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COVID-19 Updates from GCM

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Fall 2020 Semester

On May 14, 2020, Ryerson University President Lachemi outlined in his public message that the majority of the Fall course offerings will be online and that the university will continue to explore and plan for a potential mix of online and in-person classes. Coming to campus will not be a requirement for Fall 2020.

The health and wellbeing of the GCM family remains the top priority for us. Everyone at GCM is committed to offering a Fall and Winter semester that is of the highest quality and to ensure that your learning experience, while different, will be safe, relevant and meaningful. This is especially true for courses where hands-on, lab-based learning is critical. To achieve this, we have had to be very flexible and think outside the box. For example, some lecture and theory courses typically offered in the Winter semester will be provided online in the Fall semester, so that the majority of the hands-on classes will take place face-to-face in the Winter semester. You will still be taking all your courses in the academic year, but the order and format you take them in will be different.

GCM is working closely with FCAD and the University to ensure that students will have access to the tools they need for a successful remote learning experience. We are grateful to you for your flexibility, understanding, and resolve. Despite being different, we believe this year will be amazing. We can’t wait to continue this journey with you!

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Lisi, Chair of GCM (jlisi@ryerson.ca (opens in new window) ).
 

General FAQ for All Students

Yes, all your courses for the Fall 2020 semester will be offered through virtual remote teaching. This includes your non-GCM courses, such as Liberal or Elective courses. Coming to campus will not be a requirement for Fall 2020.

Some programs (outside of GCM) are looking into offering limited on-campus experiential opportunities. These in-person experiences would be optional, and those who are unable to participate will be provided a strong alternative virtually. 

Schedules will be available for viewing on RAMSS by August 5.

Technology requirements will differ from course to course. Generally speaking, a computer and working internet connection will be required. Use of applications such as cloud-based software and Adobe Creative Suite may be required in some courses, and as such, your computer may require a compatible version/processing capability.

Technology Recommendations from GCM:

The following are MacBook and iMac hardware specs are recommended for GCM students taking Fall 2020 courses virtually. A minimum internet speed of 150 Mbps is recommended for a stable connection for Zoom class meetings.

Mac computers: Students can purchase a Mac computer online. Ryerson students are eligible for a student discount on the Apple website (external link, opens in new window) .

1. 13" MacBook Air (external link) 

Recommended for: desktop publishing, photo editing, illustrating

Hardware:

  • Retina display with True Tone
  • 1.1GHz dual-core 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz Intel
  • Iris Plus Graphics
  • 16GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory
  • 512GB SSD storage
  • Magic KeyboardTouch IDForce Touch trackpad two
  • Thunderbolt 3 ports

Mac software included:

  • Photos, iMovie, GarageBand
  • Pages, Numbers, Keynote
  • macOS
     

2. 16" Mac Book Pro (external link) 

Recommended for: video production/editing, desktop publishing, photo editing, illustrating

Hardware:

  • 2.6GHz 6-core 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz
  • 32GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory
  • AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory
  • 1TB SSD storage
  • 16-inch Retina display with True Tone
  • Four Thunderbolt 3 ports
  • Touch Bar and Touch ID
  • Backlit Keyboard - US English
  • Accessory Kit

Mac software included:

  • Photos, iMovie, GarageBand
  • Pages, Numbers, Keynote
  • macOS
     

3. PC Laptop and Desktop (more uncommon at GCM, but can be used)

PCs should have minimum intel core i5, 16 GB RAM, a good video card with 2GB RAM (not RAM shared), and high-speed internal 500GB HDD (preferably 500GB SSD). A 13" or 15" laptop (or desktop with 21" monitor) and Windows 10/12 OS system is recommended.

GCM is awaiting further updates from the the university on the availability of laptops and portable internet for loan in the Fall semester. Please communicate requirements with your course instructors and GCM's Academic Coordinator, Marietta Canlas (mcanlas@ryerson.ca (opens in new window) ).

FYI: Ryerson students are eligible for a discounted student rate for Dell computers (external link, opens in new window) 

Yes, all GCM staff members will be available to contact remotely in the Fall semester. Please email GCM's Academic Coordinator Marietta Canlas (mcanlas@ryerson.ca (opens in new window) ) if you would like to set up an appointment. It would be convenient if you could give Marietta and idea of dates and times that work for you in your email.

The current plan is for the GCM building to be closed to student access during the Fall semester due to health precautions. The university continues to plan which student spaces will be accessible during the Fall semester. We will communicate any updates via social media and on this page.

