2015 International Student Guide 2015-16

International Student
Guidebook
2015 – 16
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................5
IMPORTANT ACTIVITY DATES: 2015—2016 .................................................7
SECTION 1: ARRIVING AT HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ................8
I.
What happens when I arrive in Canada?...............................................8
II.
W hat should I do once I am in Residence? .........................................9
III. How do I use my food plan? ....................................................................... 10
IV. How do I telephone home? ......................................................................... 10
V. How do I set up an e-mail account? ....................................................... 11
VI. How do I open a bank account? ............................................................... 12
VII. How do I withdraw money when the banks are closed? ............... 13
VIII. How do I apply for a Social Insurance Number? ............................. 13
IX. How do I take the bus in London? ........................................................... 14
X. How else can I get around London? ........................................................ 14
XI. How do I take the bus to travel outside of London? ......................... 15
XII. How do I take the train? .............................................................................. 15
SECTION 2: GETTING SETTLED ...................................................................... 16
I. What do I do if I change my mind about the courses that I have
chosen to take?.............................................................................................. 16
II. How do I buy books at the Western Book Store? .............................. 17
III. What do I do about essays and assignments? ................................... 18
IV. Making Friends ................................................................................................ 19
V. Getting to know London ................................................................................ 21
VI. Your London Calling .................................................................................... 21
VII. Where can I go shopping? ....................................................................... 22
VIII. Useful Apps. ................................................................................................... 23
IX. Where can I go to eat ethnic food? ......................................................... 23
X. What safety precautions should I take? .................................................. 23
XI. What do I do if I get sick? ............................................................................ 24
XII: What should I do about homesickness and depression?.............. 25
SECTION 3: PLANNING THE WINTER BREAK ........................................... 26
I. What kind of trip can I make in Canada in the winter? ....................... 26
II. W hat is the weather like over the Winter Break? ............................... 27
III. What should I do about giving gifts during the holiday period? .... 27
IV. What about my studies over the Winter Break?................................. 28
SECTION 4: THE WINTER TERM...................................................................... 28
I.
What should I do about exercise during the winter? ....................... 28
II. How can I eat in a healthy way? ............................................................... 29
III. How can I find the time to finish all the assignments that are due
this term? .......................................................................................................... 29
IV. How can I keep warm in the winter? ..................................................... 30
V. What is Conference Week? ......................................................................... 30
VI. Intent to Register ............................................................................................ 31
SECTION 5: PREPARING TO LEAVE CANADA ......................................... 31
I. What should I do about leaving residence? ........................................... 31
II. What if I plan to stay after May 1st? ......................................................... 31
III. What do I do about my air ticket home? ................................................ 32
IV. How and when will I receive my grades? ............................................. 32
V. What if I plan to return to Huron University College? ........................ 33
VI. Other important websites to know about before you leave the
country: .............................................................................................................. 34
VII. How can I keep in touch with all my friends from Huron, once I
have gone back home? .............................................................................. 34
A FINAL WORD........................................................................................................... 36
Map of Huron University College Campus ...................................................... 38
5
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Huron University College! We are very excited that you
have chosen to come to London, Ontario, Canada to begin or continue
your university career. The International Student Guide is designed
to answer some of the questions that you will have when you first come
to Canada and throughout the year. Therefore, we have organized the
Guide according to questions that will arise as the year unfolds. For
example, the first section of the Guide is all about the kind of
information you will need when you first arrive. The second section
contains information you will need for the early fall, and the third
section answers questions you might have about the December break.
The final sections deal with what to do when you leave in April. We
hope you find this book useful in helping you adjust to life at Huron
University College. However, this book is only one resource that you
will have. You will also find answers to your questions in The 2015/16
Residence Handbook.
There are many people at Huron University College who will be happy
to answer your questions. The telephone number for Huron is
(519)438-7224. Here are the names, email addresses and telephone
extension numbers of some of those people who will be able to help
you:
Trudy Button
Coordinator, Student Mobility, [email protected],
Ext 291
Krista Vogt
Assistant Dean, Student Success, [email protected],
Ext 220
Bonnie Crocker
Registrar, [email protected], Ext. 285,
Debbie Chadwick Academic Advisor, [email protected], Ext.
276,
Diana Bumstead Academic Advisor, [email protected], Ext. 252.
Tolu Kayode
Assistant Director, Residence Life & Student
Engagement, [email protected] Ext 397
Bethany Radford Head Soph, [email protected]
Alex Walker
Programming Assistant (Sophs), [email protected]
6
Please do not forget to check the Facebook site: Huron University
College International Activities 2015-16 or the Twitter feed:
HuronatWestern (@huronatwestern). There is also a Huron app you
can download for your smartphone – the MyHuron Mobile App
Activities occurring on campus are posted on the Huron website at
http://huronuc.ca/AboutHuron/Events. We encourage you to participate
– there are a lot of great events planned for this year!
After you check in to your residence, your Don (student assistant in the
residence or on your floor) the International Sophs and the Cultural
Liaison Managers will also be able to answer many questions for you,
or at least tell you who to ask.
7
IMPORTANT ACTIVITY DATES: 2015—2016
If you are an International student, here are the dates of activities
and events that are of particular interest to you.
For academic dates (i.e. add-drop periods, and exams) please look at
the Huron University College Important Dates Calendar on-line.
IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES
Tuesday, Sept 1st
Wednesday, Sept 2nd
Sunday, Sept 6th
Tuesday, Sept 15th
Pickup from Pearson International Airport,
Toronto
Pre-orientation begins
Tour of London & picnic with Sophs
Welcome Pizza Party 6:00—8:00 p.m. in the
Student Activity Centre (SAC)
Other Activities are being planned and will be confirmed in
early September. There will be at least 1 major event each
month.
Sept. 19th
Niagara Falls
(http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/)
Sept 25th-27th
Huron at Western Homecoming 2015
(http://huronuc.ca/alumnifriends/eventsprograms/event
s/homecoming)
Sept. 26th
Doors Open London
(http://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/Events/London.as
px)
TBA:



Trip to Toronto to see the Magna Carta
(http://www.magnacartacanada.ca/), and visit the Royal
Ontario Museum (http://www.rom.on.ca)
London Knights Hockey Game
London Mustangs Basketball Game
2nd Term (Dates to be confirmed)
February
Toronto Trip
February
Ottawa, Montreal & Quebec City Trip (extra cost to
participate)
March
Maple Syrup Farm (i.e. Sugar Bush) Tour
April
Farewell Party
8
Please note that all of these activities, except for the Pre-Orientation
Week and the trip to Quebec and Montreal, are covered by the
$330.00 Activities Fee that students pay upon registration at Huron
University College.
Pre-Orientation costs are additional to the Activities Fees, but they
include your pickup on September 1st from Pearson International
Airport, all charges for your residence room for six days, all meals and
all activities and services from 1st to 6th September, 2015.
SECTION 1: ARRIVING AT HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
When you first come to Canada, there are a number of practical
matters that you will have to settle before you feel comfortable at
Huron University College.
You will need to get to the residences, open a bank account, and
activate your student card, meal plan, bus pass and health insurance.
This section of the International Student Guide is designed to help you
with these things.
I. What happens when I arrive in Canada?
When you arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport, there are
three ways that you can get to Huron University College in London
Ontario.
1. There is a limousine service, Robert Q (www.robertq.com) that has
regular service to London, Ontario. The buses leave every hour
from the airport and will drop you off in London close to Huron
University College. It takes about 2 hours to travel from Toronto to
London, and it will take another 15 minutes to go by taxi to the
College.
