Algoma University Main Campus Residence

I work full-time, study social work online part-time, and live eight hours from campus. In three years, only once have I been registered in the right courses and seen them in my portal on the first day. Usually the system crashes each term and I get added 2-4 weeks late, already behind and still without textbook details or a way to plan time off for exams and assignments. One term I was put into computer science instead of social work, and I still get random comp-sci emails. Getting a student card was another mess. It took 1.5 years to mail it after at least four staff members told me to collect it in person, despite my explaining how far away I live. I arranged a weekend drive to the Brampton campus, but it was locked, security couldn't let me in, and the staff member with my card didn't answer. At 6 PM they called to say I should have used a particular door, which would've been useful to know 12 hours earlier. Communication is awful. I never reached the person I was told to contact. I get bounced around phone menus, hung up on, told “I don't know,” or left in voicemail limbo. On the rare occasions someone replies and resolves something, no one tells me. I have to find out by accident. There's also a flood of disorganized generic emails, 10+ a day, with no effort to combine them. Courses aren't much better. Professors often get assigned after classes start, turnover is so high there isn't even an up-to-date instructor email list, and textbook information is hard to get. I email the registrar, then the professor if there is one, and can still be told the book isn't confirmed a week before class. The online textbook search doesn't work either. Most professors are below par, and lectures add little. I've had exams with repeated questions, mistakes, and material flatly contradicting the course. I could write a dissertation about how inept the staff are and how badly run this school is, but I'll keep it short: if you have another education option, take it. Honestly, Gary, the toothless guy under the bridge ranting about how wet the rain is, would provide more value than 90% of what you'd get here.

I felt singled out compared with people nearby, which made an already uncomfortable encounter more concerning. One of the security guards, a large-built man with visible tattoos, came across as hostile, dismissive, and aggressive when speaking to me, rather than helpful. Security is often a visitor's first impression, so I hope management reviews this and expects more professional, respectful communication.

I love my university. I just wish I could become a good professor.

I appreciate the care given to local history, and I've learned a lot academically, even though many of the topics were things I'd already read about, experienced, or researched before starting school. Staff have paid attention and helped me succeed at Algoma U despite my being farther north than campus. When you usually attend class and participate, the Professor's seem to notice and try to guide you toward success.