UNews - Project Manager

Residence construction a boon to local companies

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:33:20 +0000

The construction and furnishing of Mt. Blakiston House, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s newest residence building, was made possible thanks in part to the skilled trades and services offered by a variety of Lethbridge companies.

Approximately 50 per cent of the $27.5 million cost to construct Mt. Blakiston House was paid to local subcontractors and goods and service companies to ensure a timely and quality completion of a building that will house many of the U of L’s second- and third-year students.

Local contractors and goods and service companies played a key role in the construction of Mt. Blakiston House.

“As you can appreciate, a project of this size can be complicated,” says Brian Sullivan, Project Manager. “While the construction was contracted to Stuart Olson Dominion, we are fortunate in Lethbridge to have many high-quality companies and retailers to participate in projects like Mt. Blakiston House.”

Over 40 local companies were used for various aspects of the project including electrical work, painting, flooring, masonry, air conditioning, heating, irrigation and the supply of appliances and furniture.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge receives dedicated funding envelopes for deferred maintenance projects annually. Many local companies are being used in what has been a significant summer renovation season. Additionally, many local companies were contracted to repair damage caused by the flood that occurred on campus in June.

The Mt. Blakiston House project is the largest completed since Markin Hall was opened in 2010. The
U of L is now in the midst of planning the Destination Project, which will include new science facilities, a new utility center and a retrofit of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s original building, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall.

“The Destination Project will be the largest undertaken by the U of L since ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Hall was built,” says Sullivan. “We are currently using some local companies to help us through the planning process, and there is no doubt the local economic impact of that project will be noticed for many years.”

U of L alums making big City contributions

trevor.kenney — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:32:09 +0000

One of the greatest compliments alumni can pay to their alma mater is in how they impact their local communities. At the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, such compliments keep pouring in as alumni employed by The City of Calgary display a depth of knowledge, a commitment to innovation and a dedication to improving their communities and neighbourhoods.

Lorna Wallace, (BMgt great distinction '01) project manager for The City of Calgary, earned a business diploma from SAIT in the 1980s but she always wanted to complete a bachelor degree. When the U of L launched its Calgary satellite campus in 1996, Wallace jumped at the chance to attend the post-diploma bachelor of management program.

"I appreciated the ability to get to know the faculty and advisors; their flexibility allowed me to do this while I was working full-time and raising a family," says Wallace. "Having my degree reinforced the importance of teamwork and preparation; it opened up many opportunities for me. As the first executive assistant to the city manager, I led a number of projects including a royal visit, and while in the mayor's office I am proud to have recently led the team that launched one of the most successful food truck pilot programs in North America."

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni are making a big difference in the big city, with a number of alumni, such as these pictured, working for The City of Calgary.

Wallace is currently working on a council innovation project involving the Community Services and Protective Services Department and 12 pilot communities in Calgary.

"This project builds upon The City's Strong Neighbourhoods Initiative and community attachment work done by Dr. Katherine Loflin and the Knight Foundation. Our goal is to make sure that communities are aware of the services available and to determine which services they need to make their community a great place to live," explains Wallace. "It is ground-breaking; we will be the first municipality in North America to commission this work."

Also working for the city is Glen Radway (BA '85), development strategist - Office of Land Servicing & Housing.

"The research skills I gained at the U of L helped me at graduate school and in my career. With the lower teacher/student ratio, I gained the confidence to dig into the meat of an issue," says Radway, who completed studies at the U of L's Lethbridge campus before obtaining his master's degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo in 1987. "In the work I do now, it is important to spend time really looking at a situation rather than jumping to conclusions, to understand the impacts of your decisions through the eyes of the residents, or understand what you see happening through change in a neighbourhood."

In 2009, city council approved the Calgary Municipal Development Plan review, a project for which Radway was the land-use lead.

"We tried to figure out what we could do to sustain the city financially, environmentally and socially and present policy directions through the MDP. It now forms the basis for a lot of projects that are developed across the city," says Radway. "One of the projects I am working on now is the Industrial Land Strategy to decide how the city will develop industrial parks. We want to support economic development in the city and incorporate more sustainable elements, like green infrastructure, with our own land development."

Blake Kanewischer (BMgt '06) and Matt Rockley (BA '02) are also among the many ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumni affecting positive change within The City of Calgary.

