1. STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM

The Student Services Program of the MTG Healthcare Academy is administered and supervised by the Academic Director in coordination with all the units of the Academy.  Specifically, the Student Services Program seeks to promote the welfare of the MTG Healthcare Academy students by
•  providing relevant and adequate services that respond to their varied needs such as:
•  individualized academic monitoring devise particularly to students who have poor academic standing; and,
•  financial counseling to students who hardly can accomplish course requirements for logistics reason.
•  assist students in decision making process and the development and refinement of their intrapersonal, interpersonal and social relations.

The Academy’s Student Services Program  include:

A.   ORIENTATION
providing a full day orientation wherein a previous student will act as help and guide to new international students. The guide will tour the new students around the campus and share about the Academy’s culture and traditions as well as community involvement opportunities.

B.   ACADEMIC COUNSELLING
providing English tutoring (Lunch English Class to students as recommended by Instructors), success coaching, job search preparation, interview skills enhancement practice, resume and cover letter writing session

C.   CAREER-FOCUSED EVENTS
providing in service training on relevant health care aid certifications, time management workshop, career counselling conducted by experts from the Calgary Immigration Women Association (CIWA)

D.   MEDICAL/HEALTH BENEFITS
providing access to medical and dental plans, health care coverage for students and foreign students (Health care coverage information for students who are leaving Alberta to study elsewhere, or coming to Alberta to study is found on this link: alberta.ca/ahcip-students.aspx#toc-2

E.   COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
providing volunteering opportunities with the different partnering institutions/organizations like CIWA, Covenant Care, Mustard Seed, Drop In-Centre, Inn from the Cold, Calgary Food Bank, The Kitchen, The Thrift Store, Edmonton Food Bank

F.   COUNSELING AND SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORTS
providing information about agencies that extend assistance to newcomers in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer.

For counseling support, visit the following:

Calgary:
https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Pages/Immigrants-newcomers-and-refugees/Helping-newcomers-get-started-in-Calgary.aspx

Edmonton:
http://edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_new_residents/newcomers-guide.aspx

Red Deer:

Connecting Newcomers

For social, settlement, and integration services support, visit the following:

Calgary:
www.centrefornewcomers.ca>settlement>services
www.ccisab.ca

Edmonton:
eisa-edmonton.org
emcn.ab.ca

Red Deer
www.rdpl.org>node
www.rdlip.ca

For academic support and career counseling, visit the following:

Calgary:
https://ww.cbfy.ca
www.ciwa-online.com
www.ccisab.ca

Edmonton:
icwaedmonton.org

Red Deer:
www.linkedin.com/company/central-alberta-immigrant-women’s-association

2. GUIDELINES ON ACADEMIC ADVISING

Academic advising is an avenue to assist students to complete their programs of study within the prescribed length of time.  Specifically, it helps prevent academic deficiencies such as failing grades, incomplete grades and the inability to take and pass the clinical practicum and other courses required in the program of study the student is enrolled in.

•  A Program Coordinator may act as student’s academic adviser;

•  Every academic adviser must extend utmost assistance and guidance to his/her advisees to help them complete their course at MTG Healthcare Academy;

•  Keep a logbook for academic advising indicating the date, brief description of problem/need and action taken;

•  Determine the academic strengths and weaknesses of advisees and refer advisees with personal problems to the Academic Director;

•  The Academic Director sees to it that academic advising is properly carried out in each department/campus.

3. SCHOOL BULLETIN BOARDS

Bulletin boards located throughout the school facilities provide information about school policies/regulations’ revisions/updates, submission deadlines, announcements of upcoming school events, trainings, workshops or conferences.

4. HEALTH CARE INSURANCE

We will assist our international students for health care insurance. The link below is a health care coverage for students and foreign students. Health care coverage includes information for students who are leaving Alberta to study elswhere or coming to Alberta to study. Visit the link of Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan at alberta.ca/ahcip.aspx

5. HOUSING AND HOMESTAY SERVICES

As a student of MTG Healthcare Academy, we provide a safe, secure and welcoming homestay family and homestay environment for you to reside.  The following describe our host families as essential contributors and partners in the visitor’s experience in Canada:

Guidelines:

a.  Host families should establish and communicate behavior standards, house rules and curfew.

b.  Host families are expected to provide reasonable protection and safety for the student and act as a reasonably prudent host parent.

c. Each family hosts a maximum of two (2) students at one time. Only one student of each nationality and must be of the same gender.

d.  Ensure that plans for family holidays as well as the travel costs are discussed thoroughly with the students and their parents for expense sharing. If the international students opt not to join the activity, the Homestay Coordinator must be notified no longer than 24 hours so that an alternate responsible adult is arranged.

