UNews - student services

U of L maintains top-three Maclean's ranking

trevor.kenney — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 22:21:32 +0000

A year after achieving its highest-ever position in the annual Maclean’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Rankings, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge maintained its top-three position in the 2014 Primarily Undergraduate category rankings list, further confirming its national strength.

The U of L either bettered or maintained its standing from the previous year in 10 of the 13 indicators Maclean’s uses to construct its rankings, marking notable gains in the percentage of budget it spends on student services and library acquisitions.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ also held its second overall ranking in medical/science grants received by faculty, resulting in a third overall ranking of 19 schools in the Primarily Undergraduate classification.

“We’re very pleased that the ranking indicators reflect many of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s fundamental priorities, notably our philosophy of creating a supportive atmosphere for our students in a setting that fosters academic excellence and engaging research opportunities,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon.

“All of this would not be possible without the contributions of our faculty and staff who have embraced the U of L’s vision and made the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ a destination of choice for our students.”

The U of L is now ranked third in the percentage of its operating budget devoted to student services, rising three spots from last year’s rankings, while maintaining its strength as a leading undergraduate research institution.

“We continue to emerge as a comprehensive research university on the strength of our outstanding faculty, all the while maintaining our philosophy of being student-centred and always striving to enhance the student experience,” adds Mahon.

The U of L also showed steady increases in some of Maclean’s underlying indicators, including the percentages of students coming to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ from outside of the province and country.

“The addition of a new student residence this fall, as well as a complete makeover of our food services operations are indicative of the emphasis we place on being Alberta’s Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ,” says Mahon. “The majority of our students, greater than 70 per cent, come to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ from outside the southern Alberta area, and we are now seeing that more and more are coming from outside the province of Alberta and beyond.”

A detailed look at the 2014 Maclean’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Rankings is 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.

Information outlet has the right answer

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:24:17 +0000

You no doubt have noticed the friendly faces greeting you at the Campus Information Services outlet located directly across from Tim Hortons in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. This operation, which just recently opened, is yet another initiative from the Recruitment and Retention Project.

To develop the initial operation, Ryan Hall has been seconded as the operational manager in a strategic partnership with Sport & Recreation Services. Campus Information Services (CIS) team members are also members of the U-Crew, a group of students trained by Recruitment and Student Life in way-finding, general service information and conducting campus tours.

"This pool of trained students is an enormous benefit in pulling together a knowledgeable team," says Hall.

Operational manager Ryan Hall chats with a student at the Campus Information Services outlet.

Although the majority of inquiries CIS receives have been related to way finding, team members are also equipped to provide Faculty information, general assistance and ID Card information, as well as distribution and pick-up services for departments.

Way finding includes the physical location of spaces on campus, as well as the location of service information on the web; e.g., the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Calendar. Slightly more than half of the inquiries to date are from students, with the other inquiries coming from faculty, staff and the local community.

Other duties for CIS team members include assisting several student service units across campus in developing programs and databases and monitoring the Services for Students web page to ensure all web links are active.

"This is a win-win situation, because it allows our students the opportunity to gain more information about our student services from across campus, then turn around and share that information more broadly," says Hall. "It also gives these units increased and more sustainable service levels and provides much more information to our clients."

When major campus events such as convocation, Horns Athletics, New Student Orientation and the campus open house take place, the CIS outlet space is shared.

Campus Information Services will also co-ordinate the services within the Collaborative Learning Centre located in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium, along with a support team of service professionals such as Library Peer-Assisted Technology Support Students (PATTS), and the I.T. Solutions Centre staff.

While the operation has only been open a few months, Hall and his team have already accumulated a great deal of information for distribution, and made connections across campus. They are now entering the next phase of implementation by co-ordinating their services for the downtown Penny Building and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Calgary and Edmonton campuses. As well, the creation of a web site is in the planning stages, bringing the information to an online format. The end goal is to provide one central location for the collection and distribution of general ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ information, as well as a meeting place for campus tours.

Campus Information Services operates from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday with reduced hours heading into the holiday period. All inquiries are logged, in order to monitor traffic to adjust the hours of operation to meet client demand. The Campus Information Services team invites everyone to let it know how to better assist in the collection and distribution of information to make the U of L a more welcoming and service-friendly university.

This story first appeared in the January 2013 edition of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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.

