February 19, 1999
Labour Studies Goes High-Tech
Posted February 19, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 18, 1999
99-02-08-CO
Labour Studies Goes High-Tech
Learning technology is now allowing students at the University of
Regina to attend Labour Studies Classes offered by the University of
Saskatchewan. This pilot project could lead to the possibility of
offering the program in several locations provincially.
The Labour Studies program provides members of the labour
community with the necessary knowledge, abilities, and skills to help
them understand and cope effectively with the current and future
challenges facing the labour community.
The program began at the University of Saskatchewan in 1987. It
was offered, for the first time, via interactive video link in studios in
both Saskatoon and Regina, in September 1998.
?It is obvious that this collaboration could have many benefits for
both universities and the labour communities in Regina and
Saskatoon,? says Larry Haiven, acting chairperson of the Labour
Studies Program. ?With the help of the joint initiatives fund and our
partnership with the U of R, more members of Saskatchewan?s labour
community could be provided with access to this program.?
The details of this interactive collaborative program between the
University of Regina and University of Saskatchewan were discussed
at a joint news conference in Saskatoon last night by Larry Haiven,
acting chairperson of the Labour Studies program and Minister of
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Maynard Sonntag.
The funding for this program is being provided through the
Provincial Government Joint Initiatives Fund, which is to be used to
meet proposals that emanate from the 1996 MacKay Report and are
collaborative in nature with the University of Regina.
For more information, please contact:
Larry Haiven
Acting Chairperson of the Labour Studies Program
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966 - 8451
Labour Studies Program Fact Sheet
THE PROGRAM
- The Labour Studies program was developed by the College of
Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan in conjunction with the
Saskatchewan Labour Movement.
- The Labour Studies Program received University Senate approval
in April, 1987.
- In September 1998, for the first time, the Labour Studies Program
offered courses via interactive link in studios in both Saskatoon and
Regina as a pilot project to explore the possibility of offering the
Program in several locations across the province in the future.
- The Labour Studies Program pilot project is being funded by the
Provincial Government Joint Initiatives Fund which is used to meet
proposals that emanate from the 1996 MacKay Report and are
collaborative in nature with the University of Regina.
- The digital network link is provided through a December 1997
partnership agreement between the U of R, U of S and SaskTel.
- To earn a certificate, participants must complete the equivalent of
six 12-week courses. Only one course may be taken at one time,
therefore, the minimum time required to earn the certificate is three
years.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- The admission requirement for this program is normally a Grade 12
pass standing or equivalent. Exceptions to this will be considered on
request to the Director of the Program. Preference for admission is
given to applicants who are currently union members.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
- To apply for admission to the Program, contact the Director or the
Secretary by mail or telephone. A registration form, program
information and an information letter indicating the fees, instructor,
textbook list and specific directions about the time and location of
the course will be sent out.
EXAMINATIONS, GRADING, AND ATTENDANCE
- Participants are provided with the option of being examined or not
being examined on course content. When the participant chooses to
be examined, he/she will receive a grade for that course. If the
participant chooses not to be examined, he/she will be issued a
certificate of attendance if their attendance record is satisfactory.
OBJECTIVES AND PHILOSOPHY
- The objectives of the Labour Studies Program are to provide
members of the labour community with the necessary knowledge,
abilities, and skills to help them understand and cope effectively
with the current and future challenges facing the labour community.
U of S Continues their role in "Breaking the Silence"
Posted February 19, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 18, 1999
99-02-09-ED
U of S Continues Their Role in
?Breaking the Silence?
On March 12 and 13, the College of Education will sponsor
the second annual ?Breaking the Silence: Gays and Lesbians
in Our Schools? conference. The conference will provide an
academic setting for networking and the sharing of
information about gay and lesbian educational issues in
Saskatchewan.
?The conference has a strong focus on K-12 education and
helps participants to learn how to make a safer school
environment for gay and lesbian students and teachers,?
says Don Cochrane, organizer of the conference.
On Friday, March 12 at 7:15 p.m., Svend Robinson, the first
openly gay Member of Parliament and founding member of
the International Advisory Board of the International Gay
and Lesbian Human Rights Commission will open the
conference speaking on ?Reflections on Breaking the Silence?.
Various panels, workshops, and theatre performances will
follow on Saturday, March 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Topics addressed at the conference will include the struggle
for an inclusive curriculum, the protections for teachers and
students in the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and
making schools safe for all students.
Some 80 registered participants gathered for last year?s
conference and Cochrane estimates that this year?s numbers
will be much higher. ?People see that the University
provides a place where volatile issues can be discussed
safely and openly,? says Cochrane.
