Campus Guide
Navigating York: A Campus Guide
GFWSSA Student Lounge: In Founders College, you will find the School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (GSWS) Undergraduate and Graduate offices, full time faculty and some adjunct faculty offices, TA space, mailrooms, the visiting scholar office, the Nellie library, and the Canadian Women’s Studies Journal. Most importantly (resultant of prior years of lobbying) GFWS graduate students have our own space! We have lockers, computers, a printer, and mailboxes in 202E. We also have tables and couches for studying and socializing. You will get the code for the door at Orientation. If you are interested in procuring a locker, or sharing one, in the GFWSSA space, this will also be addressed at orientation.
The Scott Library: Scott is the biggest library on campus, and it contains most of the resources that you’ll need. Current periodicals and newspapers are located on the second floor. Reference librarians are also available to help you on the second floor. Reserves are located on the main floor, just around the corner to the left of the main circulation desk. You can perform many tasks (such as renewals, holds and special requests) online.
Graduate Student Reading Room: Scott Library Room 409. The accessible reading room offers tables, chairs, lounge seating, electrical outlets, computers, a printer, reading lamps, and contains an electronic noise reduction system.
The Nellie Langford Rowell Library: The Nellie is the Women’s Studies library and contains a lot of resources that are relevant to GFWS students. It is in 204 Founders (Ph. 4167362100, ext 33219).
Computer Services: All registered York students require a personalized email address (all communications from the university and sometimes from faculty will only be sent to YorkU accounts). To do so, you will need your student number and your birth date – just follow the instructions for ‘Manage My Services’. You also require a Passport York account. This clarifies you as a member of the York computing community and gives you access to several online services.
If you live on campus, you can also get internet access provided by Telecom York. They can be reached at 4167365611, ext. 55611.
Counselling and Disability Services: These offices are located N110 Bennett Centre on Keele Campus.
Bookstore: The Bookstore is located in York Lanes (at the far east end of the building, next to Shoppers Drug Mart). Course textbooks and collections are located in the basement of the bookstore. Check the Off Campus guide for information on cheaper bookstores in the city.
Photocopying: There are several places on campus where students can photocopy materials. The Scott library has a photocopy room on the first floor. As a graduate student and as a TA you are also allowed to use the photocopier in the School of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies office in Founders. You should be given a copy code by your course instructor.
Food: York Lanes, Central Square, and the Student Centre have some of the easiest food to access if you’re in a rush. In the basement of the Student Centre, The Break Room, formerly the Underground, offers slightly more upscale meals or drinks. But don’t neglect some of the college dining halls and pubs. Most of them are located in obscure basement areas but some have really nice patio spaces (eg: Absinthe at Winters College) and some are just pubs (eg: the Shopsys in York Lanes). They are patronized mainly by undergraduates but may appear on your daily routes to and from classes.
Campus Housing Services: If you would like to live on campus, it is advisable that you send in an application as soon as possible. The housing spaces are limited and are usually reserved for those who live farthest from Toronto (international students or those out of Province) or mature students with families.
On campus living: Groceries! Where are you going to get them if you live on campus? You have many options. The closest place for small shopping trips or just a loaf of bread is the Shoppers Drug Mart or Grocery Checkout in York Lanes Mall. A major store within walking distance is Your Community Grocers at 45 Four Winds Drive. No Frills ($), and FreshCo ($) are at the corners of Finch and Jane Streets and are by far your best buy in terms of major shopping trips. You can get to these three places by taking the 108B bus from Pioneer Village Station to Driftwood Ave at Wilmont Drive or take the 935 to Jane and Finch.
There are dozens of independent grocers in the neighbourhood surrounding the University. It’s just a matter of knowing your tastes and seeking them out.
Public Transportation: There are several ways to get to and from York. York is a hub for Go Bus, Viva (York Region), and the TTC (Toronto). YorkU now has its own Subway station on Line 1 (York University). For those with accessibility needs there is Wheel Trans and Wheelchair Transit. On-campus carsharing can be accessed with Zip Cars at Haynes Avenue Lot on Keele Campus. Lyft or Uber are popular options, and there are taxi services such Co-op Taxi and Maple Leaf Taxi in the North York region. Additionally, there are Shuttle Services provided to York U students, running between Glendon Campus to Keele, and seats can be reserved online.
Centre for Feminist Research (CFR): The CFR provides various resources and assistantships for Graduate Students and organizes events throughout the year. All graduate students in GFWS are automatically affiliated with CFR. It is located on the sixth floor of Kaneff Tower on York’s campus.
Payroll/Human Resources: Kinsmen Building, 8 Chimneystack Rd.
CUPE 3903 Office: Room 143, Atkinson Building.
Bennett Student Services Centre: Another building with important services including Office of Student Financial Services (OSAP), and Student Services & Registrar (transcripts, proof of student status, etc.).
Faculty of Graduate Students (FGS): This important office handles bursaries, scholarships, and payroll deductions as well as providing computers to assist you in registering. If you are having difficulties registering, you may need to visit FGS. Contact them here: 283 York Lanes, Ph: 4167365328
York University Graduate Students’ Association (YUGSA): The YUGSA is the student government which represents graduate students at York. It has some emergency funds, loans and bursaries available. They also provide graduate student organizations (like the GFWSSA) with operating grants. Contact them here: 325 Student Centre. Ph: 4167365865. Email: info@yugsa.ca
Centre for Women and Trans People at York: Centre for Women and Trans People is a “resource for services to Women and Trans People and for activism at York and in the broader community.” The Centre provides numerous services, including counselling, support, advocacy, and assistance as well as volunteer opportunities, training, an excellent in-house resource centre, a safe space for Women and Trans People in crisis, and crisis grants and loans. For volunteer opportunities, see their webpage or drop by. Contact them here: 322 Student Centre. Email: info@cwtpyork.org
The Canadian Women’s Studies Association, or L’association canadienne des études sur les femmes: The CWSAACEF is Canada’s largest women’s studies network. By joining (through the website) you will gain access to links to Women’s Studies programs in Canada and abroad, calls for papers, job announcements, listservs, and more. See their calls for papers for their annual general conference in conjunction with the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation.
Sports and Recreation Facilities: York Students have inexpensive access to aerobics, swimming, weight room, etc. You must pay a nominal fee of $20 for a shoe tag, and that allows you access to many services/programs. Consult the website for fall hours and classes or pick up a schedule at the Tait MacKenzie Building.
Access York University's map here:
https://map.concept3d.com/?id=1200#!s/?ct/29101,29093 (interactive).
Access York University's Keele Campus map here: https://about.yorku.ca/files/2019/12/2D-KEELE_Map_Dec-2019.pdf?x40344
Access a map of Toronto city here: https://map.toronto.ca/maps/map.jsp?app=TorontoMaps_v2 (interactive).
Access maps, routes, and schedules for TTC.