2023 StFX Get Ready Guide (Friends & Family)

GET READY GUIDE 2023

FRIENDS AND FAMILY stfx.ca

St. Francis Xavier University is located on Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people.

An electronic accessible version of this document is available at stfx.ca/getreadyguide for those requiring a screen reader.

Dear StFX Parent and Supporter,

I am honoured to welcome you and your student as members of the StFX Community! Your student’s decision to attend university marks a major accomplishment, both for them and for you. I want to congratulate you on your choice to join us. StFX will be their home away from home for these next few formative years and your trust in us is greatly valued.

Attending university is a major life milestone for students and members of their support network. As students transition into adulthood, it is common to wonder how you can best show your support while still giving them room to grow and thrive. This Get Ready Guide for Friends & Family—as well as the one that your student has received—contains helpful information for you on how to support your student to best navigate their new environment and successfully adjust to university life. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with both guides.

There are several items to which I draw your attention. They are important in our efforts to support your student in understanding our community values and to know they belong here as a Xaverian.

1. X Starts Here Modules. This item is referenced further in this guide. Some of these modules (ie. the Xaverian Community Foundations) are mandatory, and we ask that you encourage your student to complete these before arriving in September. They provide content that will help your student develop awareness, resilience, and a sense of our StFX values.

2. The Incoming Student Survey. This survey provides us with specific information we can use to assist your student and to help them start their university experience in the best way. It should be completed by your student by the end of July.

3. Transitions: Making the most of your campus experience. This online resource provides a free download with information on a wide range of topics relevant to the university transition. mentalhealthliteracy.org/product/transitions

4. Parent/Supporter Email Updates. I encourage you to register at stfx.ca/supporter. This will allow you to receive communication and be informed of campus developments.

We look forward to supporting your student in their success and as they develop a deep a connection

with StFX. Their academic progress, health, safety, and wellness are areas of primary focus for us, and we are excited to be a part of their lives as they grow and flourish within our community.

Once again, I extend a warm east coast welcome to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Yeo Vice-President, Students

Preparing for a successful transition in the first year

The first year of university is an incredible time of change and learning. Your student is transitioning into adulthood, which means their relationship to parents, guardians, and other close support systems will change. These changes can be both exciting and stressful for everyone involved, as young people are learning what it means to be independent while their families learn how to transition into a supporting role.

Is your student is living away from home for the first time? Make sure they know how to access important personal information, such as their social insurance number, insurance details, and banking information.

For many families, it’s natural to want to play the same role for your student now as you did in high school. However, as your student adjusts to adulthood and university life, it will be critical for them to learn to operate without immediate supervision. At times, this might mean stepping back and allowing them to make their own decisions, and ultimately be responsible for them. They may make mistakes along the way, but in time they will find their own path—and thrive while doing so!

Taking care of health needs before leaving home

We have excellent health services on campus at the Health and Counselling Centre. But it’s also very important to arrive on campus prepared. Students should visit their family physician or other primary health care provider during the summer to make sure their immunizations are up-to-date, and receive refills for any prescription medications they require. Students may also wish to discuss the Meningitis B vaccine with their care provider at home, as this is not included in the regular childhood vaccine program.

Please note that students must book their own appointments at the Health and Counselling Centre (i.e., self-referral only), and their health information is confidential. This may be a change for some first-year students whose parents have booked their medical appointments in the past.

More information on the Health and Counselling Centre can be found here: mystfx.ca/health-and-counselling

For students who are planning to access supports from the Tramble Centre for Accessible Learning, it’s important to bring recent documentation confirming the diagnosis of a disability, along with recommendations for accommodation, from a qualified professional. More information on the Tramble Centre can be found here: mystfx.ca/accessible-learning

How to support your student during the first few weeks

Let them know you are always there to listen. Starting university is exciting, but it is also a time of major change and it is not uncommon for your student to experience mixed feelings. Some days they may be very excited and other days they may be unsure. That’s ok, and totally normal! Encourage them to develop good habits.

First-year students need to learn how to make decisions about how they spend and manage their time. For many, this will feel like a big change. Encouraging your student to build good habits early around attending class, studying, socializing, sleep, and self-care will support their success and help them to deal with stress in a healthy way.

Suggest that they participate in residence and campus life.

There are events, programs, and activities happening all the time at StFX. Participating gives your student opportunities to meet people and make friends, which is important for their success. Getting involved in at least one club or society can open many doors.

Remind them to ask for help early—even if they don’t think they need it. As students adjust to university life, they may struggle with issues unnecessarily. Things that seem like a big deal are often easily addressed with a little help. So encourage them to ask early for assistance if something comes up that they are not sure know how to handle. A good place to start is their Residence Life Coordinator, or for off-campus students, the Office of Student Life.

Encourage them to take advantage of the support services available at StFX.

