Dear fellow grad students,
Firstly, we at the GSA hope you are doing as well as you can throughout these very uncertain and unsettling times.
As the world collectively responds to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the well-being and success of our students is at the top of our minds. Undoubtedly, our work and home lives have been significantly impacted. We also realize that many of us as students have concerns about our projects, courses, theses, and dissertation studies. We want to assure you though, that your GSA continues to meet with Leadership at McMaster University and various other stakeholders across the country to discuss our needs as graduate students in order to bring tangible solutions. We have discussed with them the financial, emotional and mental implications that we are faced with as graduate students at this time and we are actively working with them on finding solutions for all of us.
During this time it is of the utmost importance that you connect with your supervisors as mush as possible, as they will be a key contact during this time especially as it relates to research expectations throughout this time. For those students who are enrolled in course-based studies and require course/project extensions please connect with your respective program co-ordinator(s).
We also wanted to remind you of some of the additional mental help resources that are available during this difficult time:
– The Student Wellness Centre (all appointments must be booked via telephone)
– EmpowerMe: 1 (844) 741-6389 (for Graduate Students, online or phone life coaching)
– Good2Talk: 1-866-925-5454 (free professional and confidential support for all students in Ontario)
– The GSA Health plan also includes a $100.00 mental health benefit (full details available here).
Keep yourselves and your love ones safe!
And please continue to check our website and the McMaster University Website for current information and developments with respect to COVID-19.
Please feel free to reach out to us at macgsa@mcmaster.ca if you want to discuss these matters further.
Sincerely,
Your GSA