UNews - ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors

Destination Project's schematic design approved

trevor.kenney — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 16:36:09 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors recently approved the schematic design for the Destination Project, clearing the way for the transformational project to progress to its next stage – design development.

More than 60 stakeholders, involving more than 200 hours of input, have been involved in developing the building floor plate and integrating the research and teaching needs for all the major program areas.

In October 2014, the Board approved a design concept (The Hub), allowing for the Destination Project to advance to the schematic design phase. Since that time, more than 60 stakeholders, involving more than 200 hours of input, have been involved in developing the building floor plate and integrating the research and teaching needs for all the major program areas.

The Project Steering Committee was guided by a transdisciplinary research theme, and through the concept of developing large, shared research labs, the project continues to take shape.

“This is so much more than determining the layout of an office or what wall goes where, this is our opportunity to shape the way we teach and conduct research at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for the next 50 years,” says Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Andy Hakin. “That is why we have devoted so much time and effort in the consultation process, trying to get as much input as we can from our stakeholders as we contemplate how best to deliver post-secondary education in the future.”

An interactive, life-size mock-up of a teaching and lab area was constructed with the help of the Faculty of Fine Arts, transforming the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall Atrium into a space that is reflective of the vision of the project. For the past month, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community has been able to tour the mock-up and offer feedback.

“This was an outstanding exercise because the 21st century labs that we are developing are so radically different than what our faculty members are used to, it was important for them to see it in a full-scale form so that they could get a feel for what was being proposed,” says Brian Sullivan, director of the Destination Project Office. “It was also very valuable for us in terms of the feedback we received, giving us insight into the finer details that will help us to best meet the needs of our faculty.”

The next four months will see a room-by-room analysis of every individual space in the new building – the Design Development phase.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors passes balanced 2014/2015 budget

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:36:50 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has passed a balanced operating budget for the 2014/15 fiscal year.

“The $162-million operating budget is supportive of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s recently completed strategic plan and reflects the values of our university,” says the Chair of the U of L Board of Governors, Gord Jong. “The U of L has experienced a challenging financial landscape in the past couple of years, and we expect to face more challenging years in the future. This balanced budget is important in allowing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to focus on the future.”

“I am very encouraged by the budget that was passed today,” says U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon. “Funding was allocated to support quality academic programs, student experience, support for research and community connectedness. Receipt of new Government of Alberta funding to increase enrolment in targeted areas also provides the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with some capacity to implement some strategic programs."

The approval of the budget by the U of L Board of Governors completes a lengthy process that included developing a framework of values to guide our budget decisions and the implementation of a new operating budget allocation model. All budget decisions were done with extensive consultation with the Strategic Planning Committee, budget advisory committees, senior administration, deans and executive directors. The General Faculties Council (GFC) also reviewed the budget model and the proposed budget at its April meeting.

Budget 2014/15 highlights

The 2013-14 budget saw a significant decrease (4.85%) in the Campus Alberta Operating grant received by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Some budget controlling efforts put into place during 2013 were the offering of an Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement program and a hiring restriction on vacant positions. This year's balanced budget lifts the hiring restriction that has been in place since September 2013, which will allow the replacement of essential positions. Approximately half of the retirement academic positions will be replaced to allow some return to normal operations and the level of support for students that we have prided ourselves.

The operating grant provided by Innovation and Advanced Education will increase by 1.62%, comprised of 0% base operating grant increase plus $1.5 million in targeted enrolment funding.

Tuition fees, which are regulated by the Alberta government, will rise by one percent.

Board of Governors reappoints Mahon as President and Vice-Chancellor

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 20:31:20 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has reappointed Dr. Michael (Mike) J. Mahon to a second five-year term as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s president and vice-chancellor. The Board of Governors, as well as the review committee struck to make the recommendation to the board, unanimously supported the reappointment.

