UNews - ULSU

Dr. Digvir Jayas begins term with well attended Welcome Walk

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:38:55 +0000

Billed as a 30-minute tour of campus, Dr. Digvir Jayas’s Welcome Walk stretched past 45 minutes as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s new president and vice-chancellor engaged with multiple members of the ULethbridge community as he made his way around the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s sprawling property.

(From left) Dr. Jennifer Copeland, associate dean, Faculty of Arts & Science, Maleeka Thomas, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union, Dr. Digvir Jayas, president and vice-chancellor, and Jaxon Reiter, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Graduate Students' Association, lead the way during Tuesday's Welcome Walk.

More of a walk-and-talk, Jayas was quick to stop and chat with the various people who continued to join in on the event as it progressed through the scenic route — even earning a cheer from an exuberant Destination Exploration summer camp group. Staff, faculty, student representatives, local politicians and southern Alberta community members all participated to celebrate the first official workday for Jayas.

“I certainly am excited to be here,” says Jayas. “I think this went very well.”

Maleeka Thomas, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union, says the walk served as an excellent opportunity to hear from Jayas about his institutional priorities, of which students are top of mind.

“It was pretty amazing to get to experience this and to see the new president come in and prioritize student leadership and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as always being at the forefront of his thoughts,” says Thomas. “It was great to talk about how we can work together to ensure we are seeing the betterment of our student population.”

Jaxon Reiter, president of the Graduate Students' Association, also took part in the walk.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to meet Dr. Jayas and hear about his excitement for this new role and his commitment to bettering the student experience," says Reiter. "I look forward to working with him to advance graduate student supports."

Jayas says that continuing to build relationships both within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and externally with the broader community is key in maintaining the upward trajectory of ULethbridge. He says his priority now is to continue to make connections and utilize an engaged community to establish the path forward for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Tuesday’s Welcome Walk, enthusiastically attended by all corners of campus and the broader southern Alberta community, was an outstanding first step.

Proactive approach to student mental health at the heart of R.E.C. Room initiative

trevor.kenney — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 20:55:32 +0000

A student with a healthy and positive state of mind is more likely to be engaged, successful and flourishing. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s newest strategy to enhance student mental health is the introduction of the R.E.C. Room — multi-site campus hubs designed to invite students to step away from the stress of study and research to relax their minds and connect with one another.

Introduced today in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium, the R.E.C. Room (an acronym for refresh, energize, connect) is a joint initiative funded by ULethbridge and created in consultation with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), Student Affairs and in collaboration with Agility, Horns Recreation and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library. Like the giant Jenga game students can now play in the R.E.C. Room, multiple blocks of support must come together to promote flourishing.

“It’s imperative we proactively address students’ mental health needs and promote wellness at every opportunity,” says Dr. Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “With mental health issues so prevalent amongst students, and the benefits of proactively addressing those issues so pronounced, it is in every school’s best interest to promote mental wellness on campus. Our investment in the mental health of our students carries the obvious short-term benefit of enhancing their student experience, and also supports student retention and in the end, leads to successful students who go on to positively impact their communities and society as a whole.”

So, where are the R.E.C. Rooms, what’s in them and who can use them?

The Rec Room locations include the UHall Atrium, Science Commons (outside the Innovation Zone), Markin Hall Atrium, Galileo’s in the Students’ Union, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library (just past the circulation desk), and the Chill Zone in Agility’s Innovation Zone.

The rooms will be equipped with a variety of activities, including quiet pursuits like puzzles, a giant chess board, virtual reality games, digital games and art hives/murals, Indigenous games, as well as some active games such as ping pong, foosball, air hockey and giant Jenga. If you feel like just relaxing, there will be bean bag chairs for reading, chatting or just zoning out. Horns Recreation will also be offering events as part of this initiative, such as the recent Yoga Rave, a dodge ball tournament and outdoor games (spring).

Open to all students, staff and faculty, the concept is to improve mental wellness throughout ULethbridge.

“Research tells us that people who have strong connections and relationships with others, engage in regular play and creative activity, build frequent exercise and physical activity into their lives, laugh, serve others and participate in spiritual activity report higher levels of life satisfaction,” says Slomp. “The spaces we are setting up across campus are designed to encourage these kinds of activities and habits and serve as a catalyst for students to consider how they are deliberately cultivating a flourishing life.”

The Students’ Union played a major role in identifying what activities would resonate with students.

“Students need more support, and the R.E.C. Rooms are a fun and innovative way for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and the Students’ Union to support students holistically rather than just purely academically,” says Gage Desteur, Students’ Union vice-president academic. “I’m looking forward to the positive impact these spaces will have on our campus and on students’ overall well-being, especially as we continue to rebuild our campus community, now that we are fully back in person.”

