centre to share with their fellow students how to truly more, visit concordia.ca/health. succeed in university. Concordia’s Student Success Centre also offers orientation events for new students and a variety of MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES workshops for skills development and career planning: We connect students with professional counsellors and accredited concordia.ca/students/success. psychologists or psychotherapists. Services are free and are completely confidential. Visit concordia.ca/students/counselling. Students looking for part-time jobs, internships or full-time jobs can find helpful resources through the Student Success Centre’s To learn more about all the support services for your son or Career and Planning Services (CAPS). CAPS provides guidance to daughter, go to concordia.ca/campus-services. research careers, prepare for the job market and connect with employers: concordia.ca/students/success/career-planning-services HEALTH INSURANCE For information about medical coverage for Canadian out-of- ACCESS CENTRE FOR STUDENTS province students or international students, visit WITH DISABILITIES concordia.ca/students/health/insurance-coverage. Every year, Concordia’s Access Centre for Students with Disabilities helps hundreds of students get the assistance they VACCINES need to reach their academic goals. The centre connects If your son or daughter is due for a vaccine booster while in students with services like adaptive and assistive software training, Montreal, don’t worry! They can book an appointment to see a in-course note taking, accommodations for exams, and access to nurse at Concordia University Health Services through an assistive and adaptive computer lab. To learn more, visit concordia.ca/health. concordia.ca/access. For reliable information about vaccines, visit concordia.ca/students/health/vaccination. STAYING SAFE The Concordia University Security Department is dedicated to maintaining a secure university environment, which allows STAYING FOCUSED students to study, work and live in a safe setting. Our school CONCORDIA LIBRARIES maintains a 24-hour campus patrol and all of our residences are Both the Webster Library on the Sir George Williams Campus and equipped with both an access card and key system in order to the Vanier Library on the Loyola Campus are open 24 hours a day, maximize safety: concordia.ca/security. seven days a week during the academic year. For group projects, Students can opt to receive emergency alerts from the students can meet in one of our 30 study rooms, some set up with university via email or text message on their cell phone. This cutting-edge technology designed for collaborative work. service is available through their MyConcordia portal, under the We offer more than 300 laptops or tablets for students to sign out “Messaging” tab. and take to class or even off campus. Our libraries keep textbooks Concordia’s Office of Emergency Management uses Facebook to for every undergraduate course offered at the university. Our promote emergency preparedness and alert the community to skilled subject librarians are always ready to help students with emergencies on or around campus: research in person and online by chat or email. facebook.com/concordia.emergency.management. For a gorgeous, inspiring work environment, students can settle into a spot in our Reading Room in the Grey Nuns Building on the Sir George Williams Campus.