February 24, 2011
Provincial Government continues to support U of S growth
Posted February 24, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Feb. 24, 2011
The Government of Saskatchewan announced today that it is providing nearly $76.5 million for capital projects at post-secondary education institutions across the province.
Construction continues on the Health Sciences project
More photos of the project in the U of S Flickr gallery
"These funds represent a significant investment in both current and future infrastructure needs of our post-secondary system," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "We are committed to building an environment for students and scholars that reflects excellence, innovation, accessibility and quality."
The capital projects include:
- $50 million for continued construction of D and E wings of the Health Sciences project at the University of Saskatchewan. This facility will train more health professionals to meet the province's health care demands and strengthen Saskatchewan's health research capacity.
- $20.7 million for repair and maintenance of post-secondary facilities such as:
• Roof replacements, mechanical and structural repairs; and
• Improvements to heating, cooling and ventilation systems
- $5.7 million to fulfill the government's commitment to the construction of the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) in Saskatoon. The InterVac facility is scheduled to open later this year.
"This substantial investment will further the university's commitment to innovation and excellence in health sciences and research in life-saving vaccines, as well provide much needed infrastructure support," University of Saskatchewan Provost and Academic Vice-President Brett Fairbairn said. "We are deeply appreciative of the province's commitment to our university which allows us increase the international profile of Saskatchewan and of our university as a contributor to teaching, learning and research."
"Our growing economy and stronger than expected revenues have allowed us to address some critical needs while fulfilling long-standing commitments to invest in Saskatchewan's knowledge economy," Norris said. "These projects will also help maintain our economic momentum."
The Government of Saskatchewan has now committed $335 million in capital funding for post-secondary institutions since the 2008-09 budget. Combined with operating and programming funds, more than $2 billion has been invested in post-secondary education in the province.
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For more information, contact:
Bill Stovin
Advanced Education, Employment and Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926
To view the provincial government's release: http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=6b635e44-1a76-4b20-8362-f44de0ed3bf3
February 17, 2011
U of S nursing program to be offered at Northlands College
Posted February 17, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 17, 2011
2011-02-08-NU
A joint partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and Northlands College means students living in northern Saskatchewan will have more opportunities to pursue a nursing degree in their home community.
Dean Lorna Butler, University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing
The four-year nursing program will allow students to study through Northlands College, which serves the northern half of Saskatchewan, by a distributed learning model. The partnership provides the first northern locations for students to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
“Thanks to our partnership with Northlands College, this new option allows students to learn where they live, most notably Aboriginal students, and opens doors for future health practitioners in Saskatchewan,” said U of S Council of Health Science Deans Chair and College of Nursing Dean Lorna Butler. “Emphasis will be placed on interprofessional education – meaning graduates will be prepared to work in teams with other health professionals and education will focus on community engagement principles.”
Northlands College will offer the first year of programming starting in September 2011.
“Partnering with the U of S allows us not only to better serve the needs of students in northern Saskatchewan but also to address a critical human resource need of northern health sector employers,” said Northlands College Chief Executive Officer Bill McLaughlin. “The availability of a nursing degree in northern Saskatchewan will directly contribute to the implementation of the Northern Health Human Resource Strategy and facilitate a higher degree of northern, primarily Aboriginal, trained professionals providing northern health care.”
This partnership also signifies the intent of the U of S Council of Health Science Deans and Northlands College to work together to identify further opportunities for distributed and interprofessional learning in medicine and other areas of health sciences. As Saskatchewan’s only medical-doctoral university, and with the recent formation of the Council of Health Sciences Deans, the U of S is uniquely positioned to offer opportunities for students to learn and interact between health sciences disciplines in communities around the province.
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For more information, contact:
Mark Ferguson
Media Relations Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 966-1851
February 16, 2011
U of S study of an ancient bacterial gene sheds light on movement of North American peoples
Posted February 16, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 16, 2011
2011-02-07-OTHER
DNA from the stomach bacteria of a young man who died hundreds of years ago is shedding light on movement patterns of North American peoples and when they came in contact with Europeans.
Treena Swanston
University of Saskatchewan researcher Treena Swanston worked with Helicobacter pylori DNA amplified from the stomach tissue of a young man who died between 340 and 160 years ago on a glacier high in the mountains of Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia.
Members of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, on whose traditional lands he was found, named the site Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi, or “Long Ago Person Found.” The individual is estimated to have been 18 or 19 years old when he died. Swanston’s work was undertaken in collaboration with these First Nations.
H. pylori is a common stomach bacteria, present in about half of all people. High levels of H. pylori infections have been identified in the circumpolar region, and Canadian aboriginal communities have been identified by a Canadian Helicobacter study group as a population with the highest risk of developing a Helicobacter-related disease such as stomach ulcers. (An autopsy of the Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi individual revealed no sign of this problem.)
