UNews - Supporting Our Students

Teaching the past, supporting the future

trevor.kenney — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 19:11:55 +0000

History has always fascinated Dr. David Hay. The first time the past captured Hay’s interest and imagination he was a Grade 4 student. Not long after, Hay recalls feeling a spark of inspiration — ignited by the realization that history was something he could study forever.

“I was a pretty disinterested student until history grabbed my attention,” Hay recalls. “Once I knew it was possible to study something I was genuinely interested in, my path was set.”

Dr. David Hay teaches history and he's invested in the future of U of L students.

Hay turned his interest in history into a career, and became a professor on the subject at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2000.

While Hay spends his days teaching his students about events of the past, he is deeply committed to their future. He has been a monthly contributor to the Supporting Our Students initiative for years, serves as a spokesperson for the campaign and is also on the SOS community building subcommittee. For Hay, participating in SOS is an exercise in empathy.

“Anybody who’s gone the distance in academia should have no trouble relating to the struggles students face,” says Hay. “Once you’ve reached the PhD level, financial pressure is something you understand very well. Contributing to SOS is a way to let students know that, as professors, we’ve been through the same thing. We get it, we’ve been there and we want to help.”

Hay says that the challenges students face today are even greater than when he went to university, and believes the benefits of the SOS program extend far beyond financial relief.

“There is a community of people that make SOS possible,” says Hay. “We’re not just helping students out from under the pressure of how to pay for school. We’re creating a culture. The shared belief that students are important enough to put our dollars behind binds us together, and the overall effect is a sort of intangible positivity that reaches far beyond individual financial situations. It’s like an extended family. We’re all in it for the students, and we all want to see them succeed.”

Current participation in SOS university-wide is around 30 percent — a rate Hay would very much like to see increase. His own department, the Department of History, has the highest rate of participation (100 per cent for seven consecutive years, to be exact), and Hay challenges every department to achieve the same.

“Students need to know we are committed to their success,” he says. “The amount you give is not as important as the fact that you give. You can simply sign up on-line, via The Bridge. It’s quick and easy, and even five dollars a month will make a difference. The success of our students is worth it.”

Join David and support our students today.

Patti (Leeb) Infanti gives from the heart

trevor.kenney — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 19:34:27 +0000

As financial systems analyst at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Patti (Leeb) Infanti deals with dollars and cents, but at the heart, she’s all about community.

Infanti has been at the U of L for 26 years. She’s worked in a variety of different roles over the course of her career, but Infanti’s current position in the Department of Financial Services gives her an inside track on just how important a positive cash flow can be – and the culmination of time and experience Infanti has on campus gives her financial insights a very personal slant.

Patti (Leeb) Infanti’s admiration for students and keen appreciation for the financial workings at the U of L motivated her to give more than just her time and skills to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

“I’m amazed by students,” she says. “Every year I see it – an influx of determined, dedicated, talented young people who are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Their work ethic is incredible. They rise to every challenge. ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is no walk in the park – students are under a lot of pressure, not just academically, but financially too. Money is a real issue no matter who or what we’re talking about. It’s part of the equation for everyone and students are no different.”

Infanti’s admiration for students and keen appreciation for the financial workings at the U of L motivated her to give more than just her time and skills to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Infanti is a longstanding contributor to the Supporting Our Students (SOS) initiative – a scholarship and bursary program that’s funded 100 per cent by U of L employees and retirees.

“I really don’t like the notion that someone who wants to get an education might not because of a lack of funding,” says Infanti. “Everyone is entitled to an education. Money shouldn’t get in the way of it. To imagine there are bright minds out there that won’t reach their potential because of finances? That’s unthinkable to me. Knowing what I know of students – how hard they work, how focused they are; as an employee of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the least I can do is support their efforts.”

Infanti’s history of supporting scholarships has a very personal beginning. A friend who lost a son several years ago started a fund in his memory. Infanti began contributing to that fund as a way to honour her friend’s son and help her through the grieving.

“It was a really natural thing to do, so that’s where it all started,” says Infanti of her first contributions. “Things grew from there. I began contributing to other funds in other areas and the more I participated the better I felt about it. Once my own children began university and started to receive scholarships themselves, I could see the importance of that kind of support from the other side. The benefits of scholarships are huge, and not just for students. When students have financial breathing room, everyone on campus benefits.”

From Infanti’s perspective, contributing to SOS is contributing to a community that she considers a second home. She’s an active volunteer not only on campus but also in the city, and serves as member of the U of L SOS committee.

