Student Success

Saint Mary's Clean Catch Baits wins the Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge

Left: Robel Berhane, Chief Financial Officer: Top right: Katherine vanZutphen, Operations Manager; Bottom right: Guillermo Villarreal De Lara, President & CEO

Left: Robel Berhane, Chief Financial Officer: Top right: Katherine vanZutphen, Operations Manager; Bottom right: Guillermo Villarreal De Lara, President & CEO

Clean Catch Baits, a company that creates biodegradable fishing lures, is the winner of the inaugural Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge. 

Based out of Saint Mary’s University, Clean Catch Baits decided to address the challenge of microplastics in fishing gear. Their winning solution to this problem is a 100% biodegradable, PVC-free soft-bait fishing lure for recreational fishing, developed through a unique organic biopolymer solution. The people behind the idea and the company are Robel Berhane, Chief Financial Officer and a 4th year undergraduate student in Commerce; Guillermo Villarreal De Lara BComm’20, President & CEO; and Katherine vanZutphen BComm’20, Operations Manager.

“We are very happy to be the inaugural AquaHacking Challenge winners here in the Atlantic region,” says Guillermo Villarreal, CEO, Clean Catch Baits. “With this prize, we can expand the scope of our business and bring this solution into the hands of anglers across Atlantic Canada.”

The Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge is a start-up competition designed to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to water. Through the Challenge, they then develop their solution into commercially viable products or services and establish start-up companies.

The following is a list of the five finalists, their rewards, and placements:

  • 1st = Clean Catch Baits - $20,000

  • 2nd = Well Warriors - $15,000

  • 3rd = WIDE - $10,000

  • 4th = ExTech MIP - $2,500

  • 5th = What the Well $2,500

The teams can also match funds through the Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur program thanks to a national partnership between Mitacs Canada and Aqua Forum.

“Congratulations to all the organizers, sponsors and above all the finalists in the 2020 Atlantic Canada AquaHacking Challenge!” says Désirée McGraw, President & CEO of Aqua Forum. “I salute your ingenuity and for your commitment to a better future by solving wicked water problems. I am particularly pleased that, for the first time in the history of AquaHacking Challenges, a solution addressing the critical issue of microplastics wins. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you and all the finalist teams. Thank you again for your dedication and for your participation.”

The AquaHacking Challenge is an initiative of Aqua Forum founded by the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation in 2015 to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to freshwater. After five successful years in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, AquaHacking went national for 2020 with regional competitions across Canada.

The Atlantic Canada 2020 AquaHacking Challenge is powered by the RBC Foundation, with support from the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation along with other national and local sponsors.

For more information on the competition, the companies and their solutions, visit:  https://aquahacking.com/en/2020-atlanticcanada/.

SMU researcher to look at impact of COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes

Dr. Cheryl MacDonald

Dr. Cheryl MacDonald

Atlantic University Sport (AUS) student-athletes have found themselves in an unusual predicament since the cancellation of national championships last season and the current sporting season being on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many classes have moved online and there are no current decisions regarding the status of AUS schedules in 2021.

After having conducted previous research with this demographic, Dr. Cheryl MacDonald of the Centre for the Study of Sport & Health at Saint Mary’s University has shifted her focus to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the everyday lives of AUS student-athletes. Participants between their second and fifth year of sport eligibility will be asked to complete an online survey and photo sharing exercise aimed at examining how their activities, relationships, and mental health may have been affected since March of this year.

“From both an academic and administrative perspective, it’s important to hear from the student-athletes themselves about how they are doing with the changes they have experienced,” said Dr. MacDonald. “We have an opportunity here to document their experiences and perhaps use that information to determine how to better support them right now, in the transition back to sport participation, and maybe beyond that.”

Dr. MacDonald is a sport sociologist who is best known for her research on masculinity and ice hockey, but university-level athletes have been participants in her studies since 2009. Her work has been published in the Sociology of Sport Journal, she has a forthcoming anthology on social issues in ice hockey, and she has twice been a media panellist for the Hockey is for Everyone initiative on behalf of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers. When the COVID-19 pandemic halted her most recent study on gender and sexuality education in ice hockey, she used the pause as an opportunity to change directions and find a way to serve the athletes with whom she was already working.

