UNews - Judith Lapadat

Fall reading break approved for 2016

trevor.kenney — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:13:22 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to introduce initiatives that address the mental health and well-being of its students, approving the implementation of a fall reading break for the 2016 Academic Schedule.

The break will run Nov. 7-10 and, with Remembrance Day included, amounts to a full week away from classes in the midst of the Fall 2016 Semester. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has traditionally incorporated a spring reading break into its academic schedule, and will continue to do so.

Mental health and well-being of students is at the heart of implementing a new fall study break. The 2016 break will run Nov. 7-10.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s students and faculty saw this as a priority and we are pleased that we have a solution that is so well supported,” says Susie Kennedy, U of L registrar. “We are always looking at strategies to better support our students and put them in the best possible position to succeed in their studies.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s General Faculties Council initiated discussions on whether a fall reading break should be added to the academic schedule and a work team was created that included faculty members, graduate and undergraduate student representatives, as well as stakeholders from the U of L’s northern campuses, the registrar’s office and ancillary services.

Further consultation through the Strategic Enrolment Management Committee and open meetings resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback to implement the fall break.

“This break will have a positive impact on students and is consistent with the Students’ Union goal to advocate on the importance of student mental health,” says Brenna Scott, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students’ Union. “The first semester can be a stressful one for students, especially new students that are still adjusting to the transition to university life. This break will not only give students the breather they need mid semester, but will help them in achieving academic success. I am thrilled to have the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s support of this initiative and glad to see this break becoming a reality.”

The U of L has been active in enhancing its student supports in recent years, specifically highlighting student mental health and wellness. The creation of the Student Success Centre was one such initiative and just this fall, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ became the first Canadian post-secondary institution to join The Jed & Clinton Health Matters Campus Program in support of student well-being and mental health.

“Student demand for counselling services has never been greater,” says Dr. Mark W. Slomp, manager of Counselling and Career Services and acting director of Student Services. “A fall reading break will bring much needed relief to students at a time when it is most needed.”

Dr. Judith Lapadat, associate vice-president (students), adds that the approval of a fall break is in keeping with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s overarching philosophy towards mental health.

“I am very pleased that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has committed to student wellness in such a significant and concrete way,” says Lapadat. “The addition of a fall reading break builds on a lot of excellent work that is being done under the auspices of the provincial Mental Health Grant to support student mental health.”

‘I Believe You’ campaign launched at the U of L

caroline.zentner — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 16:42:12 +0000

The Preventing Sexual Violence Action Committee at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is committed to prevention of sexual violence and, this year, one of its key initiatives is the ‘I Believe You’ campaign.

The province-wide ‘I Believe You’ campaign was launched Aug. 31 with simultaneous events in Calgary and Edmonton. The campaign was launched on campus Thursday, Sept. 17 with an information table and photo booth set up near the entrance to the 1st Choice Savings Centre.

At the photo booth, students can snap pictures of themselves and sign up on Thunderclap, an online platform that helps people rally together to spread a message. Using #IBelieveYou, the message will be broadcast through the social networks of those who have signed up on Sept. 30.

The U of L is among the 23 post-secondary institutions in Alberta to support the campaign, which is funded by the Alberta government. The campaign is designed to increase public awareness and provide education on how to best respond to survivors of sexual assault. Most sexual assaults — 97 per cent — aren’t reported to police but victims may tell friends or family members. A survivor who hears a positive response like ‘I believe you’ is more likely to come forward and, as more survivors feel safe coming forward, the cycle of abuse can be stopped.

“In Canada, we know that one of the riskiest times is during the first year of post-secondary school,” says Heather Rowland, a U of L counsellor and Chair of the Preventing Sexual Violence Action Committee. “For the past few years we have adopted programs aimed at preventing sexual assault and this year we have even bigger plans. We are pleased to bring the ‘I Believe You’ campaign to our campus.”

“We want our students to learn in a safe environment where they are treated with equality and respect. The ‘I Believe You’ campaign helps us create that kind of environment with a few simple words,” says Dr. Judith Lapadat, associate vice-president (students).

“Students who participate are pledging to say ‘I Believe You’ when someone comes forward saying they’ve experienced an assault,” says Rowland.

Another focus for the committee this year is bystander engagement. These programs are targeted to helping students find the right words to use and the points where they can intervene when they see something untoward is happening.

New FNMI Gathering Place creates environment for campus community to celebrate culture, heritage

trevor.kenney — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 19:35:55 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge officially opened the new temporary location for its First Nations, Métis and Inuit Gathering Place on Thursday, Dec. 4, the first step in the creation of a permanent home for the space.

