McMaster University organises training and programmes to improve access to basic services for all.

McMaster United Way Campaign: Local Love in a Global Crisis

The McMaster United Way Campaign: Local Love in a Global Crisis ensures an essential network of programs and services to achieve lasting, positive change through community engagement. It allows McMaster staff, faculty, and students to strengthen their relationship with the surrounding community.

TMG Ways of Caring

The TMG Ways of Caring offers volunteer opportunities to the McMaster TMG community. This initiative supports not-for-profit agencies in the broader community in order to deepen the understanding of the McMaster community towards the complex issues facing Hamilton.

It also aims to assist the efforts of community agencies to improve the quality and conditions of their clients’ lives. It strengthens the service-oriented and collaborative culture amongst TMG employees and helps identify how this knowledge can inform our work as a university.

Global Skills Opportunity: Developing Skilled Future Leaders in Strengthening Health and Social Systems

The Global Skills Opportunity enables emerging leaders within McMaster University’s undergraduate community to build knowledge and skills to support health and social system strengthening internationally. The project leverages McMaster Health Forum’s programs to support skill development in policy, political and systems analysis, evidence synthesis, and stakeholder engagement, while building on student mentorship, leadership development and facilitating international exchange.

While open to all undergraduate students, the national program targets groups for whom international experiences have traditionally been less accessible — specifically Indigenous students, students from low-income backgrounds, and those with disabilities. It also aims to diversify the destination countries where Canadian students pursue international learning.

Access Program

McMaster’s Access Program assists academically qualified students from equity deserving groups in Hamilton and surrounding communities to access university education at the undergraduate level. They work with students to help navigate the application and admissions process, and are there to ensure success through to graduation.

MacChangers

MacChangers offer experiential learning opportunities to students and propose collaborative solutions to the most complex and pressing problems confronting society in the 21^st century as identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Think Global) and Our Future Hamilton (Act Local) long-term community vision.

Throughout the school year, MacChangers teams develop their professional and transferable skills through workshops on a variety of topics, such as human-centred design, financial viability of solutions, prototyping, communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving. The program welcomes students from all faculties to share their expertise and has no cost to enroll.

Social Innovation Certificate

The Social Innovation Certificate is designed for undergraduate students to develop an academic focus in the development and implementation of solutions for effective, long-term social impact. The new program helps students develop the skills they need to design and implement real-world solutions to social issues.

ACCESS Tech

ACCESS Tech helps to provide Hamiltonians in need by donating used technology like computers, laptops, and mobile devices. Students, faculty members and staff can drop off any used technology for donation on McMaster campus.

Financial Literacy Month

Financial Literacy Month is held in November every year. McMaster University offers expert financial advice, money management tips, workshops, panel events and more. Topics include budgeting, pay cheques, inflation, credit scores and financial empowerment.

Mac’s Money Centre Financial Coaches

As part of their offerings, Mac’s Money Centre offers students appointments with money coaches, who offer their views to help students with their unique financial circumstances reach their financial goals. These coaches help students make budgets, help clear up misconceptions around budgets, and help students find the advice they need to succeed now and in the future. Please see the “resources and tools” option from the “About Us” drop-down menu for a look at the other ways the Money Centre teaches and supports students with their financial needs.