Strike messaging highlights for staff: as of January 7, 2009
Prepared by J. Duklas
General recommendations:
1. Should you have students calling you with concerns about studies during the strike, please address their specific question immediately by reviewing information published in the following Web site:
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/disruption/index.htm
2. If you are unable to assist them, refer the enquiry as follows:
Tuition fees/Student accounts payment matters/financial petitions – Lee Smith (, ext. 22020)
Academic matters - Don Murdoch (, ext. 33299) and/or Emilie Oca de Sarasua (, ext. 20626)
Financial Aid – Lucie Tartaglia (, ext. 33268) <Note: Lucie will then ensure the message gets to the appropriate contact in the Financial Aid team for follow up>
Parent enquiries – Joanne Duklas (, ext 58002) and/or Kevin Wilson (, ext. 55955)
Common questions/answers for January:
1. Do I have to pay my tuition by January 10 2009?
No. To assist you with financial planning, your student account statement now reflects the outstanding balance for both your fall and winter courses. Normally, payment would be due on January 10; however, due to the labour disruption, the tuition payment deadline for the Winter 2009 Term will be determined once classes resume. Interest charges on outstanding balances will not accrue for the duration of the strike.
2. I want a refund on my dropped courses, how do I get one?
The last day to receive a refund for F, FF and Y term courses was Oct. 1, 2008. Visit this session's Enrolment Guide for information about dropping courses. http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/enrolmentguides/fw08/index.htm
As the refund date has passed for F, FF and Y term, dropping courses now will mean that you will not receive a refund. In addition and if you have applied for OSAP, there will be further financial implications including a reassessment of your OSAP. Visit http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/osap_drop.shtml for more information on how dropped courses affect your OSAP entitlement.
Nov. 7, 2008 was the last date to drop a fall (F) term course without receiving a final grade. With the disruption of academic activities resulting from a strike by CUPE 3903, please be advised that Senate Executive has extended this deadline with the intent to re-establish it once the strike is resolved. The new date will be posted on the Current Students Web site when available.
However, at this point in time, it is not possible to drop F term courses online through the Registration and Enrolment System. After the strike concludes, the system will be updated to allow drops of F term courses in accordance with the deadline which will be established by Senate Executive. Winter term (W, WW, B, P2) and full year courses (Y) may still be dropped via the Registration and Enrolment System.
Note that the classes for courses in terms FF, A and P3 had finished prior to the beginning of the strike, and students will not be able to drop courses via the enrolment system. Drops for these courses may only be requested via the normal academic petition process.
If you are interested in dropping courses due to the strike and have extenuating circumstances, please call (416-872-9675) or visit Student Client Services in the Bennett Centre for Student Services.
<The following is for staff reference>
The original list of drop dates is below. Anything falling after November 6, the start of the strike, will be extended and re-established once academic activities are resumed by declaration of Senate Executive.
3. Can I submit a financial petition?
Yes. Visit the Student Financial Services Web site for information and guidelines about financial petitions. http://www.yorku.ca/osfs/petitions.shtml
<NB: A refund or petition request must typically come with extenuating circumstances of an unusual nature once deadlines have passed; these are reviewed by an adjudication committee in Student Financial Services. There are no guarantees as it depends on circumstances. For those requesting refunds wherein refund deadlines have been suspended, process the refund request.
4. Due to the extension of the term I find myself in financial need, what do I do?
Undergraduate students in financial need can complete the current Student Financial Profile available at the Student Financial Services Web site. If you had completed a bursary application in the fall term and have found that your circumstances have changed, you are welcome to submit a written statement detailing your new circumstances with supporting documentation to Student Client Services.
Graduate students should visit the Faculty of Graduate Studies Office of Student Affairs for information regarding graduate funding (telephone: 416-736-5521; Campus Building: York Lanes 283).
5. Do I have to come to campus during the strike to pick up my OSAP loans documents?
No. You can wait until the strike is over to come to campus to pick up your OSAP loans documents. However, if you wish to pick up your loans documents while the strike is ongoing, you are welcome to do so. The Ontario Ministry will not allow York to mail loans documents this year because of the strike. Whenever you pick up your loans documents, the Ministry requires that you remit the remaining balance of your student tuition.
6. If fees are not due on January 10th, why do you remit my fees from OSAP?
When you submit your OSAP application, the Ministry requires that you sign a declaration that you understand that academic fees are to be paid first from your OSAP funds, and then any other educational and living expenses related to your education. Otherwise and in accordance with Ministry regulations, government funding cannot be released.
7. Will I be considered for any OSAP funding if the academic year is extended?
Once the new sessional dates are confirmed, York University will consult and seek support from the Ministry for the possibility of granting extensions. This decision rests with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and cannot be confirmed until an end date to the Fall/Winter session is finalized. If you require bursary funding, complete York’s online Student Financial Profile. If you have already applied on this form, submit a letter to Student Client Services outlining your new circumstances to assist in York’s review process.
8. I have booked a ticket for reading week that cannot be cancelled (alternatively, I have to leave the country to begin studies elsewhere or am beginning full-time employment). What accommodations are available for me to leverage now?
Students who are expecting to be away during the time period originally scheduled for reading week or who were expecting to complete their studies at York University by the end of the fall term and who must now begin employment or return to another country are advised to:
1. consult now with course directors and arrange a deferred standing agreement; OR,
2. consult with their course directors on appropriate remediation once academic activities resume.
For information on deferred standing, visit http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/services/ds_faq.htm
Exception note: If the course director is a member of CUPE 3903, students will need to consult with their course director regarding remediation once academic activities resume. Alternatively, they can contact their home department and/or Dean’s Office to arrange a deferred standing agreement.
9. Will there be time once classes resume before tests and exams occur and assignments are due?
There will be a cushion period between the resumption of classes and tests and the submission of assignments. This means that:
· tests and exams for all courses (including internet and correspondence) will not be scheduled in the first five calendar days following the resumption of classes
· tests and exams for all courses (including internet and correspondence) will not be scheduled until at least one class “meet” with course directors has been held
· assignments that were due on dates during the disruption need not be submitted until at least one class meeting has been held
10. When will new sessional dates for the fall, winter and summer terms be available?
Once Senate Execute declares an end to the academic disruption and the resumption of classes, new sessional dates for all three terms will be published on the Current Students Web site. The new exam schedule for the fall term will be published as well.
Sessional dates: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/importantdates/index.htm
Exam dates: https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/curexam
11. Will all add/drop dates, sessional start and end dates, refund dates and similar financial and academic deadlines that fell after November 6th be deferred and rescheduled once new Fall and Winter sessional dates are established?
Yes, once new sessional dates are available. All the new information will be published to the Current Students Web site when available and after the resumption of academic activities is declared by Senate Executive.
12. What other important Web sites should staff members routinely check for updated information?
Senate decision updates: http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/Strike2008/Strike.htm
Senate remediation information: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/disruption/current/remediation.htm
International student information: http://international.yorku.ca/strike.html
On-campus residence/apartment housing information:
http://www.yorku.ca/stuhouse/documents/Undergrad_Housing_Services_FAQs.pdf
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