UNews - Lethbridge Faculty Association

Longtime ULFA representative, Rennie, excited about life transition

trevor.kenney — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 22:38:26 +0000

When Brenda Rennie, the executive director of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA), moved to Lethbridge from Vienna, Austria, she thought she would only stay for a few years.

Brenda Rennie retired this past week from the ULFA after almost 30 years of service with the organization.

“I thought we would be here for three years,” she says, “but it’s been over 25 years and we’re still here!”

Rennie retired this past week from the ULFA after almost 30 years of service with the organization. Her journey with the ULFA began in 1985, when she was hired as the sole employee.

“I was hired on as a part-time secretary, and at that time we were representing around 200 faculty,” she says. “It became clear after a few weeks that just answering the phones and opening the mail wasn’t going to be enough for me!”

The ULFA has grown in Rennie’s time from representing just over 200 faculty members to the current membership, which consists of over 500 faculty members, academic assistants and sessional lecturers.

“Until this previous year, our membership grew every year, which kept the role challenging,” she says.

“I sort of created this position from the ground up,” say Rennie, who over the years has worked with 23 ULFA presidents and six staff members in five different locations across campus. “I’ve been so fortunate to have been given an opportunity to grow with the role. That’s been fantastic.”

As executive director, Rennie’s job entails a variety of tasks every day.

“I’ve always seen my role as helping support what the president and executive do,” she says. “I’m always kept on my toes. No two days are ever the same.”

Annabree Fairweather, currently the executive officer of the ULFA, will be stepping into Rennie’s role after spending the past year learning about the job.

“We’ve had a succession plan in place for the past few years, so I feel very comfortable passing the torch, so to speak, to Annabree. The ULFA is going to be in very capable hands,” says Rennie.

When asked about the most memorable aspect of the role, Rennie says it’s always been about the connections she has made with the volunteers of the ULFA.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some fantastic people,” she says, “and I’ve gained so much from those relationships.”

Rennie’s connection to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge extends beyond her time at the ULFA, though. Her son and daughter attended the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ for their undergraduate education, and Rennie is quick to point that fact out to anyone who asks.

“I’m so proud to say that my children graduated from the U of L,” she says. “They had a fantastic experience… it is a great school.”

Spending time with her two sons is part of what Rennie plans to do with her free time.

“It’s going to be a transition, as it is for most retirees. I keep joking that I’m so used to my routine, I’ll be showing up on campus,” she laughs. “I’m looking forward to travelling, hiking, just staying active, but it is definitely going to be a transition, as I like being busy.”

Mahon speaks to proposed budget reductions

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:50:59 +0000

April 23, 2013

In addressing the budget reductions imposed on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge through the 7.3 per cent reduction in the Campus Alberta Operating Grant, a framework of values was developed to guide the Budget Advisory Committee in developing the 2013/14 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge consolidated operating budget. The 2013/14 reductions require us to find $11.8 million. Assuming no increases in the Campus Alberta Grant for the following two years as has been suggested by Enterprise and Advanced Education, this number grows to $20 million by 2015/16.

The approach committed to by our community was to, "maintain the forward vision of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge" and to not compromise our future through shortsighted reaction. "Our strategic priorities remain priorities independent of the financial challenges our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ encounters. To take us to our desired future the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will pursue its established strategic directions and identified priorities." The values, which were reaffirmed by both the General Faculties Council and the Board of Governors, are that:

Our people define our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and are our greatest strength

People are the essential resource of our institution and as such the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will strive to preserve employment. All ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ employee groups will be treated with fairness and with respect in all that lies ahead in our work to maintain our student centred focus and to ensure the continuing financial sustainability of our institution.

High quality is central to all that we do

Our commitment to maintaining high quality undergraduate and graduate academic programmes is key to our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ mission to build a better society. High quality instruction and teaching are essential to this commitment. Research and creative activity are also key to our mission and their vitality and vibrancy serve as a differentiating feature of our institution and a central part of our culture as a comprehensive academic and research institution. High quality facilities and services support our mission and best serve our students, staff, and academic staff.

Access to our university is a foundational value

As a Comprehensive Academic and Research ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, dedicated to liberal education, that was born out of the needs and aspirations of our local communities, we are committed to providing student access to our high quality academic programs throughout the province without creating unnecessary financial barriers. Community engagement with our university and community use of our facilities play a role in defining us as a public institution.

