Monday, June 4, 2012
Dr. Mike Mahon's Open Letter to the University Community
As I approach the end of my second year as President, I am reflecting on what I have learned about the University of Lethbridge and I am energized by our potential.
I have had many opportunities to listen and talk to members of the U of L community about the future of our University. We have discussed the importance of being intentional, the significance of being bold.
As we approach the beginning of our next strategic planning process, I am writing this letter to outline some of my thoughts on a way forward for our University and how we might put this shared vision into action.
Forty-five years of creativity, discipline, and commitment have given us many reasons to be proud of who we are in 2012.
We have reached the largest student enrolment in our history across our campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary, and Edmonton; we have substantially increased our research income; and we have over 33,000 alumni who live and work throughout Alberta, across our country, and in 66 countries around the world.
While we should certainly celebrate our accomplishments, we also need to recognize we remain at an early stage in our development as a university.
Several key factors will shape our path and decisions as we chart a course for our future. Read more here
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Forming the Vision: 2014 - 2019 Strategic Planning Process Underway
The strategic planning process has begun with an open letter (above) to the U of L's internal and external communities from President Mike Mahon outlining a possible vision for the University of Lethbridge.
There will be an extensive consultation process as the 2014 - 2019 Strategic Plan progresses. The details of that process can be found here.
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Report to the President: FNMI Centre
The University of Lethbridge can justifiably take pride in being among the first universities in Canada to include a major in Native American Studies among its Liberal Education components.
It can also take pride in the extensive range of innovative academic programs, research, and creative activity related to FNMI peoples developed across faculties, and active student services support programs established.
In 2011, President Mike Mahon asked Professor Leroy Little Bear, Roy Weasel Fat (Red Crow Community College Vice-President Academic) and Professor Jane O’Dea to develop an overarching strategy that would create support for FNMI students, faculty, staff, and community members at the University of Lethbridge. Their report can be found here.
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Dr. Trudy Govier Receives 2012 CAFA Distinguished Academic Award
Dr Trudy Govier (Philosophy) was recently chosen to receive the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Association's (CAFA) 2012 CAFA Distinguished Academic Award.
The annual CAFA Awards are specifically designed to honour excellence and raise awareness of the many ways in which the scholarly or creative work of university academic staff members serves the wider community outside the university.
Learn more about Govier and her more than 40-year career as an author, educator and freelance philosopher here.
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U of L Joins Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) as Full Member
The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) is pleased to announce that the University of Lethbridge has joined the PIMS consortium as a full member.
The site has been a PIMS affiliate for many years and has had significant participation in PIMS activities.
Dr. Chris Nichol, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Lethbridge, will represent the University on the PIMS Board of Directors. Dr. Amir Akbary has been appointed as interim PIMS site director and will begin on July 1, 2012.
With the incorporation of the University of Lethbridge, the PIMS consortium now has nine full members, including all the major research universities in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Washington State.
In particular, the University of Lethbridge joins the Universities of Alberta and Calgary, in further strengthening PIMS’ partnerships in Alberta, where a significant number of PIMS activities take place. Read more here.
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Canadian Number Theory Association Conference at University of Lethbridge, June 17 to 22
The University of Lethbridge will play host to more than 200 mathematicians and researchers from around the world between June 17 - 22 at the Canadian Number Theory Association's 12th Meeting, a first for the Mathematics and Computer Science Department faculty members who are the key organizers, along with colleagues from UBC, U of C and SFU.
Among more than 100 presentations, a public talk is planned for June 18 featuring Dr. Andrew Granville and entitled "Pattern hunting in the prime numbers".
Number theory researchers study, among other topics, prime numbers and their roles in many computer algorithms, including secure credit card transactions.
Instead of working with the prime numbers most people understand (a prime number is only divisible by 1 and itself) such as 2,3,5,7,11 or 13, the researchers deal with prime numbers more than 100 digits long. Get more information here.
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U of L Community Cookbook Supports ULSU Food Bank
The University of Lethbridge Bookstore and the University of Lethbridge Students' Union are creating a Staff and Faculty cookbook.
This cookbook will include a collection of U of L Staff and Faculty recipes, published right here on campus. It will be available for faculty, staff, students and the general public to purchase in the fall, with all profits being donated to the ULSU Food Bank.
Learn more, and submit your favourite recipe, here.
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Tunnel Closure Begins Tuesday, June 5
The underground tunnel that travels from the PE building to the Library will be closed for the summer starting Tuesday, June 5.
The closure is necessary for the renovations to the exterior of the PE building where a new ramp and stairs will be constructed. Heavy equipment will be working above the tunnel which poses a danger to the public.
Fencing will be raised at the southeast entrance to the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness to contain the construction. Demolition of the area starts Wednesday, June 6. Learn more here.
