Student Affairs | The McMaster Student Experience: A Place for Everyone
A Message from Sean Van Koughnett, Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning), Dean of Students
In August 2013, I started as Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning) & Dean of Students at McMaster. Over the past decade, this community has risen to the many challenges we’ve faced to offer a student experience that rivals any other. Reflecting on all the accomplishments we’ve shared, it’s important to recognize how special this place is. We have worked collaboratively. We have searched for ways to constantly improve. And we have always taken an inclusive, student-centred approach. I couldn’t be more proud.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Vision, Mission and Core Themes
Our vision is to be a community for every student to belong, become and contribute. As partners in learning, we provide our students with opportunities to discover, learn and grow.
In Student Affairs, we take a holistic approach in our relationships with students — a community of more than 37,000 students from more than 120 countries who come to McMaster with unique stories, experiences and dreams. We collaborate with campus and community stakeholders, including Faculty and Program colleagues, to foster student potential by supporting the whole student and their well-being, creating a sense of belonging and offering experiences beyond the classroom that enable student transformation and growth.
All these themes work together to support student success; a strong foundation of well-being and belonging allows for transformation and growth to occur.
It’s very easy to feel like just another number in a sea of students at university, so what meant the most to me was having someone in my corner who genuinely cared about me and my success
Christian, Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Engineering
Our Values
We believe in the potential of every student
We support students in fulfilling their goals and aspirations by believing in their ability to transform themselves and our world
We learn and grow together
We embrace the diversity of our students and evolve and adapt to meet their needs
We share responsibility and success
We work openly and collaboratively across campus to deliver the best possible student experience
We deliver
We prioritize and execute on what contributes the greatest value to students
Facts and Figures
Total Sources of Funding for Student Affairs: 2022–2023
Student Affairs is supported primarily through compulsory ancillary fees, university operating framework allocation, ministry funding, medical billings and other revenue. In fiscal year 2023, the actual operating allocation represents about 22% of the total funding sources for Student Affairs ($38.58M, excluding Housing & Conference Services).
Other revenue includes Athletics & Recreation facility rentals, camp registration fees, instructional programming, events, donations and other miscellaneous income.
* The Housing & Conference Services budget is not part of the Student Affairs budget envelope, but it is included as part of the funding sources based on the division’s dual reporting to the Associate Vice-President (Students and Learning) and Vice-President (Operations and Finance). Aligned with the Student Affairs core themes of well-being, belonging, and transformation and growth, Housing & Conference Services plays an integral role in creating an environment where on-campus students can belong, become and contribute.
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300+ full-time employees
1,450+ paid student positions
$5M invested back in student staffing positions
1,000+ students engaged in experiential learning (co-curricular)
For more information on how we’re measuring impact across Student Affairs, visit the division sections below and click to learn more about the priorities that guide their work.
Student Affairs Divisions
Our Student Affairs model relies on strong collaboration with colleagues from the Office of the Registrar, Office of the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), Office of International Affairs, School of Graduate Studies, and Faculty and Program partners to provide holistic, personalized student support based on our themes of belonging, well-being, and transformation and growth.
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Athletics & Recreation
Athletics & Recreation’s mission is to cultivate human potential and enrich wellness through recreation and sport.
Black Student Success Centre
The Black Student Success Centre’s (BSSC) priorities focus on ensuring Black students are well supported throughout their educational journey from pre-entry (high school) to post-graduation.
Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
Since February 2021, the senior advisor of equity, inclusion and anti-racism has been responsible for providing direction and guidance on equity-related matters for Student Affairs.
The Forge
The Forge is dedicated to driving economic prosperity and social impact through supporting students and startups with programming and resources that foster entrepreneurial thinking and resiliency to accelerate a startup’s growth.
Housing & Conference Services
365 days a year, Housing & Conference Services (HCS) brings students and guests worldwide to McMaster’s campus.
Indigenous Student Services
Indigenous Student Services (ISS) provides and connects Indigenous learners to the support they need to achieve their academic goals.
Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement
The Student Affairs Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement team strives to foster student engagement and create a sense of belonging for every McMaster student.
Student Accessibility Services
Student Accessibility Services supports students with disabilities by removing barriers and promoting full participation through individualized academic accommodation plans and additional services.
Student Affairs Business Office
The Student Affairs Business Office is comprised of two primary units: the Student Affairs Tech Team (SATT) and the Student Affairs Financial Office (SAFO).
Student Case Management
Student Case Management’s two primary areas of focus include: (1) administering the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and (2) providing support to students through case management services.
Student Success Centre
Through an integrated approach, the Student Success Centre (SSC) provides a holistic model of student support from the point at which students consider applying to McMaster, throughout their university journey, and up to five years following graduation.
Student Wellness Centre
The Student Wellness Centre provides health care and support to enhance McMaster students’ emotional, physical and personal well-being.
Partners in Learning
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At McMaster, we provide personalized support for the whole student. Services are delivered both centrally and at the Faculty or Program level, working together to meet unique student needs. The following examples of partnership in learning are inspired by real student experiences at our university. They demonstrate how every student’s unique journey comes with a guided, customizable pathway of support that is holistic rather than linear, and a shared responsibility.
Advancing McMaster’s Institutional Priorities and Strategic Goals
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The following section highlights initiatives, programs, collaborations and partnerships, service delivery improvements and more from the past academic year that uphold our commitment to the university’s strategic vision, working toward creating a brighter world for our McMaster community.
Priority One: Inclusive Excellence
Aspire to embed an inclusive approach that intentionally engages and respects a diversity of peoples, perspectives, and ways of knowing, in everything we do.
Priority Two: Teaching and Learning
Further advance and support innovation in teaching and learning, within and beyond the classroom, and across disciplines and Faculties, to elevate teaching as a professional discipline and equip our students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a transformative impact on our world.
Priority Three: Research and Scholarship
Be the go-to place for world-class researchers and collaborators who share our values and commitment to working together across disciplines, sectors, and borders to develop knowledge, tackle global issues and advance human understanding.
Priority Four: Engaging Local, National, Indigenous and Global Communities
Further develop and expand our network of longstanding and respectful partnerships with communities, partners, research collaborators, and supporters, locally, nationally and globally for the benefit of all.
Priority Five: Operational Excellence
Enable the administrative operations of the university to most effectively support the institutional vision and aspirations of our community of researchers, scholars, teachers and learners.
Our Way Forward
As we think ahead to the coming year, we are hopeful that together, we will continue to adapt and rise to the challenge of meeting students’ evolving needs through innovative collaboration and partnership. Providing a holistic, personalized and transformative student experience takes all of us, so thank you to everyone who has contributed to making Student Affairs a community for every student to belong, become and contribute.