I am committed to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ quickly achieving as much of the targeted reductions as possible without compromising the long-term prospects of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and without making decisions that lack adequate data or debate to support those decisions. While there is much more work yet to complete, the recommendations put forward to date look to achieve a balanced budget by the 2015/16 fiscal year if not sooner. The following outline the initial recommendations of the Budget Advisory Committee to bring forward a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 2013/14 consolidated operating budget.

Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan

The Academic Staff Voluntary Retirement Plan was introduced to help address budget issues at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ at a time when we were anticipating a 2% increase in base grant funding. The plan was voluntary and faculty members were provided a three-year window to transition to retirement. A total of 34 faculty members have decided to participate. For the most part, these faculty members will not be replaced. In the situation where the continuance of a program is predicated on the replacement of a faculty member or where the quality of a program will be severely compromised, the Dean of the Faculty and Provost of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will develop a plan for replacing the member.

This program will enable the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to save approximately $4.2 million by 2015/16.

Ancillary Services

Additional revenue will be provided from Ancillary Services operations to the operating budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Currently, Ancillary Services contributes $150,000 per year, in addition to covering all of the expenses associated with their operations. This will rise to $500,000. To support this, Ancillary Services will reduce the contributions it makes to their respective capital reserves and maintenance funds and will explore additional, new revenue opportunities.

Lifecycle Equipment Annual Allocation

Annual funding for the replacement of equipment will be reduced by $1 million on a continuing basis.

Research Enhancement Fund

The Research Enhancement Fund of $300,000 per year will be discontinued. This fund is used differently by each Faculty to enable research initiatives.

Student Administrative Fee

An increased Student Administrative Fee will be assessed. This fee will be used to preserve services offered to students that would otherwise have to be reduced and maintain student-centered projects already in progress as identified in our Comprehensive Institutional Plan (CIP). With the increase in this fee, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Student Administrative Fee will remain the lowest in the Comprehensive Academic Research Institution (CARI) sector. As well, the combined tuition and fees for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will still remain the lowest in the province of Alberta among the CARI sector.

International Student Differential Fee

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge currently has the lowest differential fee assessed on International Students in the CARI sector. This fee will be increased. With this increase, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will still have the lowest International Student Differential Fee among the CARI sector.

Executive Compensation

Salaries for the President and the four Vice-Presidents of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will be frozen at the 2012/13 levels.

Employment Costs

Salary and economic benefits negotiations are on going with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA). The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) is in the final year of their contract. A commitment has been made that all employment groups will be treated respectfully and fairly through the reduction process. Employment costs and entitlements are subject to negotiation with the relevant bargaining unit and as such, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Administration will not publicly discuss anything related to the negotiations or suggest anything publicly that would compromise those negotiations.

Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal

Projects funded from the Infrastructure Maintenance Program (IMP) grant provided to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ by Enterprise and Advanced Education will continue as planned. All additional infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects that are funded from operating funds have been suspended or cancelled.

Additional Reduction Strategies

The Budget Advisory Committee has struck a number of committees to explore opportunities for reductions, structural change or revenue that will require more time than the current budget process allows for. The committees will present their recommendations to President's Executive by July 31, 2013. The committees will be reviewing communications and marketing, information technology, recruitment, finance, faculty work assignments and Faculty program costs, collaboration with other institutions, and opportunities for new revenue generation.

I am grateful to the members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community who have submitted ideas or suggestions through the online budget feedback forum. Many of those suggestions have been incorporated into the proposed reductions. Others will be addressed by the work of the noted committees.

We are also exploring other opportunities for greater efficiency that could result in reductions that would impact the budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. These include reducing the number of computer labs on campus, a review of the library acquisition budget, an employee voluntary reduced workload program and increasing fund-raising and sponsorship activities to help offset operating budget support for initiatives that would be attractive to external funders such as scholarships and bursaries.

These recommendations represent the initial work of the Budget Advisory Committee. It is worth noting that there were many ideas vigorously debated that were rejected as it was decided they were not compatible with our values or long-term plans, or they would too severely compromise the student experience or programs of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. While these recommendations get us a significant way toward achieving our budget reduction targets, there is still a projected deficit for the 2013/14 year. This deficit will be addressed through the continued work of the Budget Advisory Committee and the committees noted earlier.

