Frequently asked questions

Welcome Week FAQs:

Virtual Welcome Week and Frost Week is the first week of the academic term in September and January and consists of virtual events, activities, and programs to orient new students to Brock and university life as well as make them feel welcome and excited to begin their Brock experience.

Yes, classes start on January 11, 2021.

Yes! All events are posted on ExperienceBU. You will need to log in to ExperienceBU in order to register/RSVP for any events taking place. Where applicable, additional details will be provided in the event description. Please note that event organizers will connect with you through your student email with additional event details/links to access.

Connect with your Peer Mentor, through your Engagement Community. Engagement Communities bring together incoming students from the same Faculty, similar academic programs, and personal interests and connect incoming students to a Peer Mentor. You can find your Engagement Community on Microsoft Teams after January 8, 2021. You may also email orientation@brocku.ca.

There will be no in-person gatherings or socials, due to COVID-19 and ensuring the health and well-being of our campus community and students. These events are not permitted.

Through orientation, you will have opportunities to virtually build connections and explore new ways of learning. By participating in programming, you’ll also get to connect with other incoming students, upper-year students, faculty and staff, and learn about the resources and supports available to support your success.

Definitely! Orientation programming is open to all Brock students

For sure! Orientation programming is open to all Brock students.

Of course! Orientation programming is open to all Brock students.

Yes! Brock students of any year are welcome to participate in programming.

For sure! Brock International Services has an international orientation in December and January. Check their website for up to date details.

No! Events are free!

No! The week takes a lot of planning, and only confirmed events are added to the schedule. There is still a lot to be added between now and January! Be sure to check back to see all the new events that are getting added.

As Frost Week is going to be virtual, please remember that conduct online during Brock events can lead to issues that will be addressed should they cause harm to others, the University, or the community at large. We are aiming to make this one of the best times of your Brock experience and to ensure this, we want to ensure everyone is treated with respect, dignity and is safe at all times. We ask that throughout the week and beyond you adhere to the rights and responsibilities afforded under the Student Code of Conduct.

Beyond the basic principles within the Code, Frost Week is a fun event where people of different races, religions, cultures, belief systems, sexual orientations and walks of life come together as the Brock Community. With this said, we ask that you be mindful of certain sensitivities and appropriateness of what you wear and how you address others in the virtual environment and when meeting others in person.

Start of School FAQs:

brocku.ca/bu4u – BU4U is your one-stop shop for any questions you may have about any aspect of your Brock experience.

It is a compilation of resources, information and support to make sure you have a comfortable transition to university life and make the most of your time at Brock!

Sakai is the online hub for everything class-related. Professors post announcements, syllabi, readings, and lecture notes (sometimes) on Sakai. Students can also submit assignments on the online drop box.

  • To log into Sakai, go to lms.brocku.ca
  • Click on “Brock Login” on the top right corner
  • Enter your Brock email and password
  • Once you are logged in, go to “Sites” and see all your courses’ pages

It is not necessary to have a Brock Card to begin online classes. Click here for more information.

The Campus Store releases a list of books and their corresponding course codes and prices before class starts. You can even order your books online before the semester even starts.

To find out how much your tuition is, log into my.brocku.ca and click on “Student Financial History” on the Applicant and Student Self-Serve Page

If you are a domestic student, you can pay your tuition and fees:

  • On online banking
  • Over the phone
  • At an ATM
  • In person at any Canadian bank or credit union
  • By cashing in Aeroplan HigherEd points
  • By cheque
  • If you are an international student, you can pay your tuition and fees through Western Union Global Pay bank to bank wire transfer.

Be aware of how many days it takes to process different types of payments. Student Awards and Financial Aid does not accept cash or credit card.

To buy and/or download programs, set up your technology, fix any technology problems or answer any technology-related questions please visit the ITS website.

Common Questions & Concerns:

Online Learning

BU101 is a free academic skills program to build your technology, scheduling, notetaking, and study skills. This program will help you learn about online tools and will outline strategies for success. A-Z Learning Services is a space where you can find ongoing workshops, as well as individual mentorship and tutoring for skills development. Every instructor will provide students with the best way to ask questions, either via email or through a Sakai tool. If you are unsure how to ask the right questions, the folks at A-Z Learning can provide tips for how to reach out.

You may want to take part in the free BU101 program. It is a free academic skills program to build your familiarity with technology and your online learning skills. This will help you find the tools and strategies for success online this fall. Also, A-Z Learning Services has lots of resources associated with online learning.

If your course uses the MS Teams platform, you will be able to turn on captioning at any time. Also, most videos uploaded to Sakai will automatically have a transcript produced for them.

Student Accessibility Services are available to support students with accessibility needs, and you can reach out to them with your specific questions.