This survey and photo sharing project on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on AUS student-athletes’ lives will require between 30 and 90 minutes to complete because it involves some short answer questions and will thus depend on how participants respond. We have removed the collection of IP addresses in an attempt to anonymize responses and participants are cautioned to not include any names of people or places, to block out any university or team logos using emojis or other digital shapes, and to avoid sharing any criminal content (obscenity, illegal substances, etc.).

Click here to take the survey in either English or French.

MA graduate Grace McNutt finds the perfect hobby for a funny historian

Grace McNutt

Grace McNutt

Finishing a graduate degree is a monumental task, one that requires dedication, perseverance, and the internal motivation to complete a self-directed thesis.

While working on her Master of Arts thesis, recent graduate Grace McNutt also found time for a side project, a history podcast which allows her to share her passion for Canadian history.

The arrangement happened by chance, when Grace’s friend and co-host Linnea Swinimer, who she met at the Halifax Curling Club, recommended her as “a funny person who likes history” to Halifax podcast producer Marc Boudreau at BNV Media. Grace took that offhand mention and ran with it, writing a successful proposal for a funny Canadian podcast— with a twist.

“This is my moment, this is my opportunity to do a hobby I’d love,” Grace said with a laugh. “I love podcasts and I love history podcasts.”

Grace’s take on Canadian history is unique; she uses iconic Canadian Heritage Minute ads as a launching point to dig deeper into interesting historical figures and topics.

“The most transcendental piece of Canadian history, that everyone from history buffs to history newbs knows about, are Canadian Heritage Minutes,” said Grace.

 “When you only have a minute to talk about a topic, what crazy stories do you have to leave out of Canadian history? We expand that minute to an hour-long story – what else is there about this person?”

The weekly podcast, with 30 episodes and counting, is called MinuteWomen. It uncovers the “funny, weird, and terrifying stories left out of Canada’s national history. Recent episodes on Nova Scotian activist Viola Desmond, basketball inventor James Naismith, Laura Secord (the hero, not the chocolate shop!), and the dark underworld of maple syrup are illuminating, clever, and funny.

Grace, co-host and resident historian, says “Linnea is my guinea pig audience, who I force to listen to things I find interesting. It’s such a fun hobby, it has kept me so engaged during the pandemic.”

 Her thesis, which she completed under the supervision of advisor Dr. Peter Twohig, explores the development of the Indian Affairs Department in Nova Scotia, the treatment of the Mi’kmaq and indigenous people of Nova Scotia, and compares their experience with the experience of indigenous peoples in the rest of Canada.   

After completing her Bachelor of Arts Honours in History at Cape Breton University, Grace followed in her parents’ footsteps to pursue a Master of Arts in Atlantic Canadian Studies at Saint Mary’s; her parents graduated with the same degrees in the 1990s. She’s now investigating PhD programs in Nova Scotia and Ontario where she can further pursue her Master’s thesis topic, after taking a well-deserved gap year.

Patrick Power Library gets bookable

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Starting next week, the Library is open for bookings for individual study space- including computer terminals, tables, carrels and study rooms- from 2-5pm, Monday-Friday. Local students can book space at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/PatrickPowerLibrary1@smuhalifax.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

The Paging Service continues, in which members of the Saint Mary’s community (students, faculty and staff) can put a hold on a book through the online catalogue, and make an appointment for curbside pick-up. Pick-up appointments are available between 12-5 pm, Monday to Friday.

The University Archives is also open for appointments only. Appointments are limited to 2 hours and are available between 10 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, based on staff availability. Material to be viewed must be requested in advance, so library staff can retrieve the items. A minimum of 24 hours of notice is required for appointments.

At this time, appointments are limited to faculty, staff, and students of Saint Mary’s University.

On-site Archives staff may be able to provide remote research/reference services and limited scanning of certain materials; contact hansel.cook@smu.ca for details.

New To SMU virtual events are a success!

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This years’ New To SMU events have operated differently than they have in the past. With virtual events, Student Affairs & Services and SMUSA were able to provide students with more than two solid weeks of activities. New To SMU started in July and will continue until the end of September. Turnout has been steady throughout and students have been engaging with facilitators and building relationships with their peers.