2. You may have booked a connecting flight from Toronto
International Airport to London Airport. If you have done this, it is
easy to take a taxi from London Airport to Huron University College
(at the University of Western Ontario). It takes about 30-40 minutes
to fly from Toronto to London, and another 20 minutes to go by taxi
from London Airport to Huron.
3. If you arrive on September 1st 2015 at Toronto International Airport,
for Pre-Orientation, let us know the time of your arrival. Huron will
send a bus to Toronto International Airport that day to pick up
students and bring them to Huron University College.
TIP: If you are staying in residence, and you are not planning to
attend the Pre-Orientation sessions, it is a good idea to let Tolu
Kayode know the date and time of your expected arrival (see page 5
9
for contact information). That way, you will ensure that there is
someone waiting for you at the College to welcome you and show
you to your room
4. If you arrive on “Check-In Day” (i.e. Monday, September 7th, 2015),
you will go to the Information Desk to get your keys and the Dons
will show you to your room. There are three main residences for
International Students: O’Neil/ Ridley, Hellmuth, and Southwest
House. These are multi-storey residences where most of the
students are housed. Please see the map on the back cover of The
International Student Guide and list of Residence Life Staff and
locations in the Residence Handbook.
II. What should I do once I am in Residence?
There are a number of things you should do once you have found your
room in residence. If you are arrive for Pre-Orientation, Trudy Button
and the student volunteers will guide you through this process.
We will meet for breakfast at 9:45am in the Huron Dining Hall
on W ednesday September 2. More information on pre orientation will be provided at that time .
1. You must watch for an email from Sun Life which will give you
information about your Medical Insurance Card (UHIP). When you
receive this email, you will have to go to the UHIP website to
download your UHIP card. You will have to establish a user id and
password when you receive the notification email. Once you have
done this, you can download replacement cards and prove
coverage. Remember to keep your card available at all times.
2. You must fill in the Residence Emergency Form. This form is
kept on file in the Student Services Office and will be used in case
of emergency. It is available at:
http://huronuc.ca/students/student_life/ residence_application.php
3. You must get your Western ONECard. This is a student
identification card with your picture on it. You must take some
identification (i.e. your passport), your student number and a copy
of your timetable to a designated spot on the main campus, where
your picture will be taken and put on your card. This card will have
your meal plan on it. Every time you go to the Huron Food Court
you must take that card with you and the charge for your meal will
be deducted from your card.
4. You must get your student bus pass. This is a card that will allow
you to take the bus anywhere in London free of charge. You will get
the bus pass in the University Community Centre (U.C.C.). This
building is the second building on the left when you emerge from
the underpass which connects Huron University College to the main
campus. You will need your Western ONECard and personal
identification to obtain this bus pass. When you pick up your bus
pass, you can also pick up a “Westernizer.” This is a school year
10
calendar which contains some valuable coupons and information
about campus activities. For more information on the bus pass,
please look at your Residence Handbook under “Public
Transportation” on p. 25.
5. You should read your Residence Handbook for the rules and
regulations concerning behaviour in the residences. You should ask
your Residence Don about anything that you don’t understand in the
handbook.
6. You must settle your financial account with Huron. At some
point in early September, most International and Exchange
students will receive a bill from the Accounting Office for additional
fees. This bill occurs because the money that you originally sent to
Huron to cover fees and expenses may not have been sufficient to
cover everything that you owe. Some expenses (like Student Fees,
UHIP and Tuition) are only estimated in the Spring and may be
higher than the estimated costs. Also, exchange rate fluctuations
cause shortfalls in the fees you have paid. When you receive this
additional bill you must go to Lynne Cochrane at Student Support
Services and arrange for this additional payment. Tel: 519-4387224 ext. 216, Email: [email protected].
TIP: Failure to do this may mean that you cannot receive your
grades at the end of the year.
III. How do I use my food plan?
The amount of money that you have paid into your food plan is
automatically registered on your Western ONECard. This amount will
appear on the cash register when you go to your first meal in the Huron
Food Court. There are three meal plans that you can buy:
PLAN A:
$4,095
PLAN B:
$3,295
PLAN C:
$1,995 (upper year students only)
NOTES: Plan C is only available to senior students.
Once you have settled all the living arrangements at Huron University
College, you will need to make sure that your academic program is
what you would wish it to be. For example, you may want to change
some of your courses; you will need to get the books for the courses
you have chosen and you may want to join some clubs or sports
teams. You may need to seek help with all of these activities.
IV. How do I telephone home?
You may arrange for either a telephone in your room and a phone card
or a cell phone. You should phone home as soon as possible after
your arrival as your parents will be worried about your trip and your
11
safe arrival at Huron University College
1. There are a number of International Phone Cards that you can
buy. These cards will allow you to phone home for a specified rate
from any public telephone. There are machines for Bell Calling
Cards in the U.C.C. food court. These cards do not give a very
good rate for long distance, but are good in an emergency. You can
buy a number of very good phone cards both at the Pit Stop in UCC
and at Cherryhill Village Mall. For some, a hook-up fee is deducted
for each call, but these are good for long calls of up to 50 minutes.
There are other phone cards that are good for short calls because
they allow you to speak for 20 minutes at a time and they don’t
have a connection fee.
2. You may order telephone service for your room. You can do this
by calling Bell Canada at 519-310-2355. You must give the clerk
your room number, your Residence (e.g. Hellmuth) and your
mailing address. They will make an appointment with you to set up
a telephone in your room. There is a one-time set-up fee for your
telephone which will appear on your first bill.
It will list all the long-distance calls you make without a telephone
card and charges for monthly rental of the telephone and for local
service. If you bring your own telephone, and if you choose another
company for long-distance, you will not have these charges on your
Bell bill. You will receive a different bill for these charges. You may
wish to have a different company for long-distance calls.
TIP: You can buy a local cell phone at Masonville Mall from Telus,
Bell Mobility, Fido, or Rogers. There are many local brands available.
However, these phones tend to be expensive if you do not sign a
contract for a yearly plan. Consult with your friends and ask careful
questions before you buy a cell phone.
V. How do I set up an e-mail account?
E-mail access: Every registered Huron and Western student
receives a FREE computer account, e-mail address and personal
web space. You must activate your computer account by going to:
http://www.uwo.ca//its/identity/activation.html. You will need your
Western student # and Access Code (formerly called PIN). Follow
the directions on the screen to obtain your one-time use password
and then log in to Western Identity Manager using this password
and create your permanent password.
TIPS: Some students contact their families through the internet.
They use Skype or ICQ which supports webcam net-meeting. In
order to use this service, both you and your family need a webcam, and a hotmail account.
12
You will receive many important announcements about academic
matters and international social activities at your Western email
account, so check this account every day. It is also very easy to
forward your email from this account to your yahoo or hotmail
account if you prefer.
Internet access: Internet access will cost you a monthly fee. There
are three kinds of Internet access available to Huron College
students: You can have free access to the Internet by using the
Computer Lab computers. If you live in O’Neil, Benson, Cronyn,
Hellmuth or Southwest, you will have access to RezNet but the
yearly connection fee for this service is $360. This amount is
included as part of your residence fees. If you live in Young House,
you must arrange for your own internet access through Bell Canada
or Rogers Communications.
Huron has wireless access. Students are asked to bring their own
network cables to residence, but there will be a small supply of
these for sale at the Computer Room.
TIP: For more information about these services please see the
RezNet Information Flyer in your Residence Package that you
received in August. You can also speak to Kim Knowles or Steve
McLeod at Ext. 314 or [email protected] or in the Computer
Lab.