Kanewischer works as both a sessional instructor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Calgary satellite campus and as a team leader, Project, Processes, Staff Development and Training for the Assessment Business Unit at the city.

"As a mature and working student, I was constantly feeding material back into my working life from my classes," says Kanewischer.

Applying the knowledge and skills he gained at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has served Kanewischer well in his career. One of his proudest accomplishments thus far is being a member of the team that developed the webwave program. Webwave has won numerous international and national awards for replacing the city's intranet and internet sites with what Kanewischer describes as, "one of the first search and citizen-centric websites for a municipal government anywhere."

When Rockley, Okotoks town councillor and planner for The City of Calgary, entered the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he had no idea what he wanted to pursue as a career.

"One of my professors mentioned that I should consider city planning as a career. At the time I had no idea what city planning was but her advice compelled me to look into it. That turned out to be the best career advice I have ever received," says Rockley.

That advice has had a positive impact on both Rockley and The City of Calgary. Rockley served as co-project lead on rewriting the Rockyview/Calgary Intermunicipal Development Plan, which was approved by both councils in 2012. He recently amended the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan, allowing boutique hotels and limiting new surface parking in the city.

The contributions of these and many other alumni working at The City of Calgary stand as a tremendous tribute to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for inspiring a standard of excellence that continues to impact our communities.

GET THE FACTS

· To look at Wallace's Food Truck Pilot project, visit this site (www.transforminggov.ca/2012/02/yyc-food-trucks.html)

· To view Radway's work on the Municipal development Plan, visit this site (www.calgary.ca/mdp)

· Kanewischer's Webwave awards included a GTEC award for Excellence in Public Service Delivery and a Digital Alberta Award for Business to Consumer Innovation

· Rockley has served since 2008 as a member of the Okotoks Planning Commission

This story first appeared in the March 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Future of Penny Building looks bright

trevor.kenney — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:23:46 +0000

It's taken a few years, but the redevelopment of the downtown Dr. James Foster Penny Building is coming along. Parts of the building are already accessible and the main floor is set to open in January 2013. A recent $800,000-renovation to Level 1 and sections of Level 2 has enhanced the building immensely.

Upon completion, the Alumni Relations office within ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Advancement will move into its new home, complete with five offices and a meeting room. As well, a new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ gift shop will be created and the art gallery space updated, allowing Faculty of Fine Arts students a venue to showcase their work. The building's entrance will also be spruced up and the stairwell to the second floor is receiving a facelift.

An artist's conception of the lobby area inside the Penny Building.

The U of L Conservatory of Music is calling the second level of the Penny Building home until it moves into the new downtown Community Arts Centre in the spring of 2013.

Meanwhile, other areas of Level 2 continue to undergo construction, including a community meeting room, boardroom and upgrades to the washrooms and kitchen area.

The U of L Call Centre is also housed on the upper level of the building. It will continue to occupy the space part time throughout the year.

Renovations to the Penny Building have been ongoing since it was donated to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in 2007. Formerly a furniture store and a pool hall, the Penny Building has a long history in Lethbridge. Unfortunately, it wasn't in the greatest condition when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ took ownership, and with no set purpose for its use, construction to the building didn't get off to a roaring start.

The Project Management Office (PMO) first began work on the building to make it functional starting with the creation of gallery space for the Faculty of Fine Arts. However, there was a slight delay before the gallery could move in.

"We were doing the renovation for Fine Arts, but at the time, the Southern Alberta Art Gallery needed a home because their building was being renovated, says Project Manager Greg Lacey. "So we renovated the Penny Building for Fine Arts knowing that they wouldn't move in until after SAAG was done occupying the building."

In 2010, SAAG moved out and Fine Arts moved in, and soon after the PMO began an overhaul of the mechanical components throughout the building. Previously, each floor was broken into two zones, which offered little control of the heating and cooling systems among other mechanical operations.

"We did that for functionality of the space because we wanted to be able to mechanically zone the area to outfit anything we wanted to," says Lacey.

All renovations included the installation of energy efficient lighting and low voltage relays. A new hot water tank was also installed.

"We are using anything we can to make the building as energy efficient as possible," says Lacey.

Situated in downtown Lethbridge, the 2,862 gross sq. m. Penny Building not only presents more space for U of L programming, it is the perfect site for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to host events and further immerse itself into the community – part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's strategic plan to build relationships off campus.

"Right from the get-go, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ identified the building as a good place to have galas and other events," says Lacey, adding many events have already been held on the site.

