We recommend setting up and getting familiar with your GBC accounts and platforms as soon as you can. Below are the most important to start with!

REQUIRED FOR ACCOUNT ACCESS: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

It is required that you set up MFA to use your GBC accounts. This is an extra layer of security for which you'll need to authenticate some of your logins on your phone or tablet. Click here for more information and instructions on how to set it up. You will not be able to access your email and Microsoft apps without it.

Email

You can access your new GBC email account by going to outlook.office.com. To log in, enter your student ID number as your username and the password you received with your registration package. Once you're in, click on your name in the top right corner, then click on View Account to find your personal email address. Click here for email support.

Please note: Most GBC accounts require sign-in using your StudentID[@]georgebrown[.]ca instead of your personal email address.

Microsoft Office 365 & OneDrive

As a GBC student, you get free access to Microsoft Office 365 and OneDrive, which includes your email in Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and more. Click here for more information.

Brightspace

Brightspace is the Learning Management System the College uses. It's where all your course content, assignments, resources, discussions and so much more can be found. To log into Brightspace, visit learn.georgebrown.ca. Click here for more information on how to use Brightspace.

AppsAnywhere 

AppsAnywhere is a free service that allows you to access certain software you may need for your courses, anytime, anywhere! This will require a one-time download to your device to be able to access software. Click here for AppsAnywhere support. Please note OSX (Apple), iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android & Linus are not supported.

An easy way to find all of these platforms and more resources is through our MyGBC Student Portal! When you visit georgebrown.ca, log in using the button on the top right corner (on desktop) or on the Menu (on mobile) or use this URL: https://www.georgebrown.ca/portal.

Our IT service for students is called GBC Assist and can help you with everything from how to set up your George Brown email on your phone to resetting your College password. Log in with your student ID and password to open a help ticket.

If you experience technical difficulties, you can check out the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on AskGeorge or use the AskGeorge chatbot in the MyGBC Student Portal.

You can get support for STU-VIEW, email, password resets and the mobile app through GBC Assist or by emailing helpdesk@georgebrown.ca. IT Support is also available 24/7 for Brightspace.

We've included a few how to items that we think you will find useful as you navigate your online courses at the college. These are things that will come up for you at some point during your semester. There is no avoiding it, but at least now you know where to find the solutions!

Read your class timetable

Everyone's schedule may be different so it is important that you can read your timetable. Let's make sure you know where you need to be by going through an example of a student's timetable.

Once you have registered for your classes, you can easily view your schedule through STU-VIEW and the GBC app. Classes will be listed under each day of the week for you to easily follow the schedule. Make sure to check your timetable leading up to the start of the semester and especially before the first week of classes — sometimes class times and locations may change. Those updates may also be notified through your email or Brightspace.

1. The first line listed for each registered class will be your course code. For example, the image shows COMP 2138.​
2. The second line is the CRN, the Course Registration Number.​
3. The third line indicates the location: If your class is online, you will see "ONLINE" in place of a physical location, and this can be accessed through your Brightspace courses. For on-campus classes and labs, the first two letters of the third line will indicate the campus where this class is held. ​
   • SJ = St James campus​
   • CL = Casa Loma campus ​
   • WF = Waterfront Campus ​
   • SHE = Sally Horsfall Eaton (TMU) ​
4. The next letter is the building of that designated campus. For example, SJA would be the A building of the St James campus. WFD would be the Daniels building of the Waterfront campus, CLC is the C building of the Casa Loma campus.
   Always check the campus as electives are offered at different locations.​
5. Finally, the start and end time of each class is listed.​

Campus Stores eText & Supplies

You can easily search, purchase, and download eTexts from the Campus Stores website. Here are five easy methods to find the correct texts:

Please note that materials and books will be listed by your professors on the first day of class on the course outline in Brightspace. You’ll see your courses in Brightspace once they start. There is no need to rush to get your texts ahead of the semester, but you can also check if books and materials are available to be borrowed from the library.

Collaboration and Streaming Platforms

Some instructors may deliver portions of their content and courses a bit differently and may not use Brightspace. You may also choose a different platform to work with your groups on team assignments. Here are some of the most commonly used online platforms and how to get started on them.

If your instructor is using a tool that we haven't covered and you need help, the best thing to do is to visit the site's FAQ section and find all the information you need. You can also connect with your instructor directly and let them know you need support.

For a list of frequently called phone numbers and other contact information, visit our Contact Information page!

Academic contacts for each program area are listed here, and Student Association contacts listed here.

Staying healthy is an integral part of your success. Here are some ideas and tips to help manage your physical, nutritional, social and mental health from our service area experts at the college.