All presentations will be held in Quance Theatre, College of
Education. The conference registration fee for Friday, March
12 only is $5 including refreshments. Registration before
March 5 for the full conference is $30 for students, $15 for
underwaged or retired. Registration after March 5 will be
$40 for all participants.
For complete program details log onto the Internet at:
http://www.usask.ca/education/program/edfnd/g&lconf99.
htm
For more information, please contact:
Don Cochrane
College of Education
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7521
don.cochrane@usask.ca
Focus on Your Future -Students Explore Career Opportunities
Posted February 19, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 19, 1999
99-02-10-AR
Students explore career opportunities at
FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE
Arts and Science students can learn more about 13 professional
programs and six different career areas at the fifth annual Focus on
Your Future, on Saturday, March 6 at the Arts building on campus.
This event is sponsored by the College of Arts and Science, the Arts
and Science Students' Union and the Student Employment Centre.
Focus on Your Future aims to help students find out about various
careers and teach them how to get jobs. Students can attend up to
five different sessions during the all-day event.
The event is free. Students can register in advance at the Arts
General Office (room 235 Arts) or the ASSU office (room 248 Arts), or
can register at the door.
Last year, more than 300 students registered for the event.
It is primarily attended by first-year and second-year university
students who are deciding on their major. However, senior students,
high school students, part-time students and anyone interested in
pursuing a university degree can attend any of the sessions.
The morning sessions focus on professional programs at colleges
here and at other universities. Sessions this year include information
about the medical laboratory and radiologic technology programs at
SIAST (Kelsey campus), University of Regina programs including
journalism, Coop and Work Experience programs, architecture,
chiropractic, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy and
nutrition, physical therapy, law, social work, and speech pathology.
At noon, all students can meet together to hear career counsellor
Dawn Phillips and student employment centre director Doug Rain
talk about how to market their Arts and Science degree. This session
covers choosing a career and developing job-finding skills in today's
employment market.
In the afternoon, students focus on careers by attending "career
panels", hearing what various jobs are like from the people who
work in them. Each panel features three or four Saskatoon employers
or professionals who describe the work experience and opportunities
available in their field.
Panels sessions include Careers in Medical and Research Sciences,
Working in the Public Service, Working in the Justice System,
Studying and Working Overseas. Two new panel sessions have been
organized this year -- Words, Words, Words (careers in Web and
Book Publishing) and By The Numbers (careers in economic
forecasting, statistical surveying, and other choices for
mathematicians, economists and computer scientists . ) Panelists
include representatives from local businesses and consulting firms,
as well as federal and provincial employees and university faculty
and staff.
Available again this year is a Career Fair, featuring booths from
Saskatchewan employers interested in talking to Arts and Science
students about careers in their companies.
All students are welcome. People can register in advance at the
Dean's Office (room 235 ARTS) at the ASSU office (room 248 ARTS)
or at the Student Employment and Career Centre (lower Marquis), or
at the door.
For more information, contact:
Cathie Fornssler
College of Arts and Science
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4247 or
Devon Teneyke
ASSU
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7763
February 15, 1999
$3 M in Software Donated to U of S Geological Research
Posted February 15, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 15, 1999
99-02-06-AR
$3 M in Software Donated for State-of-the-Art U
of S Geological Research
Saskatoon, SK. Corporate donations of software valued at $3 million
will give University of Saskatchewan researchers the best tools of
any university in Canada for creating images of the interior of the
Earth.
"We are extremely pleased to receive these donations. This new
laboratory software will revolutionize what we are able to do within
our geophysics program," said Zoltan Hajnal, professor of
geophysics.
"It will also permit us to recruit high-calibre faculty and to attract
more research dollars because we can undertake research work that
is relevant to the needs of the potash and mining industries."
U of S researchers and students in geological sciences will now be
able to create three-dimensional computer images of the Earth to
several kilometres in depth, providing a spatial map of the Earth's
interior. Previously, only two-dimensional images could be created
from seismic field survey data.
"Think of the Earth as a layer cake," Hajnal said. "Until now, we could
only 'see' the layers of the cake where we had made a vertical cut.
With this new technology, we can make many slices and see how
thick the cream filling is throughout the cake and even what the
quality of it is."
While this software technology has been used elsewhere in oil and
gas exploration, Hajnal's team will take a new step in applying it
principally to the potash and other mining industries.
"In the past, we didn't know how big a mineral deposit was or what
shape it was. Now we can map mineral formations both vertically
and horizontally," he said.