One of the most significant achievements of Mahon’s presidency was to see the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ receive initial provincial funding for the Destination Project.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s reputation for excellence in terms of student experience, research impact and community engagement has continued to flourish under Dr. Mahon’s leadership,” says Board Chair Gord Jong. “The U of L is well-positioned for the future, and I am excited to see what our institution accomplishes over the next half-decade with Mike as our president.”

During Mahon’s tenure as president, several accomplishments have been realized. One of the most significant achievements of Mahon’s presidency was to see the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ receive initial provincial funding for the Destination Project. This project will be transformative for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and see the construction of a new science facility, a new Energy Centre and the renovation of the iconic ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall at the U of L’s Lethbridge campus. The Government of Alberta has committed $212 million to the project.

Also accomplished during Mahon’s leadership is the development of Destination 2020 – the U of L’s new five-year strategic plan, the construction of a new residence building at the Lethbridge campus, the implementation of a new budgeting process that supports short and long-term planning and the creation of a strategy to bring together supports for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

One of the many initiatives Mahon has led that links the U of L with the southern Alberta community, is a strategic partnership with Volunteer Lethbridge, that now sees the organization housed in the U of L’s Penny Building, located in downtown Lethbridge.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ also continues to be recognized for its excellence. Last year, the U of L achieved a top-three national ranking in both the Macleans magazine and Research Infosource rankings.

Mahon was installed as the President and Vice Chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2010. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he is an accomplished teacher, community advocate and researcher who holds a PhD from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MSc from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta and a bachelor of physical education from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba. Mahon's current research is in disability studies and sport for international development.

Weeks reappointed with five-year term

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:03:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors today reappointed Dr. Daniel J. Weeks to a second five-year term as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's research vice president. The Board of Governors, as well as the review committee struck to make a recommendation to the Board, unanimously supported Weeks's reappointment.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to evolve as one of Canada's leading comprehensive research and teaching universities of its size," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon. "Dr. Weeks has played a significant role in promoting and supporting the many research strengths in all of our faculties and has helped position the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for much future success."

In the past five years, the U of L introduced its first comprehensive research plan, has undertaken a renewed effort to focus its international activities and was recently named Canada's Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of the Year (Undergraduate Category) by Research Infosource.

Weeks was also instrumental in the creation of the Association of Canadian Comprehensive Research Universities (ACCRU) - a new strategic partnership amongst small and medium-sized universities from across Canada that aims to improve collaboration amongst researchers and programs, allow universities to share best practices and enable institutions to respond to system-wide developments in a co-ordinated and timely fashion.

Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Weeks is a cognitive psychologist and an internationally recognized expert on human motor control. He also has a research program focused on skill acquisition in persons with Down Syndrome.

Weeks has pioneered new brain imaging techniques to determine the impact of cerebral specialization and information processing on health and behaviour, among other projects. He previously served as a professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he also operated the PsychoMotor Behaviour Laboratory.

Past shaping the future

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:14:47 +0000

The coulees offered extraordinary opportunities: dramatic heights and depths unusual in the Prairies, and the possibility of outlook, proximity to the river and a microclimate milder than the windswept flatlands.

Standing there on the far edge of the coulee I saw etched against the sky the light tracery of an old iron railway bridge, 300 feet in the air, spanning a mile across the river.

I came to the conclusion that though any building upon the exposed flatland should be interred in earth berms so that they would become part of the land, the academic building could span the coulees and, like the old bridge in its rigid flatness, reveal the rich contours of even the most level prairie.

It seemed to me that the top storey of the university should lie below the tableland in an uncompromising straight line spanning the haunches of
the prairie.
...
Dr. Arthur Erickson (LLD '81)

The Architecture of Arthur Erickson
With text by the architect

When renowned Canadian architect, the late Dr. Arthur Erickson (LLD '81), first came to Lethbridge to design ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall and formulate the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Development Plan, he was in awe of the coulee landscape, inspired by the High Level Bridge and concluded the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ should be part of the land.