“To make the New To SMU engaging and successful virtually, we had to create a new approach,” says Lyndsay Anderson, Chair of the Welcome Activities Planning Group. “We thought about what the main goals were to benefit the students and came up with new online activities that would still meet those goals.”

The Santamarian ceremony was especially successful as a virtual event. On Zoom, new students were wearing their Saint Mary’s colours and added a campus background to their screens. Each student was asked to virtually sign the university registry which will be added to the physical book at a later date. As their official welcome into Saint Mary’s, to operate this event online was very important to the students.

Another ongoing event that has received a lot of great feedback is the Trivia events. Students are able to engage with each other on a social level to create those important peer relationships.

A new program for new students this year is the peer coach program. This program provides each student with a peer coach who they can have direct contact with if they have any questions or concerns. Students are facing new challenges by entering into a virtual university, and the peer coach program provides students with the support they need.

New To SMU events are still taking place and students are encouraged to check out the schedule at www.smu.ca/NewToSMU.

If you have any questions, please email welcome@smu.ca.

Summer research projects enhance education for Arts students

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One of the many benefits of attending an institution such as Saint Mary’s is the research opportunities afforded to undergraduate students. This summer, five students from various departments in the Faculty of Arts were able to gain skills, knowledge and experience in their chosen fields of study – two will even end the summer with publications in their name.

Yingjun Chen, a fourth-year Honours French student, jumped at the chance to work with Dr. Rohini Bannerjee translating “Coupeuses d’azur,” a feature poem by Mauritian artist Khal Torabully, from French to English. “I’m finding it really enjoyable, because I’m doing something I love,” says Chen. She’s discovering many intricacies involved in translation, including appreciating the challenges of word choice, and whether to keep a rhyme or focus on the meaning. The goal is to send the 35-page poem to a publisher and use this experience as the basis for her Honours thesis. 

Fourth-year Honours Psychology student Le Khoi Anh Pham spent his summer conducting research alongside Dr. Nicolas Roulin and two graduate students, on asynchronous virtual interviews and cross-cultural personnel selection. “Contributing ideas to the research gave me confidence and insight into what post-graduate-level research and academic work are like.” He will be named as a third author in an upcoming article using the research, and has already been hired to complete another project with Dr. Roulin.

Bethany Leal just finished her first year of university, but that didn’t stop her from applying to work with Dr. Alexandra Dobrowolsky on a project critically examining Canada’s image of being a diverse, multicultural, welcoming nation. The project began with the Trudeau blackface scandal but expanded from there, considering this summer’s events. “Learning and self-reflection is a lifelong journey,” says Leal. “It can’t really be condensed into one summer or one research project, but it really helps to have had this opportunity.” This experience helped to solidify her future goals. Now majoring in Political Science, she hopes to specialize in systemic reform and holding governments to account – especially around issues of race and culture.

Fifth-year IDS and Political Science student Katheryn Lewis has been busy this summer on projects, also with Dr. Dobrowolsky. She is helping round out research on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program, legislative responses to COVID-19 among the provinces, territories and national government overall, and feminist governance with regards to COVID-19, comparing and contrasting feminist institutions in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Minoring in Film Studies, third-year student Andrés Guardia is researching Nova Scotia film director Margaret Perry, with Dr. Jennifer VanderBurgh. He has been working to create a more in-depth picture of Perry’s life and work – to show she is an auteur, not simply a director of industrial (tourism) films. “Now that I have watched them, I am really seeing the artistic elements to the films and Ms. Perry’s authorship. It’s very powerful and, as art, I can appreciate it,” says Guardia of the unexpected outcome of his work. He wants to create music once he finishes his degree – and this experience has given him a good base and understanding of the principles to apply to his own creations.

The robust research experience gained by all five students this summer has already greatly impacted their future careers and aspirations, thanks to funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). These examples of undergraduate involvement in hands-on learning showcase the benefits and power of putting the motto “do what you do” into practice.

Keeping students informed: Getting ready for fall

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As we prepare for September, and with classes being delivered remotely and online, the university is being proactive in connecting with students to make sure they have the information they need to have a successful fall term.

With a vast amount of information to share, Saint Mary’s is making strategic use of email, web, and social media to share important information in a timely and coordinated way.

