Ryerson is committed to ensuring that its facilities and programs are accessible to all students, etc. etc. For more details, please visit the Access Centre website.

Where to find... someone for help.

When you need someone to talk to about an academic or personal problem, consider starting your search right here at Ryerson. Among those who are available to help you find solutions to whatever challenges you are facing, are:

• Your instructor. Ryerson instructors are expected to be available to students outside class time, and to post counselling hours in which they can be found in their offices. You are also invited to knock at any faculty member's door to seek help: as a student, you don't need to check with reception before heading for a faculty member's office.
• The Chair of the School of Journalism. Ivor Shapiro invites you to seek his help or advice on any matter that is making life tough -- or on issues where you feel the school is failing to meet your needs.
  
• The Journalism Course Union (JCU) is a student group supported by the School of Journalism, funded by RSU and run by a group of dedicated journalism students in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The union's objective is to promote the interests of the students in the program by providing students with social and academic support and with a voice within the journalism and Ryerson communities.

  The JCU believes strongly that in journalism, the power of networking is very important so it connects students with each other, with journalism administration and with professional journalists. Events are open to all students in the program and are usually at no cost or discounted.

  The union also liaises with the administration and is able to voice student concerns. Students are free to speak with their year representatives or executive members about problems or issues they are having or to talk about ideas and suggestions about how to make jskool better! To contact the JCU, email journalism@rsuonline.ca.
  

  In the mean time, check out the JCU website for more information and to find out how you can help.

• RSU is the university-wide student union for full-time and graduate students. As well as organizing socialevents and being the umbrella for a large variety of interest groups, RSU also represents students on governance issues. They can help you with everything from legal services to getting enough to eat.

Student services. The numerous student services offered by the university include time management courses, a food bank, a career centre, Aboriginal services, an office on harassment and discrimination, and an Ombuds office, amongst many others. Check your Student Guide for full details. Here are some of the more frequently used services.

• The Access Centre will help you cope with your studies in the face of illness or disability (this includes helping to arrange with your instructor for special academic considerations).
  
• The Centre for Student Development and Counselling provides free and confidential personal counselling, career counselling, and academic counselling.
  
• The Ryerson Health Centre is open year-round to treat illnesses or accidents not requiring hospitalization.
  
• Learning Success Centre is designed to help you with such issues as writing, math, and time management. They offer
  
• The "RAC," Ryerson's Sports and Recreation facility, will help you stay fit and provide personal training and nutrition programs, as well as dance, team sports and individual training programs.
  
• The Student Financial Assistance office will help you with government loans, scholarships, and bursaries (in addition, the journalism school has some awards based on need for which students can apply, as well as other awards based on merit (some of which are awarded automatically based on grades).