Future phases of the building project have yet to be outlined, but it may include renovations to the bar, art gallery area, and storage space as well as new signage.

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

CCBN renovation creates enhanced research area

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 22:42:32 +0000

The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) has undergone some major renovations in the past few months to improve the space where world-renowned research is being conducted.

The former in situ lab at the CCBN was quickly outgrowing the needs of the expanding Polaris Brain Dynamics Research Group at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. But thanks to funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, a new, larger lab and animal facility – an addition of 224-square metres – has been built to better suit researchers' needs.

The new lab is a modern space with the capacity to operate multiple workstations simultaneously. Previously, researchers would have to travel from room to room to gather supplies or use a particular piece of equipment, while changing lab coats and other protective gear between rooms.

Research technician Aubrey Demchuk prepares an experiment in the CCBN's new in situ lab that offers much more space than the previous lab.

Research technicians Valérie Lapointe and Aubrey Demchuk, who help to manage the lab and assist undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and principal investigators with their research, say the extra space has greatly improved their working conditions.

"The room where we were doing the experiments before was very tiny. We could only work with a few people at a time, and we'd kind of walk on one another," says Lapointe, who was part of the planning and design process for the new in situ lab. "It's nice that it is bigger and that everything is here in one room."

"We're really lucky to have as much space as we have now," says Demchuk.

Dr. Bruce McNaughton, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Polaris Research Chair, says many projects were put on hold until the new lab could be built.

"We now have an outstanding neural imaging facility for both live animal imaging and quantitative microscopy. As well as an integrated center for neuroscience data analysis, with workstations connected to our parallel supercomputing facility," he says. "These new facilities will enable a big increase in lab productivity and the output of high quality basic and preclinical neuroscience."

When it came to building the lab, most of the work was in the details, says project manager Brad Robinson.

"You can see, the counters are just full of lab equipment, so I had to do elevation views of each wall and know where each piece of equipment was going, where the plug was going, where the data plug was going, where the light switches were going, where the thermostats were going and so on. I had to know where everything needed to be logistically to create a well-organized, functioning lab," he says.

The rodent research facility at CCBN also received an overhaul. It now features 45 animal experiment/research rooms, six surgery suites, a quarantine room, seven animal housing rooms, an MRI room, an MPE (multiphoton electron) microscope room and an optical imaging room equipped with specialized LED surgical lights and Nederman gas extractor arms that can be placed almost anywhere near a surgery table to exhaust vapours.

Making renovations to the CCBN's animal facility wasn't without its challenges. Construction work can severely impact research. Simply drilling a hole into the drywall contaminates a room. The preparation and planning to shut down an area of the facility can take longer than the actual construction work, but if the proper precautions are not taken, the entire animal facility could be contaminated and thousands of hours of research work would be lost.

"Shutting down parts of the building to tie the new infrastructure into the existing infrastructure was a real team effort," says Robinson.

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

Wellness Centre ready for summer projects

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 May 2012 20:55:33 +0000

The 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness has been a welcome modern addition to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's Physical Education building, but not much has changed to the core of the nearly 40-year-old facility. That will change over the summer as the PE building gets a facelift.

Beginning in early May, the existing mechanical and electrical systems will be upgraded, as well as some much needed renovations to several areas of Levels 0, 1 and 2.

"It'll be a much more comfortable facility in terms of climate. It's going to be significantly brighter," says project manager Jason Baranec.

The interior of the old Physical Education Building will be brought up to standards with the new section of the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Aside from a few minor restorations, the PE building hasn't changed since the 1970s when it was first built. When complete, the renovations will reflect the Wellness Centre, creating a more cohesive environment.

"The driver for this project is the mechanical, electrical and infrastructure upgrades, and then we're doing what we can architecturally to make it look as though the Wellness Centre and the PE building were all built at the same time," says Baranec.

Renovations include new doors and exteriors to the southeast, southwest and northeast entrances, and linear solar tubes, similar to skylights, which will illuminate the main concrete staircase in the PE building.

"It achieves the same purpose as a skylight except without having to cut too much concrete," says Baranec. "There's going to be a lot of natural daylight."

The kinesiology research labs on Level 2 will also be updated with new paint, lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems. Offices on the same level will receive new flooring in addition to the upgrades. Room PE250 will get new windows, and PE275 will see new carpet and millwork. Day-use change rooms on Level 1 will also get an overhaul. The addition of "info walls" which integrate seating and bulletin boards will provide more gathering spaces in the building.

