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What is the SMU Academic Calendar? Why do I need it? How do I get one? | The academic calendar that arrives with acceptance letters is the rulebook for the University. In addition to listing the courses offered at Saint Mary's, the academic calendar contains valuable information on such things as programs, admission requirements, schedules, costs, regulations and student support services. W... |
Where can I get tickets to SMU home games? How much do they cost? Are discounts available? How do I find more information? | Students who have a current Saint Mary's student I.D. receive free admission to home games in the regular season and a discounted rate for other tickets. Tickets are not sold online, but the Athletics webpage ( Athletics & Recreation ) lists the sales venues and provides a breakdown of ticket prices by regular season a... |
Where do I get a pass for Metro Transit? How much does it cost? Are there special arrangements for students with disabilities? Where can I find transit schedules and route maps? | As part of compulsory student fees, full-time undergraduate and graduate students receive a U-Pass (Metro Transit bus/ferry pass) that's good from September until April. Students with disabilities can use the U-Pass on Access-A-Bus. There is no opting out except in the case of students who have CNIB passes. For bus pas... |
How do I arrange a tour of the campus? How far in advance do I need to book? | The Centre for New Students in the McNally Lobby has student ambassadors who conduct one-hour campus tours that include the library, classrooms, bookstore, athletic facilities, dining areas and residences. To arrange a tour, leave a message at 420-5682, e-mail campustours@smu.ca or complete the Campus Tour Request Form... |
I have received an 'A' number. What is it? How do I use it? What is the Self-Service Banner? How do I access it? How do I get an 's' number? Where can I find more information? | Once admitted, students receive a Banner ID number (known as an 'A' number) and PIN, while faculty and staff receive this information from Human Resources. 'A' number and PIN are used to access Banner Self-Service, where students can register for courses; print their T2202A for income tax purposes; pay for tuition; vie... |
Where do I go if I have computer problems? Where do I go for repairs to university computers? Where do I go for repairs to my personal computer? Where do I get more information? | The ITSS Help Desk provides help for problems related to software and computer use. ITSS Help Desk is in two locations, one in the Atrium and one in Loyola Academic 268. For University computers that need repair, the ITSS Help Desk provides referrals to ITSS Support Technologists. Repairs to personal computers are not ... |
I am off-campus. Where do I find directions to Saint Mary's University? | The easiest way to find the University from an off-campus location is to use Mapquest ( http://www.mapquest.com ). Under 'Get Directions' enter your starting address in the 'A' line and Saint Mary's address in the 'B' line. The address for Saint Mary's is 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS. If there is no access to the Inte... |
Where do I find the location of my classes? How do I find my classrooms and other campus locations? | Information desks are located in the McNally lobby and on the first floor of the Student Centre. There are multiple maps posted throughout the campus and there is a campus map on the university website: http://www.smu.ca/documents/campus-map.pdf. Check class lists for the location of classes. Not all classes are held o... |
I need to send/receive a fax. Where do I go to do this? How much does it cost? | Students, faculty and staff may send and receive faxes at the Circulation Services Desk in the Patrick Power Library (fax: 902-420-5561) and at the Student Centre Information Desk (fax: 902-420-5433). There is no charge to receive a fax. Prices to send a fax vary. See locations for further information. |
Where is food sold on campus? What kinds of food are available? How early/late is food sold? | There are several locations for food and drink on campus, and a variety of options: The Just Us Caf in the Atrium Tim Horton's and the C-Store in the Loyola Colonnade The Student Centre Food Court (during the school year) The Dockside Dining Hall in Loyola Residence For hours of operation and menus call Saint Mary's Fo... |
How can I learn more about the history of Saint Mary's? Where do I find the University archives? | Saint Mary's University traces its earliest beginnings to 1802 when the Reverend Edmund Burke, later Bishop Burke, initiated instruction for young men at the Glebe House, located on the corner of Halifax's Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street. Some significant benchmarks in Saint Mary's early history include 1841 w... |
I have heard that there is a program that provides safe drives to and from campus. Who can use it? Where and when does it run? | The Husky Patrol is a free service offered by SMUSA (Saint Mary's University Students' Association) in partnership with Campus Security. During the fall and winter sessions, it provides safe drives to and from campus for Saint Mary's students, faculty and staff. To use the service, present a valid SMU I.D. at the Infor... |