The budget reduction recommendations will be reviewed by the Budget Priorities Advisory Committee and ultimately incorporated into the 2013/14 consolidated operating budget of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. General Faculties Council (GFC) will review the budget at the May meeting and the budget will then go to the Board of Governors for approval at its May meeting. The budget will be submitted to Enterprise and Advanced Education as part of the CIP that is due by May 31, 2013.

Once again, I want to thank the members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community for their engagement in this process and their continuing commitment to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mike Mahon
President and Vice-Chancellor

Diversity celebrated, Mar. 11-15

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:55:50 +0000

Now in its third incarnation, the annual ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Respect and Diversity Awareness Week is an established campus event that brings to light issues related to diversity and respect both in the workplace and beyond.

Presented by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association's Gender, Equity and Diversity Caucus, the week runs Mar. 11-15 and features six events over the span of five days. The goal, of course, is to have the themes that are discussed throughout the week resonate long after the event spotlight has faded.

"I think it's great to highlight the week and to bring in speakers and all the bells and whistles, but this is something that should be infused in our everyday," says caucus member and Chair of Respect and Diversity Awareness Week, Dr. Noella Piquette.

Dr. Noella Piquette is the Chair of Gender Diversity Equity Week.

An associate professor in the Faculty of Education, Piquette says that issues of diversity are becoming a greater part of mainstream conversation but there is much work to be done.

'Diversity Includes All' is the theme to this year's week and is designed to get faculty members to think about their own diversity as well as the student diversity that exists on campus.

"We do a fantastic job at this university talking about students and how we can support them, and while we're not trying to shift the focus, we're broadening the focus to include the fact that we have a huge faculty and staff component on campus, and it's important to think about the diversity that exists within those groups," says Piquette.

The week kicks off with a presentation from assistant professor of neuroscience Dr. Robbin Gibb as she presents Sex Differences in the Brain, Monday, Mar. 11 at noon in TH241.

Gibb will outline some of the factors influencing brain development that are mediated by sex differences. What promises to be a lively question and answer session follows her talk.

On Tuesday, the Spoken Word – Poetry Slam event is at noon in AH176. This gives presenters a platform to speak, read, rhyme or rant their words in a two-minute window as they discuss diversity and inclusion.

"I think this will be so much fun and really puts a new slant on discussing diversity," says Piquette, who notes that the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group is also supporting the event.

Faculty, staff and students are all welcome to take part. Participants just need to sign up in advance by contacting Piquette at noella.piquette@uleth.ca.

Wednesday's event is a presentation with Jeff Meadows and Brad Reamsbottom of the Teaching Centre. They will discuss Supporting Faculty in Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities, focussing on some of the key issues that students may be experiencing within reading and writing tasks, and specific strategies that can be employed to assist them.

A pair of events takes place Thursday, beginning with a wheelchair basketball demonstration hosted by Dr. Mary Dyck (kinesiology and physical education) and with the Lethbridge Wheelchair Basketball Association (10:45 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre gym), followed by a special film screening of Shameless: The ART of disability (7 p.m. in PE264).

"It's a heartwarming movie, but at the same time it's also very comical," says Piquette. "They really try and show that disability is not all about being sad and serious, it's a part of life and they do a great job at portraying that message."

The week wraps up with Friday's Strengthening Academic Capacity: Gender Dimensions presentation by Mary Butterfield of the Office of Research and Innovation Services.

Butterfield will speak to gender equality in academic research at 12:15 p.m. in TH277.

Piquette has long been involved with issues related to diversity. She was a special education teacher and guidance counsellor for 14 years at the school level and now as an associate professor, teaches courses in special education at the undergraduate level and in counselling at the graduate level, focusing on a broader picture of diversity and mechanisms to advocate for inclusion within all community systems.

"We've done our best to represent as many different approaches to the discussion of diversity issues as we could with this week's events," she says. "I really do urge everyone to find a topic that might be of interest to them and to engage in the conversation."

