Student Services

STUDENT SERVICES

Director’s office

The Director of Student Services supervises the Student Services area and provides assistance with special problems students may have. Students should come to the director’s office to resolve problems involving academic standing in general, grades, the learning environment, or unexpected difficulties with successful completion of courses.
Director
Cheryl Dahl, BA (Calgary), MA (SFU)
(604) 854-4515; e-mail dahl@ufv.ca ; fax: (604) 855-7614
Assistant
Catherine Heyman
(604) 864-4677; e-mail heymanc@ufv.ca

Reception

Student Services assistants provide general information about the university college, register students for orientations and workshops, help students use the Career Resource Centre, maintain the housing bulletin board, and provide a lost and found service. Assistants book appointments for Counselling, Educational Advising, Financial Aid, and First Nations Access.

Student Services assistants:
Abbotsford     (604) 854-4528
Pat Bullock
Lesley Poh
Chilliwack      (604) 795-2808
Julie Williams
Mission          (604) 820-6000

Educational advising

Student Services educational advisors are available to help students explore post-secondary options both at UCFV and other educational institutions. Advisors assist students in developing individual education plans by explaining career and program requirements, institutional admissions processes, and course transfer to other post-secondary institutions.

Through confidential individual student appointments, educational advisors provide assistance in refining goals and objectives, understanding available choices, and assessing the consequences of alternative actions.

Introduction to UCFV
The “Introduction to UCFV” sessions are for students who are new to post-secondary studies and will help you to understand how the system works. Call Reception to sign up for this free two-hour workshop. You will learn:

about the courses and programs offered at UCFV
how and when to apply and register at UCFV
how to schedule your timetable
how and where to find helpful resources
how B.C. colleges, universities, university colleges,
and other post-secondary institutions interrelate.

Educational advisors can help if you:

want to apply to a UCFV or another post-secondary institution and need more information
have applied and need guidance to reach your goal
would like to transfer to another institution
plan to take a professional program (such as teacher training, medicine, physical therapy)
want to keep more than one educational option open
are considering changing programs
are considering dropping a course and need to discuss the implications
are in a UCFV program but there is no program advisor or assistant
are wanting to sample a variety of courses.

Educational advisors are available for short drop-in sessions at regularly scheduled times or longer appointments for full educational planning. Appointment times fill quickly; you may be required to wait a few weeks, so do your planning early. Call Reception to book an appointment or to find out drop-in times.

To book an appointment, sign up for workshops, or to find out drop-in times, call Student Services Reception:

Abbotsford     (604) 854-4528
Chilliwack      (604) 795-2808
Mission          (604) 820-6000

Educational Advisors
Mandy Klepic, BA (SFU), Prof. Teaching Cert., Department Head
Eddie Campbell, BA (SFU)
Chelene Koenig, BSc (Alberta), Prof. Teaching Cert. (UBC), MAd Ed (St. Francis Xavier)
Barbara Salingré, BA–AdEd (UCFV)
Sybille Stegmueller, Dip. General Studies (UCFV)
Leanne Tielmann, BSW (UCFV), MEd (Calgary)
Linda Toews, BA (UCFV)

Counselling

The counsellors at UCFV are professionally trained to provide a variety of counselling services.

Career counselling
Career counselling is available to help you choose a satisfying career suited to your individual strengths, interests, values and personality type. This service is offered on an individual appointment basis, in a group workshop format, and occasionally as a credit course.

Crisis counselling
Crisis counselling is available to get students back on track after experiencing a sudden, traumatic event.

Personal counselling
Times of change and stress may result in anxiety, depression, or feelings of helplessness. Personal counselling may often help to understand and resolve problems that interfere with daily living and creative academic work. Personal counselling is available for students on an individual appointment or sometimes on a group basis.

Student success counselling
Student success counselling is available to help students to become effective, independent learners. This service is available in individual and workshop format. See “workshops and courses” below.

Workshops and courses

Career and Life Planning Workshops
Career Planning Orientations
Career Planning 101
Access Support Groups

Student Success Workshops including:

How to Study, Learn, Remember, and Stay Motivated
Notetaking and Notemaking
Reading Skills
Study Skills Overview
Stress Management
Time Management
Public Speaking with Confidence
Motivation

See additional Academic Support courses listed under Academic Support Services.

Call Student Services Reception to register for these workshops or to book individual appointments.

Abbotsford     (604) 854-4528
Chilliwack      (604) 795-2808
Mission          (604) 820-6001

Counsellors
Dave Birkett, BA, MA (UBC), Department Head
Mark Hoffmann, BSc (Stanford), Diploma CS (Regent), MA (UBC)
Eileen Burkholder, BEd (UBC), MEd (UVic)
Elli Tamarin, BA (SFU), MEd (UBC)

Career Resource Centres

Located on the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses in the Student Services areas, the centres provide:

career planning, job search, and labour market information
information about UCFV programs
calendars and information for post-secondary institutions and professional associations in British Columbia and across Canada. Some international information is available.

The Career Resource Centres also have internet access to search for career and education information.

First Nations Access

First Nations students are an important part of the UCFV student body. A First Nations Access coordinator is available to help students of First Nations ancestry, both status and non-status. Services and support are offered through the Aboriginal Resource Centre in Room D136 on the Chilliwack campus and through Student Services.