"Architecture, as I see it, is the art of composing spaces in response to existing environmental and urbanistic conditions to answer a client's needs," Erickson once said. "In this way the building becomes the resolution between its inner being and the outer conditions imposed upon it. It is never solitary but is part of its setting and thus must blend in a timeless way with its surroundings, yet show its own fresh presence."

The construction of ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall began with a simple sod turning ceremony.

The vision as outlined in the 1969 Erickson-Massey Development Plan saw academic space integrated with residences "so that learning becomes part of living." The 1969 planning objectives also included attractive pedestrian walkways that linked to green spaces; closely knit, clear organization of campus buildings that took advantage of unique views of the river valley; and building sites chosen to ensure reverence, preservation and protection of the coulee landscape.

Construction of the original ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was a monumental task.

Over the years, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus has expanded and evolved with recommendations initially set out in the Campus Development Plan Review (1993), the Master Plan Report (2000) and the Core Campus Expansion Plan (2001) – the latter of which is the springboard for the new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Campus Master Plan (UCMP), which was ratified by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors in December 2012.

Spencer Court, architect and associate director of Campus Planning and Architecture at the U of L, has been leading the current UCMP renewal. He says the new plan takes previous planning history into consideration and maintains key planning initiatives while advancing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's current strategic goals.

"Key elements from past plans have been retained, but the earliest plan had the most fundamentally correct principles or truths that continue to provide value and timeless importance today," he says.

Those principles of strengthening the existing site and building features, creating a compact campus, integrating campus with nature, and using an appropriate brand of architecture to produce a unique campus identity and experience are instilled in the 2012 plan.

Prepared in a collaborative effort with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Planners, Gibbs Gage Architects and Educational Consulting Services, the UCMP sets out a series of recommendations aimed at guiding larger-scale planning decisions for the main campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ over the next 25 years.

According to the UCMP, these guidelines "accentuate the existing campus design – organizing systems to allow the unique beauty, original order, coherence and distinctive setting of the campus to re-emerge." The UCMP suggests "a highly interconnected system of buildings and pedestrian networks to create an intimate and harmonized learning environment, integrating both academic and residential programs."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall as we see it today, nestled in the coulees and taking advantage of the natural landscape.

What makes the UCMP unique is the way it frames and defines the academic core with a celebrated gateway accessing the heart of campus, while promoting pedestrian-friendliness and retaining the physical geography that informs future buildings and outdoor spaces.

"Campuses are like people in that they mature and become complete over time," says Court. "As key participants at a critical point in the development of our campus, we are privileged to produce a planning vision at a time when many are likely to witness the campus evolve into a more complete place."

The UCMP points to three key directives that align with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 2009-2013 Strategic Plan and 2011-2015 Capital Plan. The first is to physically support the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's mandate to be a comprehensive and academic research institution and to provide opportunities for a community of learners – students, faculty, researchers and staff – to interact in purposeful spaces. Second is to reinforce the quality of built and natural environments at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with an emphasis on improving campus life and the everyday student experience. Third, the plan will provide guidance in planning and management of assets while being stewards of the land.

These directives will aid in creating the physical "Destination U" that is currently being defined at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. U of L President Dr. Mike Mahon agrees.

He says this UCMP is vital for establishing this legacy.

"As individuals who have various roles on campus, we are at one point in time, but universities live for a long, long time. It's critical that we look to the future from a planning perspective, and plan for years ahead that we can't even imagine. It is vitally important that our buildings and grounds deliver on the notion of the Destination ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Mahon. "The U of L is very fortunate to have had the kind of vision that Erickson had around building into the coulees and really connecting the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ with the topography and with nature."

The UCMP aims to create a unique identity to differentiate the U of L from other universities and to offer a distinctive and memorable experience for its students. To do that, the plan outlines specific design work including a refocused ceremonial entrance along Aperture Drive, and framing a new "Coulee Quadrangle" north of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library, bordered by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall and future buildings to form a campus heart. The UCMP also establishes a network of interconnected buildings that engage the coulees using a unique brand of landform architecture that fully integrates with the landscape. In addition, the construction of the "Prairie Quadrangle" adjacent to Markin Hall will serve to improve connectivity from the academic core to Exploration Place.