How do I access the Internet while on campus? Is Internet service available to visitors? How do I arrange wireless service? | Internet is available to students, faculty, staff and alumni who have an 's' number and a password. Visitors may access the Internet on the guest computers in the Patrick Power Library. For more information about wireless access, visit the ITSS help desk in either the Atrium or Loyola Academic 268 or go to: On-Campus W... |
Where are lockers located? Who can use them? How much do they cost? | Rental lockers are located in Loyola Academic, the Burke Building and the McNally Main. For more information see Facilities Management in MS001. Daily use lockers are also available at no cost in the Science building. |
I would like to send/receive a package. What is the best way to do this? Can I place a COD order or do I need to pay in advance? | Sending and receiving packages, whether by mail or courier, usually requires a complete mailing address and telephone number. Saint Mary's mailing address is: 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3. The phone number is (902) 420-5400. Inventory and Distribution receives all deliveries to the university, except COD items... |
Where do I park while on campus? How much does it cost? Can I purchase a parking permit? Are there designated parking spots for people with disabilities? | Questions about parking are best directed to Facilities Management at 420-5572 or online at: facilities.management@smu.ca Parking meters are found in a number of locations on campus including the Science Parking Lot, behind the McNally Building, behind the Student Centre, in front of Rice Residence and near The Tower. ... |
I would like to post something on a campus bulletin board. Do I need permission? What are the rules about posting a item? | Posters, 11 x 17 or smaller, must be approved and stamped at the Student Centre Information Desk. Stamped posters can be placed on general (non-departmental) bulletin boards in the Student Centre, Burke, McNally, Loyola Academic, Sobey, Vanier and Rice Residence lobby. |
How do I go about renting a room for a special event? Are rental facilities available to the general public? Is it possible to rent the Courtside or VIP Lounge? What is involved in booking either a study room or a computer lab? | Rental facilities are available on campus to faculty, students, staff and the general public through Conference Services. To make a booking or request information, phone 420-5055, e-mail conference.services@smu.ca or check the website: Conference Services . Bookings for Athletic facilities and the Courtside and VIP lou... |
I need to scan something. Where can I do that? How much does it cost? Are scanning services available to alumni and guests? How can I find more information? | Scanners are located in the Software and Application Support Centre (SAS) lab on the first floor of the Atrium (Room 107) next to the Just Us Caf. They are available at no charge to students, faculty, support staff, and by special permission to alumni and guests. Users should bring their own jump drives and CD/DVD's if... |
What is SMUfit? Who can join? How much does it cost to join? How much do fitness classes cost? Are discounts available? | The SMUfit membership program builds on the Saint Mary's commitment to fostering healthy lifestyles and healthy communities. Our members have access to our newly expanded fitness facilities at the Homburg Centre for Health & Wellness that are home to a suite of cardio and fitness equipment, weight training facilities, ... |
What is SMUSA? Who belongs? How much does it cost to be a member? What are the advantages of membership? | All full-time and part-time students pay membership fees for Saint Mary's University Students' Association (SMUSA). SMUSA provides support, advocacy and representation to Saint Mary's University students. It is also responsible for a variety of campus services, including frosh packs, the U-Pass, the Journal newspaper, ... |
Where can I find information about joining a society? Is it possible to start a society? | The Saint Mary's Students' Association website, www.smusa.ca has information about joining or starting a society and contains a list of over 50 current student societies including the Accounting Society, the Conflict Resolution Society and the Garden Action Group. |
Where can I buy stamps? Where can I post letters and packages? How do I know how much postage is required? | Stamps are sold at the Student Centre Information Desk during the fall and winter semesters. A Canada Post letterbox is located on Tower Road, next to the entrance to Arena parking lot. The Student Centre Information Desk does not weigh envelopes and packages. The nearest Canada Post outlet offering full postal service... |
Where do I get my student I.D.? Do I need to supply the photograph? If I lose my student I.D. is it possible to replace it? | Student I.D.'s are made at the Patrick Power Library. In order to get one, new students must present a government photo I.D. such as a Driver's License. Returning students must present previous student I.D. There is a price to replace a lost student I.D. and a government photo I.D. is required. |
How do I apply for a Student Loan? What is the deadline for applying? Once I'm approved for a Student Loan, how do I get the money? Are foreign students eligible for Student Loans? | Help applying for Student Loans is available in the Service Centre through Saint Mary's Financial Aid and Awards. Canadian students may apply online to the province in which they reside for either a Canada Student Loan or a Quebec Student Loan. Information concerning deadlines for application, course load requirements,... |