A clear focus on students

trevor.kenney — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:45:25 +0000

There's no doubt you've heard the buzz about a student portal or seen the campus-wide campaign about a U of L learning commons and study centre, while just recently the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ broke ground on another student residence.

If there are common threads to these initiatives, it's that they embody the student-centred ideal that is embedded within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Strategic Plan; an ideal that is articulated in part by the activities of the Recruitment & Retention Integrated Planning (RRIP) team.

In 2009, in response to a dramatic shortfall in student application numbers, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ wide Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) program was formed to create a competitive advantage in recruitment by collaborating and sharing resources across campus.

Members of the RRIP team, including (Back Row L to R) Steve Brodrick, Heather Mirau and Trevor Flexhaug. (Front Row L to R) Dan Kazakoff, Nicole Leusink, Alice Miller and Karen Clearwater.

"It was designed as a vehicle that would pull the faculties together to support and have a more structured approach to recruitment techniques," says Vice-President (Academic) and Provost Dr. Andy Hakin.

Recognizing that getting students in the door was only half the solution however, Hakin began thinking about how the institution could keep its new students. RRIP was subsequently created to compliment the work of SEM and to drive student retention initiatives.

"RRIP basically looks at how we need to support our students once SEM has done its work in bringing students to the U of L," says Hakin. "They ask the basic questions about the student experience, about how students get into the institution and what supports students use when they are here."

Karen Clearwater, the lead on the RRIP team, brought members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community together from a number of different areas of the institution.

"We did not necessarily want all unit managers, we looked at those people that work directly with students on a day-to-day basis or that have been directly involved in providing services to students," says Clearwater.

The team includes faculty members, APO's and AUPE membership and all have been very dedicated to the RRIP project. The team started its work with focus groups and unit presentations, as well as an environmental scan.

"We collected information from as many sources as we could," says Clearwater.

From the information compiled, certain subject themes took on greater priority than others. It was at that point Subject Matter Teams (SMT) were established. Currently 85 faculty, staff and students are working toward the completion of priority projects. Student leaders on campus have played a critical role in these SMTs.

"The whole process has taken a lot of time and we are pleased to see the results coming forward with some great initiatives," says Clearwater.

Student retention rates have long been an issue for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and the RRIP initiatives have been aimed directly at improving those numbers.

"The idea is that we have to change what we are doing in respect to the student experience, with the overall goal of reducing that attrition number," says Hakin. "But no success will be possible without maintaining the high quality of our academic programs."

Four major projects are currently in the works, all having been identified as priorities by RRIP. They include the establishment of a student portal, the move from paper to electronic applications for graduate studies, the establishment of a 24-hour study centre with a more robust tutoring and mentor service and the creation of an academic success centre which will house a number of student services. As well, the push for more student housing came through RRIP recommendations, something that will be realized with the construction of Aperture Park Phase 3.

"That was another major piece that came forward from that group," says Hakin. "They identified that we needed more residence spaces, and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ
responded to that because we know that students who are supported in a student housing environment perform better and have a substantially improved retention rate."

Both SEM and RRIP are seen as ongoing initiatives.

"It's a continuous improvement vehicle," says Hakin. "It cannot be one or two projects and we're done, things need to keep improving in terms of how we support our students, how we interact with them and how we improve their academic experience at our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

GET THE FACTS

· For more information on the RRIP project, check out the website www.uleth.ca/recruitment-retention

· The RRIP team was established in 2010

· In addition to team sponsors Andy Hakin and Nancy Walker and project manager Karen Clearwater, the 10-person team consists of co-ordinator Heather Mirau, Steve Brodrick, Trevor Flexhaug, Dan Kazakoff, Carma Leishman, Nicole Leusink, Heidi MacDonald, Alice Miller, Chris Roberts and Barbara Williams

This story first appeared in the December 2011 issue of the Legend. If you'd like to see the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:46:27 +0000

Global connections

When you think of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's global reach, you might not initially think of a connection to the current war in Afghanistan. However, that's just where some members of the U of L student and alumni community are right now, based in Kandahar, Afghanistan, literally and figuratively one of the world's hot spots.

Bombardier Keenan Geiger (left) is a current fourth-year Edmonton campus management student majoring in Human Resources. Now taking a break from school, he is on a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan as a reserve member of the Canadian Forces. His unit is part of the 20th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Edmonton. Geiger shows off a U of L flag with Cpl. Andrew McDonald (middle) who graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of arts in political science, and (right) Calgary police officer and Lt. Kevin Collier, who holds a bachelor of management degree in accounting, which he obtained in 2004. U of L alumnus Tyler Paynton (BA '07), a member of the 18th Air Defence Regiment in Lethbridge, is also serving in Afghanistan but was not able to be in the photograph.