In September 2011, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon asked professor Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), Roy Weasel Fat (Red Crow Community College President) and Dr. Jane O’Dea to develop an overarching strategy that would create support for FNMI students, faculty, staff and community members at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. The resulting report identified the need for an FNMI Gathering Place on campus, which is being officially opened today.

The FNMI Gathering Place will call the Paterson Centre home until a permanent location is created as part of phase two of the Destination Project, the revitalization of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall. On Thursday, the centre was officially given its Blackfoot name of Iikaisskini, meaning Low Horn, to represent the stance of a charging buffalo, its head down and horns low to the ground.

“Our campus is located in the heart of Blackfoot territory, and as such, we are ‘Itaohkanao’pi’, the meeting place,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Provost Dr. Mike Mahon. “We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone on campus and it is important to respect and celebrate our Blackfoot culture and heritage.”

The FNMI Gathering Place is an integral and unique feature of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus. It is designed asa welcoming home away from home, a space appropriate for ceremony, smudging and celebration, where students and other members of the university community can gather together and collaboratively support one another in their educational aspirations.

“In keeping with First Nations tradition, the Gathering Place will acknowledge, respect and honour the values, history, customs and culture of the Blackfoot speaking nations on whose territorial lands the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge resides,” says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s associate vice-president (students). “But it will be open and welcoming to everyone, asking them to respect the protocols of the territory while honouring the diversity of values and beliefs among Aboriginal communities.”

For students, the gathering place will provide a place to meet with Elders and share stories, teaching and wisdom. It will be a vibrant and empowering cultural community, where Blackfoot and other Aboriginal languages can be spoken, and where students can explore new knowledge together.

“Within the broader academic community, the Gathering Place will play an important educational role by fostering appreciation and respect for FNMI heritage throughout the university and beyond,” adds Mahon. “It will be open and welcoming to all members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and broader southern Alberta community.”

Campus safety enhanced through #ULETHUNITE and new Toolkit app

trevor.kenney — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:58:38 +0000

As the world turns its attention to the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge announces its #ULETHUNITE campaign and the introduction of a new mobile application designed to enhance campus safety.

The Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses project, launched in November 2012 and funded by the Government of Canada Status of Women, has worked toward strengthening already existing campus services, promoting additional safety mechanisms and engaging students in an ongoing campaign of awareness and education about gender-based violence. #ULETHUNITE and the new ULethbridge Toolkit App are derivatives of that project.

“It’s exciting to be able to announce the successful completion of this project and to publicly launch the ULethbridge Toolkit App,” says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s associate vice-president (students). “Two years ago we received a significant boost in the form of a $200,000 grant from the Government of Canada to implement mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence on campus. It has given us the opportunity to work closely with the YWCA Lethbridge District and the Sexual Violence Action Committee to ensure that we have an inclusive campus for all students.”

The new ULethbridge Toolkit App, available for free download in the App Store, contains valuable resources such as maps of campus, quick links to access Campus Security and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Safe Walk program.

The ULethbridge Toolkit App, available for free download in the App Store, contains valuable resources such as maps of campus, quick links to access Campus Security and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Safe Walk program as well as links to support resources both on and off campus. The app also has hot buttons to turn on your phone’s flashlight, call campus security or access 911 services, along with a host of other essential functions. In addition, there is information designed to spark a cultural shift in the way we think about sexual violence.

“What’s exciting about this initiative is that, from the start, it has been student driven,” says Kristine J. Cassie, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Lethbridge District. “We identified from the beginning that it had to start with the students and they have been a part of developing every aspect of this campaign. Really, that’s the only way that it can be meaningful and sustainable.”

A student working group was organized early in the process and was instrumental in developing a comprehensive strategy around the prevention of sexual violence on campus. Out of that, the ULeth Toolkit App was developed. Building on this initiative, the #ULETHUNITE campaign was created. Its orange theme is inspired by the United Nations Secretary General’s campaign, UNiTE to End Violence Against Women, where everyone is invited to ‘Orange Their Neighbourhood’.

“The topic of sexual violence on campus can be difficult to talk about, so as a group we felt it was important to make information available to students in an accessible way,” says master’s candidate Brad Robertson, a member of the ULeth Toolkit Working Group. “We felt that an app took advantage of students’ technology driven lifestyles, while also potentially reaching a large audience.”