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Section C University Hall Power Shutdown, Tuesday, June 5
An electrical shutdown is being planned for University Hall section C, Tuesday, June 5 between 5:00am-7:00am. This shutdown will affect all levels of C section, and a few spaces in D section. Notices will be posted at all affected rooms. Please ensure that equipment is turned off as required prior to this shutdown. Learn more here.
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8th Annual Bee Heart Smart Challenge: Walk the Coulees and Clean Them Up
This is the last week of the Bee Heart Smart Challenge!
This week’s challenge is ‘walk in the coulees or participate in Coulee Clean up’ for a badge! Make sure you get those activities in by Sunday June 10 – for your chance to win a prize. Congratulations to last week’s winner – Miranda Abild of the ‘Holy Walkamolies’!
Vote for your favourite team name! They range from zany to introspective and reflect, in a fun way, the people and areas of campus who are participating. Check them out by logging in, here
Vote for them here One vote per e-mail, please.
Latest Health and Wellness newsletter now available
This initiative for U of L employees is sponsored by the Wellness Committee with support from the Web Team, Sport and Recreation Services and AUPE.
The goal of the Bee Heart Smart Challenge is to promote an increase in activity, improve health and offer a fun challenge to your co-workers!
Prizes - Top performance and random draw prizes available throughout the challenge.
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Retirement Reception -- Cheryl Wheeler, Human Resources
Please join us on June 22 in celebrating the retirement of Cheryl Wheeler after nearly 14 years of service to the University of Lethbridge.
Cheryl started her U of L career with the Faculty of Education before transitioning to the Office of the Vice-President Finance and Administration, leading to her current role within Human Resources as Manager, HR Projects. The details for Cheryl's retirement celebration can be found here.
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Peer Partners Needed in August for Students from Hokkai Gakuen University
The International Centre for Students is looking for 15 U of L students who are interested in becoming "Peer Partners" to Japanese exchange students visiting the U of L this August from Hokkai Gakuen University. If you know a student who would be interested in this opportunity, please send them to this website for more information.
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UPDATE: Office Closures / Office Hours
May 1 to Aug. 25 -- Registrar's Office and Student Services Summer Hours
June 1 -- Cash Office summer hours begin
June 4 -- Bookstore summer hours
June 6 -- CRDC Closed
June 12 -- Arts and Science Advising office closed
June 14 -- Arts and Science Advising office closed in the morning
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Road Trip! Paddlers and fans required for Dragonboat Festival in Kalispell, Montana Sept. 7 - 9
The U of L is recruiting 2 teams & fans for a ROAD TRIP to KALISPELL, MONTANA to take part in their inaugural Dragon Boat Festival on scenic Flathead Lake.
Weekend of September 7 – 9, 2012
Race Date: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012 on Flathead Lake
Entry Fee: No Charge.
Transportation: U of L Team Bus Booked at NO COST to registered participants (bus sponsorship arranged courtesy of the Dean’s office, Arts and Science) -- Max 56 people.
Hotel: Rooms Blocked at Red Lion Hotel @ Preferred Rate of $110 CDN/night for U of L team members
Dinner/Dance: Sat. Sept. 8th @ Red Lion...Montana Dinner/Canadian Dance - Trevor Panczak & Rough Stock
Tickets $35 CDN per person, and includes wine and whiskey tasting, local menu, door prizes and much more!
If you are interrested in attending, please visit this website for more information.
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What's new at www.thisismyU.ca?
Olympic prize in sight
As one of the most decorated female rugby athletes in the brief history of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), Ashley Steacy (neé Patzer, she recently married fellow Pronghorn athlete and CIS champion, track athlete Sean Steacy) is just starting to make her mark on the world women’s rugby scene.
The two-time CIS Player of the year and three-time CIS Champion has become a permanent fixture with both the Senior National full squad and Sevens teams with one goal in mind: representing Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“Thinking about the possibility of going to the Olympics is pretty surreal,” says Steacy. “It’s a very recent goal of mine and is still pretty far in the future, but I’m trying not to think too much about the end goal, and instead focus on the smaller steps leading up to it.”
Get the full story here
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Family Townhome Residences Available
Housing Services is currently accepting applications for two and three-bedroom family townhomes. If you know a student with a family who could benefit from living on campus, please have them visit this website for more information.
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Lux Bucks May 2012 Winner
Congratulations to.....
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Next Uweekly -- Monday, June 18
Over the summer, Uweekly will be published every second Monday until August 27. If you have a notice or information to submit for the week of June 18 and beyond, please contact robert.cooney@uleth.ca.
Summer publishing dates:
Monday, June 18
Monday, July 2
Monday, July 16
Monday, July 30
Monday, August 13
Monday, August 27
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