Physical Health

A healthy body can also lead to a healthier state of mind, especially when you're studying online. Exercise can help block negative thoughts or distract you from daily worries, give you a much-needed break from studying and can lift your mood and improve your sleep patterns.

• Stay Active: Make sure to put aside 10 or 15 minutes each day. Try some daily fitness challenges or at-home workouts.
• Stay Hydrated: Did you know that water makes up 60% of the body? So, it's important to get adequate hydration, self-isolation or not! Drinking water helps lubricate joints, hydrates skin and regulates your body temperature.
• "Keep Calm"…and yoga: Many Fitness Instructors host various online fitness classes on social media and online for free. Tune in to de-stress and clear your mind or download an app to try on your own time.

Try some free trials of apps such as Nike Training Club for workouts and fitness plans and Down Dog for yoga. There are many out there, so take a look and give one a try.

Stay connected and follow GBC Athletics & Recreation on Instagram @gbcrecreation, Twitter @gbc_huskies, and Facebook @GeorgeBrownHuskies, or visit our Athletics & Recreation Website for more info and things you can do at home.  

As a George Brown student, you have access to many health resources, including your Student Health Plan through the Student Association.

WeSpeakStudent.com enables students throughout Canada to receive the best possible customer service and enhance your health and wellness awareness. Services cover domestic and international students, with compassionate and confidential health & wellness care, and an online portal to submit your claims. Check it out today!

Nutritional Health

Nutrition is how food and drink affect our bodies with special regard to the essential nutrients necessary to support our health. Eating healthy foods helps us focus, feel better and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

Maintaining good nutrition helps you focus more on your studies while taking care of yourself.

Find tips on making healthy food and nutrition choices by visiting the Canada Food Guide. Find out some tips for healthy eating and some tasty and easy recipes.

Try out the Mealime App to help plan your meals and try out new recipes. Or work the other way around with the ingredients you already have. SuperCook will instantly find matching recipes from the most popular cooking websites to match your ingredients.

You can access low-cost foods and more resources right on campus, too! The Good Food Market happens every Thursday, 10:30/11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 200 King St. E., in front of the Campus Store. You can email GoodFoodMarket@georgebrown.ca to be added to their mailing list and follow them on Instagram. You also have access to the Student Nutrition Access Program through the Student Association, which has many resources including a food pantry, hamper delivery, income tax clinic and much more.

Social Health

Just because you may be studying at home online, does not mean you are alone! Having a strong social network can be associated with positive mental health and well-being. Being socially healthy can help you strengthen your communication skills, build healthy and meaningful relationships, create support systems and give a feeling of belonging and purpose.

• Stay Engaged: Engage in various social media platforms and enjoy positive interactions with other people on platforms like Instagram LIVE or leisure games with groups of people playing different apps. Maintaining or gaining new friendships also helps to make online GBC class connections interactive.
• Stay Connected: Social media use can compensate for diminishing face-to-face social interactions when you are studying online and can help you connect and reconnect with others.
  • Communicate via text messages, phone calls and video chats with your classmates and friends.
  • Create a daily communication schedule and calling list.
• Stay Fresh: Learn new hobbies or habits! It is always a good time to learn new skills, join a student club or network, or to complete that project that you have been putting off. It’s important that you find ways to occupy your time that you find fulfilling.

Try some Free Apps to stay virtually connected with your friends and peers:

• Teleparty: Watch movies as a group and use the live chat
• Google Hangouts and WhatsApp: Communicate with family and friends through messaging, phone and video calling
• Zoom: Video call or attend virtual events

Stay connected to George Brown and the Student Association through regular programming and updates on our social channels:

George Brown College: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube

Student Life: Instagram

Black Student Success Network: Facebook, Instagram

Student Association: Facebook, Instagram, X

Mental Health

Counselling & Student Well-being and Peer Mentor+ provide support resources to students to help maintain positive mental health on and off campus.

Mental health is about our cognitive, behavioural and emotional well-being. When studying from home and online, it is important to take a moment to think about your well-being. It is an integral part of your personal wellness and includes other things such as the fulfillment of long-term goals, your sense of purpose and how in control you feel in life.

Here are some supports and resources you can access:

• Counselling & Student Well-being offers video counselling appointments for students seeking support from our professional counsellors. Visit this page for instructions on how to access counselling.
• They also offer different virtual skills-building groups throughout the semester.
• Check out the links below to see our counsellors’ tips on how to help look after your Mental Health off-campus.
  • 5 ways to reduce stress
  • How to create healthy routines while staying home
  • How to balance childcare while working and studying from home
• Peer Mentor+ provides group and one-on-one peer mentorship appointments, Community Club programming and more.