To send a brief message to Geiger or his colleagues in Afghanistan, e-mail: sam@uleth.ca

Grading education

This past fall, U of L researcher and veteran educator Dr. Noella Piquette-Tomei was one of only a handful of Canadians invited to participate in the Return to Salamanca: Global Conference on Inclusive Education. There, she and fellow experts reviewed the Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education, an understanding signed by all members of the United Nations that pledges to further inclusive education, providing all children with opportunities to learn.

As a result of the conference, she has been asked to contribute to a case-study book that will be used across Canada by pre-service teachers and community workers for strategies when facing various disabilities.

Win President Bill Cade's car

Who is Michael Nolan? It's a question that's been murmured repeatedly around campus over the past few months. On Feb. 22, 2010, the surprising answer was revealed: a 1984 BMW 325e.

The car, which President Bill Cade bought brand new, was fondly named Michael Nolan after a distant family member who provided a trust fund for Cade's mother. In the spirit of giving back, Cade has donated the long-loved BMW to the Students' Union to be raffled off in support of student scholarships.

Tickets are $5 each or three for $12 and are on sale until the end of the semester, at a variety of functions, and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the Students' Union office (SU180), the Advancement Office in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall (A735) and the SU Service Centre in the SU Building.

For details about the car and to watch a video of President Bill Cade with Michael Nolan, visit: www.uleth.ca/unews/content/nolan-campaign-benefit-students

MythBusters prove science is cool

On Feb. 6, 2010, MythBusters Grant Imahara and Tory Belleci made a public presentation at the U of L as part of the Science Alberta Foundation's Science Happens Here program.

Those lucky enough to score tickets to the sold-out evening heard Belleci and Imahara speak candidly about their path to stardom, their craziest stunts and other personal trivia like favourite movies and songs on iTunes. But more importantly, audience members young and old were exposed to the fact that science has relevance.

"One of our founding goals was to encourage young Albertans to enter careers in science and technology, by fostering an interest in these areas," explains Dr. Arlene Ponting, CEO, Science Alberta Foundation. "We were pleased to work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in delivering this unique event, as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ showcases some of the most innovative science in the province."

Chillin' for Charity

In late November, the student-run Jeux du Commerce (JDC) West 2010 Team hosted Chillin' for Charity, an

President Bill Cade takes a dip for charity.

event that raised approximately $15,000 for the United Way. Always willing to give back, U of L President Bill Cade was the first to jump into the icy cold water.

Whishaw earns prestigious ASTech award

Dr. Ian Whishaw, a founding member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's pioneering neuroscience research group and a leader in behavioural neuroscience research internationally, was awarded the 2009 Alberta Science and Technology Outstanding Leadership in Alberta Science award.

Whishaw, who is among a select group of Alberta's top scientists and innovators to receive the award, is one of the top contributors to the field of behavioural neuroscience, and based on citations, is one of the 200 most influential neuroscientists in the world.

Mrazek presents at Copenhagen conference

In late December, Dr. Rick Mrazek returned from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen where he was presenting his research on Rivers and Oceans and Water Under Fire. The topics of Mrazek's research include the negative impact of the northern Alberta tar sands, Canadian water consumption in relation to other countries, global assistance in terms of water and the dire state of the world's water supply.

Athletic accolades

On Nov. 5, 2009, fifth-year ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge fly-half/fullback Ashley Patzer was named player of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport women's rugby for the second time in her career. The five-foot-two Lethbridge native became the third double MVP since women's rugby was added to the CIS program in 1998.

Both Patzer and teammate Ashley MacDonald were named to the All-Canadian team. It is the second straight honour for MacDonald and fourth overall for Patzer.

U of L Pronghorns women's rugby coach, Neil Langevin, was also recognized. Langevin was the first coach from a Canada West women's rugby program to be named CIS coach of the year.

The girl in the picture

Kim Phuc graced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus on Feb. 10, 2010, and shared a powerful message. Phuc, a Vietnamese-Canadian, is widely known as "the girl in the picture" for her role in an iconic photo taken during the Vietnam War.