The R.E.C. Rooms are open for activity on Feb. 1.

Fresh Fest 2020 goes virtual with outstanding lineup of events

trevor.kenney — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 19:38:07 +0000

The start of the fall semester would not be complete without the annual Fresh Fest extravaganza to properly welcome students to campus culture. But how can you create culture in the virtual and socially distanced world of COVID-19? The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU) knows how.

The ULSU’s Fresh Fest 2020 takes place this week and features a number of outstanding events thanks to the efforts of the organizing group who helped put the virtual festival together.

“We have been working tirelessly to be innovative with Fresh Fest this year, with unprecedented cross-campus collaborations and new events,” says Richard Lee-Thai, the ULSU’s vice-president of Student Affairs. “The objective of Fresh Fest is the same, to celebrate the U of L and connect students together, and we believe we’ve lined up a series of events that will do just that.”

Of the many events on tap for the week, a trio of sessions stand out.

• Campus Concert Kick-Off (Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.) — Organized by the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities (COCA), the ULSU is one of 26 Canadian campuses that will be collaborating on hosting an online concert. Featuring six different artists, as well as a contest for a student to win free tuition for a year, this nationwide concert will be the first of its kind. The band lineup includes: Lennon Stella, Pink Sweat$, Roy Wood$, A Tribe Called Red, Tyson Ritter of the All-American Rejects, and The Reklaws.

• A Conversation with Angela Davis (Friday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.) — Organized initially by the ULSU and the Students' Association at MacEwan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (SAMU), a total of six partnering campuses have now come on board to host a moderated discussion and Q&A with political activist Angela Davis. Eternity Martis, author of They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up, will also join the presentation. The speakers will be discussing issues of anti-racism and allyship in current times.

• First Lecture (Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m.) — As a bookend to the annual Last Lecture event where professors share what they would say in their last lecture, First Lecture will feature five alumni giving talks to new and continuing students. This is a collaboration between the ULSU, PACT (philanthropy, advancement, community, traditions) and Alumni Relations.

“As well, a series of speed friending activities, presentations from Agility, a digital scavenger hunt and many more activities have been scheduled,” says Lee-Thai.

For a full lineup of Fresh Fest activities, visit the Fresh Fest website.

Broader community invited to view popular Last Lecture Series as it moves to online format

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 17:32:27 +0000

It has become an annual rite of spring for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students and now, the broader community will have the opportunity to take in an enhanced online edition of the Last Lecture Series.

Presented annually by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU), the Last Lecture Series has become one of the most popular events of the academic year. It traditionally features three U of L professors talking about life lessons that cannot be learned in the classroom, posing the question to them, “If you could talk about just one thing for your last lecture, what would it be?”

This spring, with an in-person event not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ULSU is co-hosting with the student club PACT (philanthropy, advancement, community, traditions) and taking the event online. They have also expanded the lecturer list to an impressive eight speakers who represent a broad cross-section of disciplines from throughout campus. Celebrating a theme of adaptability, this impressive group will be online Friday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to present their individual thoughts on what adaptability means to them.

“With most end-of-semester events cancelled, we wanted an initiative that could bring the uLethbridge community together,” says Kierian Turner, one of the event organizers and a past PACT president. “The Last Lecture has always been important to students of the graduating class, so we prioritized moving to an online model so that students are still able to get that final takeaway. It was important to have a panel with diverse experiences and research backgrounds so that attendees have the opportunity to connect on a deeper level and have a more holistic experience.”

The speaker schedule is as follows:

Tony Montina (BSc '08, MSc '10) — Introduction

10 a.m. — Adam Letourneau (Dhillon School of Business) — Life can Wonderfully be a Series of Career Changes

10:30 a.m. — Dr. Robin Bright (BASc '79, BEd '82, MEd '88) (Faculty of Education) — Everything I Really Need to Know, I Learned in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ

11 a.m. — Dr. Shannon Spenceley (BN '84) (Faculty of Health Sciences) — Strange Days - Thriving in Uncertain Times

11:30 a.m. — Dr. Janay Nugent (BA '95) (Department of History) — The Empowerment of Young People in Tumultuous Times

12 to 1 p.m. — Lunch Break

1 p.m. — Don McIntrye (Dhillon School of Business) — Tricksters & Butterflies: Belonging Beyond this Day

1:30 p.m. — Dr. Robbin Derry (Dhillon School of Business) — What to Hold onto When Everything is in Flux?

