Dean's Report - Spring/Summer 2024

I hope this report finds you well and ready to enjoy the summer months. I hope you will be able to spend some away from your regular duties.

It has been a busy winter and spring semester thus far and I have a great deal to share with you. Again, the report is structured around our three pillars: Student Success, Quality Programs, Academics and Research, Community Connections, and Strong Operational Foundation

One important item I want to draw your attention to: the Dean's Alumni Advisory Committee. Details are found a little later in this report in the Community Connections Section.

Read on...

Student Success

Dean's List

Dean's List Criteria: achieved an average of 85% or higher in 12 or more credit hours in a particular semester.

Winter Semester Dean's List

For the winter semester, a total of 44 students received the recognition. This group represents only 4.8% of all the students who are eligible.

The top GPA for the winter semester was achieved by Wyatt Neufeld (97.4%). This is Wyatt's second semester at the U of R; he is majoring in Human Kinetics and is active with the KHS Student Society. A graduate of Swift Current High School, Wyatt is from Wymark, Saskatchewan.  

Congratulations to Wyatt!

Our graduating class for the Spring 2024 - Congratulations to all!

Our own Faculty orator, Dr. Larena Hoeber

Our faculty getting ready to celebrate our graduates...clearly too many U of Alberta PhD grads in our midst!

Alumni & Awards Evening - March 15, 2024

On March 15 the Faculty introduced the newest inductees into our distinguished alumni class. We also presented this year's outstanding fieldwork partner and celebrated our undergraduate and graduate scholarship and award winners from the 2023 calendar year, including the Academic Gold and Silver recipients.

Distinguished Alumni: Bonnie Cummings-Vickaryous (BKin '04; MSc. '20)

Distinguished Recent Alumni: Dr. Krista Slough (Metz) (BKin '16)

Outstanding Fieldwork Partner: Regina Community Clinic

You can find a list of all our award recipients, along with more information about our distringuished alumni by following the link below:

Highlight Video from the 11th Annual Alumni and Awards Evening

Fieldwork Update

The Fieldwork Newsletter for Fall 2023 is now available. As always, the newsletter also includes links to student videos highlighting the project they completed on for their agency. 

If you are interested in exploring the possibility of hosting a fieldwork student in the future, please contact our fieldwork coordinator.

Meet Ryan Jupp who completed his fieldwork with the Moose Jaw Warriors this past fall. Ryan graduated with his BSRS (Sport Management) degree this spring 

Alumni Updates

Garett Mathiason (BKin '05) writes:

I graduated with a BKin major in Fitness & Lifestyle in 2005. Following working abroad for a year, I have been employed within the sports sector in Saskatchewan.

In 2006, I was one of the first three individuals employed with the Dream Broker Program, in partnership with Sask Sport and the two major school divisions in Regina. I stayed with this program, based out of Herchmer then Wascana community schools, for the duration of the original four year term. Following this, I was employed by the Saskatchewan Rowing Association, where until 2018 I was the Provincial Head Coach. I was fortunate to coach many athletes to higher levels in the sport, and I also had the opportunity to coach Team Canada's U19 team on three occasions, including at the 2015 World Junior Rowing Championships in Rio. In 2019, I took on a new job with Sask Sport and the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan, where I worked with Indigenous coaches and officials throughout the province. Since 2022, I am a Sport Consultant at Sask Sport where I work with Provincial Sport Organizations with sport development initiatives, funding programs, and organizational development. 

I am very grateful for my time at the U of R as a student in the Kinesiology department. My fieldwork placement at the RCMP Depot inspired me to continue working in this field, which I have now done for nearly 20 years. There are many professors and staff who took the time to care about my journey both as a student and alumni. Doug Cripps and Jennifer Love-Green are two current staff that immediately come to mind, along with others who have since moved on in the past 20 or so years. 

All the best to you, your staff, and of course the students this academic year.

Inaya Hague (BKin '19) writes:

I convocated in 2019 and moved to Scotland to complete my Master's in Physio! I've since been working in Glasgow with the NHS (National Health Service) as a physio and recently got an article published! I just wanted to share it with you, as my physio journey kind of began with my undergrad in Kin at the U of R!  

(Note: Inaya has had two papers published in the last two years: this first in Bone, the second in Calcified Tissue International - you can find links to both below the picture of Inaya)

Update: Inaya has returned to Canada and can be spotted, from time to timer, wandering/walking through Wascana Park!