" This new underground world will also reveal channels of buried
rivers, ancient reefs, mountains, and many of the complexities of the
geologic strata with very high precision."
The donations come from four international companies:
-Landmark Graphics Corporation (Division of Halliburton Inc.,
largest oilfield service giant) of Houston, Texas -- $1.7 million
-GeoQuest (Division of Schlumberger, the world's second-largest
field service giant) of Houston -- $500,000
-Seismic Image Software (partly owned by Fairfield Industries Inc.,
a major geophysical instrument company) of Calgary -- $600,000
-Hampson and Russell Software Services Ltd. of Calgary --
$200,000
The total package of state-of-the-art software programs is unique at
a Canadian university, Hajnal said. The programs will be run on
computers in the department's Seismological Laboratory.
All the donor companies have had or still have U of S graduates
working for them.
"These donations were received because throughout the years the
exploration and the oil and gas industries recognized the novel
professional qualities of our graduates," said Hajnal. "The excellent
contributions these individuals make daily to the activities of these
companies were the major factors which tilted these organizations'
decisions to sponsor our program."
He noted Brian Russell, co-chair of Hampson and Russell Software
Services Ltd., is a U of S graduate and president of the Society of
Exploration Geophysicists, the largest international professional
geophysical organization in the world.
U of S is one of only three universities in Canada chosen by
Landmark Graphics to collaborate on geophysics research under
the company's alliance grant program.
Hajnal noted the new software will greatly enhance the work his
research team is doing as part of the nation-wide, $100-million
geoscientific project called Lithoprobe.
In that 20-year study of the Earth's rigid outer shell or lithosphere,
scientists create vibrations at the Earth's surface with huge 20-tonne
vibrating trucks known as "dancing elephants" and then analyze the
returning sound waves.
"This new software will help us fathom how this continent was
formed during its four-billion-year history and what is happening
down there today," he added.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Zoltan Hajnal
Professor of Geophysics
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5694
Kathryn Warden
Research Communications Officer
Office of the Vice-President Research
(306) 966-2506
February 12, 1999
Market Prospects '99
Posted February 12, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 12, 1999
99-02-05-AG
Market Prospects ?99
Market Prospects, a series of programs that provides
timely market information about major Saskatchewan
agricultural commodities prior to spring planting, airs on
CTV Farmgate on Saturdays from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m. Ten
segments remain in the series with the scheduled times
and topics as follows:
February 13 U.S. Perspective: Wheat and Oilseed
Outlook
February 20 Specialty Crops: Coriander, Caraway,
Mustard
February 27 Specialty Crops: Canary Seed, Peas,
Lentils, Chickpeas
March 6 CWB Crops: Wheat and Durum Outlook
March 13 CWB Crops: Feed and Malt Barley Outlook
March 20 Coarse Grains and Livestock Update
March 27 Spring Seeding Decisions: Weather and
Inputs
April 3 Asian Outlook
April 10 World Oilseed Outlook
April 17 Canola and Flaxseed Outlook
These programs will be rebroadcast on SCN starting on
February 16. Please check your local listings.
Market Prospects is coordinated by the Extension
Service of Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, and the
Extension Division and Department of Agricultural
Economics of the University of Saskatchewan. It is
funded by the Agricultural Institute of Management in
Saskatchewan (AIMS).
For more information, please contact:
Rob Roy or Ken Rosaasen
Agricultural Economics/Extension Division
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-4029 or (306) 966-4017
February 09, 1999
Law Lecture
Posted February 09, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 9, 1999
99-02-04-LA
Law Lecture
?Ethical Issues in Ag-Biotechnology:
Life Forms as Property??
On Monday, February 15, 1999 Nettie Wiebe, Past-President,
National Farmers Union, will deliver a lecture entitled ?Ethical Issues
in Ag-Biotechnology: Life Forms as Property??. The lecture will take
place in the Law Library, College of Law, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact:
Sharon Wandzura-Fehr
Guest Speakers? Secretary
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-5873
February 02, 1999
Rudy Wiebe to present 8th Shumiatcher Lecture
Posted February 02, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 2, 1999
99-02-01-LA
Rudy Wiebe to present 8th Shumiatcher Lecture
On Thursday, February 4th, Rudy Wiebe, Governor General?s Award-
winning author, will deliver a lecture entitled ?Land, Language and
Law?. The lecture will take place in the Law Library, College of Law,
beginning at 4:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
For more information, please contact:
Sharon Wandzura-Fehr
Guest Speakers? Secretary
College of Law
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5873
February 01, 1999
Dental Education in Saskatchewan
Posted February 01, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 1, 1999
99-01-11-DE
U of S Board of Governors considers
new model for dental education
SASKATOON -- The University of Saskatchewan's Board of
Governors today considered a report that proposes a
new model for dental education in Saskatchewan. If
adopted, the model would provide a world-class dental
program for Saskatchewan residents; encourage
students to practice in Saskatchewan following
graduation; and foster financial stability for the College
of Dentistry.