The updated Campus Master Plan will further the vision first established in 1969.

One of the biggest values of the new UCMP is creating a compact campus that fosters a better sense of community. Although the UCMP organizes the physical campus, it is the arrangement of those spaces and places that not only leads to a sense of community but also supports academic programming and student life.

Establishing Aperture Drive as the ceremonial entrance to the U of L is just the beginning. The gateway will be framed with a building element linking the Library to the Students' Union Building, as well as a signature building travelling southward that responds to the coulee setting and the Oldman River vista. This building will act as a bridge directly linking the residence precinct to the rest of campus.

Retaining the land in its natural state is also part of the UCMP proposal, and so, the natural coulee space south of the library will be left in its pristine state to preserve the natural view. It's the shared experience of the beautiful scenery of the unique prairie and coulee landscape that brings the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community together and that's an important consistency of the UCMP, says Court.

"We are located in a world-class, unique setting that our forebears committed to being, literally, in this place. That is the driving force in how we go forward," he says. "It is the threshold experience between plateau and river valley we want to be, and since we are here, we should capitalize on that because in the physical sense it's one of our most significant differentiators."

While the prairie land surrounding the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is vast, a key UCMP goal is to create a campus with synergy, ease of access and more importantly, logical pedestrian circulation.

"There's a point where everyone who arrives here by transit, bicycle or automobile becomes a pedestrian, and in the master plan the campus nucleus is predominantly pedestrian-based," says Court. "The master plan has tried to focus on creating a compact, pedestrian-oriented, connected campus that responds to external factors such as weather or the opportunity for memorable views and seriously considers how people move through it."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Campus Master Plan is just that – a plan. At this point, campus planners have not initiated detailed design studies, but most of the features will likely be developed over time. The recommendations in the UCMP, however, are critical for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to reach its strategic goals, says Chris Eagan, director of Facilities.

"The UCMP follows the institution's strategic planning. It allows the creation of a common vision of what space, building and landscape places look like to fulfill our strategic goals," he says. "The UCMP is a broad vision that will be accomplished incrementally through individual capital projects. These projects have urgent and important needs that must be subservient to the institutional requirements outlined in the master plan. It will give the structure and guidance of university planners to all those who design and implement the plan for years to come."

After the UCMP is formally ratified in December 2012, a public open house celebrating the new plan and its document release will be held early in the new year.

According to Court, the new UCMP offers many advantages as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ looks to the future.

"Overall, it's addressing original concepts that the institution has already put substantial resources and value into," he says. "Those early ideas are treasured fidelities – concepts we shouldn't turn our backs on. If we've learned anything, we've learned that they are important and they still apply going forward."

...

For more information on the UCMP, please visit: www.ulethbridge.ca/masterplan

This story first appeared in the Fall 2012 issue of SAM. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Coat of Arms introduced

trevor.kenney — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:17:57 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has an official Coat of Arms.

Unveiled at the October 13, 2012 Fall Convocation ceremony by ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Gordon Jong and Deputy Chief Herald Bruce Patterson, (representing the Canadian Heraldic Authority) the Coat of Arms draws inspiration from previous representations and has been designed to reflect signature elements of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

In 2008, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Board of Governors gave approval for the development of armorial bearings from the Canadian Crown under the powers exercised by the Governor General.

A group of individuals from across the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community worked with the Canadian Heraldic Authority, in particular Deputy Chief Herald Bruce Patterson and heraldic painter Robert Grey, to develop a coat of arms that would accurately represent the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ now and into the future.

In January 2012, during the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's 45th anniversary celebrations, Chief Herald of Canada Claire Boudreau granted the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge an official coat of arms, which is entered in volume VI, page 100 of the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada.