Calling Alumni

Tell us about your post graduation journey. 

Quality Programs, Academics & Research

New Course-Based Master of Kinesiology (MKin) Formalized 

Although a pilot version of the degree has been operating for two years now, the program was formalized at the June 12, 2024 meeting of the University of Regina Senate.

The degree is a 30 credit-hour practicum based program that requires 24 credit hours of designated courses and 6 credit hours of professional practicum. The program is designed to allow students to gain advanced knowledge and experience through teaching, evidence-based research and applied engagement in applied and clinical movement science.

A cohort based program, the Faculty will be admitting  new students in both Fall (April 15 application deadline) and Winter semesters (August 15 application deadline).  

Study Abroad - Summer 2024

This academic year, two study abroad opportunities were offered to undergraduate students this year. The first, a group of 14 students participated in the European Association for Sport Management Summer School in Madrid. As part of the experience, the group also spent some time in southern Germany. This was our 6th time taking a group to participate in that summer school. We had a wonderful time with our students! Some pictures follow - you can also check out the video from the Madrid organizers. 

The second trip is currently underway in the UK. The focus for this course is disability sport. I will provide highlights from this experience in my next report.

We arrive...

Our first stop, the Olympic City of Munich

Exploring the area around the Olympic City - Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Our Youth Hostel Accommodation in Pullach, Germany

Success... (Madrid wrap up celebration)

Dr. Hoeber and I run into some of Dr. Bruno's fans in Madrid

Summary video from the Summer School in Madrid

KHS Day - 2024

On March 15th, the Faculty hosted its first KHS Day on campus. That day included:

• Experience KHS Day - a day long active introduction to program options in the Faculty targeted at students in grades 9-12. The day concluded with a draw for $500 Tuition award (won by a Grade 9 student from Regina Christian School). We have a similar day planned for November 2024.
• KHS Career Fair - once a regular feature, we have resurrected our KHS focused career fair for our students. Thanks to all organizations that took part - in particular, all our alumni who returned to represent their current employers. 
• KHS Research Day - Our graduate students present their work in 15 Minute Presentation and 3-Minute Thesis presentation formats. For a second year, we have recognized the two best presenters: Priya Verma (Supervisor, Julia Totosy) & Keegan Maxwell (Supervisor, Larena Hoeber). Each received a $500 Award. 
• Alumni and Awards Evening - The day concluded with a celebration of our current students and alumni.

Some images from the Career Fair

Faculty Member News

Darren Candow was appointed a Fellow of the International Society of Sport Nutrition at the groups annual conference in Florida last week. Congratulations to Darren on this prestigious appointment. You can learn about some of Darren's research in a recent story in the University of Regina's Discourse Research Magazine by following the link below...

Congratulations to Tristan Hopper and Cameron Mang who were both recently awarded tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Tristan teaches in the area of Therapeutic Recreation; Cam teaches in the area of Motor Control and Learning. 

Cam was also recently awarded an NSERC Discovery Grant ($282K) and is also the 2024 recipient of the University of Regina Award of Excellence in Experiential Learning.

Tristan also recently received a Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation grant ($140K) to support his research agenda.

Rebecca Genoe recently received a Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation grant ($50K) that focuses on the Development of a reliable screening tool for using virtual reality content in recreation therapy in long-term care. 

Julia Totosy was successful in obtaining a NSERC Discovery Grant ($177K) to support her research on food intake regulatory mechanisms. 

Brandy West-McMaster, our long-time Experiential Learning Coordinator has been seconded to Varsity and Club Sport for the coming year and serve as the Interim Women's Hockey Head Coach.

Korinne Lott will serve as the interim Experiential Learning Coordinator for the coming year. 

Both the hockey team and our fieldwork students will be in good hands!

Long Service Awards 2024

At a ceremony in April, several members of the Faculty of KHS were recognized by the University for the long service to the institution. This year's group included (from left to right):

• Dr. Cory Kulczycki - 10 years
• Chris Wermie - 15 years
• Dr. June LeDrew - 35 years
• Steve Burrows - 10 years
• Jill Fulton - 20 years
• Barclay Dahlstrom - 10 years
• Dr. Katya Herman - 10 years

Missing: 

• Dr. James Daschuk - 15 years
• Dr. Roz Kelsey - 20 years
• Dr. Kim Dorsch - 25 years

As a Faculty we appreciate their years of dedicated service to the students, the university, and the community. 