For more information on any of these events or any issues related to the Gender and Diversity Caucus, contact the following members: Chair, Dr. Carly Adams (carly.adams@uleth.ca); Sandra Cowan (sandra.cowan@uleth.ca); Dr. Hester Jiskoot (hester.jiskoot@uleth.ca); Dr. Kevin McGeough (mcgekm@uleth.ca); Dr. Luz Ospina (luz.ospina@uleth.ca); Dr. Noella Piquette (noella.piquette@uleth.ca);
Dr. Jennifer Thannhauser (jennifer.thannhauser@uleth.ca); Dr. John Usher (john.usher@uleth.ca); or Ilsa Wong (ilsa.wong@uleth.ca).

Education begins with respect

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:04:10 +0000

A year after opening a dialogue on diversity and respect, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association's Gender, Equity and Diversity Caucus is looking to build upon that momentum with the 2nd Annual Respect & Diversity Awareness Week.

Running Mar. 5-9 at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, this year's theme for the weeklong conversation is "Respect and learning go hand in hand".

"Last year was great for an inaugural event," says Dr. Carly Adams, Chair of the Gender, Equity and Diversity Caucus. "We thought how it was taken up by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community was wonderful. It's a conversation that needs to be ongoing."

Events such as a Talking About Teaching panel discussion through the Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) spurred the campus community into thinking about how we interact with one another, in classrooms, meeting rooms and even as we walk through the hallways.

"As a faculty member who attended these talks, I thought about the issues raised and then took them into my classroom," says Adams. "I hope that others took the things they heard and tried to adapt new strategies in the ways they dealt with students or fellow faculty."

If anything, the week created an environment where issues of inclusion and respect can be discussed. It also established an awareness of the caucus and took its work to another level. In early February, the caucus played a role in the Discover Diversity conference hosted by the City of Lethbridge and co-sponsored by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"I was really pleased we were able to be a part of that because not only did we have an opportunity to talk about the caucus but also the respect and diversity week and some of the other initiatives we're involved in," says Adams. "It led to an even wider discussion about workplace diversity and respect beyond our campus."

This year's awareness week will feature a few new additions, including an Ignite! event on Wednesday, Mar. 7 at 5 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Library (10th floor). Described as a fun, informative, rapid-fire session, participants are tasked to speak to 20 pictures or slides of their choice, all in a five-minute window of time, as they wax eloquent about diversity and/or gender.

"We're really excited about this event," says Adams. "We have a number of faculty lined up to take part, as well as people from the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG) and the Students' Union. In total it's about 12 to 15 people, and it should create a really lively discussion from all the different perspectives across campus."

The line up of speakers includes Dr. Kevin McGeough (Geography), Yale Belanger (Native American Studies), Dan Johnson (Environmental Science), Carol Williams (Women and Gender Studies), Phil Jones (CAETL/Health Sciences), Marinus Swanepoel (Library), LPRIG, Shelia McManus (History), Rob Sutherland (CCBN/ULFA) and Tanya Harnett (Native American Studies/Fine Arts).

Other events for the week include a film screening of MissRepresentation, a documentary exploring how the media's misrepresentation of women has led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. The Gender, Equity, and Diversity Caucus is joining the YWCA, Womanspace, Campus Women's Centre and LPIRG in sponsoring the film screening that takes place Thursday, Mar. 8 at 7 p.m. in Galileo's Gallery and coincides with International Women's Day.

On Friday, Mar. 9, Craig Milner from the Faculty of Management will present Student Diversity Rocks: Developing High Performance Teams in the Classroom (1 p.m., M1040).

"He's discussing diversity in teams, and how we might leverage some of the different experiences of our students in the classroom to create different conversations in groups," says Adams of the one-hour workshop.
While the week concludes with Milner's presentation, the conversation does not, and will be picked up a week later when the Department of Women & Gender Studies, with assistance from Adams' group, will present Why Women and Gender Studies? A Multigenerational Roundtable and Conversation, Friday, Mar. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Students' Union Ballroom.

"Last year, we came away thinking it was a very positive week and worth continuing," says Adams. "We invite everyone to come out for these events and I hope that this will give these important issues even more exposure."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association's Gender, Equity and Diversity Caucus consists of: Andrea Amelinckx, Andrea Glover, Dr. Hester Jiskoot, Dr. Kevin McGeough, Dr. Noella Piquette, Dr. John Sheriff, Dr. Robert Sutherland, Jennifer Thannhauser and Dr. Carly Adams (Chair).