On June 8, 1972, Phuc's village of Trang Bang came under attack by South Vietnamese planes, which mistakenly dropped napalm in an area where the North Vietnamese were infiltrating. While running for safety, nine-year-old Phuc was severely burned. The now famous photograph instantly became evidence of the cruelty of war toward child victims and a symbol of civilian suffering in war.

Nearly 40 years later, Phuc uses her experiences to advocate for peace and forgiveness. While on campus, she made a presentation to students and was the guest speaker at the 18th Annual International Dinner, A Celebration of Humanity.

U of L's iGEM team is golden

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge iGEM team won a gold medal at Massachusetts Institute of Technology iGEM International competition in Boston, Mass., at the end of October.

A total of 112 teams vied for gold, silver and bronze medals. Only 10 Canadian teams received gold medals, three of which went to teams in Alberta.

The iGEM competition is regarded as the premier undergraduate synthetic biology competition in North America. Student teams are given a kit of biological parts at the beginning of the summer from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts. Working at their own schools over the summer, they use these parts, along with new parts of their own design, to build biological systems. They then operate these systems in living cells.

The U of L team, led by Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden, included Roxanne Shank, Alix Blackshaw, Lisza Bruder, Ashley Duncan, Fan Mo, Mackenzie Coatham, Megan Torry, Jeffrey Fischer and Kristen Rosler.

Daycare dream realized

It was a big day for some of the smallest members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. On Feb. 25, 2010, the U of L proudly celebrated the grand opening of its new Daycare. A long-envisioned dream, the $2 million project was completed on time and on budget. The facility, located near the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ residences, has space for 54 children and includes a large outdoor play area.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ moves up in rankings

In the 2009 Maclean's magazine annual ranking of Canadian universities, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge moved up one spot – from seventh to sixth – and retained its place in the top 10 listing of 22 primarily undergraduate institutions.

As well, the U of L maintained or increased its placement in 10 different measures, among them the amount of support for student services and scholarships and the number of awards per full-time faculty members.

While noteworthy results, the rankings do not include several items that show additional investment in student resources and do not reflect the U of L's focus on graduate studies.

"We increased our student scholarships and bursaries significantly, which increased our ranking, but those figures do not include an additional $2.4 million our students receive through the Alberta scholarship program," reminds U of L President Bill Cade. "As well, as we move forward with our strategic plan and continue to develop as a comprehensive research university, there's no accommodation for our dramatic increase in masters and doctoral candidates in our School of Graduate Studies."

In a separate national ranking focused on research, the U of L moved up three places as one of Canada's top 50 research universities. The results were released by Research Infosource Inc. and based on Statistics Canada data and the Research Infosource Canadian ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ R&D database.

With a 22 per cent increase in funding, well ahead of the national average of six per cent, the U of L's gain demonstrates the institution's strength in key research areas.

"During the reporting period (2007-08), our research funding increased from $13 million to more than $16 million, and moved us up from 38th to 35th place, in the middle range of the top 50 group," explains U of L Vice-President, Research, Dr. Dan Weeks.

"Our researchers should be extremely proud of this accomplishment – it is proof that the U of L is successfully moving forward in many directions. Even in a tough economy, we are seeing great success. I am pleased that we were among the top 15 universities to record significant percentages of overall research growth."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, visit this link.

U of L moves up in Maclean's rankings

trevor.kenney — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has moved up one spot – from seventh to sixth – in the 2009 Maclean's magazine annual ranking of Canadian Universities and retained its place in the top 10 listing of 22 primarily undergraduate institutions.

As well, the U of L maintained or increased its placement in 10 different measures, among them the amount of support for student services and scholarships and the number of awards per full time faculty members, among others.

"As an annual snapshot of how we compare to other institutions across the country, Maclean's is somewhat helpful to people who are looking at post-secondary education, either for their children or for themselves. We are pleased that our numbers place us in a favourable spot on the overall rankings," says U of L President Bill Cade. "However, there is much more to who we are and what we do than these limited evaluations."

Cade points out that the rankings do not include several items that show additional investment in student resources, or the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's focus on Graduate Studies.

"We increased our student scholarships and bursaries significantly, which increased our ranking, but those figures do not include an additional $2.4 million our students receive through the Alberta scholarship program. As well, as we move forward with our strategic plan and continue to develop as a comprehensive research university, there's no accommodation for our dramatic increase in masters and doctoral candidates in our School of Graduate Studies."