Description of the images and symbolism:

The arms features a blue shield with white edging and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's signature sun in the centre, representing intellectual enlightenment.

The eagle feather and the Alberta Wild Rose on the crest above denote the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's location on traditional Blackfoot land in southern Alberta, while the books are enduring symbols of education.

The shield and crest are flanked on the left by a pronghorn, representing the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's athletic teams, and on the right by a mule deer, a native inhabitant of the area. Together, they also represent the men and women who make up the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community.

The coulee landscape and rough fescue (the official grass of Alberta) are characteristic of southern Alberta, and the sun-grass-animal connection represents the flow of energy that supports all life and reminds us of our own connection with the landscape.

The rock below the shield recalls the name "Medicine Rock" bestowed on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by Blackfoot Elder Bruce Wolf Child in 2002. It also alludes to glacial erratics, large rocks deposited in the area when the glaciers receded.

The miner's lantern, an artifact of the early coal-mining history of Lethbridge, recalls the idea of the illumination of knowledge and symbolizes the achievements of the more than 34,000 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's motto Fiat Lux (Let there be light) appears at the bottom of the coat of arms.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's official flag, in use since 1988, was also registered as part of this process.

NOTE: Research through the U of L Archives and other sources indicated that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ had a Coat of Arms upon its founding in 1967, designed by then-student Don Matisz, but it had never been formally granted and the original design was used very sporadically by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Some elements transitioned over the past decades into other logos, or different versions of a Coat of Arms / ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Shield design -- all which led to this current version and the more contemporary ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge logo currently in use.

Jong appointed new Board Chair

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 23:24:49 +0000

Gordon E. Jong, CA, a Lethbridge-based chartered accountant with a long-standing relationship with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, has been appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta as the ninth Chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors.

Jong, who earned Bachelor of Science (1980) and Bachelor of Management (1982) degrees from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, is a former member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors (2006 to 2012) and a 2004 U of L Alumni Honour Society Inductee.

Community work has been a staple for Jong. He has served as Chair of the Board of Governors at Lethbridge College, treasurer of the Southern Alberta Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Lethbridge Jaycee's Club; president of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge; and treasurer of the Rotary International Peace Park Assembly.

Jong is also a successful Lethbridge businessman starting Jong & Company - a private company categorized under Chartered Accountants.

"The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has always been a special place for me," says Jong. "I am very proud of the fact that the U of L has emerged as one of Canada's leading teaching and research universities. I am equally proud that while the U of L remains true to southern Alberta's needs through its teaching and research activities, that it has emerged as a destination university for students across the province, country and from around the world."

"I am looking forward to once again joining a very dedicated group of volunteers on the U of L Board of Governors."

U of L President Mike Mahon says Jong epitomizes the success and contribution that U of L graduates are making.

"Gord's success in business and his commitment to his community is emblematic of a U of L graduate. He is an example of the difference our graduates are making in their communities through the leadership positions they assume," says Mahon.

Jong assumes the role of Chair from Bob Turner, Q.C., who has served in the role for the past six years.

The Jong family boasts close linkages to the U of L. Jong is married to Elizabeth Martin Jong, who also holds a
U of L degree in Music (1981). The couple has two children, Terrah, who earned a Bachelor of Arts (2005), and Christopher.

Board confirms appointments

trevor.kenney — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:27:25 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors recently confirmed the re-appointments of Dr. Muriel Mellow (sociology) as an associate dean in the Faculty of Arts& Science and Dr. Richard Perlow (human resources management and organizational behaviour) as an associate dean in the Faculty of Management.

Dr. Matthew Letts (geography) was appointed a new associate dean in the Faculty of Arts & Science, following Dr. Craig Monk (English) who has returned to teaching.

Letts is currently an associate professor of geography, and the co-ordinator of the environmental science program. As a researcher, he studies plant physiological acclimation to environmental stress. Letts's work has taken him from the Oldman River and Waterton Lakes National Park to the highlands of Colombia.