The university has developed a schedule of communications that reflects input from across the campus, to ensure the frequency and flow of information is timely, relevant and helpful to students as they get ready to being a new term.

Below are examples of upcoming fall 2020 communications:

EMAIL

Getting Ready for Fall Email Series Sent to all undergraduate and graduate students

Each week leading up to September students will receive an email to assist them with their preparation for fall. Topics will include:

·      Student finances- view the email here
·      Tips for studying online, using technology & student success
·      Information for on & off-campus living
·      Travel, self-isolation & quarantine
·      Health, safety & hygiene
·      Mental health & wellness

Faculty & Academic Advising Emails Sent to all undergraduate students 

Students have been receiving email outreach from their Academic Advising office over the summer. These emails will continue throughout the academic year and help students understand their academic requirements, identify areas of academic support and assistance and help students build connections within their program.

For graduate students, staff and faculty from each program will contact students to provide program specific information related to virtual operations and course delivery.

New to SMU Sent to new students beginning their studies in fall 2020

Our newest Santamarians will receive information about events, workshops, webinars and resources to help them feel apart of the Saint Mary’s community, make new friends, and have a successful start to their academic journey.

New students will receive outreach from the New to SMU welcome team, their Peer-coaches and other departments such as Housing and Residence, International Student Centre, and Academic Advisors. The university will also share information about safety, hygiene, preparation for fall and the university’s COVID-19 response.

On-campus Housing Sent to all students living on-campus during fall 2020

Any student living on-campus this fall, will receive an email from the Housing and Residence office providing information on:

·      Move-in dates and procedures
·      Self-isolation (if required)
·      Services and supports for students living on-campus
·      University cleaning and hygiene practices
·      Residence Life community building opportunities and experiences

International student information Sent to international students registered in fall 2020

International students will receive information from both the university and the International Student Centre related to:

  • Study permits for online study

  • Government regulations and laws for travelling to Canada

  • Self-isolation in Canada/Nova Scotia

  • Airport pick-up program

  • Services and supports offered to international students

SOCIAL MEDIA

The university will share information through its social media channels to amplify and reach the greatest number of people. The use of social media will help deliver information to internal and external audiences such as parents and student supporters.

By following university social media accounts, you will receive real time updates for everything that’s happening at Saint Mary’s. It is recommended that students follow these social media channels:

Your Faculty:

WEB

There are a number of ways our website can be helpful to students.

Virtual University smu.ca/virtualuniversity

A web environment has been created to provide information about the university’s transition to virtual learning for fall 2020. This site will provide information about virtual operations as well as the university’s response and protocols related to COVID-19.

smu.ca

The university website provides a wealth of information related to all aspect of being a student at Saint Mary’s.

Students can use the Search Tool to type key words, and find relevant webpages. Another web feature are the links at the top of the homepage to help users access the content they are looking for.

On the smu.ca homepage students can use the quick access bar to:

  • Login to SMUport, Brightspace and Self-Service Banner

  • Use the People Finder tool to search for professor, staff and departmental contact information

Events and university news are also posted on the smu.ca homepage. In the event of a university closure or disruption due to weather or emergency, a notification bar will appear on the smu.ca homepage. 

Have a communications question or issue?

If you are having issues receiving or accessing student communications please contact our student communications officer.

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Library expands access to books and other physical materials

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The Library’s been busy working to safely expand our services!

If you need books and other physical material, you can now place a hold on SMU or other Novanet materials through our Novanet Catalogue. You can choose to pick up the material at SMU, or select a participating Novanet Library.

Need assistance finding books or other material, or placing holds? Contact us at research@smu.ca

Pick-up times at SMU are:

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am- 2 pm

Fridays 10 am- 5 pm

Need materials from libraries beyond Novanet? Contact ill@smu.ca for more information.

Laptop Lending

The Library has a limited number of laptops for lending to local students in need. Students can place a hold here. Pick up is onsite.

Saint Mary’s University invests in online learning

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Saint Mary's University is investing strategically to create an exceptional online learning environment for Fall 2020.  

Saint Mary's is providing $300,000 in additional funds for its Studio for Teaching and Learning to create more supports for faculty, students, and staff. These include a new program for students, Jump Start, the addition of staff to the Digital Learning Team to support faculty in their online instruction, and new Digital Teaching Assistants to support the university's existing teaching assistants transition to a virtual environment.

