Fall 2021 - Advocate for yourself!
If you are struggling with a lack of online course options or not being able to attend UofA in-person this fall, then this page shall help you to navigate and find solutions to your problem.
As your representative on campus, ISA will continue raising your concerns but due to the wide scope of issues and no single solutions to all problems, this page is created so you could advocate for yourself!
We will be working with central administration but you would have to work with your Faculty at least to get solutions to your problem. Remember, you are in University now, so there is no fear in voicing up for your issues.
University released a response to ISA Statement, and announced that,
"Faculties are preparing to assist individual [international] students to find the option that will best meet the needs of their individual academic plan. Students unable to attend in person and who are not able to enroll in remote course options should contact their faculty."
Let's Start!
Speak with your Faculty Academic Advisor
Most faculties have advisors, go to your faculty website and contact them.
Explain them about your problem and they could help you in figuring out the online courses that you could take to continue progressing in your degree.
Inquire about course substitutes, pre-requiste waiver and other options to help you gain the skills you want!
Write an email to your Department Chair
Especially for Graduate Students, it's always helpful in reaching out to your department chair for helping you with courses. Undergraduate students could try this or just move to the next step and contact Dean's Office.
Time to reach Deans Office
If your faculty academic advisor and department chair couldn't help you, then time to raise your issue higher.
We have done work for you, just select the website and you will reach the Dean's Office webpage for your faculty.
Other faculties students could do Google search for their faculty deans office contacts.
We recommend that you write an email to Associate Dean (learning, Research, Programs, or Students) and also remember to cc the Faculty Dean. If you are confused then you could address the email to Dean and cc all the Associate Deans in your Faculty.
To amplify your voice, you can also cc the following,
Also, cc your Faculty Association, Contact's can be found here.
Last Resort
If your Faculty fails to help you, then you have to raise it at the highest place.
Email your problem and whole story especially how the faculty failed to help you? to the following:
- Bill Flanagan (University President): president@ualberta.ca
- Steven Dew (University Provost and VP Academic): provost@ualberta.ca
- André Costopoulos (Dean of Students): dosdean@ualberta.ca
CC the following:
- Your Faculty Dean
- SU President: president@su.ualberta.ca
- GSA President: gsa.president@ualberta.ca
- ISA President: isa.president@ualberta.ca
At any time, feel free to reach out to your ISA Execs and we could help you in finding contacts or draft emails.