PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

On behalf of the entire MAPS Board of Directors, I offer a warm welcome to new and returning part-time degree students and students at the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE).

MAPS exists to represent and improve the interests of part-time students. For life-long learners, balancing home/family, career/ work, and school/study, entails tremendous organization and support. MAPS was established with this in mind as a support mechanism to help students balance their goals, aptly represented by the three connecting chevrons in our logo. To this end, MAPS also provides bursaries to part-time students facing financial constraints and celebrates students’ academic achievements and extra-curricular activities with a variety of exclusive part-time student awards presented annually at our awards dinner in November.

The MAPS Office is located in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) on the second floor, Room 234 and is open Monday to Thursday from 9:30 am until 8:30 pm and Friday from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm. Please feel free to visit the office where you can receive assistance regarding University policies and procedures, use the printer and photocopier, as well as the computers for SOLAR registration, selecting courses, accessing personal, academic, and financial information on MUGSI and especially, to take a breather. MAPS also keeps part-time students informed and updated on news, services, and events via its e-mail distribution list (EDL) and newsletter, The Link.

Of particular note this year, MAPS’ commitment to the MUSC as an original founding donor will be rejuvenated by an unprecedented upgrade and refurbishment of the MAPS office as a physical representation of a first-class organization. The new look of MAPS on campus will buoy staff in their work for part-time students and will continue to facilitate advocacy and representation for part-time students, all the while providing a place of great pride for MAPS members.

The MAPS Board of Directors and I also plan to continue MAPS’ noteworthy tradition of giving back to students and the McMaster University community. As such, we will explore areas of new donor programmes and gifts that will facilitate advocacy goals to enhance the part-time student experience.

Finally, on a personal note, this year offers the realization of a dream. It is an honour to be able to thank MAPS for the numerous years of encouragement and help that I have enjoyed during the pursuit of my degree. Good luck in your work and I wish you the best of results in your studies. I look forward to the possibility of meeting you during my term as MAPS President and ask you to nurture MAPS in any way you can in its work for part-time students.

Elaine Marion
MAPS President, 2010-2011