VI. How do I open a bank account?
This will be covered on the first day of pre-orientation. You should
open a bank account as soon after you arrive as possible, particularly if
you have brought a large amount of cash with you. You can open two
accounts at this time: one for American dollars and one for Canadian
dollars. It will take about 30 minutes to open your accounts and create
a PIN number for your Interac card. You will use that card to conduct
transactions at the bank and at bank machines. There are a number of
banks close to campus that you can use.
TD Canada Trust Bank will be providing a presentation during preorientation, as well as an opportunity to open a bank account with
them. You may chose whichever bank you wish. You will have the
opportunity to go to a bank of your choice and open a bank
account during the Pre-Orientation Program. Banks branches
closest to campus are listed below:
TD Bank: 1137 Richmond St. Tel. 519-673-6020. Open MondayFriday 8:00 - 6:00, Closed Saturday and Sunday. Located just outside
the main gates of the U.W.O. campus. http://www.tdcanadatrust.com
Bank of Montreal: Masonville Place Tel. 519-667-6273. Open
13
Monday - Wednesday 9:30 – 5:00 and Thursday and Friday 9:00 –
8:00, Saturday 9:00 - 4:00, and Sunday 12-4 - http://www.bmo.com.
Scotia Bank: Cherry Hill Plaza Tel. 519-642-5040. Open MondayWednesday 9:30-4:30, Thursday & Friday 9:30- 6:00, Friday 9:30 - 8:00
and Saturday 10:00 - 2:00. Closed Sunday. There is also a location at
Masonville Mall. http://www.scotiabank.com
CIBC: 97 Fanshawe Park Rd. E, Masonville Tel. 519-661-8182.
Open Monday – Wednesday, 9:30 - 5:00, Thursday – Friday 9:30 7:00, Saturday 9:30 - 4:00, Sunday 12:00 - 4:00. https://www.cibc.com
Royal Bank of Canada: 96 Fanshawe Park Rd. E, Masonville Tel.
519-660-4200. Open Monday-Wednesday 9:30-5:00, Thursday 9:308:00, Friday 9:30-6:00, Saturday 9:00-4:00. Closed Sunday.
http://www.rbc.com/canada.html
VII. How do I withdraw money when the banks are closed?
When you open an account you will be given a bankcard with your
Personal Identification Number (PIN). You can use that card at the many
automated teller machines (ATMs) on campus. These ATMs are
available twenty-four hours a day for withdrawal of cash, so you can
get money whenever you need it. The ATM at the Huron Food Court
has a Scotiabank cash only bank machine. It is located at the back
entrance to the Huron Food Court. You may use bankcards from other
banks in this machine, but there is a charge per withdrawal. There are
also Bank of Montreal InstaBank, CIBC and Royal Bank ATMs in the
basement of the University Community Centre (UCC).
VIII. How do I apply for a Social Insurance Number?
Students who are receiving a scholarship and/or are working on or offcampus will need a Social Insurance Number. In order to apply for a
SIN a student must have a letter from an employer who wishes to hire
him/her. Once you have obtained a work permit and a letter from your
employer, you can go directly to the Federal Building on the corner of
Queens Avenue and Talbot Street in downtown London. The
application forms are on the 9th floor.
You may also download forms online.
http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/int/visa/index.html?working
OR go to the government website:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-offcampus.asp
If you are an international student who has graduated from Western,
there are new rules governing how you apply for a work permit to stay
in Canada and work for up to two years. Please go to the Western
International Student Site for more information on this new program:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work-
14
students.asp
IX. How do I take the bus in London?
All registered, full-time students at Huron and Western will receive a
FREE bus pass. Your bus pass can be used on public buses
anywhere in London. However, you must bring it with you when you
take the bus, and you must show it to the bus driver each time you
board a bus. You can obtain bus schedules in the lower level of U.C.C.
at Western Connections, or online at http://www.ltconline.ca/. This is
the link to the London Transit Commission which runs the city buses.
There is a large map there with all of the bus routes on it, and people
at the information desk will help you if you have any problems
understanding the map or the schedules. You can also phone London
Transit and ask them how to take a bus from Huron University College
to wherever you wish to go. They will give you detailed instructions
about this. London Transit can be reached at: Tel: 519-451-1347. You
can take the bus into town from several places at the main campus,
and from along Western Road in front of Huron University College.
TIP: The Cultural Liaison Managers (CLM’s) will show the
students how to use the bus system to get to Masonville Mall and
downtown during the Pre-Orientation activities.
Bookmark “Live Arrival Times” for London Transit on your
smartphone to see when the next bus that you need will arrive.
The three main bus routes from campus are:
Downtown: Take the UWO Express Southbound. This bus leaves
from Western Rd. in front of Huron College before 6:00 p.m. MondayFriday only.
Cherryhill Mall: Take the # 33 Proudfoot. This bus leaves from in front
of the Natural Sciences Building on the Main Campus. It will drop you
off in front of the Cherryhill Mall.
Masonville Mall: Take the # 13 Wellington. This bus leaves from in
front of Delaware Hall and will take you north along Richmond St. to
Masonville Mall.
X. How else can I get around London?
Sometimes it is inconvenient to take a public bus. In that case, you can
telephone for a taxi to come to your residence and pick you up. If you
are in town at a bar late at night, or at the bus station or airport, there is
usually a queue of taxis waiting to pick up passengers, so you don’t
need to telephone for a taxi. If there is no queue, you must telephone
for one. Most taxi fares are done on a meter. That means you are
15
charged according to how long the taxi must wait for you and how far
you are going. You may receive a discount as a Western student. In
this case you must purchase a “Cab Card” for $5.00. You must show
that card and your Western ONECard each time you wish to get a
discount.
There are four taxi companies that you can call:
London Green Taxi
519-204-8294
http://www.londongreentaxi.ca/
U-Need-A-Cab Ltd.:
519-438-2121
http://www.uneedacablondon.ca/
Yellow London Taxi 519-657-1111
http://www.uneedacablondon.ca/
Blue & White
519-432-2222
XI. How do I take the bus to travel outside of London?
There are three bus services in town that you can use for travel outside
of London.
1. For travel to Toronto or to other cities in Canada and the United
States, you can use the Greyhound Bus Service. This service
takes you to the centre of the city that you wish to travel to. The bus
terminal is located at the corner of York St. and Talbot St. You can
get tickets at the bus station or at the Info Desk at the U.C.C. You
can also catch the bus to Toronto from campus from Sept. 1st to
April 30th. For details, ask at the Information Desk at U.C.C. There
is a website you can visit at http://www.greyhound.ca. The
telephone number is 519-434-3250.
2. For travel to Detroit or Toronto Airports, you can take the Robert Q
Airbus Ground Transportation Service. This service will pick you
up from your residence and take you directly to the terminal at the
airport from which your plane will leave. The bus schedule for
these services can be found online at:
Robert Q: http://www.robertq.com/Airbus/index.html/
XII. How do I take the train?
You can take the train to just about any city in Canada and to cities in
the United States. The train service to Toronto, Windsor, Sarnia,
Montreal and Quebec cities is called ViaRail, and the train station is
located at the corner of Richmond St. and York St. You should book
your train tickets at least one week in advance if you wish to get a
discounted seat. You can do this at the train station or at Travel Cuts,
the travel agency in the basement of U.C.C. ViaRail has a web- site
http://www.viarail.ca/ and the telephone number is: 519-672-5772.
16
SECTION 2: GETTING SETTLED
I. What do I do if I change my mind about the courses that I
have chosen to take?
