An Update Regarding TCSA Services

As we gain a better understanding of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the community we would like to give all our members and campus and community partners an update on the status of TCSA services.

Following our recent spring election, our Executives and Board of Directors will be undergoing a period of transition, until Sunday, April 5, 2020. During this time, incoming and outgoing Executives will be meeting digitally to ensure a smooth transition of duties and services within each role. A listing of services and portfolios related to each executive position can be found on our website: https://trentcentral.ca/executive. Feel free to reach out to any of our executives, at any point, at the contact information below, or send us a general email to info@trentcentral.ca and we can direct it to the proper channel.

In regards to TCSA services, Trent University has closed all buildings on campus, including the Student Centre. Due to this closure and adherence to physical distancing directives, our office will be closed for the unforeseeable future. We are continuing to work to ensure that essential services required by our members can be received in a timely manner. Please see the following for the status of TCSA services:

Trent Student Benefits Plan

Your student health and dental plan is fully operational for all students who are enrolled in the plan, whether in Canada or abroad. You can still make health claims and travel claims as you normally would, through our benefits website: www.studentvip.ca/trent. Students are still able to access our Live Chat services should they have any questions regarding their health and dental plan. Visit www.studentvip.ca/Trent to connect with one of our Live Chat Agents.You can also contact StudentVIP directly by emailing info@studentvip.ca or calling 1-888-918-5056. 

If you are abroad, or an International Student who has returned home, you may also call CanAssistance, the 24/7 multilingual call centre that can offer assistance or help with health and travel claims. The contact numbers for CanAssistance are:

  • Within North America: 1-800-563-4444

  • Outside North America (Call Collect): 1-506-854-2222

Direct2U Prescriptions

While the TCSA office is closed for prescription pickup, you can call Alliance Pharmacy at 1-877-796-7979 to get your prescriptions re-routed for pickup at an alternative location that is convenient for you.

Transit

At this time and as a result of the closure of Symons campus, the Trent Express West Bank and East Bank buses, including the Late Night Trent Express, have been suspended. Should you require travel to and from campus, the #1 George North bus will still be available to pick-up and drop-off at Bata Library. 

All regular Peterborough Transit routes are continuing to operate, and as of Tuesday, March 31, 2020, they will run on an “enhanced Sunday schedule” seven days a week, every 40 minutes, beginning at 8:00am and running until 7:20pm.

Start times for the Handivan service remain unchanged, though the service will finish at 7:20pm. The Community Bus will operate from 9:00am until 4:50pm, seven days a week.

All Peterborough Transit routes and schedules can be found on the City of Peterborough’s website: https://peterborough.ca/transit. 

Student Fees & Emergency Assistance Funding 

The TCSA recognizes that the transit service has been significantly impacted and that our membership’s ability to utilize the transit pass has been diminished. As the transit fee is non-refundable we are unable to issue any refund requests. However, we are creating an Emergency Student Assistance Fund by combining funds from various TCSA budget lines (such as budgets from cancelled events) and existing student funding lines (such as the Grocery Assistance program) to create a broad source of funding for students who may require assistance through this challenging time. 

The new Emergency Student Assistance Fund will be available to students in the coming weeks. This fund is being established to support our members who are in serious financial need. Please apply for funding if you require:

  • Assistance with essential supplies and groceries

  • Emergency health and dental coverage

  • Academic funding

  • Transit and travel assistance

Please note that the Association is suspending other kinds of funding normally offered to increase the amount of support available to our members while COVID-19 persists in the community. 

The Emergency Student Assistance Fund application form is available on our website by clicking here. Students who submit an application will receive a response once the application has been reviewed. If you have any questions or concerns about the status of your application or about TCSA student funding, please email operations@trentcentral.ca. 

Contact Us

Please know that the TCSA is here to support you in any way we can. We are in the process of compiling information and resources surrounding COVID-19 that you may find helpful; stay tuned to our website and social media for updates. Our staff and executives are available at the following email addresses: