Academic Advocacy
The YUGSA advocates on behalf of individual students helping them navigate York’s administration, deal with issues and solve problems in a variety of areas. We help with the following issues:
Issues with your professors, supervisors, graduate program directors, York staff, or York offices
Funding Issues (we only assist with issues not related to employment at York – please refer to CUPE 3903 for all issues pertaining to employment)
Allegations of academic misconduct
Experiences of discrimination, harassment, or lack of accommodation, including discrimination or harassment based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, sexual orientation, religion, and ability
Petitions and/or appeals
If you are facing any issues at York that you are not sure how to address, please drop by the YUGSA office to discuss your concerns.
To book an appointment:
YUGSA Student Services Coordinator
Phone: 416.736.5865
Email: info@yugsa.ca
When Should You Come Seek Support?
You should come to the YUGSA if you are experiencing any of the issues listed above. Some graduate students try to resolve these issues by themselves or ignore them altogether causing the situation to escalate. Speaking with our Student Services Coordinator is confidential. When you approach us early on you will be more likely to solve problems and avoid conflicts and stressful situations.
It is important to familiarize yourself with The Faculty of Graduate Studies’ (FGS) regulations as well as your own program’s policies, procedures and guidelines. If you do not know where to obtain your own program’s information, please contact us.
What Will Our Student Services Coordinator Do?
Carefully listen to you and take your concerns seriously
Ask questions to clarify and assess the situation based on information provided
Direct you to information regarding University regulations, policies and procedures
Explore how to address the situation and discuss possible solutions/outcomes
Offer to make inquires to obtain information when appropriate and relevant
Offer to intervene by setting up meetings with University administration, faculty and staff when appropriate and relevant (at your request, another representative from the YUGSA can attend meetings with you as a support person)
Refer you to other appropriate services and supports as required
What Can’t YUGSA Do?
Fill out forms on a students’ behalf
Provide legal advice
Resolve employment issues (please contact CUPE 3903)
Confidentiality
All information you provide the YUGSA will be kept confidential. Information will only be shared with third parties with your consent.
How to Prepare Your Case
Familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures of your program, department and faculty. With over 50 graduate programs at York, we may not be familiar with the policies specific to your program. If you are unsure where to find these policies, please contact our office.
Be honest and tell your advocate the whole story truthfully. We are not able to defend you against or advise on issues or matters that we are not made fully aware of.
Please keep notes of any interactions (in-person, over the phone, email/mail correspondence) that may have an impact on your case. Important information to especially document: the date, the person you spoke to, their position/role and what was communicated to you.
Guidelines for Filling Petitions and Appeals
Follow the guidelines for the petition or appeal process. If you are not sure where to obtain this information, please contact the YUGSA
Pay attention to deadlines! Follow program, departmental, Faculty of Graduate Studies and appeal committee policies; failure to do so may negatively affect the outcome of your case
Develop clear arguments by presenting evidence and examples to support your case
Keep detailed documentation of all aspects of your case
Student/Supervisor Conflicts
When possible, students are encouraged to attempt to resolve the conflict as close as possible to the source of the problem starting with discussing any concerns directly with their supervisor.
If a solution cannot be found or a student has already exhausted this route with no success or if pursuing this option would cause further discomfort for the student, then as a next step informally consulting with the Graduate Program Director (GPD) for their guidance would be recommended. The GPD’s role is to ensure that students are provided with an atmosphere that supports students’ learning, which includes monitoring supervisory relationships. If the GPD is unhelpful or is the subject of the student’s concern, then the next step would be to consult the Chair of the department or Dean of the Faculty. If consultation with the Chair of the department or Dean of the Faculty is not possible or is unhelpful, the YUGSA would recommend escalating your case to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) Student Affairs Manager and/or FGS Associate Dean – Students.
The YUGSA can offer its support by accompanying students to meetings with the aforementioned parties to work toward finding a satisfactory resolution.