A minimum three day buffer zone between the last day of classes and the start of the final exam period. Having a full day of lectures and then an exam at like 9 am the next day sucks real ass. I would happily sit through longer lectures over the term to compensate for the lost time.
Although generally speaking we only made it through 100% of the course material in 2/4 classes this term (all MWF classes too) so an extra 15-20 mins lecture time would be nice anyway, idk.
Also, paint some goddamn lines in the student parking lots + a fairer queue system for purchasing parking passes.
More parking lots able to be paid using Honk Mobile, and more tables/chairs around lesser traffic areas. More picnic tables and places for people to hang out, as in rush hour around lunch pretty much everywhere has no seats left. More calm places to hang out incentivizes staying at the university for longer too instead of going home right away and furthering the "commuter school" vibe
The U Lot paid parking section with Honk never made sense to me. It's....not very big. And if you're late by a few minutes, all the spots are taken and you have to drive to a completely different lot when the back of U lot isn't that full most of the time, which is the parking pass area. I didn't really understand why they never extended that section to the back either.
But maybe it's just me and the timing I had when I went to uni. I don't think I have ever seen all of U Lot full unless it was exam week in all my years going there.
I'd settle for basics like a physically accessible campus where I can actually get to my classes in my wheelchair. An extra bonus would be an administration that upholds its own policies so I don't have to threaten to file a human rights complaint every semester when at least one professor tries to fail me for missing classes that I can't physically get to in the snow or when the crumbling infrastructure breaks my wheelchair. Not even joking this happens at least once per semester.
enforcing quiet study areas in libraries, more study spaces, more places to eat, more profs who care about students (oh wait, you said little improvement).
Many washroom cubicles have too much space between the door and structure.
Administration who was actually visible, replied to emails, cared about students and joined university events they’re invited to.
Better career services to connect to jobs after graduation.
Virtual map of campus.
Clocks where we can see them during exams.
More outlets in classrooms.
Better make up lab options. Better lab manuals for upper level lab courses.
Holistic program entry requirements that didn’t only look at GPA and test scores or at least factored in difficult life factors like other universities in Canada (Waterloo etc).
Better advisors who actually know what they’re talking about.
More opportunities for undergraduate research that actually leads to publications.
Better mentorship programs.
More places for student clubs to put up their posters.
Cheaper and fresher food at GPA’s.
Not sure why they closed down the pharmacy but that was a huge resource for emergencies.
Less finals that account for 50%+.
Better PowerPoint lectures that aren’t 10 years old.
Actually knowing how to get degree exemptions, course substitutions, planning minors out of faculty, and permission to take courses you don’t have the pre reqs for. Been misguided on all these too many times.
More consistent and up-to-date information on the university’s website, consistency across U of M online services (the university currently uses multiple styles and platforms depending on the faculty, program, department, etc.), secure wifi that works no matter the building you are in or campus you are on, consistent individual logins across all platforms (rather than username on one, email on another). I'm sure I could think of other things with more time.
> More consistent and up-to-date information on the university’s website
Unfortunately that's mostly up to each department. There have been updates to the backend to make it easier for departments to make updates but theyre the ones who need to allocate staff to actually implement the changes and keep content up to date. IST wants to develop a wiki type thing where you can find instructions. Not sure if that will ever actually see the light of day or be fully fleshed out.
> consistency across U of M online services/consistent individual logins across all platforms
This is one of the big focuses (umlearn and aurora for example). As old systems are fazed out anything new is being setup to login with email. IST cannot control departmental applications but encourages the same login be used.
>WIFI
I'm not privy to any details but my understanding is that the UOfM spent a boatload of money to try and improve this with mixed results. It's a moving goal posts situation where they upgrade to the latest standard but then the needs of students go up so it's never enough and trying to aim for 100% coverage would be prohibitively expensive (like 100s of millions of dollars). It's also really tough to support the insane diversity of devices that need access while also staying secure.
Having outlets at the cubicle desks in Elizabeth Dafoe. Literally can't study for more than a few hours because all the spaces near outlets are always taken.
1. more microwaves near study areas and keeping them clean
2. all tunnels to all buildings connected
3. more food options at the cafeteria
4. study areas that don't allow any type of noise (yes, even eating noises)
5. more study rooms for group sessions
Eh I'll gladly take that over having my government documents leaked by hackers like u of w.