Where do I go for help or training using technology that I need to use in my classes, like Blackboard, or Excel? | Want to take that next step with technology in your coursework? Located in AT 107, next to the Just Us Caf, Centre for Academic Technologies (CAT) offers support and training (at no charge) to meet your needs. Drop in to the CAT, attend a workshop, or make an appointment with a student technology assistant for help wit... |
I need a tutor. Where do I find one? How much do they charge per hour? | SMUSA coordinates a Tutor Database for individual and small group tutoring. SMUSA tutors do not charge more than $15 per hour. To find a SMUSA tutor, or to apply to tutor, go to http://www.smusa.ca. For other tutoring services and requests for tutoring, see the notices posted on campus bulletin boards. |
When is my tuition due? Do I need to pay it all at once? If I withdraw from a course, do I get a refund? | Tuition fees are due in September for the fall semester and in January for the winter semester. For the exact dates contact Saint Mary's Service Centre by phone at 420-5582, by email at service.centre@smu.ca or check the University web page Important Dates. |
Where do I go for help writing an essay? Do I need an appointment? | Writing support is available by appointment at the Writing Centre, located in the Burke Building, room 115. A variety of online and in-print resources and various workshops are also available. Appointments may be made online, by e-mailing writing@smu.ca or by calling 491-6202. For more information, visit Writing Centre... |
Why did Saint Mary's University decide to go to a tobacco-free campus? | A tobacco-free campus demonstrates responsible stewardship of our environment by reducing toxic cigarette butt litter, eliminating smoke-filled areas at building entrances and reducing associated fire risk. It also sets a good example that tobacco use is not the social norm, particularly for children, youth and familie... |
What does tobacco-free campus mean? | The use of tobacco and tobacco-related products is prohibited. |
What type of tobacco products does this include? | All tobacco and tobacco-related products, as well as alternative devices. This includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, chewing tobacco, blunts, snus, snuff, as well as shisha, water pipes (hookahs), all smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes (vapours). It also includes herbal or si... |
When didthe policy come into effect? | September 1, 2013. |
Who does the policy apply to? | The tobacco-free policy applies to anyone on University property, including, but not limited to, students, staff, faculty, visitors, contractors, and sporting event spectators. |
What areas of campus will the tobacco-free policy cover? | The policy includes any and all University owned, leased, rented or maintained property, including but not limited to buildings, facilities, parking lots, and grounds. In addition the policy includes all University owned, leased, or rented vehicles. This includes vehicles parked on the campus properties and in our park... |
How can students, staff, and faculty help with enforcement? | All students, staff, and faculty have collective responsibility to promote the safety and health of the campus community and, therefore, share in the responsibility of enforcement. We are offering a polite and cooperative campaign and as such, have developed thank you cards. The cards read: Reminder that Saint Mary's U... |
How will the policy be enforced? | University Security will advise the individual of the policy and ask the individual to leave campus. The University Security officers are authorized to issue notices for violations of the policy. If the individual does not leave, or is a repeat offender, University Security will request the person's identification and ... |
Is there a place on campus where individuals can smoke? | There is a small outdoor area which is restricted to students who live in Residence. We have created a small pilot area which only operates from 10 pm until 6 am. This area is intended only for those students living in Residence and still need to remain in a safe area. The Tobacco Policy Working Committee will evaluate... |
What efforts will be made towards educating stakeholders and departments about the policy? | The InBalance Health & Wellness Program Coordinator will be providing ongoing orientations and education across the University. For visitors, we believe reminders about the tobacco-free campus will be important. The University will provide on-going messaging on University affiliated materials, website, conference and v... |
What about concerns from the neighbors? | The University asks that our students, staff, and faculty help maintain a positive relationship with the neighbors who border the campus. We encourage respect for neighboring properties and ask tobacco users to refrain from congregating in large groups on sidewalks to smoke. We raise this as we want to avoid creating a... |
Where is the Records Centre Located? | The Records Centre is a part of the University Archives, located on the 3rd floor of the Patrick Power Library. |