Swanston’s analysis of the ancient H. pylori DNA revealed that some of the DNA sequences from its vacA gene are similar to previously published novel sequences associated with Alaskan strains. These are in turn closely related to vacA sequences in Asian strains. This suggests the bacteria travelled with the ancestors of the Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi individual as they migrated from Asia to the New World thousands of years ago.
However, Swanston found that some of the ancient H. pylori vacA sequences were similar to sequences in European strains, suggesting European contact.
While DNA from ancient H. pylori has been amplified once before, this is the first time that an ancient H. pylori strain was characterized based on vacA sequence data. Swanston’s work adds to the current research on ancient human migrations, and when different groups came into contact with one another.
Swanston is a post-doctoral fellow in the U of S Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (College of Medicine) and a sessional instructor in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology (College of Arts and Science).
The complete research article, entitled “The Characterization of Helicobacter pylori DNA Associated with Ancient Human Remains Recovered from a Canadian Glacier,” will be published online February 16 at the Public Library of Science (PLoS ONE) at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016864.
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For more information, contact:
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
michael.robin@usask.ca
February 15, 2011
U of S professor receives prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship
Posted February 15, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 15, 2011
2011-02-06-OTHER
U of S professor of accounting Fred Phillips has received the 3M National Teaching Fellowship—the highest teaching honour in Canada.
“When I found out about the fellowship, it was just a feeling of ‘wow’,” said Phillips, who was surprised by the news. “It is truly special to be joining so many other wonderful educators. I don’t feel like I belong in their company.”
But his track record of teaching awards suggests he certainly does belong to this group. Phillips joined the U of S in 1996 and quickly made his mark by earning teaching awards in his first year, and every year after, including college-specific awards, university-wide awards and student-selected awards. He received the university’s highest teaching honour, the Master Teacher Award, in 2005-06, becoming one of the youngest recipients ever. More recently, he was selected as the inaugural winner of the Provost’s Award for Outstanding Innovation in Learning in 2010.
3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education selected Phillips based on his excellence in teaching, mentorship and research in the area of teaching and learning. Across Canada, only 10 teachers receive this award each year.
“Throughout his career, Dr. Phillips has earned a reputation as an outstanding teacher, mentor, and researcher—institutionally, nationally and internationally, both in the field of accounting and outside of it,” said Brett Fairbairn, provost and vice-president academic. “This recognition is a tremendous achievement for Fred and reflects his commitment to teaching excellence, his colleagues and most importantly, his students.”
Now that he has received Canada’s highest teaching honour, Phillips said there is only one thing left to do, keep on getting better. “I always see room for improvement. I have so many incredible colleagues at the university, that I feel like I need to continually get better just to catch up to them,” said Phillips. “Getting awards was never my target outcome, but it does signal that I chose the right career.”
This is the eighth 3M Fellowship for the U of S since the award’s inception in 1986. Phillips joins previous U of S winners: Baljit Singh, professor of veterinary biomedical sciences in 2009, Ernie Walker, professor of archaeology in 2007, John Thompson, professor of sociology in 2005, Rick Schwier, professor of curriculum studies in 2005, Len Gusthart, professor of kinesiology in 2002, Mel Hosain, professor of civil engineering in 1994 and Ron Marken, professor of English in 1987.
Phillips will be presented with the fellowship at the annual STLHE conference hosted at the U of S June 15-18, 2011.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Kris Foster
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: 306-966-1806 or 306-966-5905
Email: kris.foster@usask.ca
February 10, 2011
U of S business students place second in Western competition while raising funds for the Children’s Health Foundation
Posted February 10, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 10, 2011
2011-02-05-ESB
Students at the Edwards School of Business are number one in Western Canada when it comes to number crunching for taxes. Students placed second overall in events and third overall in academics, at the Jeux Du Commerce (JDC) West Business Competition Jan. 14-16 in Saskatoon. This was the first year the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) hosted the event.
Photo by Glen Kobussen
Prior to the competition, each university participated in Chillin’ for Charity, an initiative to support a local charitable organization through volunteer hours and monetary support, and Edwards School of Business students raised nearly $55,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation.
“The competition provides students an opportunity to compete with each other in all facets of business, while developing networking, critical thinking, and leadership skills as they prepare to begin their careers in the business world,” said Glen Kobussen, Edwards School of Business team coach for JDC West. “In addition, our students had a chance to support a worthy cause. The funds raised for the Children’s Health Foundation will benefit the community as a whole.”
JDC West is the largest student-run academic competition in Western Canada, and the only one of its kind to combine academics, athletics and social challenges to put undergraduate business students to the test in a highly competitive and spirited environment. This year, 11 universities and more than 550 students from Western Canada competed.