Over the next 16 days, a number of activities will take place on campus in concert with the 16 Days of Activism campaign to further raise awareness around the issue of sexual violence.

FNMI protocol handbook created

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:38:08 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge General Faculties Council has approved a unique protocol handbook that will serve as a guideline for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge faculty, staff, students and board and senate members when incorporating Blackfoot and other First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) cultural elements into activities or ceremonies on campus.

Eagle feathers are adorned for a convocation ceremony.

Dr. Judith Lapadat, associate vice-president (students), says the handbook will be a living document that she hopes will assist the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community in acknowledging the many ties between the U of L and the Blackfoot community, as well as the other First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ serves.

“As part of the work done by Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04), Roy Weasel Fat and their team, who led us through a process to create our FNMI Centre, what we learned was that the process for acknowledging the roles Kaahsinnooniks (Elders) and other members of the Blackfoot and FNMI communities played in participating in campus activities wasn’t consistent,” says Lapadat. “We also felt that it was important to gather the knowledge about these processes together in one place, and to have them affirmed by members of the U of L community and the FNMI community for the future. An important outcome will be to increase access to Elders for students and other members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.”

Little Bear, a professor of Native American Studies and the FNMI Advisor to the President, says the new FNMI handbook is an example of a continuing exchange for educational purposes.

“I was recently telling my class that one of the most profound ways that humans learn is through exchange with other humans and exchanges of ideas and experiences,” says Little Bear. “Not much learning occurs in a vacuum. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has developed and continues to foster these relationships, and I am very pleased to have had a role in developing this resource, which provides a foundation for ongoing exchange that we hope enriches the educational experience at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is situated on traditional Blackfoot territory.

Roy Weasel Fat assisted in his role as Interim Director of the FNMI Centre to ensure that local Elders were involved in the development of the handbook.

“It is important to consult our Kaahsinnooniks (Elders) on such activities, particularly as it relates to protocol,” says Weasel Fat, who has recently been appointed as the President of Red Crow Community College in Standoff, Alta.

Lapadat says the information in the FNMI Handbook was extensively reviewed, and will be made widely available. The protocol guide explains the significance of FNMI traditional activities at events such as convocation, the significance of an eagle feather gift, and also how to properly pronounce a greeting in Blackfoot, among other topics.

“This is a unique way of sharing knowledge, which is very important to members of the Blackfoot community,” says Lapadat. “We are on traditional Blackfoot land, and by acknowledging that, and respecting Blackfoot traditions and protocols, we are demonstrating that we are willing to share, just as Leroy, Roy and many others have shared their knowledge with the U of L community to make this guide possible.”

The protocol guide is available at this website. Additional information about FNMI Initiatives at the U of L can be found in the Report to the President on FNMI Centre. FNMI Services, student activities and resources for current and future students are available here.

Student Success Centre launching

trevor.kenney — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 16:48:06 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is launching a Student Success Centre – a new business unit that brings together a number of different resources and services to help students successfully navigate through their university experiences.

"This is a great step for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, as we move forward with a co-ordinated approach to student engagement," says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the U of L's Associate Vice-President (Students).

Building on the recommendations of an all-campus recruitment strategy committee, the Student Success Centre will be managed by Trish Jackson, a U of L grad (BASc '03), former SU executive member and international recruitment officer.

Jackson will be joined by campus outreach coordinator Auburn Philips (MA'12) and support personnel drawn from other offices on campus to work with students to ensure they get the most out of their university experience.

A Learning Strategist position and a Tutoring Coordinator position are in the process of being filled, and will add tutoring assistance, time management help and student leadership development to complement of services offered through the centre.

The centre is an extension of activities that the Recruitment & Student Life office and Counselling Services have created over the past seven years to assist high school students with their transition to university life, only it will be extended to all years and levels of study, and to the U of L's campuses in Calgary and Edmonton.

"We are going to take the programming we already operate and make it more obvious to students who may, at any point in their university career, feel they need some extra help in a variety of ways," says Lapadat. "That can include students looking for tutoring assistance, study skill development and general information about how to be a successful student.

"Attending university is a big decision, and we know it is the right decision for a variety of reasons. We are also mindful of how to help students get the most out of this experience so that they successfully complete their programs."

In the start-up phase, the Student Success Centre team will work to increase awareness and understanding of all student services, and increase the quality of the student experience for students (particularly those who do not live on campus), among other projects.

Jackson says that input and collaboration will be two of the key success points for the group as they move forward.

"We are developing the programming by consulting with Faculties, Student Service Units, the Students' Union, and the Graduate Students' Association. Student input will be solicited to ensure we are working for the students, and from a student perspective."