What kind of material is sent to the Records Centre? | The records centre is the place to send your semi-active records. These are records that are no longer in day-to-day use by your department but may need to be accessed from time to time. After a record is no longer used at all it is considered to be inactive. It will usually be kept on file for a while after it becomes... |
Should I send my files to the Archival Collection instead of the Records Centre? | The Archival Collection is for inactive records that have a permanent historical value. It is not expected that these records will need to be used by the department, though they are still available. Archival material will be available to researchers using the archives, subject to any restrictions put on them by the dep... |
Do I lose access to files I send to you? | No. Each department retains control of any material deposited with the records centre. They can request material from the records centre at any time Using theRecord Access Request Form. Please fill out a Department Retrieval Authorization Formif you want people other than the person whose name is on theTransfer Formto ... |
Who can look at material in the Records Centre? | Material in the Records Centre is considered to be restricted, and people from other departments and researchers will not be able to access the material without getting permission from your department first. |
How are Freedom of Information/Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) requests handled? | The Records Centre does not directly handle FOIPOP requests for material deposited with us. Formal FOIPOP requests are subject to formal procedures and regulations, and are handled in confidence in consultation with the appropriate departments and individuals. The current FOIPOP Administrator is Suzanne van den Hoogen,... |
How do I prepare material for delivery to the Records Centre? | All loose material should be in clearly identified files, with everything packed in file boxes. Ideally, the boxes should be 15"x12"x10" file boxes ("banker's boxes"). Each box should have a packing list attached indicating its contents. Bound volumes and binders do not need to be in file folders but do need to be clea... |
How do I get access to my material? | Consult ourrecords retrieval proceduresand fill out aRecord Access Request Formand send it to the Archives. The material will be retrieved from the Records Centre and made available to the department. |
Can I change the retention period of material in the Centre, or request that material be permanently returned to us? | Absolutely. If you wish to change retention schedule(s) simply fill out a newRecord Disposition Scheduleand forward it to us. |
Does material stay in the Records Centre indefinitely? | No. All material, at the end of its retention period, is disposed of. Disposal can mean transfer to the Archival Collection (for permanent records of long term historical value) or destruction of the material. The decision on how to dispose of the records will be made by the department, in consultation with the Archive... |
What kind of programs and events does residence have? | Res AfterDark: interactive weekly events at night to bring students together and provide safe opportunities to have fun with other residence students. Adulting 101: educational programming to teach students life skills RA special projects: including the annual Battle of the Floors, science fair, Trick or Eat and Talent... |
How can I get involved in residence more than just going to events? | There are ample opportunities to get involved in residence outside of attending events. We have 2 residence committees: the Multicultural Committee and RainBEAU Committee, who recruit members at the beginning of term and throughout the year. At the end of your first year if you love being involved in the residence comm... |
What can I go to my RA for? What are their job requirements? | 3 events per month (mixture of educational and social) 2 floor meetings per month Source of resources and assistance when necessary RAs are meant to be a support for students on their floor, and provide resources when necessary to assist in a student's transition to residence. Additionally, RAs must plan 3 events per m... |
What resources are available on campus for residence students? | Counselling Centre RAs Writing Centre Career Services There are a wide variety of resources available on campus for any students wishing to access them. Saint Mary's has free counselling services in the student union building, as well as career services for any future planning needs. RAs are available to their floor me... |
How can I stay informed about residence life? | Residence Life is active on most forms of social media to keep you updated about upcoming events. Follow us on Instagram, and like our Facebook Page, plus subscribe to our Res Top 5 email list to never miss and event! |
How do I place a work order? | If you are a departmental secretary or administrator, you should have a login to the Que Centre Work Order system. At http://www4.quecentre.com/smu/Login.aspx, you can log in and click "Create Work Order" under the Work Order menu. If you do not have a login and want to place a work order, contact us at facilities.mana... |
Who do I contact to get new furniture or if I would like to have existing furniture moved from one office to another? | All furniture requests, for new or used, must be submitted via the Furniture Request form. To have existing furniture moved from one location to another, an office move request must be submitted. Both forms can be found on the Facilities Management homepage. |