For a full list of JDC West 2011 results visit www.jdcwest.com.
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For more information, contact:
Glen Kobussen, Adjunct Teaching Fellow
Edwards School of Business
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-2859
Email: kobussen@edwards.usask.ca
February 04, 2011
U of S engineering students advance to national competition
Posted February 04, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 4, 2011
2011-02-03-ENG
University of Saskatchewan (U of S) engineering students placed second in two categories at the Western Engineering Competition (WEC) 2011 Jan. 26-29 in Saskatoon. The second-place finishes in the junior design and consulting engineering categories secures them a spot at the national competition.
The two teams will head to the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) at McGill University
March 10-13. Categories will include design, debate, consulting and communication.
Kaitlyn Scott, vice-president communications, WEC 2011, and U of S fourth-year engineering student, says the two U of S teams will have a chance to represent the university, the province and Western Canada on the national stage.
“Both teams are competing in time-based design challenges that will test their knowledge of the engineering design process, their ability to meet deadlines, and their interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills,” said Scott. “Experience at competitions such as CEC is invaluable to students.”
The Western competition involved a number of innovative subjects: in the junior design category, students had to save people, represented by eggs, from the top of a burning building; consulting engineering competitors had to analyze a proposal on biofuels from the Saskatchewan government and make recommendations on where and what to grow; senior designers had to build and program robots to sort grain and pick up bales; and innovative design displays included a brain surgical drill and escalator handrail sanitization system.
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For more information, contact:
Kaitlyn Scott, Vice-President Communications
WEC 2011
University of Saskatchewan
Cell: (306) 370-5105
Email: vp.communications@wec2011.ca
February 02, 2011
PM appoints U of S President to national committee
Posted February 02, 2011
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Feb. 1 the appointment of Peter MacKinnon, president of the University of Saskatchewan, to the Advisory Committee on the Public Service.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper with U of S President Peter MacKinnon at the Diefenbaker Canada Centre in Sept. 2010.
Photo by Liam Richards
“I am very pleased that Mr. MacKinnon has agreed to lend his expertise and perspective to the work of this committee,” said Prime Minister Harper in a news release from his office. “I am confident his considerable experience will contribute to the committee’s record of success.”
The committee was established in November 2006 to provide an external perspective and expert advice to the Prime Minister and the Clerk of the Privy Council on the renewal and future development of public service.
The Committee is comprised of nine Canadians known for leadership in their professions and public life. On the committee, MacKinnon will be replacing University of Alberta President Indira Samarasekera, who was thanked by the Prime Minister for her valuable contribution.
According to the government’s news release, the main objective of the Advisory Committee is to help ensure that the federal public service remains strong, dynamic and relevant. The Public Service of Canada is a vital national institution, with public servants delivering programs and services to millions of Canadians in every region of the country and around the world.
“I am pleased to be appointed to this committee,” said MacKinnon. “The quality of public service is vital to the future of our country, and I hope to contribute to its renewal and future development.”
U of S Lecturer Receives Learning Communities Teaching Award
Posted February 02, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2010
2011-02-02-OTHER
U of S sessional lecturer Michael P.J. Kennedy has been awarded the 2010 Learning Communities Teaching Award.
Professor Wendy Roy, last year's recipient of the Learning Communities Teaching Award, presents Michael P.J. Kennedy with this year's honour
Photo courtesy of the University Learning Centre
The award was presented to Kennedy at a reception hosted by the University Learning Centre (ULC) to recognize his contributions to the university’s Learning Communities program and the positive impact he has on his students.
“It is an honour to receive this award, especially since there are so many individuals involved in making the Learning Communities program so successful,” said Kennedy. “It is a group effort and I am just pleased to have been singled out for my contribution to the total group endeavour which has helped so many students.”
A lecturer in the Department of English since 1991, Kennedy has also received the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union Teaching Excellence Award (1999), the College of Arts and Science Teaching Excellence Award (2004), and the Sylvia Wallace Sessional Lecturer Teaching Excellence Award (2005).
“Through the Learning Communities initiative we have had the privilege to work with many outstanding faculty whose commitment to teaching excellence has helped hundreds of first-year students feel a closer connection to the university and their academic passions,” said Jim Greer, ULC director.
“The success of students and of this program stems from the involvement and commitment of U of S faculty, staff and senior student peer-mentors,” said Greer. “Instructors like Dr. Kennedy, kindle a passion for learning, help connect the disciplines and make a life-long impact on students. This award is our chance to recognize such valuable contributions.”
The Learning Communities Teaching Award—which is awarded based on student nominations—comes with a cash prize, which Kennedy will be donating to the Dr. Michael P.J. Kennedy Scholarship for Huskies Men's Hockey. The scholarship was established several years ago and has been supported with all the profits from Dogs on Ice: A History of Hockey at the University of Saskatchewan, a book Kennedy wrote.