The Student Success Centre will be housed in Anderson Hall near the Career & Co-Op Services and Scholarships & Student Finance offices, and will be open for business in late August.

Ferguson earns provincial honour

trevor.kenney — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:07:40 +0000

Elizabeth Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05, Native American Studies), the coordinator of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Native Student Advising office, has received an award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) for her work to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at the U of L.

As the first recipient of this award from the U of L community, Ferguson joins more than 300 women from 76 communities across the province who have been recognized for their strength and accomplishments.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit students enjoy the strength of support systems initiated by Elizabeth Ferguson.

"Elizabeth has single-handedly developed a lot of the support systems we have in place for our FNMI students, and has done so in a resourceful, gracious and determined way," says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's associate vice-president, students. "I am extremely proud of her, as are our staff members who work with her to support our FNMI students. Elizabeth is a key point of contact for all of them at some point in their university life, and does everything she can to make their experiences here better. As a U of L graduate who returned to school as an adult, Elizabeth has the inside knowledge they appreciate."

The U of L currently has more than 400 FNMI students from all parts of Canada.

Ferguson, a member of the First Nations Dene community, is well known on campus and in the community for her advocacy for, and wholehearted participation in, numerous activities that showcase the achievements of the U of L's FNMI students. These include an event for families and graduates at spring and fall convocation ceremonies, the annual Native Awareness Week celebration and her role in enhancing the presence of Elders on campus.

She also started an FNMI student-specific food bank, made sure that the campus food services providers learned how to make fry bread, berry soup and other traditional foods at FNMI-focused events and works with students to provide settlement assistance when they relocate to attend school.

Her external community activities include a city-appointed position as the First Nations representative on the board of Economic Development Lethbridge, among many other commitments.

"Elizabeth Ferguson has been invaluable in the cultural, spiritual and scholarly advancement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students on the campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and has served the larger campus community through her leadership," says Dr. Carol Williams, a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Women and Gender Studies. "She has successfully shown the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ how, and why, ensuring student confidence through cultural specific and sensitive policy and practices is crucial to their success."

Ferguson earns provincial award

trevor.kenney — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:57:02 +0000

Elizabeth Ferguson (BA '03, MA '05, Native American Studies), the co-ordinator of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Native Student Advising office, has received an award from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW) for her work to support First Nations, Metis and Inuit students at the U of L.

As the first recipient of this award from the U of L community, Ferguson joins more than 300 women from 76 communities across the province who have been recognized for their strength and accomplishments.

"Elizabeth has single-handedly developed a lot of the support systems we have in place for our FNMI students, and has done so in a resourceful, gracious and determined way," says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the U of L's associate vice-president, students. "I am extremely proud of her, as are our staff members who work with her to support our FNMI students. Elizabeth is a key point of contact for all of them at some point in their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ life, and does everything she can to make their experiences here better. As a U of L graduate who returned to school as an adult, Elizabeth has the inside knowledge they appreciate."

The U of L currently has more than 400 FNMI students from all parts of Canada.

Ferguson, a member of the Dene community, is well known on campus and in the community for her advocacy for, and wholehearted participation in, numerous activities that showcase the achievements of the U of L's FNMI students. These include the annual Native Awareness Week celebration, an event for families and graduates at spring and fall convocation ceremonies and her role in enhancing the presence of Elders on campus.

She also started an FNMI student-specific food bank, made sure that the campus food services providers learned how to make fry bread, berry soup and other traditional foods at FNMI-focused events and works with students to provide settlement assistance when they relocate to attend school.

Her external community activities include a city-appointed position as the First Nations representative on the board of Economic Development Lethbridge, among many other commitments.

"Elizabeth Ferguson has been invaluable in the cultural, spiritual and scholarly advancement of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit students on the campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and has served the larger campus community by her leadership," says Dr. Carol Williams, a faculty member and Chair of the Department of Women and Gender Studies. "She has successfully shown the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ how, and why, ensuring student success through cultural specific and sensitive policy and practices is crucial to their success."

Federal funding spurs gender-based violence project

trevor.kenney — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:15:04 +0000

The Government of Canada Status of Women is funding a $195,892 project at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, part of a nearly $4 million investment nationwide, designed to implement mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence on campus.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, YWCA Lethbridge and District and the Sexual Violence Action Committee will collaborate on the project, one of 23 such initiatives being funded across the country.