How do I order keys? | Key request forms may be downloaded from the Facilities Management web site or picked up at the Facilities Management office, McNally South, Rm011. |
Where do I pay or appeal parking tickets? | Tickets should be paid for in the Facilities Management office located in McNally South 011, basement. If you would like to appeal your ticket, you may do so within 24 hours of receiving your ticket by visiting University Security in the McNally Main basement or by calling (902)420-5577. |
What is the Code of Student Conduct? | The Saint Mary's UniversityCode of Student Conductoutlines individual and community expectations regarding student actions and behaviour. The Code defines that students are responsible for acting in a manner that respects others and promotes their well-being and safety. |
Who can file a complaint or concern? | Any member of the Saint Mary's community (student, staff or faculty) can contact the Office of Student Affairs and Services (email studentconduct@smu.ca) during business hours to consult about a matter or to lodge formal complaint. |
What are my responsibilities under the Code? | Students have a responsibility to be aware of policies and codes that guide their expectations of conduct in various environments where there is university-related activity. All community members are expected to treat one another with mutual respect. When this expectation is not met and is not resolved informally, form... |
What are my rights under the Code? | Students have the right to make a complaint against any student who violates their right to a safe and welcoming educational environment. All Saint Mary's community members have rights which are protected under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These rights are su... |
What is 'balance of probabilities' and what does it mean? | Balance of Probabilities is the standard of proof used in the Code of Student Conduct. Balance of probabilities is the "more likely (or probable) than not" standard. In other words, if the available evidence convinces the decision-maker to the point that they are 50% + 1 certain that a student has committed an offence,... |
Who can be a support person and what is their role? | A support person should be someone you trust and someone not directly involved in the incident/case. They do not speak on your behalf but you may consult with them at any time during the process. |
What is the difference between the Code of Student Conduct and the Residence Code of Conduct and the Academic Regulations? | The Code of Student Conduct applies to the non-academic behavior of all current students within Saint Mary's University. The Residence Code of Conduct is also bound by the Code of Student Conduct. This means that all sections of the Code of Student Conduct apply to those living in residence. The Residence Code of Condu... |
Can I submit an anonymous complaint? | Anonymous complaints will be acknowledged and resources for the anonymous complainant will be provided. Whether or not an anonymous allegation can proceed in the absence of an identified complainant will be determined by the Associate Vice-President, Student Affairs and Services (or designate) having regard to all of t... |
My Code complaint involves criminal behaviour. Can I report to the police if I have already put in a Code complaint? | Members of the Saint Mary's community who have been affected by a student's behaviour that is criminal in nature can contact the Halifax Regional Police to report the incident(s) at any time. In the case of emergencies, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency reporting to police, contact 902-490-5020. A Code complaint can be sub... |
I don't want to see the person who harmed me. Will I have to be in the same room with them during the Code process? | The only time a complainant would be required to be in the same room as the respondent is during an Adjudication Panel Hearing and not all cases are resolved through this type of hearing. Additionally, the Code of Student Conduct states that a complainant may submit a request for accommodations to not appear in the sam... |
Can I make a complaint against a student who is making racist comments? | There are several offences outlined in the Code that prohibit racist comments or other behaviours. Anyone who experiences racism by a student should seek guidance on how to submit a Code complaint by emailing studentconduct@smu.ca. |
I have experienced sexualized violence. Do I make a complaint under the Code of Student Conduct? | Saint Mary's has a separate standaloneSexual Violence Policy. You can email sexualviolence@smu.ca to discuss your reporting options and access supports. |
How do I transfer my credits? | When applying to Saint Mary's University, you must submit official transcripts from every institution attended. To be considered an official transcript, it must be sent to Saint Mary's University directly from the institution. Photocopies and transcripts delivered by the student are not acceptable. In cases where we ha... |
When can I apply at SMU? | If you are still taking courses at another institution, you do not have to wait until you have a final transcript before applying for admission. If a course is in progress, we will still evaluate it for advanced standing. This evaluation will be based on the assumption that you will complete the course successfully. At... |
