UNews - distance learning

UPass defeated at referendum

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:56:39 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge undergraduate population has spoken, voting down the UPass initiative introduced via referendum.

In this year's referendum, 2888 of the 6825 eligible undergraduate students went to the polls, 42.32 per cent of the eligible student population. A total of 64.58 per cent (1,863) of these students selected 'NO' on the 2011 UPass Referendum voting card. The 'YES' vote received 35.42 per cent (1,022) of student support.

The defeated 2011 UPass proposal included two major additions since the last referendum in 2006. Firstly, students on practicum outside of Lethbridge, living outside the service area or taking distance learning courses were eligible to opt-out of the program. Secondly, if the proposal were to be approved, it would be subject to a one year term and would return to referendum in February 2013 for permanent approval.

Similar to 2006, the price of the UPass was to be tied to an adult monthly pass, meaning it would have cost students $77.50 per semester.

For more information about the UPass Referendum, visit www.ulsu.ca or contact the ULSU at 403-329-2222.

First CPTPN Conference sets bar

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:16:46 +0000

The Theoretical Physics Group (TPG) of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Department of Physics and Astronomy recently hosted the first ever Canadian Prairie Theoretical Physics Network (CPTPN) Conference (Aug. 25-26).

The majority of the 40 participants came from different universities across the Canadian prairies, while a few came from much farther away, including Montreal and Taiwan. A total of 28 presentations were made over the course of the two-day event, with four U of L speakers taking the stage. Covering topics that included astrophysics, classical and quantum gravity, mathematical physics and quantum information, presentation titles ranged from "The second known HMXB Black Hole in the Milky Way Galaxy" to "Dynamical Riemannian Geometry and Plant Growth".

The conference proved to be extremely beneficial to all those who took part, providing excellent exposure for the U of L and its physics researchers. It also led to a number of collaborative agreements and promise of future joint efforts.

The unique aspect of the conference was that it very much involved students.
The format of the event allowed students to meet professors from throughout the prairie universities and learn first-hand about their current areas of research. This is particularly beneficial as it gives students exposure to a variety of programs where they may continue future research. The majority of the presentations were given by students, allowing for valuable opportunities to showcase research and practice presentations in an informal setting.

The CPTPN is a unique network of theoretical physicists and other researchers with interests in theoretical physics. It spans the prairies and looks to remove the logistical restraints its members face from being separated by large distances. The goal is to create a free atmosphere of information exchange without formal institutional constraints.

The other primary goal of the network is to enhance the education and experience of research students of theoretical physics on the prairies. Specifically, the possibility of distance learning for graduate classes was discussed, opening the door for students to gain better access to topics not taught at their current institution.

The CPTPN was initiated by the efforts of Dr. Dinesh Singh (��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina) in collaboration with the TPG at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Considering the benefits of joining the CPTPN, the price is right: free. In the spirit of its formation, it was decided that the only requirement for membership for a non-student is an endorsement from a current member, and for students, endorsement by their supervisor.

Brent Peterson is an undergraduate student working with the U of L's Department of Physics and Astronomy

Shepard settling into new role

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:17:20 +0000

She comes with a big-time resumé and reputation and yet it's the small-town, small-school setting in which she thrives. Dr. Blythe Shepard seems a perfect fit for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – and vice versa.

Just wrapping up her first year at the U of L, Shepard, an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, came to Lethbridge from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria. It was there she finished her master's and doctorate degrees (educational psychology) and had settled into a faculty position. Ironically, as Shepard helped grow UVic's research reputation and graduate programming, she found herself part of an institution that took her away from her teaching roots.

"Victoria used to be where Lethbridge is now, but it's moved into a much more research focused institution, more of a business model, and I found I was doing a little less teaching than I wanted," Shepard says.

"Being at a small school, working with smaller numbers, that seems to fit more with my style."

Invigorated with a new challenge, Shepard has been quick to contribute to the U of L's MEd (Counselling Psychology) program and the Master of Counselling program. Specifically, she's helping to overhaul the Campus Alberta Applied Psychology (CAAP) program.

"It needs to be revamped, so we're looking at all the courses," she says. "My colleagues and I are making revisions to them and making them more Lethbridge oriented and something that is unique for our students.

"Many of our students are mature students who are already out there practicing but they lack the credentials. They've probably been out of school for a while, so making that transition back into university is a pretty big step for them."

Shepard knows of what she speaks, because she was that student, coming back to school to pursue her master's degree as a single working mother in her mid-40s.

"I understand that aspect and having to juggle family responsibilities and a job you don't want to give up, all while going to school," she says.

It's no surprise many of Shepard's research initiatives revolve around this same theme. A native of small-town Ontario (she grew up in a rural setting near North Bay), Shepard offers a unique perspective. She did the majority of her undergraduate psychology degree through distance learning from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Waterloo. Her education and career path were moulded around the challenges of raising and providing for a young family in a rural setting.

Upon arriving on campus, Shepard applied for and received a Community of Research Excellence Development Opportunities (CREDO) grant to research the career paths of women and even more specifically, those in a rural setting.

"Most of the career theory out there is around men's career paths and women's are quite different," Shepard says. "Their paths are quite disrupted, at times, around family considerations. And for most women I've researched with, relationships are very important and they want work that is relationship-based.

"There's a lot more complexity to women's career paths."

Shepard has also collaborated with Dr. Priya Mani of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba as they embark on a three-part project to develop a Canadian career-counselling textbook. For that, she's also enlisted the U of L's Allison Roest of the Counselling Services Office.

"We're trying to find out what career educators across Canada would like in a textbook and then who would be interested in contributing to it," she says. "Allison has an expertise in that area so it's great we're able to work with her. What I'm really liking about the U of L is that it's small enough here that I'm starting to make connections very quickly."

It's the kind of fit that is already proving beneficial to both.

GET THE FACTS

• Shepard is one of 12 directors to the National Board of the Canadian Counselling Association, taking over the Alberta/NWT position from Dr. Kris Magnusson

• She is also co-chair of the Inter-Provincial Mobility for the Counselling Profession: Phase 1. Its mandate is the further establishment of regulatory colleges for Canadian counsellors to create more uniformity throughout the country

• An avid hiker, she has enjoyed exploring the coulees around Lethbridge and making day trips to Waterton

• Before going back to pursue her master's degree in 1995, she was teaching and performing administrative duties at an alternative school in British Columbia

• She has three children, all living in Victoria, with two attending the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria

UNews - distance learning

UPass defeated at referendum

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