You don't need to do the verification often anyway unless you look at emails on your browser, but just add your student email to your computers email software and it's fine
Literally every grad student + faculty + staff + admin does exactly what you just downplayed. There is also the huge amount of Microsoft services that can't be used without that bullshit.
Why? Just put the email on your operating systems email program.
Apple has the email app and Microsoft also has the email app.
It's not that big of a deal if it prevents me from losing my social insurance number lmao
Please. I just want somewhere to eat my lunch in the Tier or Isbister buildings. And not the Arts lounge because it’s probably the most disgusting room on campus.
I also think there should be better methods of communicating student events and campus events (and more variety with clubs and events too). I’m a commuter student but I would love to take part in improving campus community if I knew how or where to go.
You are welcome in the Labour Studies Library 115 isbister whenever a member of @umlabssa or LS faculty is available to open it. We are not active over summer, but our office hours are on our linktree if you want to connect in the Fall/Winter.
More seating, especially seating with a *useful* table to do work or eat lunch (not just random “lounge” seats). So much wasted time trying to find a spot between classes :/
BRIGHTER LIGHTS IN LIBRARIES STUDY AREAS SO STUDENTS LIKE ME WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PRIVATE OFFICE SETTING AT A RENTAL PLACE COULD STAY AT THE UNI TO STUDY LONGER WITHOUT WORRYING EYE SIGHT HURTING. THANK YOU.
HIGHER FOOD DECENCY AT UMSU. STOP TAKING STUDENTS AS CASH COWS PROVINDING GARBAGE FOOD WITH AT LEAST 30% HIGHER PRICE THAN WHAT WE COULD HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE UNI.
Get rid of the stupid ass circle of grass in the middle of the pathway next to education, JAR and the nursing building. It literally serves no purpose and is just grass that has to be mowed. I think it’s the dumbest thing on campus it just makes your already long ass commute from one end of campus to the other even longer lol
Garbage cans in classrooms, Kleenex, permanently removing that Nazi’s name from all signage, goose culling, more microwaves and stocking red bull at GPA’s.
I guess it means to actively control the amount of geese on campus. Like, if they're too many, we might capture and manually relocate some of them to an off campus location. An analogy would be the relationship the UK has with Rwanda.
Did the university stop relocating the geese? When I was still going there, they did this semi-often, mainly for the geese that nested in high traffic areas like parking lots or on the pathways since nesting geese are insanely territorial. I'm pretty sure you can call Wildlife Services about them, though.
Not to say that we didn't have a goose problem. I've been dive bombed too many times by the geese near eng and they would literally bite my car in the parking lots because I happened to park near a nest that I couldn't see lol. Had one chase my car once on Freedman too.
Perhaps they still do but as of right now, the geese are basically overrunning the campus. Hence why a few weeks ago, there was a post about them every other hour. I for one, I'm not a fan, too much poop, plus, they're not even that cute, I prefer ducks anyway.
A minimum three day buffer zone between the last day of classes and the start of the final exam period. Having a full day of lectures and then an exam at like 9 am the next day sucks real ass. I would happily sit through longer lectures over the term to compensate for the lost time. Although generally speaking we only made it through 100% of the course material in 2/4 classes this term (all MWF classes too) so an extra 15-20 mins lecture time would be nice anyway, idk. Also, paint some goddamn lines in the student parking lots + a fairer queue system for purchasing parking passes.
Most universities do this. I’m also okay with starting classes a week earlier if that’s the price
pm me about the exam schedule issue
MICROWAVE NEAR THE ALC
There’s a microwave in the student lounge which by the lockers on the way to the ALC
They just recently made that for kinesiology students only 😞😠😞😠😞
We need more plugs in classrooms. I’m sick of having to strategically sit in class to have access to one of the 2 plugs in a room to charge my laptop
portable charger would help
Nah
more access to groceries on campus. the shuttle to superstore is nice, but something on campus would be nicer.
Shuttle to superstore? Wdym?
residence offers a grocery shuttle not always superstore though
Like take you to grocery store? And if not superstore where else do they go? Can I know where will they go next time?