The College of Dentistry admits 25 new students each
year. Under the new model, 10 of these students would
pay full cost tuition for their programs, at about $30,000
each. It is likely that these students would be recruited
from elsewhere in Canada or internationally. The College
has also proposed changing the current five-year
program to a four-year program, which would bring it in
line with dental programs offered elsewhere.
Fifteen spaces would be reserved for Saskatchewan
students. The University of Saskatchewan would
continue to cover over half of the cost of the program
for those students by providing bursaries of $17,225
each from its operating budget. The Government of
Saskatchewan would provide forgivable bursaries of
$5,000 per year for Saskatchewan students who chose
to remain and practice in the province after graduation.
Students who chose that option would therefore see
their total tuition payable reduced to $7,775 per year for
four years, or a total of $31,100, compared with the
current total of $28,500 ($5,704 per year for five years).
Currently the University of Saskatchewan's operating
budget covers 81% of the total cost of a dental student's
education, while the student pays 19% of the cost. Under
the new model, the student would pay 26% of the cost
of his or her education.
The proposed model will also permit some reinvestment
in the College of Dentistry to help strengthen and
enhance the quality of teaching, research, and clinical
service provided by the College.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Ken Sutherland, Dean
College of Dentistry
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-5122
or
Dr. Michael Atkinson
Vice-President (Academic)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8484
The Business Plan and Future
Directions for the College of Dentistry
BACKGROUND
The report on The Business Plan and Future Directions for
the College of Dentistry, which was commissioned by the
College of Dentistry, springs from a decision made by
the University's Board of Governors in its April 1997
operating budget. At that time the Board was forced to
balance a zero percent increase to its operating grant
from the Provincial Government with increasing costs
caused by inflation and contractual obligations through
a combination of tuition increases, base budget
reductions, and increased revenue targets.
One of the measures of the 1997 budget was a
requirement for the College of Dentistry to reduce its
dependency on the University's operating budget by $1.5
million per year. The College of Dentistry is one of the
highest cost-per-student colleges at the U of S; it has
the lowest annual enrollment, even though each year it
has many more applicants than it can accommodate; and
no other academic programs at the U of S depend on it to
supply courses for their students.
In response to the Board's directive, the College
commissioned KPMG LLP Consulting to assist it in
developing a business plan. A steering committee to
develop the plan was struck and included representation
from the College of Dentistry's administration, faculty,
staff and students; central university administration;
the College of Medicine; and the College of Dental
Surgeons of Saskatchewan. This committee consulted
with other U of S colleges, other dental colleges in North
America, professional dental organizations, the
Saskatchewan departments of Health and Post-
Secondary Education and Skills Training in the
development of the plan, which took place in November
and December 1998.
The KPMG report outlines four options that were
considered for the future of the College of Dentistry. The
first was to maintain the status quo, which was
dismissed early on as untenable given the Board's
directive to increase the College's financial viability.
The second option was for a combination of cost-saving
measures and the recruitment of 15 international
students with tuition of $30,000 each. This option was
considered to leave the College vulnerable to economic
turmoil in other countries.
The third option is the one being considered by the Board
of Governors. Dubbed "collaborative enterprise" by
KPMG, this option combines the cost-efficiencies of the
second option with an increase in tuition for all
students, recruitment of 10 students from elsewhere in
Canada or internationally, introduction for
Saskatchewan students of University bursaries of
$17,225 that would help reduce the impact of tuition
increases, and a government bursary of $5,000 per
student per year for Saskatchewan residents, forgivable
if students choose to practice in Saskatchewan
following graduation. This option would provide for some
revenue to reinvest in the College to strengthen aspects
of teaching, research and clinical services.
The fourth option considered was an "opting out" of
responsibility for training dentists at the University of
Saskatchewan, relying on others with the capacity and
commitment to provide dental education to
Saskatchewan residents. This option was rejected
because the cost to Saskatchewan would include the
loss of the College's economic impact on the province,
the cost (less tuition) of preparing 11 to 13 dentists to
practice in Saskatchewan upon completion of their
education elsewhere, and the cost of closing the College
of Dentistry, including disposal of facilities and
allocation of faculty and staff.