If you have given your course choices to the Academic Advisors Debbie or Diana - your courses have been pre-approved and have
been entered for you by the Registrar’s Office. If you need to register
for more courses, or if you have not been registered in some of the
courses you chose because of timetable clashes, you will need to use
the “Web Registration” to register on-line which ends on September
10th. You can do this by entering the “Current Students” area on the
Huron Homepage, and signing in with your PIN number and Student
Number. If you don’t have this information yet, wait until you arrive at
Huron for Pre-Orientation to make your course selections. For more
information about the registration process, please check the
Registration Guide that has been sent to you as a PDF file in an email
from the Registrar’s Office.
Here are some helpful hints about registering for courses:
 Before you change any of the courses you have registered in, you
should speak to an Academic Advisor at Student Support Services.
There may be some restrictions on the courses that you can take
and they will advise you about these.
 You should try to attend at least two lectures of the course you wish
to take and the one you wish to drop. During the first lectures, the
professor will give you an outline of the course and will tell you
which books you will be studying in that course. You should also
speak to your professor about the suitability of the course for your
situation. Your professor will probably ask you questions about your
concerns about the course and your academic background in order
to determine your suitability for the course. You should then go to
the Western Bookstore and find the textbooks for the course. Have
a look at these and determine whether you are interested in the
topics the course will cover. These steps will help you determine
whether you really want to drop the course or add it to your
program of study.
17
TIP: There will be an information session on Friday September 4
at 10:00 a.m. during the Pre- orientation Program. At this session
you can talk to the Academic Advisors about the courses you
have already selected and those that you wish to select.
II. How do I buy books at the Western Book Store?
The Western Book Store arranges course books according to
programs (e.g. Political Science) and course numbers (e.g. Political
Science 1020E). Therefore, in order to buy an Economics text, you
must know the name and number of the course that you are taking. Be
careful to look for the course listed under Huron University College and
buy only the texts that your professor tells you to buy. In some courses,
there are alternate texts that different professors who are teaching the
course wish the students to buy. Some texts are photocopies because
the text is out of print at the publishers. In that case, often you must
buy the voucher for the text. This is a piece of paper that tells the Book
Store to print you a copy of the text. Usually you can pick up the text
within 2-3 days after you have bought the voucher.
1. Payment: You can pay for your books through your Interac Card,
by cheque, Visa, Mastercard or American Express, or with cash. In
the first week of classes, there are long line-ups of students paying
for their books. Therefore it is best to get as many of your books as
possible at the same time. This will save you many hours of waiting
in line.
2. Book Exchange: You can take some books back to the bookstore
for exchange within two weeks of purchase provided that they are
not part of a customized course package, CD ROM’s or videos.
The books must be in perfect condition (no writing in them and no
bent covers) and you must bring your receipt along with you.
3. The Used Book Store: You may be able to buy some of your
books second-hand at the Used Book Store. This store faces the
Western Book Store and is beside the pharmacy at the U.C.C. Be
careful, though, as some of the used books have a lot of writing in
them. Sometimes the older edition is quite different from the edition
that the professor is using and there may be important sections
missing.
TIP: Save yourself time and effort by planning your trip to the
Bookstore at Western. Don’t buy books for your courses until
you are certain that you will not be changing courses again. On
the other hand, as soon as you know which courses you are
taking, buy those books immediately. Books can get sold out very
quickly, and at the end of the Add/Drop period, they are sent back
to the publishers.
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III. What do I do about essays and assignments?
You may be surprised at the number of assignments, tests and essays
that you will have to do throughout the year at Huron. This may be
different from what you are used to in your own country. Many of the
first assignments are not worth very much of your final mark (perhaps
5% or 10%). These assignments are meant to help you get used to the
way your professor marks and the expectations that he/ she has about
how you should do your work. You should try your best on these
assignments and hand them in by the deadline that your professor
sets. Do not get discouraged if you receive low grades at first.
Remember that you will have the chance to do well on many other
assignments!
1. The Essay Drop-Off Box: If you cannot find your professor and
you have an essay to hand in, you should put it in the Essay Box
that is located in the Administration Wing in front of the office of the
Faculty of Arts & Social Science (FASS) Assistants, Lauren and
Julie. Essays are taken out of this box every morning at 8 a.m. and
put into the professors’ mailboxes.
2. Late Essays: There is usually a penalty for a late essay. You
should check your course outline to find out what the penalty is. For
more information about this topic, look at the Academic Calendar
for 2015/2016.
3. Writing Centre Services: The Writing Centre, located on the
second floor (mezzanine) of the Library, at Huron University
College has workshops, handouts and individual appointments
available for students who want help with the essays that they are
writing. Go to the Writing Centre and talk to the staff about what
services are available.
4. Workshops: There are many workshops presented throughout the
year which are designed to help you work successfully at the
university. Some of the workshops have been designed for the
essays that students are writing in their courses. Other workshops
are about essay writing in general. Nick Van Allen, the Coordinator,
Writing Services, & his team in the Writing Centre Office will be glad
to help!
TIP: Professor Teresa Flanagan will offer two introductory
academic writing courses for international students: Writing
0011F and 1021G. These courses are designed to help you write
the essays that you are working on throughout the year in all of
your courses.
5. Computer Lab: You can write your essays and have them printed
up in the Computer Room. Don’t leave this to the last minute,
however, as you may find it difficult to get to a computer when many
students have essays due. You must pay a small fee if you have
19
your essay printed at the computer room: Printing costs:
1 black and white page
$0.10
1 double-sided black & white sheet $0.10
Computer Room Hours are:
Monday- Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
8:15 am - 7:15 pm
8:15 am - 4:00 pm
CLOSED
6. Huron University College Library: Located on the main floor of
the administration wing of the Huron campus, Silcox Memorial Library
provides a variety of learning spaces, access to physical and virtual
research collections, information technology resources, and friendly,
knowledgeable staff to assist with student research needs. Learning
spaces including silent, quiet, and conversation-friendly zones are
found throughout the Library. The circulating collection contains over
150,000 items selected specifically to support Huron course work.
Students have access to thousands of online books, journals, and
other publications on or off campus through the library website. The
Library provides wireless access allowing students to bring their
personal technology to support their research and study. PC
computers and iPads are available for use, along with printing and
scanning facilities. Students can drop by the Research Help Desk or
book a research consultation on-line when in need of research
assistance. Writing support is also offered through Writing Services
on the Library mezzanine. Library ours fluctuate during the academic
year; for current hours information, please visit the Library website at
www.huronuc.libguides.com/home. Note that Huron students may
also make use of resources provided by Western Libraries, the library
system of Western University.
TIP: There will be a Library Tour during the Pre-Orientation
Program. Feel free to ask the questions if there is something you
do not understand.
IV. Making Friends
There are many ways to meet people at Huron University College.
Some activities are arranged for the entire student body, and there are
some activities that will be arranged specifically for the International
and Exchange students to get to know each other. The activities that
are arranged for all the students are done through:
1. The Residences: If you live in residence, Tolu and the Residence
Dons will arrange some activities so that you can make friends with
people on your floor.
2. Orientation Week: There are many activities arranged during
20
Orientation Week, which are designed to help you meet Canadian
students on campus. You will get to know the International Sophs
during Pre- Orientation and Orientation weeks. Their job is to help
the international and exchange students to participate in activities
with the Canadian students. The leader of the Sophs is Bethany
Radford, and she can be reached at: [email protected]
In order to participate fully in Orientation Week, you should buy the
Orientation Pass ($90). This is extra to your costs for residence, but
they include tickets to many exciting events for Orientation Week.
3. The Student Council provides many opportunities for you to get
involved in student activities, join clubs and meet many interesting
Huron students. The HUCSC (Huron University College Student
Council) has a General Assembly which holds many positions that
you could try to fill. In addition, there are many committees that
report to the HUCSC which also have positions that you could fill.