The majority of the work is expected to be complete before the start of classes in September.

The project was made possible with a $5.6 million grant from the Alberta government.

New access points will be created, including ramp access, to the southwest entrance.

The creation of a new sports medicine clinic is another construction highlight happening in the Wellness Centre this summer.

The clinic will be located in the PE100 space below the south end of the running track. Once complete, it will house up to four physicians and associated support staff. The space will feature physiotherapy and exam rooms, treatment areas and doctor's offices.

Project Manager Gene Lublinkhof says the clinic has always been in the plans for the Centre.

"There was space allotted for it from day one," he says.

As with the PE building renovations, the clinic's design will also reflect the rest of the Wellness Centre façade. Construction is slated to begin in May, with completion anticipated in the fall.

Although construction on both projects will be ongoing throughout the summer, arrangements have been made to cease work during Convocation and the Alberta Summer Games to avoid disruption.

For more information call Baranec at 403-329-2703, or email jason.baranec@uleth.ca. Lublinkhof can be reached at 403-380-1869 or gene.lublinkhof@uleth.ca

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

Power outage Sunday, Apr. 8

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:33:31 +0000

There will be intermittent power disruptions throughout the Physical Education Building between the hours of 7 and 10 a.m. on Sunday, Apr. 8.

The power disruptions will include electrical systems and lighting. Facilities personnel will be on hand to ensure circuits are de-energized and re-energized appropriately and as required.

These planned outages will serve to clarify those systems which will be impacted during the Physical Education Building Upgrade renovation planned for summer 2012.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Jason Baranec, project manager, at 403-329-2703.

Creating opportunity

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:52:23 +0000

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur is used to helping people resolve challenges – she works as an employment counsellor – but receiving the inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies scholarship helped her solve a very significant challenge of her own: how to fund the balance of her master's degree studies.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students, including Ladouceur, who is completing her master's degree in counselling psychology through the U of L's Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

Christie-Dawn Ladouceur (left) and Audrey Poitras, president of the Métis Nation of Alberta, celebrate the creation of a scholarship fund to support graduate and undergraduate Métis students at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and finish my research," says Ladouceur, moved to tears during her comments at the launch event.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to support them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year – six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and $10,000 awarded to graduate student Ladouceur.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the president of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon. "There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

Jared Anderson, (Raymond, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program, Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program, Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program, Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program, Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, Alta.) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA), Amy Smith, (The Pas, Man.) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education program.

This story first appeared in the February 2012 edition of The Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Métis Nation of Alberta creates U of L endowment fund

trevor.kenney — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:52:18 +0000

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge welcomed members of the Métis Nation of Alberta to campus to jointly announce the creation of a scholarship fund for Métis undergraduate and graduate students.

The $500,000 gift will be endowed in perpetuity and will, through matching funds, support the creation of a $1 million endowment fund. This will help ensure more students of Métis heritage complete their post-secondary education.

There is $25,000 in scholarship funding available this year, including six $2,500 awards to undergraduate students and one $10,000 award to a graduate student.

"The Métis Nation of Alberta, through the Métis Education Foundation, has set up nine endowment funds that total more than $13.3 million," says Audrey Poitras, the President of the Métis Nation of Alberta. "These are more than gifts or donations. These endowments are investments in Métis students."

"Education is a necessary tool for Métis people to prosper and grow, and the U of L is committed to ensuring Métis students will have the financial means and the opportunities to achieve success in their education and their lives," says U of L President, Dr. Mike Mahon.

"There are approximately 100 Métis students currently enrolled at the U of L. We would like to see this number grow as we continue to increase access and support programs. This gift from the Métis Nation of Alberta is a significant step in that direction."

In addition to $15,000 directed to six undergraduate students, Christie-Dawn Ladouceur will receive $10,000 toward her master's degree in counselling psychology, a program she is completing through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

Originally from the Lac la Biche area in northern Alberta, Ladouceur is now based in Edmonton, and works as a project manager for a not-for-profit Aboriginal organization, where she develops employment and education training programs for youth to improve their career and employment prospects.

"I have three more semesters to complete, and this award will ensure that I can focus on my studies and complete my research," says Ladouceur.