“I have been a teacher at the post-secondary level since 1971 and feel fortunate for the opportunity I have had to work with thousands of students. For me, the daily satisfaction of teaching lies in being able to play a part in assisting students to grow in their knowledge of the specific material under discussion as well as their knowledge of the world around them and to learn more about themselves,” said Kennedy.
About Learning Communities: Learning Communities are structured learning experiences. Each community involves about 30 to 40 first-year students taking a common set of two to three classes. The groups, guided by peer mentors and supported by colleges, professors, alumni, and the University Learning Centre, meet weekly as an academic community. Learning Communities are currently offered in the Colleges of Arts and Science, Agriculture and Bioresources, and Kinesiology.
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For more information contact:
Erin DeLathouwer,
Learning Communities Program Co-ordinator
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: (306) 966-7771
Email: e.delathouwer@usask.ca
Top high school students visit campus
Posted February 02, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2011
2011-02-01-OTHER
More than 200 of Canada’s greatest young minds paid visit to Saskatoon on Wednesday to explore the university and to see firsthand what the institution—and the province—has to offer.
Greystone Scholars from left: Linda Huard from Medstead Central, U of S student Kyla Tymchen, Joyce Hung from Evan Hardy Collegiate and Courtney Erickson from Quill Lake School
photo by Maury Yee
These academically gifted students are part of an elite group called the Greystone Scholars Society. Grade 12 students, who in Grade 11 achieved an average of 95 per cent or higher, are eligible to become a Greystone Scholar.
“This event is like no other we have on campus,” said Claude Lang, director of Recruitment and Admissions at the U of S. “Giving students the opportunity to attend actual lectures is very beneficial to the student, and meeting Greystone Scholars who are already on campus successfully pursuing their education goals can be inspiring.”
Throughout the day the high school students will attend classes with a Greystone Scholar who is pursuing studies at the U of S, take part in tours, learn about applying to the U of S and meet other new members of the Greystone Scholars Society from around the country. More than 90 parents will participate in separate activities.
The U of S has the highest percentage of entering students with an average of 95 per cent or above in Canada. On average the university admits more than 300 Greystone Scholars each year.
February 01, 2011
New funding assures U of S participation in Canada-Norway rocket program
Posted February 01, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 1, 2011
2011-02-01-OTHER
Budding space scientists from the University of Saskatchewan and two other Canadian universities will continue CaNoRock, a novel rocket research program, thanks to an agreement among several Canadian and Norwegian universities and research agencies.
A memorandum of understanding signed on January 20 at Norway’s Andøya Rocket Range solidifies the first phase of CaNoRock, a 10-year student exchange program aimed at teaching students to build and launch rockets into the upper atmosphere. Following two successful trials of the CaNoRock exchange, the Canadian Space Agency and the University of Alberta signed an agreement in December 2010 that provides $300,000 over three years to allow students from the Universities of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Calgary to participate.
“CaNoRock is a marvelous opportunity for students,” said Kathryn McWilliams, leader of the U of S contingent. “They enjoy the challenge of real rocket science, with the added bonus of getting to know and work with students from Norway. CaNoRock has also raised the profile of space science with our students; four of the eight U of S students who have participated in CaNoRock will be going on to graduate studies in space science. The sky is no longer the limit with CaNoRock!”
This year’s U of S students included Chad Holst (electrical engineering), Steven Bachiu (engineering physics), and Sarah Toderian (engineering physics). McWilliams is associate professor of physics and engineering physics based at the U of S Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies.
Working at Andøya Rocket Range, Canadian students spend the week with their Norwegian colleagues learning to analyze rocket trajectories, integrate payloads such as instrument packages in their rockets, and analyze data. This year, 21 students participated.
The week culminates in the launch of a full-scale student-built sounding rocket. CaNoRock-3 “Aurora Arrow” was launched on January 20 and reached an altitude of about nine kilometers in 35 seconds.
CaNoRock was initiated by the University of Oslo and the Andøya Rocket Range. Participating organizations include the U of S, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Tromsø, University of Bergen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Narvik University College, Norwegian Space Centre, and the Norwegian Centre for Space Related Education.
Andøya offers the world’s northernmost rocket ranges: the Andøya range, at 69 degrees north latitude, and Ny-Aalesund on the island of Svalbard, at 78 degrees north latitude. Andøya, nestled in the mountains, offers clear skies and spectacular views of atmospheric phenomenon such as the aurora borealis (northern lights).
For more information on the CaNoRock program, including footage of the students’ rocket launch, visit http://www.rocketrange.no/?p=949. A blog, including photos, about the experiences of the U of S students is available at http://blogs.usask.ca/rockroll.
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For more information, contact:
Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-1425
michael.robin@usask.ca
