FAQs for TRSM students during COVID-19 home isolation

For your environment, a crucial first step is setting up a space that is conducive for studying. In Creating a Productive Study Space,, external link, opens in new window Thomas Frank discusses how to create your own personalized study space. (Start at 2.31 in the video if you want to jump right into setting up a home space.) Still not sure how you want to set up your at-home study spot? Have a look at a website Frank created, where people across the globe post their study spaces, external link, opens in new window. Oregon State University also has a handy guide of PDF fileElements for a Productive Study Space, external link, opens in new window.

When you need to focus for an extended period, tell your family or roommates. To minimize interruptions, consider putting a “Studying: Do Not Disturb” note on your door (if you have a private space) or next to you (if studying in a common area). To reduce friendly virtual distractions, turn off your phone or let friends and family know that you won’t get back to their messages or calls while you’re studying. As an added bonus, telling people that you are studying creates accountability.

The University of Virginia has also created a tip sheet on Preparing to be a Work-from-Home Student, external link, opens in new window.

“Note to Self” is a writing exercise that encourages you to look closely at course descriptions and learning outcomes and then rewrite them in a way that is meaningful to you. This provides a personalized resource that you write when your interest/motivation is high that you can read when your motivation/interest is low.

Positive self-talk, external link, opens in new window is another rewarding internal motivational strategy. When you lack motivation to do something, it’s helpful to tell yourself positive things to boost optimism. An example of positive self-talk is saying, “I’ve studied really hard and I am going to do the best I can on this exam.” It may seem awkward at first, but once you get used to it, it can be a powerful motivational tool.

A resource from the University of Michigan on finding motivation during strange and uncertain times, external link, opens in new window also has a few more useful tips on keeping you going and this blog post on Study Tips During Quarantine, external link, opens in new window has more helpful strategies.

Focus on understanding core concepts. With accounting, it is crucial to master the basics before progressing to practice problems. Connect core concepts to problem sets so that you understand the theory as well as practice and application.

Focus on understanding what individual formulas are helping you achieve. This breaks down the formula into an understandable format. If you forget the formula in the exam, you can rely on your knowledge and theory of the formula to help guide you.

Practice writing out full budgets/statements that might be on the exam and annotate them with important information. For example, you may note where a number came from or if it was added or subtracted from another line in the statement. Writing these out will help your review process and visualize connections during the exam.

 It may feel tedious, but practice is the best way to learn. And remember: the more familiar you are with content and practice questions, the more time you will have during the exam to work on tough questions and review your answers. 

If you’ve been provided with practice exams, use them as a diagnostic to see where you are at in your studying. Cognitive science tells us that we learn well from our mistakes, so focus on fixing any questions you got wrong. Practice tests also give you a sense of what the real exam will look like.

Then set up a virtual study group. This helps with accountability and provides a community where you can ask each other questions and explain ideas to solidify your learning.

The delivery of online classes may vary. Please check your course syllabus or inquire with your instructor. 

To help you decide which courses to enrol in, you should refer to your program’s Undergraduate Calendar for your program to see what is required next. Pay close attention to prerequisites.

Every time you enrol in a course review your Advisement Report. Your advisement report is like a road map or check box that lets you know what you’ve completed, what you’re enrolled in, and how many courses you have left. Please note for Business Management Students and Accounting and Finance Students: your advisement report will not be fully complete until you declare your major.

Yes. If you have applied to graduate, and have completed your program requirements successfully, you will still graduate and be awarded your degree/certificate. To check your Graduation Status on RAMSS, go to the View my Graduation Status.

After June 1, you will be able to confirm your graduation to employers by requesting a free “Confirmation of Graduate Status” letter on RAMSS, by printing an unofficial transcript from RAMSS, or by using the online Degree Verification service. Details about the printing and distribution of award documents and official transcripts will be forthcoming.

To give students every possible opportunity to succeed, Ryerson, with the unanimous support of deans, is providing undergraduate and Chang School students the following options for winter 2020 courses: maintain your assigned letter grade, which will contribute to their GPA or replace your final undergraduate course passing letter grade with a credit (CRD), which will not contribute to their GPA.

Please refer to the webpage for COVID-19 updates for details on CRD and NCR grade options.

You will have to decide which choice is best for you. For advice on CRD and NCR grade options contact your Student Advisor.

• In order to remain in good standing with OSAP, students are required to pass a full-time course load, as defined by OSAP - three or more courses, or two or more courses if you have a permanent disability (PD) indicator on your OSAP application.
• Students who select an NCR grade will not receive a credit for their course. As such, if you do not have passing grades for at least three courses (or two courses for students with a PD indicator) for your Winter 2020 term, you are at risk of being placed on OSAP Academic Probation.
  

Yes, students can review updates in regards to awards and financial aid online.

Yes, the Centre for Student Development and Counselling (CSDC) is physically closed, but has moved to a virtual support system.

At Ryerson, you can get the most up-to-date information about health and wellbeing support on the Student Health and Wellness COVID-19 Updates and Resources from Student Well-being Services page.