Synchronous learning allows you to learn at the same time with your classmates and in the same ways. Asynchronous learning allows you to learn the same material at different times, in different time zones from different locations. 

Course delivery differs from course to course. All details will be communicated to you directly ahead of the semester by individual course instructors.

  • When Toronto Public Health advises that we can start transitioning back to campus, this will happen gradually.
  • Physical access to studios and labs, equipment and facilities, and smaller hands-on classes will be available for some programs provided that proper physical distancing and protective gear are in place. More information and details will be shared with you ahead of the semester as needed.
  • To learn more about how Ryerson approaches teaching with technology (e.g., online learning, blended learning, technology enhanced learning), you can click here.
  • At FCAD, we’ll make sure the students are having an interactive and stimulating learning experience virtually.

Yes, paying your Tuition Deposit is an essential step for confirming your spot at Ryerson. Visit the Fee Payments page from the Registrar's Office for more information.

Please visit Undergraduate Fees by Program (opens in new window)  for up-to-date information on tuition fees. President Mohamed Lachemi has announced that Fall 2020 tuition will not be reduced.

FAQ for Incoming First Year Students

Before applying for residence please ensure you have received a full or conditional undergraduate offer to Ryerson University. You will receive frequent emails with reminders and information.

Please visit the Ryerson Housing & Residence website for important dates.

Submit your transfer credit application as soon you have accepted your offer of admission. Please visit the Transfer Credits page for information on eligibility, application instructions and deadlines.

Incoming students are automatically enrolled into their Fall and Winter term required courses. You will have to enroll in your Liberal Studies course (details in question below). If you have more questions please don’t hesitate to contact Marietta Canlas via email at mcanlas@ryerson.ca

Instructions on how to use RAMSS are available here (opens in new window) 

Open enrollment for first year students will begin on Tuesday, August 11 at 6:00 a.m. on RAMSS. Please visit this page for a list of Liberal Table A courses.

You must apply and upload all supporting documents via Apply for Financial Assistance (OSAP) (external link)  by June 30, 2020.

FAQ for Returning Students (Second to Fourth Years)

The following changes affect students eligible to complete internship in 2020 only, and usual requirements will resume in 2021:

  • The minimum number of internship hours a student must achieve has been reduced from 420 hours to 200 hours to alleviate some pressure for both students and employers. 
  • The Summer and Fall internship programs will be combined, and all internship eligible students will have until December 31, 2020 to complete an internship. This, combined with the reduced number of required hours, will make it possible for students to complete the internship requirement part-time while completing Fall semester courses if needed.
  • The School will, on a case-by-case basis relax some rules and regulations regarding such things as work-from-home and modified work duties to try to accommodate the widest range of internship opportunities.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to GCM’s Internship Coordinator, Kevin Gregg at kgregg@ryerson.ca (opens in new window) .

You are only required to declare your Minor (opens in new window)  and/or Concentration when you Apply to Graduate (opens in new window) . If you have taken the required courses and the Minor and/or Concentration is approved, it will appear on your record (RAMSS and diploma). 

For students planning to graduate in Spring 2021, the form will be open on RAMSS from Nov 1, 2020 until Apr 15, 2021 (a late fee applies from March 2, 2021 until Apr 15, 2021). 

If you have any concerns around completing required courses for your Minor and/or Concentration, please email GCM's Academic Coordinator, Marietta Canlas at mcanlas@ryerson.ca

If you have belongings in your locker that you must retrieve, please email Taras at tkarpiuk@ryerson.ca (opens in new window) . A date and time will need to be scheduled for a supervised pickup. Please wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing protocol.

The GCM office will continue to be closed through the Fall 2020 semester, and assignment retrieval is not possible at this time. Your projects are safely secured, and will be available for pickup once the GCM office reopens.

  • 4th year: Thursday, August 13 (6 a.m.)
  • 3rd year: Monday, August 17  (6 a.m.)
  • 2nd year: Wednesday, August 19 (6 a.m.)

The open enrollment for students who did not course intent is Monday, August 24.

Grades will be released on Wednesday, August 26 at 8:00 a.m.

Some Fall and/or Winter courses were dropped because we had to swap some classes around to ensure the best possible learning experience for students. Some classes that were originally scheduled to run in the Fall were moved to Winter, and vice-versa. If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact Marietta Canlas via email at mcanlas@ryerson.ca.

If you are taking Spring/Summer 2020 courses, you need to sign your Probationary Contract now. If you are taking courses in Fall 2020, you need to sign your contract in September.

You are only allowed to take four (4) courses while on Probation.

Yes it is possible to complete both, but neither is mandatory.