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*** DAILY BULLETIN ***

Thursday, November 15, 2001

  • UW launches diploma in communication
  • Campaign promotes arts and science
  • Students can elect two senators
  • Events and a few other notes
Editor:
Chris Redmond
credmond@uwaterloo.ca

US campus recycles three whole buildings


[Posters on the wall above her]

Preparing for the fine arts department's "miniature exhibition and sale" later this month is Sarah Jane Gorlitz, who has been hired under a work-study program. "She has been working on all aspects of the sale, from poster distribution to matte cutting," says department secretary Lesley Hartley. The sale will be held November 30 through December 4, with previews November 27-29, "in the very heart of the Christmas shopping season".

UW launches diploma in communication

A new diploma program in "organizational communication" will be launched today as UW holds a "careers in communication" evening in South Campus Hall.

A news release explains that the new Education Program in Organizational Communication will be offered "in response to the increasing demand for professionals with a broad range of communications skills" and is "aimed at professionals who want to communicate skillfully, effectively and knowledgeably".

EPOC is to be available to students early in 2002. The program is actively seeking additional corporate sponsors, the news release says.

EPOC will offer two university-level diploma options: the Organizational Communication Diploma and the Training and Development Diploma. Each diploma program will be offered part-time and can be completed in 12 to 16 months.

Diana Denton of UW's drama and speech communication departament emphasizes the applied nature of the new program. "Our courses combine theoretical understandings with skill development in such areas as interviewing, public speaking, leadership, team communication, training and consulting skills and conflict management. Participants are videotaped in action so as to enhance performance in diverse communication contexts."

Jill Tomasson Goodwin, chair of the department, said: "Human Resources Development Canada and the Conference Board of Canada have identified 'essential skills' that Canadian professionals need in the workplace: public speaking, listening, presentation, team leadership, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills. We are pleased to be able to extend these essential skills to professionals by offering this diploma program."

EPOC is one of several diploma programs being developed by Epstar, a provider of education programs for professionals at UW. This innovative program is modelled on the Education Program for Software Professionals, which provides a foundation in computer science to practising information technology professionals. The Epstar diploma programs are designed and structured for those who want to enhance or update their education with university-level programs on a part-time basis.

The program will be launched at a networking event entitled "A Step Towards Success: Careers in Communication", tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Laurel Room, South Campus Hall. "It is a networking reception for students and industry professionals," Denton explains.

Speakers from industry will highlight the importance of communication in their work, and wine and cheese will follow. "Industry partners are invited to bring promotional material about their organizations," adds Jassie Sidhu, one of the students who are helping to organize the event, "and students are encouraged to bring lots of questions."

Professionals in human resources, consulting, training and development, public relations, marketing, broadcasting, media and other communication-related fields are expected.

Campaign promotes arts and science

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada has launched a national campaign "to inform the public about the value and benefits of an arts and sciences undergraduate university education".

"We believe that it's vitally important for all Canadians -- and especially high school students -- to understand that studies in the arts and sciences are a great choice for the future," said AUCC president Robert J. Giroux at the campaign launch. "University graduates of arts and science programs do well in the labour market and have exciting careers with significant responsibilities."

Many Canadians recognize that the arts and sciences are fundamental to our future, says an AUCC news release. "Last year, a group of high technology CEOs issued a statement supporting a balanced approach to higher education. 'A liberal arts and science education nurtures skills and talents increasingly valued by modern corporations,' the CEOs said."

But the leaders of Canada's universities remain concerned that "many high school students, their parents, guidance counselors and even some opinion leaders aren't aware of the enduring value of an arts and sciences degree. That's why the AUCC has launched the campaign to tell Canadians more about the kinds of skills graduates of the arts and sciences will gain. These include the ability to think critically, analyze and reason clearly, communicate effectively, and find creative and innovative solutions to a wide range of problems. By nurturing and developing such skills, graduates of the arts and sciences learn to adapt to an ever-changing world, transforming themselves and the society around them in the process."