Ladouceur is producing a manual that other counsellors can use to properly identify the challenges faced by urban aboriginal youth, and the gaps and barriers in the various counselling models used to help them.

"I am focusing on the differences that are often overlooked by counsellors if they do not accurately understand the culture of a First Nations, Métis or Inuit student. My hope is that counsellors will be able to better identify and assist young people with their needs, and recognize that the different cultures require different approaches."

Ladouceur says that her master's degree will enable her to move forward within a profession she loves, and deal more directly with young people.

The inaugural Métis Scholar undergraduate recipients are:

- Jared Anderson, (Raymond, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program

- Aaron Hamonic, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Health Sciences program

- Charlene Lambert, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Pre-Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

- Jolan Naismith, (Leduc, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Management program

- Nicole Robinson, (Lethbridge, AB) enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing program (NESA)

- Amy Smith, (The Pas, MB) enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education program

The inaugural Métis Scholar Graduate Studies recipient this year is:

- Christie-Dawn Ladouceur, (Edmonton, AB) enrolled in a Master of Counselling Psychology program through the U of L Faculty of Education and Campus Alberta.

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.

RRIP project puts students first

trevor.kenney — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:18:59 +0000

Sometimes the best way to move forward is by looking back at yourself in the mirror.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is doing just that with the Recruitment and Retention Integrated Planning (RRIP) project. Initiated in the spring, and with the backing of Vice-President (Academic) and Provost Dr. Andy Hakin and Vice-President (Finance and Administration) Nancy Walker, the project's focus is to foster a graduation culture on campus.

"The integrated planning process brings the elements of operations/services, capital planning, financial strategies and policy development together – with a focus on learner success," says Walker.

Simply put, it's a reaffirmation of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's student-first approach, one of the pillars of President Dr. Mike Mahon's vision for the U of L.

The need for such a project is born out of the fact that there is enhanced competition for post-secondary students in the province, a decline in the student-age demographic, as well as a shift in student expectations. The U of L is also acutely aware of its historically poor student retention rate.

"This project is designed to look at every contact we have with students, from when they are first recruited to when they arrive on campus and then throughout their university career," says Hakin.

Done correctly, it will create an environment that not only attracts students to attend the
U of L, but also supports them through to graduation.

Karen Clearwater, associate vice-president, Financial Planning, is the project manager. The Recruitment and Retention Project Team was created under her guidance and it was formed to represent all areas of campus.

"What we want to do for a student when they enter the U of L is give them the tools they need to be successful here," says Clearwater. "Whether those tools are social or academic, we want to identify whatever they need to be successful through to the day they graduate."

Throughout the spring and summer months, the project team conducted a number of focus groups. The team spoke with everyone from new high school students to continuing students, faculty and staff.

"The number one question we asked them was, "What can we do to make this a successful culture for students?" says project co-ordinator, Heather Mirau, director, Integrated Planning.

What they found, more than anything, was a campus ripe with ideas, and a staff and faculty eager to assist in bringing about change.

"Our faculty, students and staff know what needs to be addressed, and they have been openly sharing with us some excellent ideas," says Mirau. "I've been very encouraged by the excitement that's out there."

Hakin says the whole thrust of the project is a new way of doing business for the U of L. Recruitment and retention cannot be treated as separate and distinct issues, nor can the approaches to dealing with them be handled individually – the entire institution needs to buy into the same delivery.

"If you look at all the effort we traditionally put into getting students into the institution, we then have to ask ourselves what are the factors that keep them here," he says. "If we lose them after one year, two years, that's a lot of wasted effort and money. We need to build a strong student community where all our help services, across the institution, are aligned and optimized."

The data collected from the summer focus groups is in the process of being analyzed, with a priority list of major projects in the works. Establishing project teams is ongoing and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is invited to participate. A website has been created (www.uleth.ca/recruitment-retention) as a window into the project process. It details the intent of the initiative, how it began, how the team establishes priorities and makes recommendations, and offers a summary of all the focus groups and surveys conducted.

"This is a way to give every employee in the institution the opportunity to act with the same information in their hands," says Mirau. "We also hope the website will serve as a good feedback loop, so that people can continue to contribute to the process."

Clearwater says this is a key institutional initiative in that it has the ability to positively affect the U of L for years to come.

"If this is done right, it could be something that really puts us on the map, not only in terms of retention but also with recruitment," she says. "Students will want to come here because they'll see an institution invested in providing them with the tools for their success."

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

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