A shifting economy has not slowed enrolment at the U of L, which recorded an overall 3.5 per cent increase as of September 2009 (8,243 students) and a more than 33 per cent increase in Graduate Studies candidates.

With more than 30 per cent of students coming from the Calgary area, in addition to students from Lethbridge, southern Alberta and other international locations, Cade says students are making sophisticated choices when considering a post-secondary institution.

"We know our students and their families are savvy consumers, and in our case we know they are doing their homework and choosing Lethbridge first."

Potential students have a hands-on chance to discover the U of L and meet with admissions representatives and faculty members at a day-long recruitment Open House scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7.

In addition to campus tours information sessions and a choice of sports or fine arts entertainment, potential students can enter a contest to win a $1,500 tuition credit.

U of L architect, Erickson, passes away

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:37:36 +0000

Dr. Arthur Erickson, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Honorary degree recipient (1981) and the award-winning Canadian architect who, with partner Geoffrey Massey, designed the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus plan and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall in the late 1960s, is dead at age 84.

Erickson passed away surrounded by friends and family on Wednesday. No memorial service is confirmed at this time.

The architect, who had been suffering from Alzheimers, was responsible for a number of Canada's landmark buildings such as Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in British Columbia, the Vancouver Law Courts complex, and many other significant structures worldwide, including the Canadian Embassy in Washington, California Plaza in Los Angeles and the Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City.

After studying Asian languages at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia, Erickson earned a degree in architecture from McGill ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Montreal, from which he graduated in 1950. He also worked as an associate professor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia from 1957 to 1963.

Erickson was the first Canadian to win the prestigious American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1986. In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was promoted to Companion in 1981.

The design of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was considered to be quite radical for the time, and was undertaken during a decade of growth and change for The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Student enrollment climbed from 650 students in 1967 to more than 1,200 by 1971, creating a need for new and larger facilities and expanded program offerings.

The Aperture sculpture.

In 1972, after three years of construction, Arthur Erickson's uniquely-designed building took over the west side of the river valley on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's new west side campus.

The nine-level facility provided space for classrooms, laboratories, offices, student services and residence housing. A covered walkway - nicknamed the worm - connected ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall with the Physical Education and Art Building on the west side of campus.

The new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus was officially opened at a three-day event in September of 1972. The event included a special convocation and the unveiling of the Aperture - a 20 foot-high concrete art structure sited at the geographical centre of campus.

For more information on Arthur Erickson and his unique contribution to architecture, please visit these websites:

http://www.arthurerickson.com/index.html

http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090520/bc_arthur_erickson_090520/20090520?hub=BritishColumbia

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/arthur-erickson-1924-2009/5202375.article

http://www.timescolonist.com/Travel/Renowned+architect+Arthur+Erickson+dead/1614035/story.html

Search for new Associate VP

trevor.kenney — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:21:40 +0000

The search is on for a new Associate Vice-President (Academic) as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge looks to fill the position vacated by Dr. Kris Magnusson.

Magnusson leaves the U of L to take on the role of Dean of Education at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, creating an opening on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's senior administrative team.

Nominations and applications are invited from current members of the faculty of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for the position of Associate Vice-President (Academic). The Office of the Vice-President (Academic) is responsible for all undergraduate and graduate programs, for student services, for academic planning, for the Curriculum Re-development Centre, Institutional Analysis and the International Centre for Students, for relationships with the staff of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology and other relevant ministries, and for relations with other academic institutions. The roles and responsibilities of the Associate Vice-President (Academic) will be established by mutual agreement with the Vice-President (Academic) such that the office can respond appropriately to its mandate.

As a member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's senior administrative team, the Associate Vice-President (Academic) will also be a member of General Faculties Council and Deans' Council.

The ideal candidate should be a full-time member of the faculty with tenure, preferably hold the rank of professor, possess administrative experience and be knowledgeable of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's structure, history and culture.

For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Hakin (hakin@uleth.ca), Vice-President (Academic) and Provost.

It is intended that the position will be filled by July 1 or as soon thereafter as possible. The process of reviewing applications will begin on June 1 but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Interested candidates should send a current curriculum vitae, a letter of application describing their qualifications for and interest in the position, and also the names and contact information for three (3) references. All applications will be considered in confidence.

The position is open to all qualified applicants, although preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is an inclusive and equitable campus encouraging applications from qualified women and men including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and Aboriginal persons.

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