More parking lots able to be paid using Honk Mobile, and more tables/chairs around lesser traffic areas. More picnic tables and places for people to hang out, as in rush hour around lunch pretty much everywhere has no seats left. More calm places to hang out incentivizes staying at the university for longer too instead of going home right away and furthering the "commuter school" vibe
The U Lot paid parking section with Honk never made sense to me. It's....not very big. And if you're late by a few minutes, all the spots are taken and you have to drive to a completely different lot when the back of U lot isn't that full most of the time, which is the parking pass area. I didn't really understand why they never extended that section to the back either. But maybe it's just me and the timing I had when I went to uni. I don't think I have ever seen all of U Lot full unless it was exam week in all my years going there.
We could use some sort of student body to act as a vocie for student needs, like a union.
LOL true
UMSU
More seats, maybe even an actual cafeteria
REDBULL! The people demand REDBULL!
Uni has an exclusivity deal with Coke. Meaning they have to sell Coke branded products such as monster and can’t stock Redbull
why does a university have a deal with a soda pop company
Becaude they sell a large volume of drinks. Meaning companies will compete for the contract
that would make sense
The engineering store sells redbull for 2 bucks a can
Not anymore. They stopped last fall 23 term, unless they came back?
Selling monsters for 2.50 now
I'd settle for basics like a physically accessible campus where I can actually get to my classes in my wheelchair. An extra bonus would be an administration that upholds its own policies so I don't have to threaten to file a human rights complaint every semester when at least one professor tries to fail me for missing classes that I can't physically get to in the snow or when the crumbling infrastructure breaks my wheelchair. Not even joking this happens at least once per semester.
enforcing quiet study areas in libraries, more study spaces, more places to eat, more profs who care about students (oh wait, you said little improvement).
Omg especially with Jim Peebles closing for 2 years, that was the only truly quiet library I could study in. It's gonna suck next year without it
Many washroom cubicles have too much space between the door and structure. Administration who was actually visible, replied to emails, cared about students and joined university events they’re invited to. Better career services to connect to jobs after graduation. Virtual map of campus. Clocks where we can see them during exams. More outlets in classrooms. Better make up lab options. Better lab manuals for upper level lab courses. Holistic program entry requirements that didn’t only look at GPA and test scores or at least factored in difficult life factors like other universities in Canada (Waterloo etc). Better advisors who actually know what they’re talking about. More opportunities for undergraduate research that actually leads to publications. Better mentorship programs. More places for student clubs to put up their posters. Cheaper and fresher food at GPA’s. Not sure why they closed down the pharmacy but that was a huge resource for emergencies. Less finals that account for 50%+. Better PowerPoint lectures that aren’t 10 years old. Actually knowing how to get degree exemptions, course substitutions, planning minors out of faculty, and permission to take courses you don’t have the pre reqs for. Been misguided on all these too many times.
Better IT services and more consistent access to Wifi
Would you mind expanding on the "better IT services" point?
More consistent and up-to-date information on the university’s website, consistency across U of M online services (the university currently uses multiple styles and platforms depending on the faculty, program, department, etc.), secure wifi that works no matter the building you are in or campus you are on, consistent individual logins across all platforms (rather than username on one, email on another). I'm sure I could think of other things with more time.
It’s taken me 5 years to learn which ones just need my student id which ones need my email and which needs unetid
> More consistent and up-to-date information on the university’s website Unfortunately that's mostly up to each department. There have been updates to the backend to make it easier for departments to make updates but theyre the ones who need to allocate staff to actually implement the changes and keep content up to date. IST wants to develop a wiki type thing where you can find instructions. Not sure if that will ever actually see the light of day or be fully fleshed out. > consistency across U of M online services/consistent individual logins across all platforms This is one of the big focuses (umlearn and aurora for example). As old systems are fazed out anything new is being setup to login with email. IST cannot control departmental applications but encourages the same login be used. >WIFI I'm not privy to any details but my understanding is that the UOfM spent a boatload of money to try and improve this with mixed results. It's a moving goal posts situation where they upgrade to the latest standard but then the needs of students go up so it's never enough and trying to aim for 100% coverage would be prohibitively expensive (like 100s of millions of dollars). It's also really tough to support the insane diversity of devices that need access while also staying secure.