We have extensive academic and personal supports on-campus to assist first year students in their adjustment to university life. These adjustments will happen as the year progresses and it is not uncommon for students to develop new stress as they face new academic and life situations. We don’t want students to struggle in isolation. Let them know how to use the many supports available.

What you can do if your student needs help

It’s normal for students to find the transition to university life challenging—and often they just need to vent! Listening honestly and openly is sometimes what they need most from you. It can be tempting to offer your opinion or to immediately suggest solutions. However, it may help more to guide them to think about how they are able to address an issue, or to encourage them to use the many resources and supports available on campus.

If you suspect that your student is not adapting as they expected, or you believe there is an emergency, there are several ways you can support them.

For Emergencies

If the issue is urgent after hours, your student can call 911 (Emergency) or go to the Emergency Department at St. Martha’s Hospital in Antigonish. There is also a toll-free 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line in Nova Scotia (1.888.429.8167) for urgent access to a mental health professional.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) may be reached during or after-hours 24/7 by calling 1.877.880.7263.

For Non-Emergencies

Students can call the Good2Talk Post-Secondary Helpline (1.833.292.3698). This number is free and available 24/7 from any phone in Nova Scotia.

If you are concerned and want us to check on your student, contact Student Life at studentlife@stfx.ca or 902.867.3934.

• If your student lives in residence, a member of our Residence Staff team will connect with them.

• If your student lives off campus, remember to share their contact information and a member of our Student Life staff will reach out.

• Please be reminded that we are required by law to maintain student confidentiality. This means that while we will always follow through on a parent concern or check-in request, we will not be able to share the outcome of this check-in without the student’s consent.

Flourish@X Health and Wellness Resource Portal

The StFX Flourish@X Health and Wellness Resource Portal provides quick and easy access to health-related resources available for StFX students, whether they are seeking supports and services on campus, in the community, or online. The resource portal includes a wide range of useful information for students, parents, faculty and staff, including details about how to make appointments at the Health and Counselling Centre, who to contact about various health-related questions/ concerns, and links to curated resources, all in one central location. Find it at stfx.ca/flourish

Residence Support

If your student lives in residence, they can talk to their Residence Community Advisor or Residence Life Coordinator by calling or texting the Connect phone for their residence. Additionally, a Residence Life Coordinator is available 24/7 on call for any resident seeking support.

Culturally Relevant Support

StFX aims to create a culture of respect and belonging by ensuring students have the culturally relevant supports they need to flourish. To support this goal, StFX offers advising to help students transitioning into and through university. These include gender and sexual diversity advising, black student advising and indigenous student affairs. More information is available at mystfx.ca/equity/diversity-engagement-centre

Remember X Starts Here includes valuable information on how a student can work through academic and personal challenges. These modules are meant to be reviewed proactively. But they can be used “in the moment” as an additional way for a student to problem solve and are available through their Moodle account.

What we do when your student needs help

As previously mentioned, we encourage you to alert us if you feel your student requires assistance. Our Student Life team cares deeply for the health and wellness of all students and there are many ways we work to support their success.

Actively, in a crisis or emergency situation

Once we have been alerted to an emergency we will respond as quickly as possible with staff trained to support students in crisis. Student safety and wellness is our main concern, and our staff will assist through a range of urgent issues.

Proactively, to help prevent problems from developing using a number of tools

• Our StFX Code of Conduct is a foundational document that guides student activities and our response to student behaviour or discipline. This is a proactive tool that students should be aware of and understand their responsibility to know.

• The Residence Community Standards is a critical document for residence students to know. This document provides detailed information on how to access support, who residence staff are, standards of behaviour, and expectations for how we treat each other and our spaces. Honouring these standards can help students live a fun and safe life on campus.

• Campus and Residence Programs are always happening. Our effort with planned programs whether they are activities or educational modules is to promote a safe and healthy campus environment. Programs form a foundational aspect of how we proactively build a positive campus culture.

• Peer supports! Peer support and mentorship is an important aspect to campus life and to boosting student success. Your student will encounter opportunities to engage with senior students who are in defined leadership roles. These senior students are critical in supporting first-year students’ academic success, mental health and wellness, and assisting to develop a strong sense of belonging within our community.

Important Information

Confidentiality Policy

Ensuring your student’s health and wellbeing is our top priority. This extends to their right to privacy. StFX will not release the following personal information without a student’s consent:

• Registration status

• Grades/marks

• Use of StFX support services

• Disciplinary information

• Financial information

• Health and Counselling Centre records, including confirmation of visits

• Housing Contracts

Please note that access to personal medical information is strictly governed by the Nova Scotia’s Personal Health Information Act. The only exceptions involve cases where there is a serious and imminent safety risk, and where a medical professional deems it necessary to contact next of kin.