The university has also introduced a Peer Coaching program. Now every new student is paired with a student-coach who they can connect with throughout their first year of studies.  

"We are very fortunate that the Studio for Teaching and Learning has proven expertise in curricular innovation, accessibility and digital tools for learning," said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "Over two decades, The Studio has developed an ecosystem for teaching and learning. Now we will adapt the technology and expertise to excel in this new virtual world." 

Professors have been working with specialists in digital learning and digital teaching assistants since March to adapt courses and teaching strategies. This work is continuing through the summer to ensure that the more than 1000 courses in Arts, Science and Business and graduate and professional degrees are designed to offer exceptional online academic experiences for Fall 2020.  

"I want to reassure students and parents that Saint Mary's is committed to providing an engaging, high-quality, and meaningful academic experience, whether students are studying in Bangladesh or Bras d'Or," said President Summerby-Murray. 

"We are actively working now and throughout the summer to make sure that faculty are ready for remote teaching,  and that all the necessary academic support services, co-curricular activities and community-building opportunities are available to students who will be studying online," said Dr. Esther E. Enns, Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning.   

"We have seen a strong interest in our online summer workshops in Jump Start," said Enns. "This as an encouraging sign that the activities and supports are resonating with students, and we will continue to provide and expand these offerings into the fall."  

The Jump Start program is available to all incoming and returning Saint Mary's students free of charge. It is a five-day program delivered in a virtual, online environment, matching university academic life and learning. The five days are split between two modules: How to be an Online Student and Summer Writing Workshop. Students learn by doing, participating, and meeting and making new friends. They will develop new academic skills while building on those they already have. 

Among the activities covered are:  

  • practising the steps required to plan and write a variety of undergraduate assignments; 

  • experiencing an online classroom lecture with a professor;

  • opportunities to meet other students;

  • learning about SMU’s academic and technology supports; 

  • meeting and working with professional academic writing tutors; and 

  • a roundtable discussion with SMU professors. 

More information about support for students and their online learning

 

Saint Mary’s students among the finalists of the Atlantic AquaHacking Challenge

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Six Saint Mary's students are among the finalists in a competition taking place across the Atlantic region, committed to solving freshwater issues through technology and entrepreneurship. Congratulations to SMU students Alexandra Embree, Robel Berhane, Kati van Zutphen, Guillermo Villareal de Lara, Matthew Mizzi and Robert Afari for making it to the finals of the Atlantic AquaHacking Challenge!

Source: AquaHacking Challenge Atlantic

Source: AquaHacking Challenge Atlantic

The AquaHacking Challenge brings students, developers, designers, scientists, programmers, engineers, technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs together to form interdisciplinary teams to tackle five different water challenges.   The competition began in February with 117 participants, and now only 22 remain across the five finalist teams.

Here is a list of the teams in the final and their solution:

  • Clean Catch Baits

    Water Issue: Microplastics from Fishing Gear
    Team members: Robel Berhane, Kati van Zutphen and Guillermo Villareal De Lara

    How they describe their solution:
    We are the first to manufacture a 100% biodegradable, PVC Free, soft-bait fishing lure used for recreational fishing, developed through a unique organic biopolymer solution. Our baits biodegradation process starts just after 48 hours of submersion in the water, and best of all - they're edible! This technology allows anglers to fish worry free and contributes to the safety of fish, and all aquatic life.

  • ExTech MIP

    Water Issue: Private Well Safety
    Team members: Aliasghar Golbabanezhadazizi and Fereshteh Shahhoseini

    How they describe their solution: We’re introducing a novel technology and devices for testing organic contaminants in water resources. This technology offers a reliable, fast, portable, and convenient measurement of organic contaminants in water resources. Our solution provides an easy method for onsite sampling of well water or any other freshwater resources using a field deployable and inexpensive device. Well-owners can easily perform the sampling and send this device by regular mail to the lab where instrumental analysis provides appropriate data for safety of the water resources.