“I’ve been at the U of L for nearly three decades and I can honestly say that I’ve loved every day of it. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a very special place filled with incredible people, and I feel compelled to help uphold it. SOS is part of the glue that holds our campus together. We are one big community. It’s up to us to create the kind of environment we want to be a part of.”

Please join Patti and support our students today.

Cowie views SOS support as freeing up students to be their best

trevor.kenney — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 22:05:44 +0000

Asheley Cowie’s enthusiasm is contagious. Her voice bubbles with positive energy, especially when she starts talking about her job at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Even the name of the position (the tongue-twisting title of Coordinator of Orientation and Transition, Enrolment Services) isn’t enough to slow down Cowie’s rapid-fire dialogue. She’s bursting with energy, and she credits a lot of it to the passion she has for her job.

Asheley Cowie sees herself as the beneficiary of her own SOS donations.

“The work is very hands on and I love it,” says Cowie. “Students are the best – they are energetic and optimistic, and they constantly give their all. Helping them is a joy. I really can’t articulate how much admiration I have for people who embark on the journey through university. Whatever helps students start out on the right foot or makes things less stressful for them, that’s what I’m here to do.”

Aside from daily interactions with students when she’s providing answers to every conceivable question a new student might have, Cowie goes beyond the call of duty and puts her money where her mouth is. She’s been a contributor to the U of L Supporting Our Students (SOS) initiative since 2009, and says backing up her work with dollars simply makes good sense.

“My job is to help students. That’s what I’m paid to do. Working one-on-one with students every day has given me a really good sense of the challenges they face, and financial pressure is very real for a lot of them. If my role here is to assist those students, then financial assistance is part of my job. Yes, it’s voluntary, but it’s also a win/win situation. When I contribute to SOS, I’m not just helping students – I’m fostering an environment where I can thrive as well.”

Cowie paid her own way as a university student, and contrary to the notion that everyone should do the same, Cowie takes the position that she’d rather make the road toward a degree easier to travel for those behind her.

“I got through university working a variety of jobs, and it was really tough. I see students who struggle, and I see those whose burden is lightened by virtue of someone else’s financial generosity. The gift of that is incredible. For a student to be able to focus on their studies, and not have to think about picking up a second or even third job to cover the bases financially – that’s invaluable to them. It’s motivating and humbling, and it helps to foster the kind of climate on campus I think we all want to have.”

Contributing to SOS sends a clear message, Cowie says, one that, from professional experience, she strongly feels students need to hear.

“From the moment I start communicating with students, the message is, I’m here for you. I’ve got your back – you’re not alone. The SOS program is a way for U of L faculty and staff to broadcast that message at large. When students feel supported, they are able to give their best. We’ve got to do our part so they can do theirs.”

Supporting Our Students co-chairs aim to create a better campus

trevor.kenney — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 17:21:15 +0000

As dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and an academic research project officer, respectively, Dr. Chris Hosgood and Jacqueline Preyde contribute to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in very different ways. But as co-chairs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s 2015/2016 Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign, Hosgood and Preyde share a combined goal: to help create a healthy and successful U of L student body.

Jacqueline Preyde, left, and Dr. Chris Hosgood are the 2015/2016 Supporting Our Students campaign co-chairs.

Hosgood has been at the U of L since 1988, and dean of Health Sciences for the last decade. Preyde worked at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in the 1990s as a sessional instructor, then returned in 2008 as an academic advisor before moving to her current position last year. They may see the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s SOS initiative from different vantage points, but both agree that the program is an essential component in creating a vibrant and cohesive ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus.

“The U of L isn’t a huge university, but it is a hugely vital and energetic place,” says Hosgood. “The thing I’ve always liked the most about the U of L is that it feels like one big family. The SOS program is one way that family is visible and has a positive impact.”

Supporting Our Students is an initiative whereby U of L faculty and staff make monetary donations towards existing or new scholarships and bursaries that are distributed among the student body each year. So far this year, 239 current staff members and retirees are participating in SOS, a figure that Preyde and Hosgood are proud of, but would like to see increase in 2015/16. The committee’s goal for this next year is to increase the number of staff donating monthly to support our students.

“We want to get as many people involved as possible, whether it’s through contributing to the fund or participating on the SOS committee,” says Preyde. “Giving back to our students does so much for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as a whole. It would be great if everyone who works here was part of it. We’re helping our students, which of course is the main goal, but the ripple effects from that are tremendous. When students receive scholarship and bursary support, they can worry less about their finances and can concentrate on their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, helping them to be successful, happy students.”