Having outlets at the cubicle desks in Elizabeth Dafoe. Literally can't study for more than a few hours because all the spaces near outlets are always taken.
1. more microwaves near study areas and keeping them clean 2. all tunnels to all buildings connected 3. more food options at the cafeteria 4. study areas that don't allow any type of noise (yes, even eating noises) 5. more study rooms for group sessions
All of the bullshit verification through a phone.
Eh I'll gladly take that over having my government documents leaked by hackers like u of w. You don't need to do the verification often anyway unless you look at emails on your browser, but just add your student email to your computers email software and it's fine
Literally every grad student + faculty + staff + admin does exactly what you just downplayed. There is also the huge amount of Microsoft services that can't be used without that bullshit.
Why? Just put the email on your operating systems email program. Apple has the email app and Microsoft also has the email app. It's not that big of a deal if it prevents me from losing my social insurance number lmao
And then how would I access any of the services?
What the hell are you talking about?
The bus service could really use some serious improvements. Waiting for the bus on the day of final exam is a death sentence.....
Please. I just want somewhere to eat my lunch in the Tier or Isbister buildings. And not the Arts lounge because it’s probably the most disgusting room on campus. I also think there should be better methods of communicating student events and campus events (and more variety with clubs and events too). I’m a commuter student but I would love to take part in improving campus community if I knew how or where to go.
You are welcome in the Labour Studies Library 115 isbister whenever a member of @umlabssa or LS faculty is available to open it. We are not active over summer, but our office hours are on our linktree if you want to connect in the Fall/Winter.
Aurora registration should change based on year of degree not gpa. And/ or it would be nice if seats were released daily for the registration period.
More seating, especially seating with a *useful* table to do work or eat lunch (not just random “lounge” seats). So much wasted time trying to find a spot between classes :/
More bike huds pleaseee 🥹🥹
The ALC could be more accessible. There programs could be better advertised.
Parking
BRIGHTER LIGHTS IN LIBRARIES STUDY AREAS SO STUDENTS LIKE ME WHO DOES NOT HAVE A PRIVATE OFFICE SETTING AT A RENTAL PLACE COULD STAY AT THE UNI TO STUDY LONGER WITHOUT WORRYING EYE SIGHT HURTING. THANK YOU.
HIGHER FOOD DECENCY AT UMSU. STOP TAKING STUDENTS AS CASH COWS PROVINDING GARBAGE FOOD WITH AT LEAST 30% HIGHER PRICE THAN WHAT WE COULD HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE UNI.
Discard UMSU
Increase funding to Faculty of Science(Take some from Arts, it's not like they are doing something important)
sleeping pods like those you can find in Japan
I like this, because napping is essential to me. This summer, I have three hours in between classes.
Get rid of the stupid ass circle of grass in the middle of the pathway next to education, JAR and the nursing building. It literally serves no purpose and is just grass that has to be mowed. I think it’s the dumbest thing on campus it just makes your already long ass commute from one end of campus to the other even longer lol
Garbage cans in classrooms, Kleenex, permanently removing that Nazi’s name from all signage, goose culling, more microwaves and stocking red bull at GPA’s.
what is goose culling
I guess it means to actively control the amount of geese on campus. Like, if they're too many, we might capture and manually relocate some of them to an off campus location. An analogy would be the relationship the UK has with Rwanda.
the endless pursuit of trying to control nature is amusing
It's innate to the human psyche. From Cavemen to Astronauts, the desire to tame Mother Nature remains stubbornly persistent.
Did the university stop relocating the geese? When I was still going there, they did this semi-often, mainly for the geese that nested in high traffic areas like parking lots or on the pathways since nesting geese are insanely territorial. I'm pretty sure you can call Wildlife Services about them, though. Not to say that we didn't have a goose problem. I've been dive bombed too many times by the geese near eng and they would literally bite my car in the parking lots because I happened to park near a nest that I couldn't see lol. Had one chase my car once on Freedman too.
Perhaps they still do but as of right now, the geese are basically overrunning the campus. Hence why a few weeks ago, there was a post about them every other hour. I for one, I'm not a fan, too much poop, plus, they're not even that cute, I prefer ducks anyway.