Students at St. Mary’s University have a confidential student record containing financial and academic information.
If there is a change in pertinent information, such as name, address or telephone number, a student must submit a Change of Information form. St. Mary’s University is not responsible for failing to contact a student if that student has neglected to inform the University of a change of information.
St. Mary’s University is subject to the provisions of the Personal Information Privacy Act (Alberta). No personal information about a student may be given to any organization or person, including a parent or spouse, without the student’s written authorization.
Student Access to Information
Students can access their up-to-date financial and academic information through their secure access to My.StMU. If students choose to access information at the Enrolment Services Office, a student identification card will be required to access this information. Students who wish to view their student file may submit an Information Release Form to the Enrolment Services Office. Twenty-four hours’ notice will be required and nothing may be removed from the student file upon viewing.
Access to a student’s record will be given in the presence of the Registrar or designate and the student may request corrections to any part of the record believed to be incorrect. Correction requests will be handled in accordance with the provisions of the Personal Information Privacy Act.
Student identification cards bear a picture of the student and confirm that an individual is a current St. Mary’s University student. The photo will also be housed in the St. Mary’s University Student Information System and will be available to faculty members and staff for the purpose of verification of identity.
Selfie photos for student ID cards are submitted by students to IDphoto@stmu.ca. Photos are to have been taken within the last six months, have the student’s face clearly visible to the camera with shoulders showing, and be in colour. Photos may not contain hats or sunglasses, have anyone other than the student in the picture, or have inappropriate expressions. All photos will be printed or rejected at the discretion of the Registrar’s Office.
Issuance of a replacement card will be subject to a replacement fee of $5. If a UPass replacement is required, the applicable UPass fee for that term will also apply.
The student identification card is required to borrow books from the St. Mary’s University library and to borrow materials from the University of Calgary, Ambrose University and Bow Valley College libraries. University staff and faculty also have the right to ask to see the student identification card of anyone on campus, particularly for the purpose of issuing cheques and documentation, or for writing an examination.
Student Services offers a new student orientation at the beginning of each fall and winter term. The purpose of orientation is to familiarize students with the campus and to give them the opportunity to meet peers and faculty and participate in information sessions to support their transition to post-secondary studies.
In the earliest medieval liberal arts universities, students had influence over the governance and programs of the university. Continuing in this tradition, the administration of St. Mary’s University values the input it receives from its students.
All students are automatically members of the Students’ Association of St. Mary’s University, an autonomous body governed by its own constitution and bylaws. Students are invited to become active in the Students’ Association by running for positions on the Students’ Legislative Council (SLC), which represents the student body to the faculty and administration, or by volunteering to help with SLC-sponsored events both on and off-campus. The SLC includes the following positions: President, VP External, VP Internal, VP Events, VP Finance, and three to ten Student Representatives.
The SLC is actively involved in campus life. The President of the SLC serves on the University’s Board of Governors and two representatives sit on the University’s Academic Council. SLC members are invited to attend other committee meetings as required.
In addition to committee work, the SLC is responsible for providing leadership to the student body, facilitating social events, fostering a sense of community among students, and listening to students’ concerns and reflecting them to the University. The SLC is assisted in its endeavours by a faculty liaison appointed by a faculty or staff member.
University clubs may be established by members of the Students’ Association to promote and develop the interests and skills of St. Mary’s University students. Current clubs can be found by clicking here. Contact a member of the SLC in the Students’ Association Building for more information about current clubs or if you wish to establish a new university club.
Course/instructor evaluations are distributed to all students near the end of each term. Students have the opportunity to share their comments through this feedback. Evaluations are strictly confidential and anonymous.
Other student surveys may also be conducted at the University in order to gain information for academic and student services planning purposes.
Students are expected to attend all classes, tutorials and labs for which they are registered. Unexcused absences may result in loss of marks or in additional assignments being required. Unexcused absences may also lead to a penalty on the final grade. If a student has been absent without permission or legitimate cause for more than one-quarter of the classes, an instructor may bar the student from writing the final examination. Faculty members may include specific regulations regarding class attendance in their course syllabus. In cases where a student’s registration in a course has been confirmed (excluding wait list and late registrations), the instructor has the right to drop them from the course list if the student has missed the first three consecutive meetings without prior approval from the instructor.