The campaign began with a "Meeting of Minds" breakfast that brought together business and community leaders of the National Capital region to hear from students, faculty and recent graduates from the region's three universities -- Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Université du Québec à Hull -- about the value of an arts and sciences education. It was the first of a series of such events that will take place at university campuses across Canada in the next few months.

AUCC has also established a campaign Web site and will distribute posters and other material to students and schools.

The organization says Canadians in general "support a broadly-based and balanced university education. In an opinion poll conducted in the spring of 2001 by Ekos Research, three out of four Canadians said that universities need to offer a broad range of arts and science programs to help ensure that students develop the flexibility to navigate their way in a knowledge-based economy."

It says an education in the arts or sciences "makes a significant different in quality of life and personal growth, career advancement, lifetime earnings and securing a good job after graduation. . . . A recent British Columbia survey found that two years after graduation, 96 percent of students who had degrees in the humanities (programs such as English, philosophy and classics) had found jobs, 95 percent of those in the social sciences (programs like sociology, anthropology and political science) were employed, while 98 percent of graduates in the natural resources and agriculture were working."

Students can elect two senators

A memo from the university secretariat announces that the call for nominations for a full-time or part-time graduate student and a full-time environmental studies or independent studies undergraduate student to serve on UW's senate closed at 3 p.m. on Friday, October 19. There will be two by-elections:

Graduate Student (term to April 30, 2002): There are two candidates, Amer Dawoud and Angela Garabet, both of systems design engineering.

Environmental Studies/Independent Studies Undergraduate Student (term to April 30, 2002): There are two candidates, Nayan Gandhi and Stephen Gardiner, both of planning.

Statements from the candidates were published in the October 31 Gazette and can be seen on the secretariat's web site.

Voting will be conducted electronically. The polls opened yesterday and will close at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 20. To cast a ballot electronically, students will need their Quest userid (UWuserid) and password.

Events and a few other notes

People have been asking about progress on installing a wireless computer network in the Davis Centre. Kim Martin of the Math Faculty Computing Facility provides a brief answer: "No wireless Access Points (a.k.a. base stations) are installed yet. They haven't arrived on campus. The authentication server is up and running in test mode, but is not ready for deployment. We are waiting for some physical plant work to be done, but it should not delay initial deployment." In other words: soon.

There's a table in the Student Life Centre this week -- I noticed a smiling person behind it yesterday -- collecting contributions for Operation Christmas Child. That's an organization that sends shoebox-sized boxes "filled with toys, candy, hygiene items and school supplies" to impoverished children in countries all over the world. At the booth in the SLC, open from 11:30 to 2:30 again today and tomorrow, "you can come pick up a shoebox or just get more information," says local organizer Meredith Cossitt.

Today:

A talk by Toronto artist Natalka Husar, scheduled for this afternoon, has been cancelled. "Natalka will natalk!" says Art Green of the fine arts department. "We look forward to her rescheduled talk sometime in the winter term."

Reminder: Fee bills for the winter term 2002 will be mailed the week of November 19, which is next week, to each student's mailing or home address. "Make sure your current mailing address is on file," says a memo from the finance office, "and if not, please do so immediately through Quest." Fees are due December 27, if paid by one of the several bank payment methods, or December 14, if paid by cheque or money order.

Tomorrow was the announced deadline for nominations for this year's President's Circle Awards for Volunteerism -- recognizing volunteer work by students, either on or off campus. The student services office sends word that nominations have been extended to November 23, the end of next week. "All information is available on the web site," writes Heather FitzGerald from that office.

Shannon Macri, legal resource coordinator for the Federation of Students, says the Feds will be offering "a mock LSAT" on November 24, Saturday of next week. In other words, it's a chance to experience the Law School Admission Test without really writing the LSAT. "Don't waste $133 because you are not prepared," she advises. "Very few people achieve their full potential without some preparation." The legal resource office is accepting sign-ups for the mock test now -- phone 888-4634.

CAR


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