Visit their webpage at: http://myhuron.ca/. The HUCSC also
arranges some activities during the school year that will be widely
advertised and that you are welcome to join. Please check your
Western email account regularly, or your Huron App on your iPhone
in order to keep up-to-date information on these activities.
4. Intramural Sports: You can find information on who to call and
where to go to join Huron sports teams through the 2015-2016
Student Guide on page 61in the Sports & Recreation section.
Western opened a new Student Recreation Centre in 2009. It has 5
gymnasiums; 5 squash courts; a 50-metre, 8 lane pool; 2 multi-purpose
studios; a fitness centre with weights & cardio; and a spin bike area. You
are also entitled to use the sports facilities, gym and swimming pool
at U.C.C. free of charge. Remember to bring your Western
ONECard with you each time you wish to use these facilities.
5. Clubs: There are many clubs at Huron that you may wish to join.
Clubs provide you with a good way of making friends with students
at Huron University College. Some of these clubs which
international students seem to enjoy are: Volunteer Ya, the
Photography Club, the Computer Club, the Economics Club and the
Chinese Students’ Association. You should go to the Clubs Week in
September at the Student Activity Centre (SAC) to find out more
about the clubs and people who run them at Huron.
6. Excursions: Each month, beginning in September, there will be a
major trip on a Saturday or Sunday within Ontario. Some of the trips
taken in previous years were to Niagara Falls, Canada’s
Wonderland, Toronto, St. Jacob’s and the Maple Syrup Festival at
the Spring Water Conservation Area. Peer tutors and Cultural
Liaison Managers will also go on these trips to help answer
questions and tell you something about the history of these places.
You have paid the admission fees and bus fares for these trips
through the Activities Fee. Take a look at the Facebook page of
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some of the activities we did in prior years. The Facebook page is
called Huron University College International Activities 2015/2016.
TIP: Although you have already paid an extra fee for these
activities through your fee bill from the Accounting Office, you
should still sign up for the activities that you wish to attend.
Instructions on how to sign up will be provided in early
September. This list will help the activity planners prepare
enough spaces on the bus and enough admission tickets for each
event.
If you sign up for the activity, you are expected to show up on
time for the bus. If you are late, you may miss the bus. If you sign
up and cannot attend an event because you are ill, please contact
Trudy to let her know that you won’t be coming. Her telephone
number is: 519-438-7224, ext. 291, or [email protected]
V. Getting to know London
London is located in Southwestern Ontario, halfway between Toronto
and the Canada-United States border at Windsor, Ontario & Detroit
Michigan. The area borders on two of the Great Lakes – Lake Huron to
the west and Lake Erie to the south.
Southwestern Ontario is a major farming area in Ontario. Because of
this, London has many farmers markets, retailers and restaurants that
sell fresh, local food. Three of the largest farmers markets in London
are listed below. Check their websites for their hours of operation,
vendors, and bus routes:
i.
ii.
iii.
Covent Garden Market – 130 King Street in (downtown).
http://www.coventmarket.com/
London’s Farmers and Artisans Markets - 2 locations
http://www.londonsfarmersmarket.ca/ :
a. Western Fair Farmers & Artisans Market
b. Masonville Farmers Market at Masonville Mall (open
Friday’s from May - September
Trails End Farmers Market – 4370 Dundas Street East.
http://www.trailsendmarket.com/
VI. Your London Calling
The City of London, Western University Students’ Council (USC),
Fanshawe Students’ Union (FSU) at Fanshawe College, and local
post-secondary students have partnered to create a great resource for
students. Go to yourlondoncalling.ca for a great resource for any
student who is new to London. This information was compiled by
students for students and is a great resource!
22
VII. Where can I go shopping?
There are four shopping malls that are a short bus ride from Huron
University College. All four have food shops, clothing shops and
specialty shops within easy reach.
Masonville Mall: You can take either the 34 Medway bus or the 13
Wellington bus to this mall. This Mall has the largest selection every
kind of shop you might need as well as a cinema complex. There are
also many restaurants and bars located at or near this mall. Some
shops you might wish to investigate for inexpensive winter clothing are:
Big Box Mall: There are many large retail shops referred to as big
box stores at the corner of Fanshawe Park Road and Hyde Park. This
area includes shops such as Canadian Tire, Wal Mart, and Old Navy
where you can buy winter clothes, shoes, fashionable clothing and
household items. You can take the #31 bus called the Orchard Park
Westbound to this area.
Loblaws: This grocery store is across from Masonville on Fanshawe
Park Road. It carries a large variety of fresh, ready to eat and tinned
and dry foods, as well as other kinds of groceries.
Sherwood Forest Mall: You can take the 9a (Limberlost) bus, the 9b
(Aldersbrook) bus or the 9 (Whitehills) to get to this mall. This mall is
much smaller than Masonville, but you might prefer it because it is not
as busy. Some shops you might wish to visit here are:
Dollar Store: This shop has a large variety of items you might need for
day to day living in Canada. All the items here are very inexpensive.
Goodwill: This shop has used or “second hand” clothing for sale.
Sometimes this is the best way to get expensive or unusual clothing
inexpensively.
Metro: This is a grocery store like Loblaws. You can get good fresh
and prepared foods here as well as baked goods and tinned and dried
food.
Cherryhill Village Mall: This mall contains Scotia Bank, Metro, a
hardware store, a pharmacy, dry cleaners, a florist and many clothing
stores. There are also fast-food outlets and restaurants in this mall.
White Oaks Mall: there are many clothing shops here, including a
Walmart Store. To get there, take the #10 Wonderland Bus. There are
inexpensive places to buy winter clothes if you find that you need
warmer clothing than you have brought.
23
Value Village: This is located on Wellington St. South, and you would
have to take the # 13 Wellington bus to get there.
VIII. Useful Apps.
If you have a smartphone, here are some useful apps that you might
want to download.
MyHuron App: This app will send you a message about the latest
things that are happening at Huron including academic information and
social events that are happening on campus.
Urbanspoon: This app will tell you where you can get good local food
wherever you happen to be.
Tripadvisor: This app will also tell you about local hotels, food and
entertainment wherever you are travelling
IX. Where can I go to eat ethnic food?
There are a number of good restaurants in London that serve Chinese,
Korean, Japanese, Indian, African, Iranian and Mexican food. Some
even serve typical Canadian food! There are many restaurants in
London. These are only the ones that our students have tried and
have told the International office about. You and your friends may find
other restaurants that are just as good. If you do, please tell us about
them and they will be included in next year’s booklet. There are some
new grocery stores in London where you can buy ethnic food. Here
are three of them:
United Supermarket: 1062 Adelaide St.
Food Island: 530 Oxford St. at Wonderland
Superking Supermarket: 785 Wonderland Road S (Westmount
Mall)
TIP: Use the online Bell Telephone Directory for Business
Listings at: http://www.canada411.ca/
X. What safety precautions should I take?
London Ontario, Huron University College and the University of
Western Ontario are safe places to live and study. However, you
should always take precautions to make sure that you will be safe from
harm. Here are some of the most important safety items that you
should know about.
1. Fire Safety: You should read about fire alarms, fire drills and fire
prevention in the Residence Handbook on pages 44-45. If you
hear a loud, continuing noise, this is a fire alarm. It may mean that
there is a fire in the residence, or it may mean that this is only a drill
or practice for a real fire. In both cases, you should not be afraid,
but you must leave the residence immediately!!
2. Foot Patrol: If you must walk from the main campus to your
24
residence in Huron University College at night when it is dark, you
may phone the Foot Patrol to have someone walk with you. For
more information see “Safety Precautions” in the Residence
Handbook on page 26-27.
