UNews - associate vice-president

Join the SOS community

trevor.kenney — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 21:05:08 +0000

Lorne Williams and Linda Embury give to SOS each month – and they hope you’ll join them.

As Co-Chairs of the 2013/14 Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign, Williams (BMgt ’98, MEd ’07) and Embury are excited to bring the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community together in support of scholarships and bursaries for students.

“I feel honoured to be Co-Chair,” says Embury, assistant to the associate vice-president (HR and Administration) Human Resources. “I want to be a role model to my colleagues. If we all give, it adds up.”

Linda Embury, left, and Lorne Williams are the Co-Chairs for this year’s Supporting Our Students campaign.

The annual SOS campaign allows U of L faculty, staff and retirees the opportunity to contribute to student awards. SOS participants have enabled an incredible 2,000 scholarships and bursaries to be awarded to deserving students in the past year alone.

According to the Co-Chairs, the campaign has far-reaching impact.

“Students are the reason we are all here. By giving to SOS, we can help students go forward and be positive forces in the external community,” says Williams, the assistant dean of northern campuses.

The Co-Chairs ask that you join them in contributing at a level suitable to your circumstances and to an area on campus that holds meaning for you.

“Every little bit helps. All it takes is a few dollars a month to make a difference,” explains Embury.

Williams and Embury understand the challenges faced by many members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community at this time, but maintain a sense of pride in the U of L and optimism for the future.

“I know that times are tough as we recover from the southern Alberta flood and face budget cuts,” says Williams, “but the way that we’re getting through these challenges shows our resilience and our collaborative spirit. I believe those same qualities are at the heart of the SOS campaign. Now, more than ever, we need to put students first.”

For more information on Supporting Our Students, or to make your contribution today, visit
www.uleth.ca/giving/supporting-our-students.

CURE event connects researchers to community

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:32:03 +0000

It's not quite speed dating, but the idea is similar.

On Friday, Mar. 22, the Office of Research & Innovation Services (ORIS) team will host its first Community/��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Research Exchange (CURE) event where they are looking to do some relationship building between community groups and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers.

Researchers often experience barriers when trying to involve external partners in their research programs.

The CURE event aims to reduce those barriers by bringing community partners and U of L researchers together to talk with, and learn from, each other at a one-day open house.

A broad cross-section of external community groups and partners are attending the event, which will take place in Markin Hall.

The event will feature keynote speakers with extensive expertise in the transfer of research outcomes to the public domain, displays and posters that highlight research outcomes of U of L faculty and graduate students, a series of short talks from researchers and community group representatives, plus a networking reception where those who attended CURE can interact face-to-face.

"In the current funding environment, events like this are vital to sustaining funding levels and growing research programs," says Dr. Lesley Brown, the U of L's associate vice-president (research) and a kinesiology researcher who, with her students and colleagues, has developed a number of productive and successful community-based research partnerships.

"We are already working quite successfully with a number of community organizations across all Faculties and in the School of Graduate Studies," says Brown.

"We expect that this event will provide an opportunity for our faculty and students to communicate with even more people, and make more connections. This will increase their accessibility to community members interested in participating in future research projects."

Federal granting agencies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research (SSHRC), as well as provincial funders such as the Alberta Innovates corporations, are seeking the involvement of external partners in funding applications.

"It is becoming imperative that universities become proactive in engaging the local, provincial and national communities in their research programs."

One way to make this happen, says Brown, is to gather as many people as possible, let them talk with colleagues and community representatives so that they can learn about the various ways they can work together.

"As part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Strategic Plan (2009-2013), the institution has named building internal communities and enhancing relationships with external communities as one of the major strategic directions," says Brown.

"We have taken this priority to heart, and we want to have as many people as possible join us for our event."

Connecting researchers and community

trevor.kenney — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:18:03 +0000

It's not quite speed dating, but the idea is similar.

On Friday, March 22, the Office of Research & Innovation Services (ORIS) team will host its first Community/��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Research Exchange (CURE) event where they are looking to do some relationship building between community groups and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researchers.

Researchers often experience barriers when trying to involve external partners in their research programs.

The CURE event aims to reduce those barriers by bringing community partners and U of L researchers together to talk with, and learn from, each other at a one-day open house.

A broad cross-section of external community groups and partners are going to be invited to participate and attend the event, which will take place in Markin Hall.

The event will feature keynote speakers with extensive expertise in the transfer of research outcomes to the public domain, displays and posters that highlight research outcomes of U of L faculty and graduate students, a series of short talks from researchers and community group representatives, plus a networking reception where those who attended CURE can interact face-to-face.

"In the current funding environment, events like this are vital to sustaining funding levels and growing research programs," says Dr. Lesley Brown, the U of L's associate vice-president (research) and a kinesiology researcher who, with her students and colleagues, has developed a number of productive and successful community-based research partnerships.

"We are already working quite successfully with a number of community organizations across all Faculties and in the School of Graduate Studies," says Brown.