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

Open Mike - March

trevor.kenney — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:36:55 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge President Dr. Mike Mahon chats about what's happening in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campuses are places for discovery and discourse, where ideas are created and issues are debated. As I look around the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge I see a vibrant culture of engaged students and faculty and I am encouraged by the diversity of opinions that are shared.

This is one of the reasons why I was so enthused with the program initiated by the Gender and Diversity Caucus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association. Last week's Show Respect, Get Respect at Your U event was extremely important for our campus in terms of pushing the notion of inclusivity and the importance of respect for diversity and difference.

The essence of a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ campus is to promote a place open to different voices, different perspectives and different ways to look at the world. We are a campus in transition, one that is continuing to grow as we establish ourselves as a destination university.

Already we are home to students from more than 85 countries. We welcome students from small communities and large cities, we strongly support the growth of our First Nations, Métis and Inuit student populations and we actively recruit faculty and staff from all over Canada, North America and the world. Our campuses in Calgary and Edmonton reflect a population of adult learners that continues to expand.

It is foundationally important that we maintain an atmosphere in which diversity of race, gender and opinion are respected. To that end, the conversation initiated by ULFA and the CAETL Talking About Teaching seminar that explored the topic of respectful teaching and respectful learning is fundamental to furthering an attitude of mutual understanding.

The U of L already has an appetite to celebrate its diversity. I look to successful ventures such as International Week, Native Awareness Week, OUTspoken, and I see a campus with diverse interests and ideals. It is imperative that conversation is encouraged to grow.

This past fall I had the opportunity to meet with organizers of a conference held here in Lethbridge that was organized by the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination. Our own Catherine Kingfisher (anthropology) played a part in this conference and I pledged that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ would be more fully engaged with next fall's event. Not only do we have a role to play in terms of messaging to our students, faculty and staff, with respect to diversity and inclusivity, but we also have an opportunity to engage the Lethbridge community as a whole in this conversation.

Our students, faculty and staff are all part of the community, and if we can act as a leader in creating a more accepting Lethbridge community, the better the quality of life for everyone.

My own work in disability research has been very much connected to the appreciation of diversity, of difference and of differing skills and ability. I often refer to this quote from Henry David Thoreau in my talks on disability and inclusivity.

"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music in which he hears, however measured, or far away."

We have an opportunity to open the discussion, and I applaud ULFA for bringing this conversation forward and encourage everyone to engage in this debate.

For a look at the March issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Opening a dialogue of respect

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:31:04 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association's Gender and Diversity Caucus is looking to initiate a conversation about diversity and respect – and it wants everyone's voice to be heard.

The inaugural event, a week titled, Show Respect, Get Respect at Your U, will be held at the U of L from Mar. 7-11 as the caucus looks to get the campus thinking about how we interact with one another, in classrooms, meeting rooms and as we walk down the hallways.

"One of the things we've seen in the last 10 years is incredible growth here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Dr. Hester Jiskoot, Chair of the Gender and Diversity Caucus. "It's also grown in terms of diversity, and we thought this was a positive way to talk about that diversity. We want the conversation to focus not on tolerating one another but rather on respecting each other."

The U of L campus is fertile ground for academic debate, and such debates often result in academic discovery. However, when the debate is held in an atmosphere of disrespect, nobody benefits.

"Universities are places for academic freedom, but with that freedom comes a responsibility of making choices and accepting diversity of opinion," says Jiskoot. "You don't necessarily have to agree with someone exactly, but you still have to respect the other person's opinion, traditions, culture and lifestyle, just as much as you would your own."

She explains that although there have been cases of discrimination/disrespect on campus, they are not interested in highlighting these specific instances, but rather want to address a "general feeling" among faculty members about issues of disrespect in U of L classrooms and meeting rooms. To stem such behaviour, Jiskoot says we need only look at our own Strategic Plan for guidance.

"We want people to see this more as an opportunity to enrich their own lives through diversity. Our Strategic Plan speaks to promoting and enhancing diversity and to presenting students with a welcoming environment," she says. "Everybody should feel welcome and respected for being in the classroom, both students and professors."

