Academic Support promotes students’ self-advocacy skills when facing academic issues.

Rhiema Shuster is one of two coordinators with the Academic Support program with the Student Association (SA).

Their goal is to help students interpret policies related to their own interests and rights fairly. The program takes a student-centered approach, where students are empowered to represent themselves academically.

Staff members provide students with resources related to college policies, academic rights and responsibilities, self-advocacy skills, and immediate resolutions. Support for overcoming language or other barriers is also available.

Academic Support aims to help students solve their issues at an immediate level.

The most common academic issues brought up by George Brown College (GBC) students are unfair grades, not being able to attend exams because of sicknesses, and not having documents ready in time for the Ontario Student Assistant Program (OSAP).

For issues that are outside the program’s service scope, they can connect students to other resources available within the college.

The service receives hundreds of inquiries through phone calls or emails each week on average, with the number of students reaching out for assistance increasing towards the end of each semester.

Over the past year, about 150 students received help from the Academic Support program.

Shuster advises students to find comfort in available resources to support them in college and community.

“The Academic Support program is here to see students succeed.”

They understand that it could be hard for students to reach out for help, so they stress that the services provided are non-judgmental and respectful.

Hearing student’s voices is also key to the service provided.

Academic Support staff help students look for accessible options and understand how they can protect their academic rights.

If you have any questions, submit an online contact form, call them at 416-415-5000 ext. 6377, or send an email to academicsupport@sagbc.ca.