African Descent Student
Advisor Handbook
2015-2016
4th Floor Student Centre
Room 407
africandescentadvisor@smu.ca
P: (902) 496-8172
African Descent Student
Advisor
What is the ADSA?
My role as the African Descent Student
advisor is to provide information and support
to African Descent Students.
This role as ADSA also helps connect
students attending Saint Mary’s together as
well as the community. The ADSA provides
information on:
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Scholarships & Bursaries
First year adjustment issues
Off campus networks
Campus Resources
Monthly events
Student service programs
**Services of the Advisor are available to students
of ALL ethnic backgrounds who are associated
with Saint Mary's University.**
Important Dates
Term Dates
Sep 9, 2015
Fall term Begins
Sep 18, 2015
Last day to register
and/or drop courses
with 100% refund.
Dec 19, 2015
End of Fall Term &
exam period
Jan 6, 2016
Winter term begins
Jan 15, 2016
Last day to register
and/or drop courses
with 100% refund.
April 22, 2016
End of Winter term &
exam period
Final Exam Dates
Term Dates
Dec 3&4, 2015, Study days, no classes
Dec 5, 2015
Start of formal exams
Dec 19, 2015
End of final exams
and end of Winter
term
Apr 7&8, 2016 Study days, no classes
Apr 9, 2016
Start of formal exams
Apr 22, 2016
End of final exams
and end of Winter
term
Holidays
Oct 13, 2015
Thanksgiving – No
classes
Nov 11, 2015
Remembrance Day –
No classes
Nov 12&13, 2015Fall Break – No
classes
*WINTER BREAK – NO CLASSES*
Feb 16, 2015- Feb 21, 2015
Mar 25, 2016
Good Friday – No
classes.
Mar 28, 2016
Easter Monday – No
classes
African Descent Related Holidays
Jan 18, 2016
Martin Luther King Jr.
Day
Feb, 2016
African Heritage
Month
Mar 21, 2016 International Day for the
Elimination of Racism
Societies
African Student Society
 President: Manaf Zora
 Email: smass_halifax@gmail.com
The Caribbean Society
 Email: smucaribbean@gmail.com
Financial Aid and Awards for New Students
The professionals at Saint Mary's University’s
Financial Aid and Awards office are dedicated to
helping you get the best financial advice and support
possible. They can provide information on financial
issues such as:
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Budget planning
Budget and debt counselling
Student loans
Internal scholarships and bursary
programs
External scholarships and bursary
programs
Important Scholarships/Bursaries to Apply for:
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Renewable Entrance Scholarships:
automatic consideration when you
apply.
Named Entrance Awards – several
named awards include the Margo
Marshall Award which is awarded to
a Black Female Student.
Other scholarships and bursaries that you are eligible for are available
here: http://www.smu.ca/scholarships/
Financial Aid and Awards McNally Main 108
9am-5pm
Open Monday-Friday
Financial Aid and Awards
for Returning Students...
Be sure to stay on top on bursaries and
scholarships you are eligible for as the
criteria and deadlines can change from
year to year
A list of RETURNING named scholarships and
bursaries can be found here (also applicable for
international students):
http://www.smu.ca/scholarships/welcome.html
Don’t forget about the FALL and WINTER
term financial aid bursaries – applications
due in October 2015 and February 2016.
Other resource outlets:
- Black Cultural Centre of Nova
Scotia
- Black Business Initiative
- Black Educators Association
- African Canadian Employment
Clinics
- African Canadian Services
Division
- African Nova Scotian Affairs
- Indigenous Black and Mi’kmaq
Initiative
- African Diaspora Association
of the Maritimes
- & much more!
Nova Scotian Students can apply for
the following scholarships from
African Canadian Services Division
http://acs.ednet.ns.ca/:
 Entrance Scholarship Science Scholarship
 Post – Secondary Award Teacher Scholarship
 Short-Term Job Training
Grant
African Canadian Services Division:
2021 Brunswick Place, PO BOX 578
Brunswick Street Halifax NS, B3J 2S9
902-424-3151
Remember that this is only a sample of the
many scholarships that you are able to apply
for and you are not limited to applying for
those scholarships and bursaries designated
for African Canadian/Black students.
We invite you to explore the following
websites for more information on the many
scholarships available:
 www.futureaces.org
 www.lyfordcayfoundation.org/
 www.nspower.ca/en/home/community
/scholarships/employmentequityschola
rship.aspx
 www.bccns.com/news/2012/stepping_
stone_bursary.php
 https://www.gov.ns.ca/cmns/pubs/201
2-05-Diversity-Bursary-applicationen.pdf
Students from outside of Canada or Nova
Scotia (note: some of these scholarships
are eligible for students from NS as well)
 http://www.univforum.com/canadianscholarships.html
 http://www.angelfire.com/planet/sktril
l/scholar.pdf
 http://bbpa.org/eventsprograms/national-scholarships/thescholarships/
 http://www.isoa.org/list_scholarships.
aspx
 http://www.scholarshipsbourses.gc.ca/scholarshipsbourses/non_can/cclsppblcc.aspx?lang=eng&view=d
 http://www.bestscholarships.info/cana
dian-scholarships.html
 http://www.scholarshipsbourses.gc.ca/scholarshipsbourses/index.aspx?view=d
Financial Assistance
There are also other ways to help fund your
university career through the use of loans
and grants given by your province, state,
country etc.
 Canada Student Loan and Grants:
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/learning/c
anada_student_loan/index.shtml
 Canadian Hospitality Foundation:
www.chfscholarships.com
 Canadian Merit Scholarship
Foundation: www.cmsf.ca
 Grant Canada:
www.grantcanada.com
 Debt Free Grad:
www.debtfreegrad.com
 Scholarships Canada:
www.scholarshipscanada.com
Info about the Counselling Centre
``We offer individual personal counselling,
couples counselling, academic & life skills
coaching and consultations. Our team of
professionals will help you meet your
academic and personal goals. We understand
how stressful university life can be and how
making small changes can have a huge
impact``.
``All students new to The Counselling
Centre are required to meet with our Intake
& Programs Coordinator for an initial intake
Assessment. This 30 minute appointment is
an opportunity for you to discuss your
concerns and provide a brief history so that
we can assess how best we can assist you,
whether that is booking a counselling
appointment with one of our Clinical
Therapists/Psychologists, scheduling an
academic & life coaching session or making
referrals to other campus or community
resources”.
http://www.smu.ca/campus-life/thecounselling-centre.html