Hosgood believes that the effects of SOS funding on students go a lot further than just relieving financial pressure.

“I actually think it’s a health issue,” says Hosgood. “Many students are working two, even three jobs to help subsidize their education. Many of our students have families. There comes a point when students reach a level of pressure that’s not only detrimental to their academic success, it’s detrimental to their well-being, both physically and mentally. We have the opportunity as faculty and staff to alleviate some of that pressure through SOS.”

Joel Snodgrass, a fifth-year combined science and management student, knows the difference a bit of funding can make firsthand. Snodgrass applied for and received a number of scholarships over the course of his studies, totaling more than $12,000.

Fifth-year student Joel Snodgrass applied for and received a number of scholarships over the course of his studies.

“The scholarships motivated me; they encouraged me to focus on my studies and to do well,” says Snodgrass. “When someone believes in you enough to provide funding, that’s huge. It changes the way you think about your education and improves your entire university experience. The scholarships I received made it possible for me to get involved on campus, to volunteer and participate, rather than having to work a part-time job. I think it’s rounded me out as a person and will give me a head start when I begin my career.”

Preyde and Hosgood see students like Snodgrass every day, and see their own financial contributions to SOS as minimum input for maximum benefit.

“It’s an investment in the future,” says Hosgood.

“And a way to better our entire ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community,” adds Preyde.

Join Jacqueline and Chris, and support our students today.

Graduate student experience helps Orr appreciate need for SOS

trevor.kenney — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:20:00 +0000

As a teaching development facilitator at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Teaching Centre, Doug Orr coordinates both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Graduate Teaching-Assistant Professional Development program and the Faculty Teaching Development program, working one-on-one with U of L instructors and program coordinators to support the overall enhancement of instruction on campus. It is a really complicated way of saying: Doug Orr does a lot in the way of bettering students’ learning experiences at the U of L.

Doug Orr does a lot in the way of bettering students’ learning experiences at the U of L.

Orr’s professional interest in quality education stems from a 33-year career as a high school teacher and administrator. He carried his passion for education past the point of retirement, choosing to accept a position in the Faculty of Education graduate studies and research office after leaving his teaching career behind. It wasn’t the first time Orr would set foot on the U of L campus though – he completed his graduate studies here, earning a post-graduate diploma in educational administration and a Master of Education at the U of L, all while working full time.

“When I became a graduate student, it was pretty easy for me to go back to school,” Orr recalls. “I was working as a school administrator at the time, so financially speaking, it wasn’t such a hardship. That’s often not the case these days. Many graduate students put their careers and earnings on hold to pursue a graduate degree. They and their families often make personal sacrifices for further education.”

His role at the Teaching Centre allows Orr to work extensively with many grad students on campus, and to subsequently hear the various challenges they face on the course toward their degree.

“I work with graduate students from across the disciplines and see firsthand the difficulties they face and the amount of dedication they have. My graduate degree made a big difference to my career. Those of us fortunate enough to have been able to complete post-secondary education have a chance to pay it forward to the next generation.”

Orr makes monthly contributions to the Supporting Our Students (SOS) fund, and donates his time to the SOS committee as well. He says his assistance is small, but feels it’s important all the same.

“I don’t contribute a large amount of money, it’s hardly enough to be missed,” says Orr. “But the money I contribute can make a huge difference to a student who receives a scholarship or bursary.”

Orr specifies that his SOS contributions go toward grad students because he works with them every day, but he believes that donations of any kind to the SOS fund make for a better ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ all around.

“If everyone did a little something, the effects would be tremendous. Donating to SOS is a simple way of contributing significantly to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.”

Please join Doug and support our students today.

Kelley committed to helping students thrive

trevor.kenney — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:31:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge looked a lot different when Dr. Helen Kelley (MSc (Mgt) '94, Mgt '93) was on campus as a student, but even though its appearance has changed, Kelley says the spirit of support at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is something that’s always been here.

A longtime faculty member and contributor to Supporting Our Students, Kelley sees the program as delivering on the U of L promise to put students first.

“It was absolutely amazing,” says Kelley of her time as an undergraduate student. “I was able to interact a lot with faculty members and they encouraged me to take advantage of every educational opportunity. My initial experience at the U of L planted the seeds for going on to graduate school.”