Because of the incremental nature of knowledge, missed lab sessions may create a hazardous situation. Students who are judged to have missed an unacceptable number of lab sessions in a course will be required to withdraw from that course. In cases involving critical course content, a single missed session may be judged as unacceptable.
Human rights law have defined discrimination as the wrongful exercise of power, authority or control over others, whether intended or not, based on the following grounds: physical and mental disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious beliefs, age, marital status, family status, socioeconomic status or source of income.
St. Mary’s University is committed to a campus free of discrimination and is dedicated to the highest standards of human equality and academic freedom. The University endorses these standards at every level of the institution and in all aspects of student, faculty and staff life while individuals or groups are acting in a capacity defined by their relationship with the University.
Achievement of an environment free of discrimination requires the cooperation and dedication of all members of the University community. Expression of this commitment can take many forms, including participating in healthy debate and discussion, behaving in a manner that recognizes, values and nurtures the diversity of the University community, and offering support to those who are subjected to discrimination. Members of the University community who are aware of acts of discrimination are encouraged to take appropriate steps to stop the discriminatory behaviour.
If you feel your integrity and/or human rights or those of another person have been violated in any way or if you would like information regarding the Campus Integrity and Human Rights Policy and Procedures, please contact Kim Bourque at 403-254-3708 or campusintegrity@stmu.ca.
St. Mary’s University is committed to a safe, healthy, productive work and learning environment that respects the inherent dignity of each member of this scholarly community. Incidents that threaten this environment such as acts of harassment, aggression, hazing, assault (sexual, verbal and physical), bullying, theft or other inappropriate behaviour must be reported to the Director of Student Affairs. Those who violate these regulations may be subject to discipline, academic suspensions, team suspension, reporting to Calgary Police Service and possible expulsion from the University. St. Mary’s University is a scent-free campus.
St. Mary’s University is a non-smoking environment. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in all buildings and allowed only in designated outside locations.
Alcohol may be consumed on the University premises only at licensed events sponsored by the Students’ Association or the University. These events are governed by the Policies and Procedures for the Consumption of Alcohol.
The use of non-medicinal cannabis is strictly prohibited on campus.
People who arrive at the University with alcohol and/or drugs in their possession, under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or selling alcohol and/or drugs will be reported to the Director of Student Affairs. Individuals who violate these regulations may be subject to discipline, academic suspension, team suspension, report to Calgary Police Service and possible expulsion from the University.
St. Mary’s University embraces its moral and legal duty to provide academic accommodation. The University removes barriers and provides opportunities to students with disabilities, enabling them to access University services, programs and facilities, and welcoming them as participating members of the University community.
New students are encouraged to self-identify with the Academic Accommodation Coordinator at the time of admission in order to allow for the arrangement of accommodation. Returning students requesting continued accommodation are required to contact the Academic Accommodation Coordinator before the commencement of each term. Students who become disabled either permanently or temporarily, and students with disabilities whose health status changes significantly during their time at the University, should contact the Academic Accommodation Coordinator as soon as possible.
Requests for academic accommodation will be reviewed by the Academic Accommodation Coordinator and decisions regarding accommodation will be reviewed with each student.
Academic accommodation may include, for example, extended time for examinations, a quiet room for examinations, use of a computer for examinations or access to adaptive technologies. Students will be given an official accommodation letter and form. Any student with a disability applying for student loans must also contact the Academic Accommodations Coordinator to discuss funding options.
Accommodations for all tests and examinations will be arranged between the student and the C.L.A.S.S. Coordinator. All information obtained by the Academic Accommodation Coordinator will be treated as confidential and will be destroyed five years after a student’s last registration.
To be eligible to receive academic accommodation, students must self-identify and provide appropriate documentation of their disability. Documentation acceptable to the University must be obtained from a licensed professional.
Documentation should include test results, a formal diagnosis, a detailed explanation of the functional impact of the disability and recommendations for appropriate accommodation.
Download the Academic Calendar for information on St. Mary’s University’s policies on academic misconduct, plagiarism, cheating, penalties for misconduct, and academic misconduct appeals.