3. Locks: You should always keep your residence room locked, and
carry your key with you at all times. You should never lend your key
to any one. Most students are honest, but don’t take a chance that
your personal property will not go missing.
4. Emergencies: When you arrive at Huron you should give the
Academic Services Assistant at Student Support Services the
name of someone who knows your parents and who lives in
Canada that we can contact in case you have an accident or fall ill.
Likewise, you will be given an “Emergency Card” when you arrive at
Huron. You should also carry this with you because it will list the
names and telephone numbers of people at Huron whom you
should contact if you have an accident or other types of emergency
when you are away from the campus.
XI. What do I do if I get sick?
There are good services on campus for medical emergencies and
regular medical needs. You should always carry your UHIP card with
you when you access these services. This is the medical insurance
that you applied for when you first arrived at Huron University College.
1. In case of a real emergency (i.e. you fall and think you have
broken an arm, or you have cut yourself badly and can’t stop the
bleeding, or you faint), you should call, or have someone nearby
call the Student Emergency Response Team (SERT) by calling
519-661-3300. If you are calling from a landline (i.e. not a
cellphone, you can call 911. You should tell the person on the
phone that you are at Western. The team will come to see you and
decide whether you need to be taken to hospital. The University
Hospital Emergency Centre is located less than 1 km away on
Western Rd, so they can take you there quickly.
2. If you fall ill but it is not an emergency, you may go to the Student
Health Services Medical Centre located in Room 11 of the U.C.C.
building. Patients can come in the morning to try for an afternoon
appointment, but it is not a walk-in service or drop-in. The Centre
is open (by appointment only):
Monday to Thursday
9 to 7 pm
Friday
9 to 4:30 pm
Saturday:
9 to 1 pm
Sunday
NOT OPEN
Students can call in or appear in the morning and try to get an
appointment the same day or next day. In case of serious illness,
25
the Centre has a nurse available during all these hours to see a
walk-in for assessment but not necessarily to see a doctor.
3. Dental Services for both scheduled appointments and for dental
emergencies are available at the Faculty of Dentistry Clinic:
Room 0107; Dental Sciences Building. Tel. 519-661- 3326. Please
note: Dental services are not covered under UHIP and you will
be asked to pay a fee for them.
4. Eye treatment is not covered under UHIP. If you wear glasses or
contact lenses, you should bring your prescription to Canada. You
can have prescriptions replaced quickly and fairly cheaply through
commercial companies such as Lens Crafters and Wholesale
Vision. Look under “Optician and Dispensing” in the yellow pages
of the Telephone book. If you develop eye problems while you are
in Canada, you should ask the Academic Services Assistant at
Student Support Services (Ext. 244) for the names of opticians.
TIP: If your illness interferes with your studies, you should let
your professors know the reason for your absence from class or
inability to complete an assignment on time. Professors are
usually willing to make concessions if they know that there is a
good reason for them.
If you go to see a doctor and the doctor tells you that you should
stay home in bed for a few days, please be sure to get a note from
him/her with this information on it. Once you feel better, you
must take the note along with the Request for Relief to Debbie
Chadwick or Diana Bumstead at Student Support Services, as this
is proof that you were ill.
XII: What should I do about homesickness and depression?
Many international and exchange students find that they feel lonely and
depressed after the first excitement of arriving in Canada and settling in
to Huron student life. This is a natural reaction to being so far away
from family and friends. Keep in frequent contact with your parents and
friends through ICQ or Skype. The connection is free and you can talk to
your parents for as long as you like.
However, if you find that you often sit in your room and cry, and you
feel that you have no energy to join in the activities that other students
are doing, it may be time to seek some help with your feelings! On
Campus, there are many resources for students who feel this way.
Sometimes you really need to talk to someone other than your student
friends about your problems.
The University Chaplain, Reverend William Cliff, is always available for
26
a chat. His office is across from the Main Entrance of the University,
and close to the Dean’s office.
The Student Development Centre at Western has trained psychologists
on staff who will also talk to you. You can make an appointment by
going to the Student Development Centre on the 4th floor of the new
Student Services Building.
SECTION 3: PLANNING THE WINTER BREAK
O’Neill-Ridley, Hellmuth and Southwest Residences will be closed
during the Winter Break from December 23rd, 2015 to January 3 rd ,
2016. The main doors to these residences will be locked and there will
be no food available at the Huron Food Court during this period. If you
wish to stay on campus during this time, you may be allowed to move
into Brough House for the entire break or for a shorter period during
the break. You must fill in a form requesting this service before
December 1st, 2015. Please note that international students will be
responsible for keeping Brough House neat and tidy during this
period as housekeeping people are also on holiday at this time.
TIP: Many international students take this opportunity to travel in
Canada or visit the homes of some of their newfound Canadian
friends. However, these trips need to be planned well in advance.
Here are some answers to questions you might have about the
Winter Break:
I. What kind of trip can I make in Canada in the winter?
There are many places that you can visit in Canada that are very
interesting during the Christmas and New Year’s festivities. These trips
need not cost a lot of money, either!
1. Homestays: International Students may sign up for a homestay
program in order to enjoy Christmas with a Canadian family. These
homestays are generally only for 3 or 4 days over Christmas—from
December 22nd to 26th 2015. If you wish to share Christmas with a
Canadian host family, please fill in the Homestay Request Form
which will be available from Student Support Services or from Trudy
Button.
2. Toronto: This city comes alive over the holiday season. There are
many plays, concerts, bars, shops and restaurants to go to.
Experience a real Canadian vacation by staying in Toronto. There
is cheap accommodation available at: The YWCA: If you are
female, you can stay “dormitory style” (i.e.10 people to a room) for
$20 per night. For more information, call Tel: 1-416-923-8454.
3. Bed and Breakfast: These are usually homes where you can rent
27
a single or double room quite inexpensively. The rent will also
include breakfast. There is an organization that will give you the
names and phone numbers of places to stay. For more information
call Hostelling International: Tel.: 416-971-4440. Ask about the
cost for two or three to stay in one room!
4. The United States: If you do not already have a multi-entry visa
for the U.S. it may be difficult for you to get one as an International
student who has resided in Canada for only a few months. If you do
have a visa, for more information about holiday trips you can go to
Travel Cuts, the student travel agency at U.C.C.
5. Longer trips: There are many more destinations that you can
easily reach from London, Ontario. You should look at the bulletin
boards around Huron University College and at the U.C.C. for
Information about cheap student excursions over the holidays.
TIP: If you wish to take a trip outside of Canada, don’t pay for the
trip until you receive your travel visa.
II. What is the weather like over the Winter Break?
You will find that the weather is usually very cold at this time of the
year. This is particularly true if you plan to visit Quebec and Montreal.
You should take many warm clothes with you on your travels. You will
need to wear warm wool socks, a wool hat and scarf and gloves. Your
coat will also need to be lined with wool or padded. Usually coats
brought over from Europe or Asia are not warm enough for our winters
here in Canada. It is best to buy an inexpensive but suitable coat while
you are here.
III. What should I do about giving gifts during the holiday
period?
Christmas is a time when Canadians like to exchange gifts with their
friends and family. Here are some hints for you about gift giving over
Christmas.
1. Homestays: If you are invited to someone’s house over the
holidays, you would be expected to bring a small gift to give to your
host or hostess (the person to whose house you are invited). You
would give this gift of flowers, or tea or chocolates to the host/
hostess as you enter the house. In addition, you might want to bring
some small gift for the friend who invited you to his/her house. You
should wrap this gift and put it under the Christmas Tree to be
opened on Christmas Day.