Mellow's research interests include work (paid and unpaid), gender, professional work and volunteer work. In particular, she studies the work of rural professionals, including issues of relationships to clientele and work-family balance.

Perlow is a human resources researcher who studies, among other topics, counterproductive behaviour, individual differences in learning and performance and the acquisition and performance of complex tasks.

Loewen appointed dean of Faculty of Education

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:14:17 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has, after a national/international search, confirmed the appointment of Dr. Craig Loewen as dean of the Faculty of Education.

Loewen is a professor within the Faculty of Education and was serving as interim dean since Dr. Jane O'Dea's decade of service as dean ended in 2010. Loewen is a long serving faculty member, U of L alumnus (BEd '84) and mathematics education expert whose research includes how students learn and how teachers can promote and enrich student learning.

"Dr. Loewen is a highly-respected educator and researcher who has held a number of administrative positions within the faculty in addition to maintaining an active teaching and research portfolio," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's vice-president (academic) and provost.

Loewen has been recognized by his peers at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and in the education community for his efforts to be an excellent teacher and mentor. He has received the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Distinguished Teaching Award, and the Educational Research Award from the Alberta Teachers' Association, which acknowledged his involvement in pre-service and in-service mathematics education. Additionally, he was appointed a Friend of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association and was inducted into the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Alumni Honour Society in 2011.

Education, for Loewen, seems to be the equivalent of a family business. He joined the Faculty of Education in 1987, the year his father Arthur, also a long-term U of L education faculty member, retired. His three sisters are educators as well, either in the public school system or in post-secondary settings.

Williams earns interim appointment

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:43:22 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors has confirmed the appointment of Lorne Williams as the Interim Assistant Dean of Northern Campuses, effective May 1.

Reporting to the Vice-President Academic and Provost, and working closely with the faculties and the School of Graduate Studies on campus, Williams will provide a voice at Dean's Council and a perspective on the U of L's presence in Calgary and Edmonton.

Currently, more than 1,000 students are enrolled in the two locations, which have been in operation since 1996. Courses are taught primarily in the evenings and on weekends and geared to working professionals.

"We are pleased to have Lorne move into this new position, given his long-term service to the U of L, and his excellent work as a past director and current faculty member of our Calgary campus," says Dr. Andy Hakin, the U of L's Vice-President, Academic and Provost. "The U of L is committed to serving students in Calgary and Edmonton, and this new position will provide more resources for those campuses as we move to take advantage of future opportunities."

Williams moves to this new position with more than 20 years of U of L experience, including more than a decade of work in the Calgary market as a director, instructor and co-ordinator at the U of L Calgary campus. During his time there, he won six teaching awards.

As well, Williams has served on the Faculty Association executive, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Senate, the executive of the Alumni Association, and was recently inducted into the U of L Alumni Honour Society.

Williams spent nearly 15 years in managerial positions in the housing and hospitality business units at the U of L and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, while furthering his education with four degrees: A Bachelor of Arts, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary; a Bachelor of Management, U of L; a Master of Arts, Leadership and Training, Royal Roads ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ; and a Master of Education, U of L.

He also consults widely on team building, leadership and corporate culture for public, private and not-for-profit organizations of all sizes. Personally, he invests volunteer time with the Calgary Board of Education, Kamp Kiwanis and Scouts Canada.

Before arriving at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Williams helped administer the Olympic Village during the 1988 Winter Olympic games and worked in the political arena for several years, serving two Prime Ministers and a provincial Premier in Calgary and Ottawa.

"I'm excited to work with the Directors, staff and faculty members in Calgary and Edmonton as we move ahead," says Williams. "We have a number of opportunities to take advantage of as we reinforce our presence in Calgary and Edmonton, and I am looking forward to bringing more of the U of L further north."

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UNews - ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors passes balanced 2014/2015 budget