Student Services educational support
Student Services offers educational support to First Nations students by arranging:

educational planning
career and personal planning
academic assessments

And by providing

information about funding sources, including band sponsorship, bursaries and scholarships
information about programs and courses at UCFV and other institutions.

First Nations Access offers one-on-one appointments on three campuses. To make an appointment with Student Services reception:

Abbotsford    (604) 854-4528
Chilliwack     (604) 795-2808
Mission       (604) 820-6000

Aboriginal Resource Centre (officially opened November 8, 2000)

Workshops

Workshops are offered on a variety of subjects including cultural awareness, empowerment, goal-setting and self-esteem.

Cultural activities

Cultural activities are open to all students and include Circle meetings, Elders gatherings, Sto:lo conferences and other First Nations events on and off campus.

Other services

Student advocacy with other UCFV departments
Referrals within UCFV, and to community agencies and other institutions
Liaison with Sto:lo Nation and other First Nation organizations
Coordination of requests for special First Nations services and programs.

For information about the Aboriginal Resource Centre call:

Theresa Neel at (604)702-2615 or Sandy Tait at (604)795-2835

First Nations Access
Coordinator
Theresa Neel, Social Services diploma (UCFV)
Educational Advisor
Mandy Klepic, BA (SFU), Prof. Teaching Cert.

Aboriginal Resource Centre
Theresa Neel, Social Services diploma (UCFV)
Sandy Tait, Academic diploma (UCFV), Theatre Arts diploma (UCFV), Foundation Film Program certificate (Vancouver Film School)

Student Financial Aid Services

The goal of Student Financial Aid Services is to provide information and assistance in a supportive manner to UCFV students needing financial help. Despite careful budgeting, hard work, and planning, many students still have difficulty saving enough money to complete their post-secondary studies. We strongly encourage those interested in financing their education to participate in one of our Financial Planning workshops, where the following sources of financial assistance will be discussed.

B.C. Benefits Clients

Youth Works or Welfare to Work: Are you aware of the grants that may be available for study at UCFV? Do you know if you are eligible for assistance?

Have you spoken to the Access assistant (available on each campus) to get the information you need to attend UCFV?
Abbotsford    (604) 864-4653 (Debbie Dyck)
Chilliwack     (604) 702-2604 (Ruth Vandenbor)
Hope              (604) 869-9937 (Meg McKay)
Mission         (604) 820-6016 (Doug Warren)

British Columbia Student Assistance program
The purpose of BCSAP is to assist students with educational costs at the post-secondary level. Funds are granted only where the financial resources available to students from parents, summer work, or other sources are insufficient to meet their estimated educational costs.

Funds awarded through this program may be disbursed through a combination of Canada Student Loan, British Columbia Student Loan, B.C. Grant, and Canada Millennium scholarship. At the Financial Planning workshops students learn about eligibility, obligations assumed upon borrowing, deadlines, and application procedures.

Grants and bursaries (non-repayable grants)
There are many sources of bursaries, both within UCFV and externally through private and public donors. The Student Financial Planning Handbook (or www.ufv.ca/fineaid/bursary.htm) offers information on a variety of bursaries and awards and may be obtained from Student Financial Aid Services. Bursaries may also include provincially and federally funded programs such as the Canada Study Grant — High Need Part-Time and Adult Basic Education Student Assistance program.

Work-Study
Students may obtain part-time work on campus through various work-study opportunities. These positions are usually open to students who are attending full time and in financial need. Students apply to qualify for Work-Study at the Student Financial Aid Services office and seek job opportunities through the Centre for Co-operative Education and Employment Services.

Emergency assistance
In some cases students may be faced with emergency situations that may make it impossible to pay remaining fees or purchase needed books. Emergency assistance may be available through Student Financial Aid Services.

Applicants will need to check with Student Financial Aid Services for all financial aid application deadlines.

Scholarships
There are many opportunities to apply for scholarships through UCFV. The Student Financial Planning Handbook (or www.ufv.ca/fineaid/awards.htm) outlines these opportunities and is available to students for no cost through Student Financial Aid Services. Scholarships are administered by the UCFV awards selection committee and are usually advertised in April each year. Awards are based on recognition of academic standing as recommended by the committee and faculty. Applications are available at Student Financial Aid Services.

Contact numbers:
Abbotsford     (604) 864-4601 or (604) 854-4528
Chilliwack      (604) 702-2618
Mission          (604) 820-6000

Student Financial Aid
Violet Chappell, BSc (Alberta), Coordinator

Staff
Carol Ambridge, Financial Aid Assistant
Janet Robinson, Financial Aid Assistant
Sandy Bishop, Financial Aid Clerk

Student Events

Student Events staff work with students, faculty, and the community to provide a program of social and cultural activities for students at UCFV.

The Events office provides first-year experience and orientation activities for students, support for student associations and clubs on campus, opportunities for fundraising and access to speakers, entertainers, and information on a variety of issues and campaigns.

Manager
Jill Harrison, BA (SFU)

Phone (604) 504-7441, local 4255 in Abbotsford, or (604) 792-0025, local 2509 in Chilliwack.

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