When will I receive my transfer credits? | When a course is reviewed for the first time, it may take up to 6 weeks to complete your transfer credit evaluation.? |
What is the maximum amount of credits I can receive? | Transferring students can receive up to 60 credit hours. To graduate, you must complete at least 50% of your degree requirements and 50% of the concentration, major, honours, and minor requirements at Saint Mary's University. |
Can I register for courses before I receive my advanced standing? | You may be permitted to register before your advanced standing is assessed, but prerequisites must be satisfied. Courses beyond the first year (those numbered 2000 and above) usually have prerequisites. For this reason, we advise you to submit your final transcript as early as possible so that your registration is not ... |
What courses do I choose? | We suggest that you reach out to your Academic Advisor for course suggestions: Arts: BAadvising@smu.ca Business:? bcomm.advising@smu.ca Science:? advisor.science@smu.ca |
Are my transfer credits applicable to any program? | Receiving transfer credit does not automatically imply that these credits can be applied to a particular program. Some programs have minimum grade requirements for a credit to apply (e.g. B.Sc. students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses for their major). Each program has a provision for elective credit, but... |
Do my prior credits factor into my grade point average (GPA) at Saint Mary's University? | The grades for transfer credit do not factor into your grade point average (GPA) or in the calculations for academic distinction. Credit awarded upon admission appears on your transcript with the institution's name, course name, Saint Mary's University equivalent and a grade of TR. |
How can I appeal my evaluation? | Transfer Credit Office at?transfer@smu.ca. |
Who can I contact for more information? | General information: recruitment@smu.ca Academic advice: Arts: BAadvsing@smu.ca Business: bcomm.advising@smu.ca Science: advisor.science@smu.ca |
What are key scholarship deadlines? | All complete applications are assessed for entrance scholarships by March 1. Don't wait until you complete your high school or post-secondary courses before applying. Submit your application using your most recent official grades, and make sure that your final grades are submitted when they become available. Please inc... |
What are the key timelines if I want to enroll in particular courses? | Mid-May:All accepted new students set to begin their studies in September or January can register in courses for September and the following January semesters.It is possible to change your mind or to register in courses right up to the first week of classes, but by that time your choices will be limited to courses wher... |
How long will it take to secure my study permit and, if necessary, temporary resident permit for Canada? | This will depend on your country of residence, and where you need to apply. You can find country-specific information by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. As soon as you receive your official letter of acceptance from Saint Mary's University in the mail, begin the process of applying for your stu... |
What is Epass program? | The EPass program offers an annual discounted transit Xpass, purchased by SMU employees through payroll deduction. Currently, there are two enrolment periods: one in May for July 1 XPasses and another in November for January 1 XPasses. You can find our FAQ on the EPass at the bottom of this page. If you have any additi... |
Who is eligible for EPass? | To be eligible, you must be a full-time or part-time employee of Saint Mary's University. This includes full and part-time contract employees. Casual employees and part-time faculty members are not eligible for an XPass. |
How do I sign up for Epass? | New Participants: Email your registration form and photo of yourself to epass@smu.ca by May 31st, 2024 New participants will have to fill out a digital registration form and provide a photo to add to their XPass. Please attach your completed registration form linked below in PDF format and attach your photo in jpg form... |
What is the rates for Xpass? | The monthly fee for an XPass is $61.88, and employees participating will pay by payroll deduction. The EPass program offers an annual 12-month XPass (this includes Regional Routes at no additional charge) at the discounted rate of 9 months compared to the cost of purchasing a standard monthly Halifax Transit pass |
What do I need to do to register for an XPass? | Fill in a registration form and take a photo of yourself. Please ensure the photo is a basic headshot of yourself with a neutral background. Submit your registration form and your photo in .jpg format to epass@smu.ca |
Are all employees at SMU eligible for an Xpass? | Full-time and part-time employees of Saint Mary's are eligible for an XPass. Casual employees, contractors, Aramark, SMUSA and part-time faculty employees are not eligible for an Xpass. |
I lost my XPass. What do I do? | A lost, stolen or damaged XPass is subject to a replacement fee of $25, which will be deducted from the employee's payroll. If your card is lost or stolen, please contact epass@smu.ca and we will work with Halifax Transit to replace your card. |