e.  Host families are responsible for all home damage. MTG Healthcare Academy is willing to mediate if cases arise but takes no responsibility for the damage incurred.

f.  Host families provide an English-speaking environment for the students. Only English must be spoken while the student is present.

g.  Host families provide board and lodging for the MTG Healthcare Academy international students. Fees shall be collected by the school and a cheque is issued to the host family every second week of the month.

h. Full board rate is $750/four weeks or $175/week that      includes three (3) meals per day (Monday – Sunday) with light snacks during Saturdays and Sundays;

i.  Half board rate is $650/four weeks or $162/week that includes breakfast and dinner only with light snacks on Saturdays and Sundays.

j.  Host families provide a suitable home and private bedroom (not shared room) like single bed, table, lamp, closet or dresser.

k.  If a student reports that there are problems in the home involving the use of alcohol, drug abuse, sexual impropriety, inappropriate conduct or abusive language or behavior – the students will be moved out from the home without notice and legal action is considered.

l.  Host families are required to give full refund to the student for any paid weeks remaining after the two-week notice period.

m. If students take a holiday for one week or more, the students do not have to pay the homestay fee and they are required to remove their belongings from their room.

n.  Host families provide access to laundry facilities; students are not expected to pay for laundry soap; if host family is doing the laundry, no extra cost shall be charged to the student.

o.  Host families ensure that international students are not required to babysit

p.  Host families will provide necessary information for all members of the household (18 years old and above) for obtaining security check/clearance which is renewable every two (2) years. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used to determine application suitability in compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

q.  Host families must secure and keep any information provided by MTG Healthcare Academy including student’s family information, academic transcript of records, student attendance list, and used these confidential pieces of information in the performance of duties as host family only.

r.  Host families should never disclose, communicate, publish, copy, interfere with, alter or destroy any information without authority to do so by MTG Healthcare Academy.

Policies:
a.  For cancellation and refund requests before the start of homestay:

1. All homestay fees including homestay placement fee will be refunded if MTG Housing & Homestay Services is notified thirty (30) days or more before the start date of homestay.

2. All homestay fees excluding homestay placement fee will be refunded if MTG Housing & Homestay Services is notified less than thirty (30) days before the start date of homestay.

3. MTG Housing & Homestay Services will charge the placement fee and 15 days of homestay if students have provided flight details within the 30 days of their arrival date and they cancel.

4. All homestay fees including homestay placement fee will be refunded if a student receives a visa refusal less than 30 days before the start of the homestay.

b. For cancellation and refund requests after the start of homestay, no refund will be given for the first 30 days of homestay. However, if the host family failed to meet the basic homestay requirements, students will be moved to another homestay as soon as possible at no additional charge.

c. For cancellation and refund requests after the first 30 days of homestay students do the following:

1. A minimum of 15 days written notice to MTG Housing & Homestay Services must be given if a student wishes to cancel their homestay.

2. Students must read , sign and hand in the cancellation form to the MTG Housing & Homestay Services office in order to complete the cancellation process.

d. Refunds will be processed within 30 days upon receipt of the written cancellation notice.
e. No refund will be granted to students who are dismissed from homestay due to breach of law, policy or regulation as determined by the government of Canada or the police.

6. EDUCATIONAL TOUR

The international students of MTG Healthcare Academy are given an educational cross-cultural trip around their prospective city (Calgary, Edmonton or Red Deer) and to Banff or Lake Louise.  They will also be oriented on history and government of Canada.  International students will have an opportunity to collaborate with Canadian students during community services.

7. BANKING INFORMATION

Every bank has its own features and services. We do not have a specific bank to recommend.  We help you peruse different banks in the city and know their banking services that will suit your needs as an international student.

8. VISA INFORMATION

Visa information are available and inquiries are addressed to this website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/study/index.asp

9. JOB OPPORTUNITY

International students can work in Canada for only a certain number of hours.  We will guide you in applying for a part time job.  The MTG Healthcare Academy’s Resume-Making Workshop will help you on preparing a presentable resume for your work application.

10. SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number that you need in order to work in Canada and to have access to government programs and benefits.  We will guide you on how to apply for a social insurance number.  For list of requirements visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/before-applying.html.

11. LIBRARY USE

MTG Healthcare Academy has an accessible library for our students.  If our resources are not enough to our clients, we recommend them to apply for the city’s Library Card.  To apply for a library card, students must go to a library or apply online at https://calgarylibrary.ca/volunteer-application-form/. If you reside in Calgary, you can apply for a library card.