Outside of the college, students located in Ontario can also access Good2Talk — a free, confidential service for Ontario post-secondary students, available 24 hours a day, every day. Call 1-866-925-5454, text GOOD2TALKON to 686868, or visit them online.

George Brown has services to support students with many types of disabilities. The goal is to meet your needs so that you can participate in all aspects of college life even when you're online.

If you are a student with a disability, your first step is to register with Accessible Learning Services. Once you register, one of our consultants will work with you to talk about how to accommodate your learning needs.

Registration Process

Who can register?

Students who have a permanent or temporary disability or who suspect they have a disability and are awaiting an assessment are eligible to receive academic accommodations from Accessible Learning Services.

Also, temporary accommodations may be available if you experience a serious medical or mental health concern for the first time.

To register, just follow the simple steps outlined below.

Step 1 - Get Your Medical Documentation Ready

To provide you with the best possible accommodations, Accessible Learning Services requires medical documentation for your disability.

• Examples of medical documentation are: An OSAP disability verification report, a psychological report (for learning disabilities), a letter from your doctor (for mental health or medical), an IEP (Individual Education Plan) from high school that indicates a disability, an audiology report or a copy of a CNIB card.
• If you are applying for OSAP you will find a Disability Verification Form on the OSAP website. Complete that form by following OSAP instructions. Make a copy of the form and then submit it to our office for your disability documentation (verification of a permanent disability through the OSAP office will be needed to access the Bursary for Students with Disabilities and the Canada Study Grant).
• If you are not applying for OSAP but require accommodations, check out this link about disability documentation: Having the Right Documents

Step 2 - Fill out your Intake (Registration) Form

Print, fill out and sign the Accessible Learning Confidential Intake Form

• Complete all sections.
• Put N/A for anything that doesn’t apply to you.

Step 3 - Submit Forms to Accessible Learning Services

• Or email: Scan and email your document to Don Kezima, our Intake Coordinator.
• Fax: Write your name and student number at the top of the page and Fax your documents to our confidential fax line: 416-415-2726
• Remember to keep an extra copy for your own records.

Step 4 - Get Your Accommodations

The Intake Coordinator will confirm your registration with Accessible Learning Services by email and connect you with the Accessible Learning Services Welcome Desk

• Our Welcome Desk will book an appointment for you to meet with an Accessibility Consultant.
• The Accessibility Consultant will set up accommodations for your courses and for your tests.
• The Accessibility Consultant with your approval, will send a list of your accommodations to your professors.

Step 5 - Accommodations for Placement tests or Pre-Admission tests

If you have registered with Accessible Learning Services and require accommodations for a placement test, the Accessible Learning Services Welcome Desk will book an appointment for you to meet with an Accessibility Consultant.

• Your Accessibility Consultant will set up the accommodations for your placement test
• Your Accessibility Consultant will provide instructions for booking your placement test appointment

If you have registered with Accessible Learning Services and require accommodations for a pre-admission test, your Accessibility Consultant will set up your test accommodations and send them to you by email. Your Accessibility Consultant will provide instructions for booking your pre-admission test appointment.

Did you know?

Students with disabilities who receive OSAP may qualify for special funding, such as the Bursary for a Student with a Disability (BSWD) for up to $2,000 a year. Students can also apply for an additional up to $20,000 a year from the Canada Study Grants for Persons with Permanent Disabilities (CSG-PDSE). This money can be used for any purpose, such as rent, food or books. Talk to your Consultant about whether you are eligible. Visit osap.gov.on.ca for more details.

Adaptive technologies

Many adaptive technologies are available for free through online resources. These include screen readers and voice to text options. Here are some video tutorials to help get you started:

• Office 365: Voice Dictation and Read Aloud
• Windows 10: Read Aloud
• Apple OSX: Speech To Text
• Apple iOS: Text to Speech
• Android Devices: Select to Speak
• Google Docs: Voice Dictation

The college has many policies.

You do not need to remember all of them, but you should be aware of and know where to access them if you need to. So make sure you bookmark the policy page on your device so you can easily access it.

Academic Integrity, Academic Code of Conduct and Code of Student Behaviour & Community Standards, Web Privacy, Privacy, and the COVID-19 Vaccination policy have particular relevance for you, and you should be familiar with the content of these policies. The Office of the Registrar policy also outlines information and processes which are important to all students studying at the college.

Policies are listed in alphabetical order. Key sections (not an index) of each policy are shown with bullets below the main policy name.