"There is no place in our society for incidents of violence against women," says Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for the Lethbridge Constituency. "Our government is committed to providing the means necessary to create safe and inclusive communities across the country, and that begins by giving our students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals in a secure environment, with the support services they need to be successful."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to prioritize the creation of a healthy, supportive and collaborative environment for its students, and by working with partners such as the YWCA and the Sexual Violence Action Committee, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ further strengthens its connection to the southern Alberta community.

"This is an outstanding initiative that speaks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's ongoing efforts to offer its students a safe and supportive campus atmosphere," says Judith Lapadat, the U of L's associate vice-president (students). "What's more is that this project is another example of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ working with community groups for the betterment, not only of our campus experience, but of society as a whole."

The project will be largely student driven and is designed to augment the U of L's already existing student services, promoting additional safety mechanisms and, most importantly, engaging the student population in an ongoing campaign of awareness and education about gender-based violence.

"We haven't yet determined the scope of the project because the direction for this must come from the students and the priorities that they identify," says Lapadat.

A safety audit of campus to determine areas of need related to risks associated with gender-based violence will set the stage for the implementation of the project, after which students will play a key role in setting the agenda for the development of points of action.

"Campus is home to many students; some of us live here, many of us meet friends and create new families here, and most of us launch and re-launch our lives here," says Danika Jorgensen, U of L student and co-ordinator for the Campus Women's Centre. "I'm incredibly excited that students will be front and centre in this campus directive, and I look forward to the opportunities it presents for students to be heard and to get involved with helping to maintain a safe campus atmosphere."

YWCA Lethbridge and District will play a key role in moving the project forward.

"We are overwhelmed by the support of Status of Women Canada to further our community's work in addressing gender-based violence," says Kristine J. Cassie, Chief Executive Officer. "The opportunity to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue work with the Sexual Violence Action Committee creates the prospect to build a unique and student-driven initiative that is both meaningful and sustainable in addressing the impacts of gender-based violence on our community."

Lapadat breaks ground on student role

trevor.kenney — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:23:11 +0000

Being in on the ground floor is a comfortable position for Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's first associate vice-president (students). It should serve her well as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ carves new ground with a position dedicated to student success and enhancing the student experience.

"I had an opportunity to start with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia when it was just a hole in the ground in 1993," says Lapadat, a native of Smithers, B.C. "I did a lot of program development and building during those first 11 years in Prince George and that's one of the things that really intrigues me about this position, the opportunity to be involved in building and developing something new."

Dr. Judith Lapadat is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's first associate vice-president (students).

Reporting to the vice-president (academic), Lapadat will oversee the Registrar's Office and Student Services. By creating the role, the U of L is making a major step forward as it continues to devote resources to better serving its students.

"There's a big gap between talking about it and actually doing it," says Lapadat of the pledge to continually enhance the student experience. "There is a long history of very good services for students here but the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is going through a renewal process when it comes to our view of students and how to serve them better. At present, student services are somewhat fractured and spread all over the place."

Lapadat sees a great opportunity to better co-ordinate these services, to consolidate them so that students have a one-stop shopping experience and to build communication bridges between Faculties and departments responsible for student services.

"I think it needs some renewal, probably because it was designed for a much smaller student body. It's almost as if it has grown organically and now it's time to take another look at how we best meet the needs of students 20 or 30 years after that original conception."

Lapadat's experience at UNBC had her involved in developing the School of Education, masters' degree programming, and the Bachelor of Education program. When she later took on the role of Chair of UNBC's Northwest Region, her emphasis was placed on student service needs, blended learning and developing a broad array of community-based programs. She worked closely with marginalized student groups and had the opportunity to develop relationships between multiple campuses.

"I'm really interested in the development of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's northern campuses," says Lapadat. "Having come from a regionalized university, I have a good sense of how that can work and be effective. I also want to reach out to students who haven't been as large a component of the student body, such as international students, aboriginal students, and mature learners, and to help expand graduate student enrollment."

She has been charged with a broad portfolio, and it's one she's excited to tackle. She's also enthused about living in Lethbridge and the possibilities it holds. An accomplished painter and poet, Lapadat sees inspiration in the landscape.

"It does intrigue me," she says. "The years that I lived in Regina I was quite actively painting and this area offers a lot of opportunities."

She and her husband have a blended family of five children, the youngest of which is their 18-year-old son who is in Lethbridge for the summer and entering his second year of studies in the fall.

"I'm happy to join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge," says Lapadat. "I've been impressed with the people. They have a huge commitment to this university and it's an exciting environment to come into."

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

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