Student Guide 2013-2014

Academic honesty and respectful conduct are key components of the Ryerson experience. Please familiarize yourself with both the Student Code of Academic Conduct (see also Academic Integrity Office) and the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct (see also Student Conduct Office).

(Jump to Essential Policy Highlights).

• Lecture: Depending on the size of the program you are in, there could be anywhere from 15 to 500 students in a lecture. The instructor may incorporate presentations, guest speakers, group participation and many other classroom techniques that encourage student engagement.
• Tutorials: Many lectures may have a tutorial component scheduled at a different time than the lecture. This breaks down the larger class into smaller groups and encourages discussion and participation. Tutorials may be run by the instructor or by a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Assistant (GA).
• Laboratory (labs): Some programs may have labs where you work either individually or in a small group to learn and experiment with the course material in a hands-on environment. In many cases labs are a mandatory component of the course in order to pass. Please ensure that you check the course outline or speak to your instructor for details.
• Seminars: These are often used in graduate courses and are small in nature to encourage a great degree of class participation and class presentations.
• Studio: Some programs may have studio classes in which you execute a design or production related to your field.
• Practicum/Internship/Field Placement: Some programs have a practicum/internship component in which you are required to participate. A specific number of hours or days of real life experience is required to gain hands-on insight into what a job in this field would be like. Normally this must be completed before you can graduate from
  the program. Consult the Undergraduate Calendar and your department handbook to learn if your program has a practicum or internship expectation.

Source: Pamphlet on Ryerson's Academic Culture

Most textbooks required for your courses can be purchased at the Campus Store or discount bookstore. Your instructor will confirm this in class. Attend your first class before purchasing your textbooks.

Ask a Librarian Service: refdesk@ryerson.ca
416-979-5055
Library Building (LIB)
ryersonlibrary    RyersonLibrary

The Ryerson Library and Archivesis located in the heart of the campus in the Library building (2nd floor, 350 Victoria Street). The Library will be expanding its presence with the new Student Learning Centreplanned for the corner of Yonge and Gould streets.

The collection includes over 500,000 books and more than $3-million is spent annually to support electronic resources (approximately 45,000 e-journals, 165,000 e-books, databases and indexes, geospatial data and catalogued websites or electronicdocuments). Many course readings are available online and can be accessed through Blackboard. See Course Readings, below)

The Ryerson OneCard is also your library card and can be used for printing or photocopying on campus. You can access electronic resources from off-campus with your my.ryerson account.

Computer Access: The Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons on the main floor provides more than 140 computers for student use, as well as printers, scanners and laptops (available on loan). IT support is available onsite.

Quiet and Group Study Areas: Quiet and group study areas are available throughout the library, with the 10th floor reserved for silent study. The fourth floor has movable furniture so you may arrange seating based on group study needs. You can also reserve group study rooms online.

Research Help: Research support is available on the library’s main floor, both at the Research Help Desk and through an appointment service.

Ask a Librarian LIVE chat is accessible from remote locations off campus.

Throughout the academic year, free workshops can help you become familiar with the resource materials the library offers and build your research skills.

refdesk@ryerson.ca
416-979-5055

The Library makes it easy to locate your course readings, print or electronic, assigned by your instructors.

From your Blackboard (my.ryerson.ca) course page, you can access E-Reserve readings (article links or scanned book chapters) posted to the course or be directed to a list of books, videos or CDs placed on Print Reserve (short term loans) at the Library circulation desk. You are able to create personal tags to electronic readings, a hot list across courses and receive email notification when a new reading is added.

• Quizzes/Tests/Exams: These are normally done in class at the end of specific readings, mid-term, or at the end of the term. They may consist of multiple choice questions, true/false statements, short answer questions and/or essay questions.
  
• Research Papers: These are assigned in advance and you are expected to work on them outside of class and do research using scholarly sources to help write the paper. You are normally expected to provide your own originality and use research to support your own critical thinking. (see RefWorks)
  
• Reflective Papers: These are assigned in advance and you are expected to work on them outside of class and to reflect on your own personal or work experiences to help identify what knowledge and understanding you have learned from that situation or event. This may or may not require support from scholarly work.
• Group Projects: Group projects give you the opportunity to learn both new course material and discover ways of working with other people. (For some handy tips see Surviving Group Projects)
  
• Class Participation: Marks may be allotted for participation in class or by attending class. It is important to know what is expected of you in terms of participation so that you can follow through accordingly. If the course outline is not clear, ask your instructor for clarification.