2. Gifts for friends: You may have made a special friend at Huron
University College who has helped you in a particular way. This is a
good time of year to show your appreciation by giving that friend a
small Christmas gift. However, this is something that you should
28
only do for one or two close friends that you have made.
IV. What about my studies over the Winter Break?
In general, students do not expect to do much work over the holiday
season, provided that they have completed all assignments for the first
term. You may want to use this time to catch up on reading or to start
assignments that are due in January. Because the Residences,
Library and the Computer Room at Huron University College will all be
closed over this period, you will have to plan to do your work without
the benefit of all of these facilities. It is better to take this time as
holiday time and plan to work extra hard starting from Jan. 3rd, 2016.
SECTION 4: THE WINTER TERM
This is the term when most of your large assignments are due. It is
also the term when the coldest weather occurs. Many students fall ill
during this term because they work too hard, don’t exercise and don’t
eat properly! Here are some ways that you can ensure that you will
stay healthy during the winter months in Canada.
I. What should I do about exercise during the winter?
In the winter when it is so cold outside, it is very easy to stay indoors
and not get proper amounts of exercise. The paths are often covered
with ice and snow and it can be very unpleasant to walk about outside
when it is -10º to -15º C. However, it is important that you try to get
some fresh air each day, even in the winter! Here are some things that
you can do outside in the winter:
Outdoor Sports: Canadians love winter sports and there are many
activities that you can do at no cost. Many students toboggan down the
slopes outside of the residences. Some take skis and cross-country ski
in the woods. Some go skating at the free outdoor rink in downtown’s
Victoria Park or Covent Garden Market, or go downhill skiing at Boler
Mountain. Some just like to play in the snow, building snowmen or
snow houses.
Walks: Some people prefer to go for long walks in the winter. Be sure
to dress warmly — particularly, check your face and hands because it
is very easy to get frostbite on a cold Canadian winter day. Canadians
often wrap a scarf around their faces in addition to wearing a hat and
gloves when it is very cold outside. You will also need a pair of good
snow boots that will keep your feet warm and prevent you from slipping
on the ice.
Indoor Sports: The sports facilities at the Western Student
Recreation Centre offer many different ways to get exercise indoors in
29
the winter: swimming, aerobic classes, tennis, racquetball and
badminton. Check the list of facilities and the exercise and sports
programs that are offered. Most services are offered free of charge or
for a very small service fee to Huron students.
II. How can I eat in a healthy way?
1. Eat a balanced diet! In order to maintain a healthy diet, you should
make sure that you get a good daily amount of fresh fruit and
vegetables. You do not have to eat hamburgers, fries or ice cream
every day! There is always a salad bar at the Dining Hall, and the
soups are a healthy alternative to hamburgers. If there is a food you
would like to have but it is not currently available, talk to the Staff and
Chef – they want to hear your ideas!
2. Snack on fruit, yogurt or nuts. If you have a refrigerator in your
room, you should stock it with fresh fruit and vegetables that you
can have as a snack when you get hungry. You should also eat
dried fruit and nuts for snacks as a healthy alternative. You can buy
this type of food at the small grocery shop downstairs in the U.C.C.
on Western Main Campus
III. How can I find the time to finish all the assignments that
are due this term?
You will find that time goes by very quickly this term, and that there are
too many assignments to do, all at the same time. It makes sense to
plan ahead to make time for study and socializing with your friends.
Here are some ways in which you can manage your time more
effectively:
1. Start research for your essays about four weeks before they
are due. There are two reasons for this: (1) It is easier to find
reference books in the library if you start your search before other
students start looking for the same books. (2) You may need extra
time to understand the research and to put it into a carefully
constructed essay. You may need to see a tutor in the Writing
Centre two or three times before your essay is complete. Book an
appointment with the Writing Centre at least three days in advance.
2. Attend the Time Management Workshops that the Writing Skills
Centre at Huron will be doing in September in the Library. There
will be a schedule of these workshops posted at the Writing Skills
Centre in September. These workshops have many tips for
studying and note-taking that will make your life easier and more
effective.
3. Multilingual Writing Tutors. If you feel more comfortable
working in your own language before you write in English, visit the
Writing Centre and ask about our Multilingual Writing Tutors.
30
4. Keep a good balance of social activities and work. If you try to
work all the time, you will not be very happy, and chances are that
you will not work efficiently. On the other hand, if you attend too
many social activities , you may try to do all the work necessary for
an essay two or three days before it is due. This means that you
probably will not do a very good job on the essay.
IV. How can I keep warm in the winter?
Many International students find it difficult to stay warm in winter. This
is because there is a great difference between the outside temperature
and the inside temperature. When students dress to stay warm
outside, they are too hot when they go to classes. When they dress for
comfort in the classroom, they are too cold when they go to the Food
Court or back to their residence rooms. What should you do?
1. Dress in layers. You should wear at least three or four layers of
clothes when you go outside in January and February: undershirt,
shirt, sweater and coat. If you dress in layers you can then remove
some of those layers when you are indoors for a long time (e.g.
during a two-hour class). Perhaps you will not only take off your
coat, but will need to take off your sweater as well.
2. Always take your gloves, hat and scarf with you. Whenever you
plan to stay outdoors longer than five minutes, you should wear
them as well as your coat. You should also wear wool socks in the
winter rather than cotton socks, and if your feet still get cold, you
should wear two pairs of socks in your boots! You will enjoy your
first winter in Canada much more if you learn the tricks of staying
warm!
V. What is Conference Week?
There are no classes in Conference week, also called Break Week or
Study Week. This year’s dates are February 15th – 19th, 2016. The
purpose of this week is to give students a chance to start work on
some of the many assignments that they will have to do before the end
of the year. Unlike the Winter Break, all of the services at Huron
University College will be available during Conference Week. The
Library, Computer Room, Food Court, Health Services, the Writing
Centre and Residences will all be open as usual.
TIP: Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec Trip. This year Huron is
offering all international and exchange students the chance to go
on a guided group trip to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec cities
during the Conference Week Break. More information will be
available during the Fall.
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VI. Intent to Register
Just before Conference Week, you will probably be asked to determine
whether you wish to come back to Huron and what program you wish
to be in. It is very important that you complete your “Intent to Register”
online because that will determine whether you receive information
about registration for courses in the summer for the following year. If
you do not understand how to do this, there are workshops available to
help you understand what to do about “Intent to Register” and you may
ask an Academic Advisor about this process.
SECTION 5: PREPARING TO LEAVE CANADA
Leaving Canada can be as complicated as getting here. There are a
number of things that you must do whether you are planning to come
back to Canada in September or not. Careful planning started early will
save you from discomfort or extra expense at the end of April and the
beginning of May.
I. What should I do about leaving residence?
There are a number of matters that you should settle before you leave
residence. Residences will be closed by May 1st, 2016. This means
that you will no longer be able to stay in the residence buildings. The
Dons and Residence Managers will no longer be available and the
buildings will be locked. Before May 1st you must:
1. Decide if your “check-out” date will be on or before May 1st
2. On the check-out date, you will hand in your keys and have your
room inspected by a Residence Life staff member. For more
information on this procedure, please look at your Residence
Handbook on page 33.
3. Notify Bell or Rogers that your telephone and internet cable lines
should be disconnected. You must also tell the company your
“forwarding” address. This is the address that you will be living at
after you move out of residence. The telephone company will send
your final bill to that address. If you do not pay your final bill, you will
find it very difficult to get connected again when you come back in
September.
4. If you are renting a refrigerator in your room, you must also make
arrangements to have it removed before you leave. You can get
information about how to do this from your Dons.