Be as prepared as you can in case of internet or connectivity issues. Find the call-in phone number in advance, and make sure your computer and/or devices are charged. However, everyone struggles with a bad connection from time to time (including professors!) While we do suggest you let your professor know in advance that you are concerned, professors have designed their online courses so that occasional technology glitches can be accommodated.

If you don’t have a quiet place, with a door you can close, it can be difficult to avoid distractions.

We suggest you let your professor know this may impact how you engage in class, as they may have some suggestions. For example, you may consider getting headphones, creating boundaries with those you live with, or you might learn that certain times of the day work best for you in terms of concentration.

If a course is listed as synchronous, we recommend you communicate with your professor to find out how the time difference may be accommodated. Many courses are asynchronous, which means the time difference should not be a problem.

As always, the team in Student Accessibility Services is available to support students. Please visit their website for more information and to contact a Case Manager.

Getting Involved / Meeting People

This process is going to be different this year, but we have some ideas. You can start with your Peer Mentor and your Engagement Community, which is made up of students in similar academic programs. Your mentor will host weekly virtual meetups, a chat room, and will be there to support you through the first 6 weeks. From here, you can connect to a BUSU club, you can keep an eye on ExperienceBU for events that pique your interest, and you can find out if your program has its own student society.

Yes! We want this for you, too. ExperienceBU is our online portal for getting involved. Departments and clubs from across campus post events and opportunities to get involved here. Many Brock University Student Union Clubs have gone virtual and are always happy to have new members.

Follow Brock Student Life on social media @brockusls for updates and ways to connect and network.

Health & Mental Health

Brock is taking all precautions as outlined by Niagara Public Health. Some of these initiatives are described below.

Non-medical masks alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says that wearing a non-medical mask or face covering while out in public is recommended for periods of time when it’s not possible to consistently maintain a 2-metre physical distance from others, particularly in crowded public settings.

On July 23, 2020, as part of their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, Niagara Regional Council approved a by-law making it mandatory to wear a face covering or non-medical mask in enclosed public places within the Niagara Region.

Wearing a non-medical mask (for example a homemade cloth mask) in the community has not been proven to protect the person wearing it. Strict hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical (social) distancing, will reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus.

However, wearing a non-medical mask is an additional measure you can take to protect others around you. It is another way to cover your mouth and nose to prevent respiratory droplets from contaminating others or landing on surfaces. Similar to the recommendation not to cough into your hands (instead, cover your cough with tissues or your sleeve) a mask can reduce the chance that others are coming into contact with your respiratory droplets.

It is important to understand that non-medical masks have limitations and need to be used safely. When wearing a non-medical mask:

  • You must wash your hands immediately before putting it on and immediately after taking it off (in addition to practicing good hand hygiene while wearing it);
  • It should fit well (non-gaping);
  • You should not share it with others.

Non-medical masks can become contaminated on the outside or when touched by your hands. When wearing a mask, take the following precautions to protect yourself:

  • Avoid touching your face mask while using it.
  • Change a cloth mask as soon as it gets damp or soiled.
  • Cloth masks can be laundered with other items using a hot cycle and then dried thoroughly. Put them directly into the washing machine or a bag that can be emptied into the washing machine and then disposed of.
  • Non-medical masks that cannot be washed should be discarded and replaced as soon as they get damp, soiled or crumpled. Dispose of masks properly in a lined garbage bin. Don’t leave discarded masks in shopping carts, on the ground, etc.

Non-medical masks alone will not prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must consistently and strictly adhere to good hygiene and public health measures, including frequent hand washing and physical distancing.

Visit Student Wellness for resources online. For urgent 24/7 counselling or to book a phone appointment just call 1-833-276-2533 (1-833-BROCK33) or 011 416 382 3257 if outside of North America.

Also, many of the events you can access through Experience BU are dedicated to nurturing the whole student and to help you find balance.

Brock News sends out regular updates as soon as there is news to communicate.

You can visit Student Wellness for full details of resources available.

FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING:

Students can make telephone counselling appointments 24/7 by calling 1-833-276-2533 (1-833-BROCK33).

Brock students who are outside of North America can call 011 416 382 3257 for  telephone support available 24/7, every day of the year.

For same-day urgent support, students can email: counselling@brocku.ca

GROUP COUNSELLING & WORKSHOPS:

We offer a variety of groups and workshops on an ongoing basis. For up-to-date information regarding workshops and groups or to register, please visit ExperienceBU.

Finances

Apply to hundreds of awards and bursaries at once with Brock University’s OneApp.

Employers looking to hire Brock students for part-time and seasonal jobs, including jobs on campus, will post positions in CareerZone.

Still Have Questions?

Connect with Brock Student Life and Success:

On social media @BrockUSLS
brocku.ca/student-life-success
Email us at studentlife@brocku.ca