In national surveys, St. Thomas consistently ranks in the top five Canadian undergraduate universities for the quality of student services. Every contact with a student reflects the highest standard of care, leaving students feeling informed, satisfied, and respected.

Academic Advising
Admissions
Athletics
Banking
Campus Ministry
Career Resource Centre
Computer Labs
Counselling Services
Day Care
Extracurricular Activities
Food/Restaurants
JOBS Programme
Libraries
Medical Services
Services for Student Accessibility
Shopping
Student Advocate
Transportation
Tutoring
Writing Service  
 
Academic Advising

Academic Advising is an integral part of our programmes and is available to all students, from first year to graduation. Our Student Affairs Office also offers tutoring and essay writing services, as well as skill development workshops in areas such as time management, note taking, referencing and academic computing. Free peer tutoring (up to two hours per week) is available to all students during the school year. This is a great way for you to get some extra help with your courses. To set up tutoring or advising services, visit Student Affairs on the second floor of the Welcome Centre, or call (506) 452-0616 for more information.

Admissions

Admissions provides students with information about St. Thomas programmes, organizes campus tours and coordinates the St. Thomas Tour Ambassador programme, has application forms and promotional material, evaluates transfer credits for students coming to St. Thomas from other universities and processes applications for acceptance to various St. Thomas programmes.

Athletics

Through Athletics, St. Thomas offers students the opportunity to participate in both varsity and intramural sports. Athletics is a valuable and important part of the St. Thomas community. Students are encouraged to participate as much as possible, and to cheer on their fellow classmates on the men’s and women’s Tommies basketball, hockey, rugby, soccer and volleyball teams.

All students have free membership to the J.B. O’Keefe Fitness Centre (a valid St. Thomas student ID card must be presented). This state-of-the-art fitness centre features a wide assortment of cardio and weight-training equipment, a basketball court, a squash/racquetball court and dressing/shower rooms, the St. Thomas Athletics offices and the Physioclinic.

Banking

You may want to open a bank account in Fredericton. Usually you may do so by setting up an appointment with a customer service representative. Check with the bank to see what you will require for identification to open an account. Each bank offers a variety of different accounts to suit your needs. Service charges may vary slightly from bank to bank. Some major Canadian banks that have branches in Fredericton are:

• Bank of Montreal (BMO)
• Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)
• Toronto Dominion/Canada Trust (TD Canada Trust)
• HSBC
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada (CIBC)
• National Bank of Canada
• President’s Choice Financial (PC Financial)
• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

Customer service representatives at the bank should be able to answer any questions regarding exchange rates, money orders, transfers, traveler’s cheques and credit cards.

There is a BMO branch located in the University Bookstore building at 29 Dineen Drive. There are also BMO automated banking machines in Sir James Dunn Hall and the Students’ Union Building.

Campus Ministry

Campus ministry welcomes students of all faiths and offers friendship, pastoral counselling and a listening ear. It organizes liturgical celebrations and programmes in faith development with a “drop-in-and-say-hi” approach! Mass is held in the chapel of George Martin Hall Monday to Friday at 11:30 am, Sunday 11:00 am and 8:30 pm, and at Rigby Hall Sunday at 6:00 pm.

Career Resource Centre

The Career Resource Centre provides free career help and information to UNB and St. Thomas students. It has information on university programmes in Canada, the U.S and around the world, Canadian Community College programmes, application forms for universities and colleges, research resources covering over 25,000 occupations, work and study abroad programmes and graduate and professional school entrance tests (such as GRE, LSAT, and MCAT).

Computer Labs

There are six general computer labs located in two sites on campus, providing students with free

access to the Internet, email and word processing, as well as access to printing facilities. Computer lab help desk staff can answer questions related to word processing, spreadsheets and other applications. There are 200 computers between the six St. Thomas labs: Sir James Dunn Hall Lab has four labs and Brian Mulroney Hall Lab has two labs. The Brian Mulroney Hall Labs also have multi-media capabilities.

Every St. Thomas student is allocated network space for storing school work and this space is accessible from any online computer on- or off-campus. All students are given a $5.00 print credit upon registration (printing costs 10¢ per page). Students may purchase more print credit through the Registrar’s Office in George Martin Hall.

Counselling Services

Counselling Services provide professional, confidential counselling to all UNB and St. Thomas students. The office is located in Alumni Memorial Building, Room 19, UNB campus and a 24-hour telephone support can be contacted at (506) 453-4820 or counsel@unb.ca.