Dr. Carly Adams is also on the caucus, and she has seen students intimidated in the classroom, something that undermines their educational experience and what she is trying to accomplish as a professor.

"It's constantly a challenge, especially in senior level classes, to make sure there's an atmosphere where everyone's voice is respected," says Adams.

While respect in the classroom is not a new concept, the initiative of establishing a week that celebrates respect and diversity through a series of events is unique. The caucus does not know what to expect from the week, but more than anything hopes it can open up a dialogue. The group would also like to make it a recurring event that will grow in future years and include activities and events organized by undergraduate and graduate student organizations and clubs.

"We're really trying to raise awareness about all of these issues," says Adams. "We want students talking to students about how classrooms could be more diverse and more respectful places, and at the same time we want colleagues talking to one another about these issues as well."

The Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) is on board with a Friday, Mar. 11 Talking About Teaching session that will address the topic of respectful teaching and respectful learning. Other events include the Monday, Mar. 7 Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group film screening and a Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar workshop.

"We're hoping that by the end of the week, people are willing and open to talk about making this a much more diverse and respectable place to be, whether it's inside or outside the classroom," says Adams.

As Jiskoot adds, it all starts with initiating the conversation.

"I think the main goal is mutual respect, understanding and gaining an awareness," she says. "Even if people don't actually go to any of the activities, at least if they start talking about it, that's a beginning."

GET THE FACTS

• The CAETL Talking About Teaching seminar features panelists Dr. Suzanne Lenon (Women's Studies), Andrea Glover (Library/FNTP), Dr. Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education) and Dr. Sameer Deshpande (Management). The session is Friday, Mar. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in AH100.

• The LPIRG film screening of, The Experimental Eskimo, is Monday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m., Galileo's Lounge (in the Student Union Building).

• The Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar is titled, Diversity, Inclusivity, Civility, and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in L1168.

• Gender and Diversity Caucus members include: Dr. Pamela Adams (Education), Dr. Carly Adams (Kinesiology and Physical Education), Ardis Anderson (Philosophy), Dr. Yale Belanger (Native American Studies), Don Gill (Art), Andrea Glover (Library), Dr. Hester Jiskoot (Geography), Dr. Rob Sutherland (Neuroscience), Dr. Janet Youngdahl (Music).

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

Opening a dialogue of respect

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:34:37 +0000

The inaugural event, a week titled, Show Respect, Get Respect at Your U, will be held at the U of L from Mar. 7-11 as the caucus looks to get the campus thinking about how we interact with one another, in classrooms, meeting rooms and as we walk down the hallways.

"One of the things we've seen in the last 10 years is incredible growth here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Dr. Hester Jiskoot, Chair of the Gender and Diversity Caucus. "It's also grown in terms of diversity, and we thought this was a positive way to talk about that diversity. We want the conversation to focus not on tolerating one another but rather on respecting each other."

The U of L campus is fertile ground for academic debate, and such debates often result in academic discovery. However, when the debate is held in an atmosphere of disrespect, nobody benefits.

She explains that although there have been cases of discrimination/disrespect on campus, they are not interested in highlighting these specific instances, but rather want to address a "general feeling" among faculty members about issues of disrespect in U of L classrooms and meeting rooms. To stem such behaviour, Jiskoot says we need only look at our own Strategic Plan for guidance.

"We want people to see this more as an opportunity to enrich their own lives through diversity. Our Strategic Plan speaks to promoting and enhancing diversity and to presenting students with a welcoming environment," she says. "Everybody should feel welcome and respected for being in the classroom, both students and professors."

Dr. Carly Adams is also on the caucus, and she has seen students intimidated in the classroom, something that undermines their educational experience and what she is trying to accomplish as a professor.

"It's constantly a challenge, especially in senior level classes, to make sure there's an atmosphere where everyone's voice is respected," says Adams.

While respect in the classroom is not a new concept, the initiative of establishing a week that celebrates respect and diversity through a series of events is unique. The caucus does not know what to expect from the week, but more than anything hopes it can open up a dialogue. The group would also like to make it a recurring event that will grow in future years and include activities and events organized by undergraduate and graduate student organizations and clubs.

"We're really trying to raise awareness about all of these issues," says Adams. "We want students talking to students about how classrooms could be more diverse and more respectful places, and at the same time we want colleagues talking to one another about these issues as well."

The Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) is on board with a Friday, Mar. 11 Talking About Teaching session that will address the topic of respectful teaching and respectful learning. Other events include the Monday, Mar. 7 Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group film screening and a Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar workshop.

"We're hoping that by the end of the week, people are willing and open to talk about making this a much more diverse and respectable place to be, whether it's inside or outside the classroom," says Adams.

As Jiskoot adds, it all starts with initiating the conversation.

"I think the main goal is mutual respect, understanding and gaining an awareness," she says. "Even if people don't actually go to any of the activities, at least if they start talking about it, that's a beginning."

GET THE FACTS

• The CAETL Talking About Teaching seminar features panelists Dr. Suzanne Lenon (Women's Studies), Andrea Glover (Library/FNTP), Dr. Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education) and Dr. Sameer Deshpande (Management). The session is Friday, Mar. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in AH100.

• The LPIRG film screening of, The Experimental Eskimo, is Monday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m., Galileo's Lounge (in the Student Union Building).

• The Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar is titled, Diversity, Inclusivity, Civility, and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in L1168.

• Gender and Diversity Caucus members include: Dr. Pamela Adams (Education), Dr. Carly Adams (Kinesiology and Physical Education), Ardis Anderson (Philosophy), Dr. Yale Belanger (Native American Studies), Don Gill (Art), Andrea Glover (Library), Dr. Hester Jiskoot (Geography), Dr. Rob Sutherland (Neuroscience), Dr. Janet Youngdahl (Music).

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Granzow dedication moved to June 24

trevor.kenney — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:19:59 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is invited to a special event Thursday, June 24, when the Carl Granzow Sculpture Garden is dedicated in honour of the late artist and faculty member.

This event was originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 22 but was moved due to weather concerns.

Granzow taught at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge from 1975 through 2009. He served as Chair of the Art Department, president of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association, associate dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and director of Papokan Sculpture Park.

Granzow also introduced the idea of a sculpture park at the U of L and the planting of the 100-tree grove. Granzow is remembered as a dedicated leader, teacher, administrator, artist, mentor, man of commitment and friend.

The June 24 event begins at 11:30 a.m. with the park dedication ceremony, followed by a free barbecue from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Carl Granzow Sculpture Garden is located west of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ residences and north of Aperture Lake.

"Our planet needs more trees," Granzow said during the opening of the 100-tree grove. "I want to make the immediate space a better habitat for humans, birds and other animals, and provide an incremental increase in the organic matter absorbing greenhouse gases. Tree planting may become a part of what future generations will refer to as the "art of survival"."

For more on the Faculty of Fine Arts, visit this link.

Granzow Sculpture Garden to be dedicated June 22

trevor.kenney — Fri, 28 May 2010 20:56:36 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is invited to a special event Thursday, June 24, when the Carl Granzow Sculpture Garden is dedicated in honour of the late artist and faculty member.

This event was originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 22 but has been moved to June 24 due to weather concerns.

Funding cuts to post-secondary, topic of ULSU event

trevor.kenney — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:09:50 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union will host Public Interest Alberta today at noon as they present "Don't Cut Us Out", an event discussing funding cuts to post-secondary education.

Public Interest Alberta launched "Don't Cut Us Out," as a province-wide campaign. Tuesday's event will feature speakers representing the Students' Union, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association, the Graduate Students' Association and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

They contend that Alberta's future largely depends on post-secondary education; it enriches our economy, makes our society healthier and more vibrant and it helps to solve the problems affecting our environment. Investing in post-secondary education will make Alberta strong and prosperous.

"The Government of Alberta has a great opportunity to boost Alberta's economic and social development through post-secondary education," says Alex Massé, Vice President of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Students' Union. "We are deeply concerned that recent provincial funding decisions will jeopardize that development by forcing our post-secondary institutions to sacrifice either access or quality."

Although the need for post-secondary education is greater than ever, provincial funding for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will see, at best, a zero per cent increase in the years 2010 to 2012. This loss in funding will be felt throughout the institution, and has forced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to consider eliminating staff, faculty and services. The Alberta Government has the power to increase post-secondary education funding by prioritizing this grand investment.

For more information on the Tuesday event, contact Alex Massé at 403-329-2222 or e-mail su.academic@uleth.ca.

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