"We expect that this event will provide an opportunity for our faculty and students to communicate with even more people, and make more connections. This will increase their accessibility to community members interested in participating in future research projects."

Federal granting agencies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research (SSHRC), as well as provincial funders such as the Alberta Innovates corporations, are seeking the involvement of external partners in funding applications.

"It is becoming imperative that universities become proactive in engaging the local, provincial and national communities in their research programs."

One way to make this happen, says Brown, is to gather as many people as possible, let them talk with colleagues and community representatives so that they can learn about the various ways they can work together.

To achieve this goal, ORIS is currently seeking volunteers from all areas of the academic community, including graduate students, to share the outcomes of their research or details regarding their current and future programs at CURE.

"As part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Strategic Plan (2009-2013), the institution has named building internal communities and enhancing relationships with external communities as one of the major strategic directions," says Brown.

"We have taken this priority to heart, and we want to have as many people as possible join us for our event."

To register as a participant, from either the faculty, student or external community, those interested are asked to e-mail oris@uleth.ca with subject: CURE.

If you have any questions, regarding CURE, please contact
Penny D'Agnone in the ORIS at penny.dagnone@uleth.ca or phone 403-382-7198.

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.

Spoulos keeps finding his way back to the U of L

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:30:08 +0000

If it wasn't inevitable that Doug Spoulos (BMgt '87) would eventually return to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, at the very least it wasn't surprising.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's associate vice-president (finance) has a deeply rooted history with the U of L, so it seemed only right that circumstance aligned to bring him into the fold once again in spring 2011. He graduated from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in 1987, previously worked for the U of L, met his wife on campus and has a stepson who chose to come to the U of L from their home in Calgary.

So when it was time to get away from the busy Calgary lifestyle and apply the experience he'd gained in private sector positions, the U of L was there once again.

"We were looking to Lethbridge and this was the perfect job," says Spoulos. "It was a good experience for us in Calgary. I had the chance to work in a couple different industries and when I left I was the vice-president of finance, so I was getting the experience I wanted. But our kids were at an age where we wanted something a little slower and a little more relaxed – this opportunity was too good to pass up."

Doug Spoulos is instrumental in bringing people to the table to discuss priorities in the new budget process.

A chartered accountant by trade, Spoulos had worked the last several years acquiring the broad business experience he'd need for his new role at the
U of L.

"In my last position, I had the chance to work beyond the accounting side of things and look at the business aspect as well, how businesses run and how they operate. That's the more interesting part, because you can sit there and just work on the numbers or you can take those numbers and figure out how to apply them and determine what the business should be doing."

His first order of business at the U of L was to play a key role on the President's Task Force on Budget Process, the mandate of which was to review the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's budget process and make recommendations to the executive team supporting both short and long term planning.

Consisting of President Mike Mahon, executive director representatives Carrie Takeyasu and Chris Eagan, dean representatives Chris Hosgood and Rob Wood, Spoulos and the group sought input from throughout the U of L community on the budget process.

"The number one thing that came out of those meetings was a consensus that people wanted to tie budget priorities to the Strategic Plan," says Spoulos. "They wanted to see a rationale as to why money was going where it was going."

Another emergent theme came from the existing budget committee, its members expressing that the three-year sitting term was not long enough to gain a full understanding of the process to make their contributions effective.

"The basic conclusion we came to was that we already have a group of people who have a good understanding of the budget process," says Spoulos. "Those on the committee should be the people who are responsible for the budgets in their units, the deans and executive directors."

In not wanting to exclude the rest of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community from the process, the task force recommended that business units and faculty members have input through priority presentations, within their units and faculty councils, that speak to their specific areas.

"It's a build-from-the-ground-up approach when it comes to setting priorities," says Spoulos. "Priority presentations are not about dollars, they're about what priorities you've established in your area. We look at them, the themes, and prioritize them in relation to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Strategic Plan and decide whether they should be funded. These presentations are open to the entire ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It gives everybody the opportunity to see what is being funded and why. You might not agree with every decision but at least the process is transparent and you can see the rationale behind the decision."

A third key theme of discovery centred on the timing of the budget process. Having always worked on a September to March cycle, Faculties indicated that to hire the most desirable candidates, they needed to start looking for people in November and December, far before they had any idea of what budget dollars were available to them. The cycle has now been adjusted to work from April to October.

"This first year will be a pretty difficult transition year because by the time this recommendation was made, we'd already put ourselves a month behind in the new system," says Spoulos.

As a result, the priority presentation process has been pushed back from June 25 to September.

"At the end of the day, our goal is to make the entire budget process transparent and accessible, so that everybody understands what goes into the creation of the budget," says Spoulos. "We want to make it equitable, so that not only do people have input into the process, but the right people have input."