Day Care

Many of our students are also parents of children in need of care–either after school or full-time daycare. You are advised to make your childcare arrangements as soon as possible. College Hill Daycare will offer places for children of St. Thomas students, staff and faculty preferentially if spaces are available. College Hill Daycare and The Preschool Center border the campus but there are often waiting lists. Student Services has a current list of Fredericton and Oromocto-area day cares that are licensed by the Provincial Department of Family and Community Services. Please note that St. Thomas does not endorse any of these day cares.

Extracurricular Activities

There are several groups and societies in which St. Thomas students can participate, on campus and on the UNB campus. Check with the Students’ Union at (506) 460-0301 or www.stusu.ca for a listing of groups and societies and to find out how to join. There are also several special events for students on- and off-campus. Watch the St. Thomas Current Student Notice Board and bulletins around campus for news on current events.

Food/Restaurants

Aramark manages the three dining halls on campus. Residence students will have a meal card but cash is also accepted. Bank debit cards are not accepted. Temporary meal cards are available in the George Martin dining hall before student ID photos are taken. Students living off-campus may also purchase meal cards at the Aramark office in George Martin Hall.

The Boyce Farmers’ Market, a popular Saturday morning destination, is located on George Street, just east of Regent Street. It is open every Saturday from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm. The market features fresh meat, eggs, vegetables, baked goods, and ethnic foods. There are also a variety of arts and crafts.

The Friendship Convenience Store is located on Albert Street. Features include Chinese and Asian food products and long distance phone calling cards. There are numerous retail grocery stores in Fredericton, such as Sobeys and Atlantic Superstore. Fast-food chains include Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, KFC, Subway, A&W and many more.

JOBS Programme

The JOBS programme is an employment programme for all students that allows students to work on-campus. It is managed by Student Affairs which maintains job listings.

Libraries

St. Thomas students have access to the Harriet Irving Library and its branch libraries:

• Harriet Irving Library (506) 453-4740
• Engineering Library (506) 453-4747
• Science and Forestry Library (506) 453-4601
• Gerard V. LaForest Law Library (506) 453-4734

Library tours are available. Call (506) 453-4740 to make an appointment. A valid student ID card is required for borrowing materials. For more information, visit www.lib.unb.ca.

Medical Services

Campus Student Health Centre
A medical clinic for full-time St. Thomas and UNB students is located at the rear of Tibbits Hall on the UNB campus. Students may call the Student Health Centre for an appointment or visit during walk-in clinic hours held each weekday from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Remember to bring your student ID and Provincial Healthcare cards. Appointments may be made by phone at (506) 453-4837.

The clinic hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (no doctor on duty between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm). On Weekends/holidays the clinic is closed though a doctor is on-call and can be reached by calling [506] 453-4837). You are encouraged to seek medical help during these hours, but for after-hours emergencies the clinic’s phone Message Manager will give instructions regarding procedures to contact on-call doctors.

Off-Campus Medical Services
If you prefer to seek medical assistance elsewhere, there is an after-hours clinic not far from campus at the Fredericton Medical Clinic (1015 Regent Street - [506] 458-0200), as well as the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital (700 Priestman Street - [506] 452-5400), a full service regional hospital. Again, do not forget your Provincial Healthcare card.

If you live in residence and outpatient emergency hospital services are required, please notify the Residence Life staff member on duty before you go. A residence staff member can accompany you if you wish. Please note that out-of-province students are charged a fee at the Fredericton Medical Clinic. This fee can be reimbursed by Blue Cross insurance.

Hospital services are to be used for extreme emergencies only. Do not forget your Provincial Healthcare card. In the event of an emergency you can call 911, which will link you to ambulance, fire, police services; however, do not call this number unless it is a serious emergency.

Student Health Insurance
As part of your tuition you will receive coverage under the St. Thomas Student Health Plan. You will receive a brochure regarding your coverage. Read it thoroughly. International students will receive two insurance cards. One is equivalent to the Medicare or other Provincial Healthcare card that all Canadian students have. This will entitle full-time international students to go to the hospital, see a doctor and go to clinics without having to pay. The other card, which has a separate form to fill out, is provided by Blue Cross. This card will provide full-time students with prescription coverage and certain miscellaneous benefits. It is mandatory that international students fill out the appropriate forms in the Registrar’s Office. Please note that health coverage includes emergency dental care coverage only. You may purchase regular dental care coverage elsewhere. Details of coverage will be available from the Registrar’s Office or by calling (506) 452-0530.