Why can't I register or opt-out of the program mid-year? | Saint Mary's does not set the terms and conditions of the EPass program. Saint Mary's cannot change these terms for special considerations. Due to the number of registered participants enrolled in the city-wide program, Halifax Transit requires that employees remain enrolled in the program for the full year. |
Does the XPass include access to Metro Transit's Park and Ride program? | Yes, the XPass includes access to this program. Parking at most Halifax lots is free except Dartmouth Sportsplex, Woodside Ferry Terminal and Alderney Gate, which have low monthly parking rates. |
What can I do to prevent harming people affected by scents? | You can adopt scent-free practices by avoiding perfumes, aftershaves, colognes and scented lotions, and opting for 'fragrance-free', 'scent-free' or 'unscented' versions of such personal care products as hand and body lotions, soaps, hair products and deodorants. Many scent-free personal care products can be found at y... |
I know a few people who have allergies to certain foods or suffer from hay fever. But I don't know anyone who has a reaction from coming into contact with scented products. How real is this concern? | It is very real. It's well documented that the incidence of asthma is on the increase, especially in young people. In fact, there are many environmental illnessesillnesses that are triggered by things in our environment. Among the best known are spring and late summer allergies to the pollen from flowers, grasses or tr... |
What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)? | Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an acquired illness characterized by severe reaction to exposures easily tolerated by most individuals. Common triggers include volatile organic compounds of the sort often found in paints, cleaning products, perfumes and fragranced personal care products, gasoline and similar products,... |
What happens if I don't adopt scent-free practices? | You are taking the risk of possibly causing harm, perhaps even severe pain and discomfort, to someone around you; harm that could easily be avoided. Second, when employees or students miss time from work or school because of illnessasthma, allergies, migraine, MCSthere is a cost. Illness means lost productivity and los... |
I would resent being told, or feel uncomfortable telling others, what kind of personal care product to use. Isn't the request to adopt scent-free practices intrusive on the individual's right to wear whatever he or she wants? | It may at first seem that asking people to use scent-free personal care products touches on a personal and private matter. But when the scents from these products affect the health and well-being of other people, it then goes beyond just being a matter of private concerns. The goal of this awareness campaign is not to ... |
Why should I adopt scent-free practices when there isn't anyone in my unit, classroom or residence who suffers from an allergy or sensitivity? The perfume I wear and the scented products I use aren't bothering anyone. | Do you know that for a fact? Perhaps someone is suffering in silence. Or maybe you will come in contact with someone with a chemical sensitivity during the dayin the cafeteria, at the gym, in a meeting, at a concert, in the classroom, or in the library. By putting all the responsibility for coming forward on the person... |
If we ask people to avoid using scented products, perhaps they will stop using personal care products altogether. Poor hygiene and strong body odour might be the result. Surely we want to avoid this? | This is not the likely consequence of adopting scent-free practices. The products section offers more than 100 alternatives to scented personal care products, from the most essential (soap, shampoo, deodorant), to the additional products we rely on to make us look good and feel good (body wash, hand cream, body lotion,... |
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📚 SMU FAQ Dataset
This dataset was curated by Tooba Javed as part of the SMU FAQ Chatbot project for CSCI 3482 - Artificial Intelligence (Fall 2024) at Saint Mary’s University (SMU). It consists of 260+ FAQs collected from SMU’s official website, covering various topics such as admissions, scholarships, academic policies, and student services.
🔍 Dataset Overview
- Source: Scraped and manually compiled from SMU’s official FAQ pages.
- Format: CSV file with structured questions and answers.
- Purpose: Used to train and evaluate an AI-powered FAQ chatbot.
- Size: 260+ question-answer pairs.
💡 Project Context
This dataset was used in the SMU FAQ Chatbot project, which compares an AI-based chatbot (using retrieval-augmented generation with FAISS & GPT-3.5) and a rules-based chatbot (using predefined responses).
🔗 GitHub Repository:
SMU FAQ Chatbot Project
🚀 How to Use
You can use this dataset for:
✔️ Training question-answering models
✔️ Fine-tuning retrieval-based chatbots
✔️ Exploring semantic search techniques
📌 Future Improvements
- Expanding the dataset with more question-answer pairs.
- Adding context-based variations for better generalization.
- Improving multi-intent handling for chatbot responses.
📝 License
This dataset is available under the MIT License. Feel free to use, modify, and contribute!
🤝 Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Saint Mary’s University (SMU) for the resources that made this dataset possible.
For any questions or contributions, feel free to open an issue on the GitHub repository. 🚀
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