If laptops are allowed in the classroom, be respectful and ensure that you are not distracting others around you by watching movies, playing video games, engaging in social media, etc…

• Try not to engage in side conversations that may distract others and the instructor.
• Try to be on time for your classes. All classes at Ryerson begin 10 minutes after the designated time. For example, if your class runs from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the class will actually begin at 10:10 a.m. Many instructors do not allow late students in.
• Ensure that your cell phone is off when in the classroom. Most courses have a break where you can check your messages or make phone calls.
• If allowed, many students will eat food in class. If you do, please ensure that you are respectful and be as quiet as possible and please ensure that you clean up after yourself.
  
• Many instructors encourage questions in class. If you have a question, please raise your hand and wait for direction from your instructor to proceed.
• You may find that some students will challenge an instructor’s point of view or disagree with something an instructor has taught or said. This is quite common and as long as it is done respectfully it can create very interesting and thought-provoking discussions in class.
• Many instructors will ask to be called by their first names, whereas others may choose to go by “Dr.” and their last name. Your instructor will make clear his/her preferences in the first day of class.
• Attire: There is no dress code or uniform at Ryerson. Some students and instructors will dress very casually and comfortably, whereas some will be dressed professionally and others according to their religious beliefs. Dress codes may apply to placements/internships.

From Pamphlet on Ryerson's Academic Culture.

All instructors have specific office hours allocated for students to drop by and seek help or advice related to the course. Don’t be shy about approaching your instructor, but do come prepared with a list of uestions and topics you wish to discuss.

Ryerson subscribes to the services of Turnitin, which helps Instructors identify internet plagiarism and helps you maintain academic integrity. Turnitin allows your instructors to check your work for improper citation or potential plagiarism by comparing it against continuously updated databases. See also www.ryerson.ca/senate/turnitin

We encourage you to maintain regular attendance to make the most of your academic experience.

In fact, some programs and/or classes have attendance regulations. In some courses you will be graded for participation. Be sure to follow any guidelines in your department/school handbook or any other information you have received from your department/school.

If attendance and/or participation is part of a mark for a course, your Instructor should inform you at the beginning of the term what you need to do when you have to miss classes. Usually an official written medical certificate or other documentation within three (3) working days, will ensure that you are not penalized for an absence.

However, if unavoidable circumstances cause you to miss classes for more than a few days. The Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals Policy (see also Essential Policy Highlights) requires that you inform your instructor and ask for consideration as soon as a situation which may affect your work arises.

It is your responsibility to notify and consult with either the instructor or the Chair/Director of your program as soon as circumstances arise that are likely to affect your academic performance. Communication with your instructors is crucial.

Requesting Accommodation: You must inform your instructors when you miss work for medical or other reasons. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, this should be before the date of the test or exam, or the due date of the assignment. All documentation in support of any academic consideration request, including medical, other unforeseen circumstances, religious, aboriginal and spiritual observance, athletic competitions, etc., must be submitted to your program department, or to the Chang School (front desk) for students who are not registered in a program.

The Academic Consideration Document Submission Formis online. Documents for medical and other unforeseen circumstances must be submitted within three (3) working days of the missed work. Your instructors will be informed that the document has been submitted and he/she will determine if you are to be given consideration for missed work. Also see Examinations.

If you need to miss a class, test, quiz, exam, etc. because of a specific religious or spiritual observance you must inform your instructor no later than two weeks prior to the conflict in question (in the case of final examinations within two weeks of the release of the examination schedule).

Your assignments, quizzes, and test dates will be indicated on the course outline. If you need to make such a request, please familiarize yourself with Senate Policy 150 Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal and Spiritual Observance and see Essential Policy Highlights.

The Accommodation of Student Religious, Aboriginal and Spiritual Observance form is available on the Senate website. The Selected Religious Observance Calendaris updated annually.

If you believe that an assignment, test or exam, either in whole or part, has not been appropriately graded, or that there has been a miscalculation of a grade due to an omission, improper addition, etc., you must contact the instructor to resolve the issue within ten (10) working days of the date when the graded work is returned to the class.

Grades not questioned within this period will not be recalculated at a later date. See Senate Policy 134 Undergraduate Academic Consideration and Appeals for further information and instruction on how to proceed. Also see Essential Policy Highlights.

copyrt@ryerson.ca
Ann Ludbrook/Copyright Coordinator
416-979-5000, ext. 6910

As a student you use copyrighted materialsall the time. Copyrighted material contained in textbooks, posted course readings, handouts, multimedia material and library books are a central part of your learning experience here at Ryerson University.

Canada’s Copyright Act has a copyright exception called “fair dealing” that gives you the right to copy short excerpts (up to 10% of a work or one chapter) for certain purposes (such as private study, education, research and criticism). Please respect these limits.

As a student at Ryerson University you are also covered under other university wide licences such as the Access Copyright Model licence and various Library Electronic Subscription licences. These licences have certain terms of use that have to be consulted before you copy.