X Starts Here

X Starts Here is the name of our signature online program designed to help your student transition to life at StFX. It is made up of different modules. Four of these modules are mandatory for all incoming first-year students and must be completed to register for 2023-2024 courses. The mandatory modules set the tone for our community and support what it means to be Xaverian. They cover critical topics and university policies and services related to consent education, academic integrity, healthy socializing, and anti-racism. Access modules at moodle.stfx.ca

Mandatory X Starts Here modules

1. You Belong @X

2. Consent Education is Visible @X

3. Academic Integrity @X

4. Healthy Relationships @X

Additional X Starts Here modules

• Course Registration and Academic Advising

• Living Your Best Life @ X

• Building Your Academic Skills

• Managing Your Money Matters

• Connecting Your Tech and IT Devices

• Going Global and Studying Abroad

• Adjusting to University as an International Student

“Transitions: Making the Most of Your Campus Experience” is another valuable, evidence-based resource that will provide you and your student with the information needed to be ready for university. Find it at mentalhealthliteracy.org/product/transitions

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees are due twice a year. 65% of all tuition, residence, and meal plan fees are due on September 15, 2023. The remaining balance is due on January 15, 2024.

You are encouraged to pay first-term fees before arriving (or while at) Welcome Day.

Accepted payments:

• Online banking (Register StFX as a payee using your student ID as the account number)

• Wire transfer

• In person (cash, cheque, debit)

• Directly from Canadian and American government student loan programs

For more information on payments coming from within Canada, please visit mystfx.ca/payments.

For payments from outside of Canada, visit mystfx.ca/international-payment.

Tenant Insurance

All students living on campus receive a mandatory tenant insurance package. The $80 fee will be charged to your student’s account.

The Tramble Centre for Accessible Learning

If your student has a permanent disability and requires additional academic support, please encourage them to connect with the Tramble Centre over the summer to submit their documentation and arrange accommodations. For more information, visit mystfx.ca/accessible-learning.

Student Mailboxes

All students are offered a locked post office box where they can receive mail, including parcels. This is a great option should you wish to send your student cards, parcels or gifts throughout the year. Your student can set up their post office box by visiting the campus post office in Bloomfield Centre. Please contact your student for their particular mailbox number.

Care Packages

A special care package is a wonderful way to let your loved one know you are thinking about them. Sodexo, StFX’s campus food provider, offers a number of ‘Gifts and More’ care packages for every occasion: stfx.ca/why-stfx/family

Residence, staying and leaving

There are rules around when a student may check into residence and when they must leave, especially after exams in December and at the end of the year. It is recommended that students do not book

plane tickets or make travel plans until they know when they are able to enter or when they must leave residence. If students require accommodations during the holidays or the summer they must connect with Housing for assistance.

Health & Dental Plan

Students must have health and dental insurance. The StFX Students’ Union Health and Dental Plan will cover select medical costs that are not included under most provincial health care plans, including dental work and pharmaceutical drug costs. If unexpected medical issues arise, you will want to have coverage.

Canadian students with alternative coverage may opt out if they do so before September 30, 2023

You may only opt out if you can provide proof of coverage from another provider.

We encourage you to investigate the benefits offered by the Students’ Union plan before deciding to opt out. Some students with alternate coverage choose to stay enrolled in the plan because it covers student-specific needs that some other plans do not.

To learn more about your benefits and how to coordinate coverage between two plans, visit mystudentplan.ca/stfxsu.

Important dates & milestones

Spring Summer

Accept your residence offer

Apply for financial aid (most jurisdictions open their programs in the spring.)

Register for courses

First-year students: complete your mandatory X Starts Here modules and the Incoming Student Success Survey

Check your StFX student email and attend our information sessions for important updates

Attend your virtual residence meet and greet. Meet other residence students early and say hello to your residence staff.

Finish off the mandatory X Starts Here modules and take a look at the others throughout the summer.

Submit your Incoming Student Success Survey, if you haven’t already done so.

Checklist to help your student get ready

All first-year students need to complete the following activities before beginning their first academic term.

Please encourage your student to check off everything on the list.

ο Set up their StFX email account.

ο Arrange their finances.

ο Confirm their technology needs.

ο Register for classes.

ο Complete their mandatory X Starts Here modules.

ο Complete the Incoming Student Success Survey.

ο Set up their Photo ID.

ο Stay connected with us via email (and follow our social channels) for updates.

ο Residence Students—mark your calendars to attend our summertime Virtual Residence Meet & Greet (dates TBA via your StFX email account).

Being Xaverian is an action. It’s a commitment to caring about the community we are part of, working every day to make it and ourselves better. It’s an understanding that, as a community, we embrace and live by the standards we set below. It’s just one part of what being Xaverian means.

Belonging Resilience Courage Respect

Learning Flourishing Community

GET READY GUIDE 2023

FRIENDS AND FAMILY