The seeds grew. Kelley completed a master’s degree in management majoring in information systems, and a PhD in business administration majoring in information systems – the master’s at the U of L, the PhD at Western. It was during her pursuit of a PhD that Kelley gained a new appreciation for what the U of L offers.

“It was natural to compare the two schools and the experiences I had at each,” says Kelley. “The size of the U of L, the interaction I had with professors, the personalized approach – I felt the U of L was a hidden jewel. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge gave me so much as a student. Now I’m able to give back on a different level.”

Kelley returned to the U of L in 1999 as a faculty member. Today, she is the acting associate dean in the School of Graduate Studies, and pays her appreciation for the U of L forward in several ways as a longtime faculty member and administrator. Much of Kelley’s daily work involves exploring ways to enhance the overall experience of grad students on campus. For example, in 2012, Kelley chaired a working group responsible for the development and launch of THRIVE, a professional skills development program for U of L graduate students.

“Supporting Our Students (SOS) is a brilliant program, one that I’m thrilled to support,” says Kelley. “Students often face financial constraints. The cost of university can be stressful and even prohibitive for some. Our students deserve every chance to excel, and through SOS we as faculty and staff have a fantastic opportunity to help ease their way.”

The commitment of, “putting our students first” at the U of L is one reason Kelley cites for contributing to SOS, but bigger than that is the message the fund sends to students.

“It says we care. It says we value what students are trying to accomplish and we want them to achieve their goals,” says Kelley. “A bit of financial assistance provides students with many opportunities, which opens the door to success, but also to an all-around more enjoyable university experience.”

****

Join Helen and support our students today.

Mirau and Newberry to lead Supporting Our Students campaign

trevor.kenney — Mon, 15 Sep 2014 16:51:38 +0000

Heather Mirau and Dr. Jan Newberry have teamed up on several projects at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in the past, but their current joint effort is one the duo is particularly passionate about: Co-Chairing the 2014-15 Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign.

Heather Mirau, left, and Dr. Jan Newberry are the Co-Chairs for the 2014-15 Supporting Our Students campaign. Last year, the U of L awarded 2,100 scholarships and bursaries to students, more than $3.5 million in total, and SOS is an essential part of that support.

Newberry, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology and long-time SOS contributor, says the opportunity to Co-Chair has given her a broader perspective on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, something she says her counterpart, Mirau, has always had.

“As director of Integrated Planning, Heather has a comprehensive view of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, which as a faculty member, I don’t always see,” says Newberry. “Being Co-Chair of SOS gives me a sense of the U of L on a global scale and how important it is to create a caring university community.”

Last year, the U of L awarded 2,100 scholarships and bursaries to students, more than $3.5 million in total. SOS is an essential part of that support. Participation in the program reached its highest level in 2013, with a total of 377 faculty, staff and retirees supporting the campaign – a number that Mirau and Newberry would like to see increase.

“It doesn’t matter if you give $5 or $100, your participation is what matters,” says Mirau. “Through SOS, we have the opportunity to make a real difference with students and have a positive impact on campus life. SOS donations go directly to students to help pay for books and tuition, enabling them to graduate. With SOS, everybody wins. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ isn’t just a place to attend classes – it’s a community unto itself. We have a responsibility as faculty and staff to help create a positive, caring community.”

Kathy MacFarlane, manager of development programs and a long-time SOS contributor, says that SOS helps to inspire and support student potential, and is a great example of why the U of L is Alberta’s Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

“The U of L is a phenomenal place to be, as a student and as an employee,” says MacFarlane. “If we can show students and each other that we care about our people, that speaks directly to the kind of university the U of L aims to be.”

Among the thousands of recipients of SOS funds is Kevan Bryant (BA/BED ’12), a graduate student completing a Master of Education degree in counselling psychology. Bryant says that the support she received through SOS was game changing on many levels.

“The scholarships I received took a lot of pressure off. I was able to focus on my studies, pursue other interests and avoid working excessive hours while attending school,” says Bryant. “I’m not sure I would have continued with a master’s program if it weren’t for SOS – and it wasn’t only academic achievement I was rewarded for. I received awards for volunteering and leadership as well. SOS made me realize that going the extra mile is really worth it.”

And at the end of the day, that’s what Newberry says SOS is all about.

“We are all here because of students, so it’s only right to support them. I’m happy to support today’s students because they’re the people who will build and shape our future.”

Support our students and contribute to SOS today. Sign up through payroll deduction.

UNews - Supporting Our Students

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