GET THE FACTS

· The final report from the President's Task Force on Budget Process can be viewed at www.uleth.ca/president

· Spoulos met his wife, Bev, when they both worked at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ previously. She just started a new position at the U of L as an administrative assistant in the Department of Native American Studies

· Spoulos and his wife have three children, two daughters aged 12 and 13, and a son who is entering his second year of psychology at the U of L

· Prior to his first term at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Spoulos worked at KPMG as a chartered accountant, auditor and manager

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.

Lapadat named first VP Students

trevor.kenney — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:28:21 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Dr. Judith C. Lapadat as the institution's first associate vice-president (students).

Lapadat is currently a professor in the School of Education, College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and the Chair of the UNBC Northwest Regional Campus, based in Terrace, B.C.

The associate vice-president (students) is a new position within the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ administrative system, and reflects the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's commitment to student success and enhancing the student experience.

Lapadat will oversee the Registrar's Office and Student Services and will work closely with the Office of the Vice-President (Academic).

"We are very pleased to have Dr. Lapadat join our team," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's vice-president (academic) and provost. "She has a broad range of skills and experiences in teaching, research, course and program development as well as a keen understanding of the student services environment and student experience, which we expect will greatly assist the U of L as we reinforce our own student-centred processes."

Lapadat holds a PhD from Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (Education; Instructional Psychology, 1992) a master's degree from The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia (Audiology and Speech Sciences, 1983) and a bachelor of arts degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia (Linguistics, 1979).

Prior to her career as an academic researcher, teacher and administrator, Lapadat worked as a speech pathologist in public and private practice in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She is the author or co-author of three books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and, as an artist, has had her award-winning work exhibited throughout northern British Columbia.

As she transitions from her UNBC position, it is expected she will be on campus during the spring 2012 semester.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ urges 'Be Fluless, Not Clueless'

trevor.kenney — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:03:43 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is urging students, staff and faculty to 'Be Fluless, Not Clueless' this fall as it deals with the spectre of Influenza A H1N1.

The campaign is designed to inform members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community on how to first avoid getting the flu and then, should they become ill, what to do and where to go to seek treatment. The Influenza A H1N1 concern is real and the U of L is taking the situation very seriously as it looks to head off the virus. The latest information and advice, compiled in consultation with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Health Centre and Alberta Health Services, offers the best protection.

Sept. 2, 2009 UPDATE

Classes and activities at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge are operating as normal. We continue to monitor the H1N1 influenza situation and the directives set forth by Alberta Health Services. As this is a potentially serious situation and we value highly the health of our students, staff and faculty, representatives from throughout the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community will continue to meet regularly to assess any ongoing developments. Associate Vice-President (Human Resources and Administration) Don MacDonald leads our campus team and can be contacted by calling 403-329-2276 or through e-mail at don.macdonald2@uleth.ca.

Take these Everyday Steps to Protect Your Health

1) Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If no tissue is available, try to sneeze into clothing or the crook of your elbow.

2) Throw tissues carefully in the trash. Avoid public spitting of mucous and respiratory secretions.

3) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If your hands are not obviously soiled, hand sanitizer is a good second choice to clean hands.

4) Try to avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth frequently. Your hands may have touched something recently and germs spread quickly in the moist tissues of the face.

5) Perform extra cleaning of common surfaces at home or at school. Having cleansing wipes or hand sanitizer on hand is a good idea.

6) Prepare to stay home for a week or so should you become ill.

7) If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay at home for at least 48 hours after your fever has subsided (except if you are in need of medical care). Try to protect the people you live with by staying separate from them, wearing a mask or extra cleaning.

8) For more information, see the following websites: www.albertahealthservices.ca; www.cdc.gov; www.fightflu.ca; www.publichealth.gc.ca

Seeking Medical Care - What should I do if I get sick?

Call the Health Centre at 403-329-2484 BEFORE coming in with influenza symptoms.

Centre for Disease Control recommends:

If you become ill with influenza-type symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, nausea or vomiting, you should stay home (except to seek medical care) and avoid contact with other people.
CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided - typically this is 6 to 7 days after your initial symptoms. If you have taken an over-the counter medication to reduce your fever, you should wait 24 to 48 hours AFTER your fever is naturally gone with OTC meds.

If you have mild influenza-type symptoms, the typical course of the illness is 3 days of aches and pains, leading up to sore throat, cough and fever. On approximately the 4th day, the immune system begins to recognize the virus and begins the process of eliminating it. At this point, you should start feeling a little better. For mild cases, you would report your illness to your supervisor/professor/school and then return 24 to 48 hours after your fever has subsided. If you need to see a doctor, call the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Health Centre at 403-329-2484 to discuss your situation. Health Centre staff will ask you to use hand sanitizer and wear a mask before entering the Health Centre.

SEVERE SYMPTOMS

If you become ill and experience any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital.
These symptoms include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worsening cough (worsening of symptoms).

For a look at a list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit the FAQ section of the Alberta Health Services website.

UNews - associate vice-president

Join the SOS community

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