II. What if I plan to stay after May 1st?
1. Your medical insurance (UHIP) will probably become invalid as of
May 2nd, and your student visa will also become invalid shortly
after that. If you plan to travel before you go back to your home
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country, or if you plan to take summer courses, you must check the
dates that are listed on these documents, and apply for an
extension.
TIP: It is very difficult to get extensions once these documents
have expired. You should get them extended in April.
2. If you plan to stay in North America after May 1st, you must make
sure you have somewhere to stay. You may be able to stay with
friends who have an apartment in London, or you may be able to
sublet an apartment. When you sublet, it means that you have a
private agreement with a student who is renting an apartment for
the entire year but who will be leaving that apartment empty for
some time during the summer months. For information on sublets,
you should go to the Off-Campus Housing Office in Lambton Hall
for brochures.
3. If you only want to stay in London for an extra week or two, you
could stay at temporary accommodations like: Brough House:
Speak to Ashley Shantz at the information desk, about booking a
room at Brough Hall for a few days. Ashley’s telephone number is:
519 438 7224 Ext. 200. The rate per day for this facility is $45.00 to
$85.00 depending on the room, plus HST for students.
Ontario Hall has a Bed and Breakfast option, which begins in May
and lasts until mid-August. You can reserve rooms there for the
night or by the week. Check “Western Bed and Breakfast” at
http://www.stayatwestern.ca
III. What do I do about my air ticket home?
You should not get your air ticket home before the confirmed exam
schedule has been posted on the Western website. This means you
will have to wait until mid- March to book a ticket, or you must book a
ticket for May 1st or later to make sure that you are here for all of your
final exams. Remember, you cannot stay in residence after May 1st so
if your air ticket is booked for after May 1st, you will have to make
alternative living arrangements for after May 1st.
TIP: Do not leave getting your air ticket home until the last
minute. Many flights get fully booked at this time of the year, and
you may not want to stay in Canada two or three extra weeks until
a flight becomes available.
IV. How and when will I receive my grades?
View grades on-line: When your grades are ready, they will be posted
on your Student Center page in the section entitled Academic Records
and view your grades. If you have any questions about your grades,
you can email an Academic Advisor at [email protected].
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TIP: If you cannot see your grades online by the end of May, they
may have been sealed. This could be because you still owe
money to either Western or to Huron University College. You
should read the message that comes up on your grades page and
contact Lynne Cochrane at Student Support Services to settle the
matter. Tel: 519-438-7224, Ext. 216 or [email protected].
Transcripts: You can order these online, or by going to Room: 1120,
Western Student Services Building
Graduate Schools: For more information about graduate school,
LSAT, MCAT, GRE exams, scholarships, and bursaries please check
the Student Guide, pages 38-40. You can also speak to Debbie
Chadwick, Academic Advisor, about these matters.
TIP: Exchange students should order their transcripts before
they leave London as it is harder to do this when they return
home. When you order transcripts, be sure to mark the box that
says “Release transcripts when all grades are posted”.
Otherwise, you may receive a transcript with one or two grades
missing. If this does happen to you, you must order and pay for a
new set when your grades are complete. Always check your
grades on-line before you order a new set of transcripts.
V. What if I plan to return to Huron University College?
You may want to make some decisions before you leave in May about
where you will live in September or where to store your extra baggage
for the summer.
1. Intent to Register: In early February, you will be asked what you
intend to do in September. If you plan to continue in your program
at Huron, or to choose an area of specialization you must go
through the “Intent to Register” procedure. There will be workshops
advertised that will help you with this procedure. This procedure will
tell the Registrar’s Office what your plans are for next year, so that
your registration procedure during the summer goes smoothly. If
for any reason those plans change, you must tell the Registrar’s
Office this too.
2. Register online: You must register online, using the registration
package that you will receive in June which will give you the
programs that you may register for and the call-in times that are
available to you. You may also get this registration package online.
Most people register as soon as they can to ensure that they can be
enrolled in the courses that they really want.
3. Residence: If you wish to return to residence next year, you must
fill in the “Return to Residence” form and pay a deposit of $350 at
Student Support Services before you leave for home.
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4. Off-campus Housing: Housing information is available online at:
http://offcampus.uwo.ca/ or in person at Rm. 3C at Ontario hall,
Mon – Fri from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or call 519-661-3550 / email [email protected].
5. Baggage storage: You may wish to leave your winter clothes and
some of your other belongings in London while you go home for a
visit. You can reduce the costs of storage by sharing a storage
locker with 2 or 3 of your friends. For more information, look up
“Storage” in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory.
TIP: It is not a good idea to try to store your baggage with a
friend, as it may not be secure. It is better to find secure (i.e.
locked and guarded) storage space that you pay for.
6. Student Authorization Extension: If you are changing programs,
or are planning to stay at Huron University College longer than you
had expected at first, you will have to apply for an extension to your
student authorization and for a new student visa. To do this, you
must download the form from the website:
http://www.uwo.ca/international/iesc/visas/study_permits/extend_st
udy_permit/index.html.
7. More information can be found through the Government of Canada
website at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5552E
TOC.asp
VI. Other important websites to know about before you
leave the country:
1. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency 275 Slater Street, 3rd
Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L5. You can find out about the GST
Visitor Rebate by calling: 1-800-668-4748, or by visiting the website
at: www.cra-arc.gc.ca
2. For queries about your student visa status, or for work permission,
go to:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5552E
TOC.asp but scroll down to the section on work permits.
VII. How can I keep in touch with all my friends from Huron,
once I have gone back home?
This is a problem that all students have. Once you have left Huron
University College, you do not have to leave behind all your memories
and friends. There are several ways in which you can maintain contact
with Huron University College.
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1. The Alumni Association: Once you graduate, you automatically
become a member of the Huron University College Alumni
Association. If you give the Alumni Office your home address, they
will send you newsletters which have news about graduates of the
College and any changes that have taken place. For information
about the Alumni Association, contact Ms Meaghan Blight,
Executive Director of University Advancement and Executive
Director HUC Foundation at [email protected].
2. Homecoming: Once a year Huron University College holds
Homecoming Celebrations. These are usually held in late
September or early October. All alumni are invited to come back to
the College to renew old friendships and to remember their time as
students at Huron. This year the celebrations will be held from
Friday, September 25th to Sunday, September 27th, 2015. You can
find out when they will be in 2016 by checking our Huron
Homepage.
3. E-mail: Make sure that Trudy Button has an e-mail address where
she can contact you during the summer. She will keep you informed
of events and other information that you may need after you leave
Huron University College.
4 . Join our Facebook Page: It is called Huron University College
International Activities Program 2015/2016. Maintain contact with
old friends by visiting the Huron University College website. We
would love to have all our old and new international students keep
in touch with us through our Facebook Page.
It is located at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/984372908247069/?fref=ts
Notes:
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A FINAL WORD
The Huron University College International Student Guide has been
designed to answer some of the questions that you might have during
your stay in Canada. The Guide has also tried to indicate to you other
sources of information for answers to your questions. If you read this
book and still can’t do what you need to do, remember that there are
many people at the College who are willing to help you. You are
always welcome to come to see Trudy Button, Krista Vogt,Tolu
Kayode, or Sharon McKillop or any of the staff and faculty at Huron
University College.
We want your stay at Huron University College to be interesting,
exciting and enjoyable. We hope that this guide will help you in your
new adventure in Canada!
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Map of Huron University College Campus
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Huron University College
1349 Western Road
London
Ontario, Canada, N6G 1H3
T: 519 438 7224
W: www.huronuc.ca