Podcast Studio and Series

This past spring, the Faculty converted classroom/meeting room CK 166 into a Podcast Studio as part of a pilot project connected to SRS 133 - Podcasting & Dynamic Storytelling. The goal was to create a space for use by the broader community at the University of Regina. Thanks to Matthew Degenhardt and Arthur Ward for making this vision a reality. 

A number of our faculty are already looking at ways to integrate the capabilities of the studio into their own classes and student projects.

As a Faculty, we will make use of the space to share stories about our students, athletes, alumni, faculty, staff, programs, events, and other interesting aspects about life at the University.

At the current time, podcasts are being published to our @URAllKinected Youtube Channel.

The first Faculty podcast features an interview with post graduate intern, Savana Finlayson (BSRS - SRM '23).

By the way... we are looking for a good name (i.e., catchy name) for the KHS Podcast Series. If you have a suggestion, please send to me.

Community Connections

50th Anniversary of the University of Regina

July 1, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the University of Regina (although its roots go back far longer to the old Regina College).

There will be many 50th anniversary events over the coming months - with most kicking off this fall. A couple of celebration opportunities include:

July 13, Vancouver, BC - Alumni Event at Riderville ahead of Rider's game

August 8, Ottawa, ON  - Alumni Event at Riderville ahead of Rider's game

September 6, Regina, SK - University Prairie Challenge Football Game - U of R vs. USask

September 7, Regina, SK - Homecoming Game - Women's Soccer vs Alberta

September 14, Regina, SK - United - An Evening in Support of Varsity Sport (Casino Regina Show Lounge) (For tickets - see button below)

September 20, Calgary, AB - Alumni Event at Riderville ahead of Rider's game

Alumni Week - October 21 - 25 - University of Regina Campus - will feature a variety of opportunities for University Alumni to engage on campus (Note: KHS will be planning an event that week - stay tuned).

October 25 - Regina, SK - Green and Gold Night at the U of R football game vs. UAlberta

For more information about any of these events, contact Kelsey Pettigrew

Coming Soon...50th Anniversary Retro Clothing

As part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Faculty will be bringing back two 'retro' clothing items; one featuring the original PAS logo (Hoodie), the other with the Cougar's claw scratch (Shorts or Sweats). The images are early mock-ups - we will provide more information once the products are available for sale. If you are interested in this opportunity, let us know.

Summer Camps

The Summer Sport School and Cougar/Ram Sport Camp season is set to get underway after the July Long weekend. Registrations for this year have been strong, although there are some limited number of open spots still available. 

Strong Operational Foundation

Post-Graduation Internship Opportunities

The Faculty has been developing and creating a variety of 12 month Internship (paid) opportunities targeted at individuals who graduated with a Bachelor's degree.

Opportunities are available in the areas of Strength and Conditioning, Communications (Media Production), as well as Sport Administration.

Our Associate Dean (Hands-On & Service Learning), Barclay Dahlstrom, has more information available. 

Dean's Advisory Committee on Faculty Programming

The newly created Committee makes recommendations to the Dean on the organization and delivery of the academic and non-academic programming that form part of its mandate. This could include, but is not limited to, curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, community focused activities, varsity and club sport, and recreation services for staff and students. The committee also serves to further the Faculty’s goal of building an engaged alumni.

Committee members will: 

• Provide solicited and unsolicited advice 
• Provide suggestions on program improvements 
• Provide suggestions for consideration 
• Communicate with and advocate for the Faculty and its programs
• Facilitate relationships and contacts with other external agencies and stake holders
•  Make decisions on alumni awards given by the Faculty

The Committee will strive to include individuals who represent the following stakeholders/groups:

• Alumni representing each of the Undergraduate Degree programs
• Alumni from the graduate program 
• Alumni who were Varsity athletes
• Alumni who were involved in Club Sport

Note: an individual alumni might represent more than one group, e.g., someone who was an athlete and completed both an undergraduate and graduate degree in the Faculty.

For more information about this service opportunity, please contact the dean. 

The inaugural meeting of this committee will take place this fall. 

That brings this report to a close. My very best wishes to you for the upcoming summer months. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to me directly.

Harold 

P.S. If you aren't already, follow us on our @URALLKinected social media channels