Course Information
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Earth Course Assistance Centre (ECAC)
WELCOME to ECAC -- your Help Centre (EMAIL ECAC).
The ECAC is open at different times during the week for help with different courses.
Please consult the ECAC schedule - PDF link here - in order
to determine when there will be a TA for your course available in ECAC.
Your questions can be about the textbook readings, assignments, labs, lectures, exams, or any other aspects of the courses.
ECAC TAs are also "on-call" (that is, on email) many evenings throughout the term. You may email your questions using this form, or directly to to ecac (at) eos.ubc.ca, even when the centre is not physically open.
ECAC Location: EOS-Main Room 109
Room 109 of the Earth & Ocean Sciences Main building (EOS-Main), at 6339 Stores Rd on campus. The ECAC room is visible at the north end of the Pacific Museum of the Earth located in the lobby area. Look for the sign on the wall. Also see department contact page for campus maps, or this PDF sketch of EOS main's lobby area.
Phone: 604-822-9005
The TAs are happy to receive and answer calls, but will not call out or return calls. The preferred way to leave a message is via email.
Here's the email form or you can email ecac (at) eos.ubc.ca directly from your mail program.
(where you should replace "(at)" with symbol "@" in the above email address.)
When you email us a question, please be as specific as possible as to where the question arose. For example, for questions about the textbook, give the book title, the exact page number and location on the page. For lecture-related questions, give the course number, lecture date, instructor, and topic. For lab-related questions give the course number, lab title or number, and the question number or location within that lab.
Different TAs are experts in different areas of the course (geophysics for earthquakes, geology for volcanoes, geological engineering for landslides, atmospheric science for storms, oceanography for waves, and paleontology for meteor impacts). So you will likely receive the best and quickest answer if you can visit or call the ECAC during a time when the TA with the right expertise is on duty. These expertise areas will be listed in the ECAC schedule. This schedule evolves as the term progresses, so check the web page for the latest schedule info. (If you email your questions, they will often be forwarded to the appropriate TA).
Click here for the schedule of operation of the Earth Course Assistance Centre (ECAC) (updated Jan. 2013).
This schedule will change during the term so please check the link regularly for up-to-date information.
It is not staffed on weekends. Special hours during final exam period will be added to the ECAC schedule.
More Helpful Tips
Steps You Can Take to Get Answers to Your Questions:
- First, use the index of your textbook to find more info. Also check your lecture notes and the web pages for this course. You might be able to answer your own question this way.
- Next, check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on your course website to see if your question has already been answered.
- Ask a fellow classmate from the course. Form study groups. Hire tutors.
- Visit, email, or call the Earth Course Assistance Centre (ECAC). See ECAC contact info. above.
- If all else fails, then contact the instructor who taught the section in question, but only for lecture-related questions. For lab-related and other questions, talk to a TA (see item 4 above).
UBC Registration and Advising Info
For tips on how to select courses, make timetables, and register, see this link.
The official UBC Calendar (which describes degree requirements and courses) is at
this link.
Related Links
Undergrads in EOS
EOS Undergrad Program
Undergrad Brochure
Click here for the (pdf) schedule of operation of the Earth Course Assistance Centre.