Services for Student Accessibility

Services for student accessibility include a variety of accommodations and services for students who have special needs. After admission, St. Thomas University students are encouraged to register with Student Affairs and to provide documentation of their disability.

Please contact Marina Nedashkivska, Coordinator of Services for Student Accessibility, at (506) 460-0382 or by email at marina@stu.ca. You may also contact Jane McGinn-Giberson, Director of the Student Affairs, at (506) 460-0382 or by e-mail at jmcginn@stu.ca. All disclosed information is confidential.

The following is a partial list of services offered to students, on an individualized basis, through Student Affairs and the UNB Learning Centre:

• special admission assistance priority registration
• campus/residence orientation tutoring
• note-takers/readers classroom testing accommodations
• financial support advising specialized adapted computer access
• disability management advising phonic ear/Braille
• individual counselling sessions writing support services
• equipment loan advocacy
• life– and study– skills coaching referral to other campus departments and to
• off-campus community services

Students with special needs who are registered with Student Affairs are eligible for disability management advising. All accommodations and services are determined on an individual basis for each student and will vary from one student to the next depending on laws, university policy, financial support availability, disability verification and professional judgment.

Like many universities in Canada, St. Thomas University has admission criteria designed to ensure that every student who is admitted is academically prepared to be successful in his or her chosen direction of study. Student Affairs attempts to give students with special needs reasonable accommodations and services. At the same time, all admitted students are held to the same academic standards and expectations as their non-disabled peers.

Shopping

Fredericton has several shopping malls, plazas and boutiques. The two main malls, which are not far from campus, are:

Fredericton Mall - 1150 Prospect Street. Featuring: Staples, Sobeys, Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart and other stores.

Regent Mall - 1381 Regent Street. Featuring: Wal-Mart, Sears, Sport Chek, Empire Theatres and other stores.

Both feature a wide variety of clothing stores. In general, stores are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sundays 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Student Advocate

The Student Advocate deals with problems relating to: student loans, academic appeals, human-rights violations, student grievances, collection agencies, businesses, complaints against the university or the Students’ Union, landlords, and much more. Students are encouraged to meet with the Student Advocate whenever problems seem to be interfering with studies. Student Advocate is a student-held position. St. Thomas students can access a lawyer through the Students’ Union. For more information, contact the Student Advocate at (506) 460-0307, the Students’ Union at (506) 460-0301 or visit www.stusu.ca

Transportation

Most students travel around the campus by foot. Hitch-hiking is illegal in New Brunswick.

Bus
As part of students’ compulsory fees, a bus pass for the Fredericton Transit system is provided to all full-time students. Once you have your student ID card the Registrar’s Office can provide you with your bus pass validation sticker. Information for Fredericton Transit is available at (506) 460-2200.

Safe Wheels
A student administered service that is a complement to our bus pass, Safe Wheels is available to all students living within the south side of Fredericton during times when buses run less frequently. The A Plus van picks up students outside James Dunn Hall Sunday to Thursday from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm Use it when you get out of night classes, when you're done studying or when you're finished your extra curricular activities – it's there for you!

Taxis
There are several taxi companies in Fredericton. Numbers are available in the yellow page section of the local telephone directory under ‘Taxis’. Taxis will cost more than the public bus.

Long Distance Bus Service
SMT/Acadian Bus Lines provides long distance bus service if you are traveling to other cities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. Check for connections to other Canadian provinces. For more information call: 1-800-567-5151 or in Fredericton (506) 458-6007.

Tutoring

Free peer tutoring (up to two hours per week) is available to all students during the school year. This is a great way for you to get some extra help with your courses. To set up tutoring services visit Student Affairs on the second floor of the Welcome Centre, or call (506) 452-0616 for more information.

Writing Service

Operating under the direction of Student Affairs, the Writing Service allows St. Thomas students to meet free of charge with graduate student tutors for the purpose of improving writing skills in the English language and readying course work for submission.

The Writing Service emphasizes collaborative learning rather than lecturing, and comprehension rather than memorization. Proofreading is the central activity of the Writing Service, though proofreading is more than editing: it is the inspection of written material for errors and weaknesses; the explanation of relevant language rules, format guidelines and style principles; and the transferral of sound proofreading skills to the student.

The Writing Service is open to all St. Thomas students, regardless of degree, year or academic field. The only exception is that English as a Second Language (ESL) assignments must not be brought to the Writing Service. Use of the Writing Service does not guarantee the student a particular grade on any assignment.

Appointments must be made at least 48 hours in advance at Student Affairs, on the second floor of the Welcome Centre. Call (506) 452-0616 for more information.