2 p.m. — Dr. Anne Dymond (Faculty of Fine Arts) — Is it Too Late to Switch my Major? Or How I Learned to Live with Doubt

2:30 p.m. — Dr. Bryan Kolb (Department of Neuroscience) — Adaptability and the Brain that Changes Itself

Tony Montina — Closing

“What I love about our speaker lineup is that each of these professors apply their personal experience and expertise to a theme that is relatable to everyone — adaptability,” adds Turner. “This lineup will truly demonstrate the importance of a liberal education and how you can apply your uLethbridge experience to the many ways you will have to adapt throughout your lifetime. We have world-class faculty, and we are excited to share a glimpse of that with our community.”

The Last Lecture is a book co-authored by Randy Pausch, detailing everything he wanted his children to know after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Pausch delivered his last lecture entitled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams as part of a lecture series where ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are challenged to think about what really matters to them and give a Last Lecture.

For more on The Last Lecture speakers, follow this link: uleth.ca/alumni/last-lecture. To join the event, check in at go.uleth.ca/LastLecture2020.

New digital therapy platform introduced to enhance mental health services for students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 21:13:50 +0000

Mental health services for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students are receiving an online boost with the introduction of the TAO Connect digital platform, making behavioural health therapy more accessible, efficient and effective.

Through TAO (therapy assistance online) Connect, students now have access to an app providing behavioural health tools on the go, in addition to in-person sessions with U of L Counselling and Career Services. TAO’s technology can be used two ways: therapists at the counselling centre can individually assign TAO to students as a way to supplement in-person sessions, or students can enroll in the program and download the app for a completely self-guided experience outside of the counselling centre.

“A huge benefit of this platform is that it broadens our reach in terms of being able to provide support to a larger number of students – some of whom who are not ready to seek professional help or like to access supports in other modalities,” says Jennifer Ellis-Toddington, manager of Counselling and Career Services at the U of L. “Another benefit is the self-check component in the app where students can check on their own mental health and, if indicated, that can move them towards getting professional help.”

Students utilizing TAO Connect have access to a suite of digital behavioural health tools, and also have the option to use the technology in tandem with a U of L counsellor. This gives students the ability to diligently practice the skills and techniques they learn through their counselling sessions, on their own time.

The platform is being funded through the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union health and dental plan and came about through a series of conversations between the ULSU and Student Services.

“It was really just conversations about how we can continue to best meet the mental health needs of students on campus,” says Mark Slomp, executive director of Student Services. “My favourite part of this is the collaboration that led to us getting together around a common concern, which is student well-being, and partnering to figure out how we can continue to do our best to address that.”

Andrew Gammack, ULSU president, says the platform meets students in their own space, anonymously, and is backed by evidence-based practices.

“Not everyone is in a position to approach counselling. A ULSU core value is accessibility and we wanted to make sure that there were more services on campus to help those who maybe don’t feel quite as comfortable coming forward to counselling services,” he says. “I interact with a lot of students who can identify with these issues. I really appreciate this service and the science behind it.”

The program includes high quality, interactive, educational modules in structured programs along with a companion app with daily practice tools. TAO’s screening measure can help someone choose the best program for them, and TAO’s progress measure helps track improvement. The anonymous self-screening tool combines five different tests for depression, alcohol and drug problems, anxiety, trauma and chronic pain. Once screened, the user will either be given links to access the appropriate self-help tools, or suggestions to see a health professional.

Through TAO’s completely self-directed, self-help app and online program, students are provided an opportunity to learn stress management, mindfulness skills, problem solving and strategies to avoid rumination and develop more helpful thinking patterns.

“We’re really eager to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to student mental health on campus, recognizing that students have very different needs and like to access services and supports in different ways,” he says. “We want to make sure we have all kinds of services and tools so we can best meet the needs of all students.”

TAO Connect is available for free to all U of L students by using their U of L email address to register. They can access the platform on the Counselling and Career Services website or on this Students’ Union website link. To learn more about TAO and its technology, visit TAOConnect.org, and to download the TAO mobile app, visit the iTUNES Store or Android’s app store.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community comes together in record support of ULSU Food Bank

trevor.kenney — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 18:52:33 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community and its extended partners have come together to help make the Christmas season a little brighter for U of L students by stocking the shelves and raising more than $12,000 for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union (ULSU) Food Bank.

The food and fundraising drive has helped to ensure that U of L students will not be turned away in their time of need and can continue to pursue their academic goals.

"Considering the current economic climate, it should come as no surprise our food bank is being utilized by students (both undergraduate and graduate) at record breaking numbers,” says ULSU President Cameron Howey. “Our students need support more than ever and it is amazing how the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community has come together in support.”

The various initiatives that contributed to the food bank included virtually every corner of campus. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Board of Governors, Senate and General Faculties Council participated in a pass-the-hat fundraiser; Faculties facilitated piggy bank donations and a chili cook-off event; the IT and Finance departments engaged in their annual challenge; the Registrar’s Office held its annual peanut butter/jam fundraiser and a host of other initiatives all contributed to the cause.