  • Water Innovators

    Water Issue: Treatment of Drinking Water in Rural and Indigenous Communities
    Team members: Rachel Hudson, Nathan McNally, Grace McNally, Waseem Jawad, Sochima Nnama, Patrick Palmer, Lauren Martin, Ben Veysey and Mudiwa Mharapara

    How they describe their solution: Our solution is a containerized distillation water treatment system that integrates off-the-shelf, existing technologies, to provide high quality trusted water to small rural and Indigenous communities in an accessible, sustainable, and culturally appropriate way.

  • Well Warriors

    Water Issue: Private Well Safety
    Team members: Alexandra Embree, Jonathan Kan, Adam Fleiger and Liam Hartery

    How the describe their solution: Clarify is a user-friendly, web-based platform that educates, guides, and facilitates the process of treating well water. This will allow well water users to simply test and interpret their water quality. With Clarify, we strive to improve well water quality for all Atlantic Canadians.

  • What the Well

    Water Issue: Private Well Safety
    Team members: Leili Abkar, Matthew Mizzi, Robert Afari and Anita Taylor

    How they describe their solution: We are proposing a service to help bring convenient testing to private well owners. Our solution will streamline the water analysis process using test kits and cloud analysis to reduce known barriers and increase well testing. SIP will provide instant water analysis and treatment consultation.

As the challenge has moved to phase 2, the teams will receive a $2,000 bursary courtesy of Canada's Ocean Supercluster. These funds will be used to invest in their solution, participate in a virtual retreat on water leadership and innovation, and continue to work with mentors as they refine their solutions in preparation for the Final on September 18, 2020.

The AquaHacking Challenge is an initiative of Aqua Forum founded by the de Gaspe Beaubien Foundation in 2015 to support technology and business development addressing environmental problems related to freshwater. After five successful years in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, AquaHacking went national for 2020 with regional competitions across Canada.

Saint Mary’s applauds and welcomes support for students

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Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray said the announcement today, April 22, by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will help students throughout the country.  

“We know students were worried about their personal finances and their family's finances,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “Today, Prime Minister Trudeau provided those worried families support and hope.” 

The federal government’s new programs will provide support for students over the summer months and will increase support for students as they return to study this fall. 

“The best way to have a stronger economy in the future is to invest in students today,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “This is an unprecedented investment in students and our sector. This investment will help students this fall, and it will help our economy grow and be more resilient to future shocks.” 

Dr. Summerby-Murray said all levels of government have worked hard to create new supports at record speed while being responsive to the sector and other stakeholders. 

“This crisis is testing our institutions, and they are proving they are up to the challenge,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray.  

He noted Saint Mary’s University has worked with alumni, staff and faculty donors to provide short-term emergency support to its students who need it most, provided PPE to frontline health workers, engaged in rapid response research funded by the federal government, and is providing free mentoring to businesses throughout the region.  

“All sectors of our society are standing together as we combat the pandemic, and we remain committed to being active partners in the fight.”  

Saint Mary’s calling on its alumni and friends to support emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19

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The Saint Mary’s community is coming together in support of emergency funding for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. 

“Our students need our support more than ever,” said Saint Mary’s University President Robert Summerby-Murray. “It is imperative that we join together and help our students during this unprecedented time.”

The goal of the Emergency Student Bursary Fund is to help students with unexpected and urgent expenses in extenuating circumstances. Related to COVID-19, the fund will provide short-term and long-term support for students and cover the basics such as rent, bills, groceries, and other necessities.

Many Saint Mary’s students were employed in the industries hardest hit by COVID-19 closures including hospitality, tourism, and retail. This has resulted in significant job loss and an urgent need for student financial assistance.

“Every day, we are receiving new applications for financial aid from students who are in challenging situations and we are responding as quickly as we can to meet their  needs,” said Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice President, Advancement.

The Emergency Student Bursary Fund provides resources to help students complete their studies and finish the academic term.

“The funds will help alleviate financial pressure and keep our students on track towards graduation,” said President Summerby-Murray. “The fund represents our commitment to our students and reminds them that we are always here for them. We are in this together.”

If you are interested in supporting Saint Mary’s University students, please visit our online giving page for the Student Emergency Bursary Fund to make a gift.

To learn more about Saint Mary’s response to COVID-19 please visit: https://smu.ca/virtualuniversity/covidupdates.html