“It is inspiring to witness our community come together and raise money to make sure no student goes hungry,” adds Howey. “Through the support of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, we are happy to say we have not turned a single student away from the food bank this year. We were also thrilled to see the effort of many partners of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.”

The fundraising efforts extended to community business partners such as the U of L Bookstore, Starbucks Coffee, The Coffee Co. and others.

PCL Construction Management Ltd., the lead construction contractor for the U of L’s Destination Project, also got in on the act through a campaign that collected donations for both the ULSU Food Bank and three local families.

“We adopted three local families who needed a little extra help this Christmas along with making a cash and food donation to the ULSU,” says Anna Slater, PCL field office manager. “We were so overwhelmed with the response that not only U of L Destination Project staff and PCL staff made, but our trade contractors, too.”

Brian Sullivan, the U of L’s project director for the Destination Project, says the sense of community on campus is real.

“I feel so fortunate to have a great job and sadly there are many who aren’t in the same position right now,” says Sullivan. “That’s a sentiment that is clearly shared on this project as our trades, contractors and staff gave so generously. It’s a wonderful way to come together as a group and give back to the community and U of L students.”

Howey says students are fully aware of the support they receive on campus and are sincerely thankful for the generosity of the community.

“This is the largest amount we have ever raised during the lead-up to the holiday season,” he says. “In addition to all the efforts of our U of L community, this donation from the people involved with the Destination Project shows they are not only invested in the building, but also invested in bettering the student experience. On behalf of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students, thank you. You’ve made this holiday season much brighter.”

Kassam eager for challenge

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:54:58 +0000

While it may have taken two votes to fill out executive council and general assembly, there was no question who students wanted as their next ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union president.

ULSU president-elect Taz Kassam, a BA and BMgt student, is one of only four women to ever hold the position and she is looking forward to the challenge.

"I am deeply appreciative of the support, both during and following the election," says Kassam. "I am very excited about the opportunities ahead and am ready to serve as a representative for the ULSU."

Due to a lack of nominations in the general election, the Students' Union was forced to hold a by-election to fill out remaining vacancies on executive council and general assembly.

Kassam will be working with Allan Hall, vice-president administration, who held this position last year; Keith McLaughlin, vice-president academic. The position of vice-president Internal Affairs, will be decided in a by-election, which was held after the public.

"I'm excited to pass the torch to next year's executive team," says Alex Massé, vice-president academic. "They're all solid people with relevant experience. They've also been very perceptive of some of the areas that they can improve upon over the past year."

Kassam is no stranger to the ULSU as she has been an active volunteer for the organization. The 22-year old, who grew up in Calgary but has called Lethbridge home for the last five years, does not lack the skills necessary to be successful in the demanding position of ULSU President. She acquired invaluable experience while serving on the executive council with the Management Students' Society and Jeux de Commerce West Business Competition, where she served as event co-ordinator of the 5th Annual Chillin' for Charity Polar Bear Dip that raised more than $16,000 for the Lethbridge United Way.

Kassam aspires to decrease student apathy through activism and communication. She describes her platform as one that encompasses a grassroots approach, and she has decided to work on matters that will most benefit students. After all, ULSU is an organization for the students, and run by the students.

"I believe the low levels of student engagement stem from a lack of communication from the ULSU and a lack of knowledge about the Students' Union," says Kassam. "It is my hope, along with the executive council, to reverse this increase in student apathy and decline in student empowerment. The longer we travel on this road the less likely the opinion of the student will matter."

Increasing the importance of post-secondary education in the eyes of the government is important to Kassam and she intends to battle this by generating student involvement through lobbying efforts for affordable and quality education.

The ULSU 2010/2011 General Assembly currently includes Andrew Williams, Lisa Rodych, Zack Moline, Tyrell Dasilva, Shane Groarke and Cole Schneider, who are all arts and science representatives; Kyle Hammond as the organization of residence students representative. The remaining General Assembly positions will also be decided in a by-election. Visit www.ulsu.ca for full election results.

The ULSU exists to represent students' interests at the provincial and federal levels of government and to provide value-added services, spaces and programs to enhance the campus community.

ULSU election polls open

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:26:29 +0000

The polls are open as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union conducts its annual elections.

Polls opened at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and will remain open through to 3 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 5. Results of the election will be announced later that afternoon, 5 p.m. in the Zoo.

While Jeremy Girard, who is running unopposed, has been acclaimed as the new president of the ULSU, a variety of other positions are up for grabs. To take a look at the candidates and learn how to cast your online ballot, visit www.ulsu.ca for all the details.

UNews - ULSU

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