Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Student Elections to University Senate, Boaord of Governors, SFU Community Trust

Elections will take place during the month of March for student representatives to Senate, Board of Governors, and SFU Community Trust.

Nominations open March 7 and close on March 22.
Voting online will take place March 31-April 4.
Contact Bobbie Grant (bgrant@sfu.ca) for more information or watch for ads in The Peak. See

http://students.sfu.ca/elections/students/.

Bobbie Grant
SFU Student Services

Notice of SFSS Referendum for Caucuses and DSUs

The Simon Fraser Student Society's 2007 General Election is fast approaching! Voting for positions on the Board of Directors and Forum, as well as referendum questions will take place at SFU's Harbour Centre, Vancouver, and Burnaby Campuses on March 20, 21 and 22. Polling times are between 9:30am and 7:30pm. For more information visit www.sfss.ca.

The following referendum questions will be on the ballot:

1. Do you agree that a separate and independent graduate student society should be created to represent the interests of the graduate students of SFU? (This question will be voted on by all members of the Society)

2. If the graduate student society is created, do you agree that graduate students should no longer be represented by the SFSS? (This question will be voted on by all members of the Society)

3. If the graduate student society is created, do you agree that the unrestricted fee graduate students pay to the SFSS should instead be remitted to the graduate student society once incorporated? (This question will be voted on by graduate student members of the Society)

4. Do you agree that the Simon Fraser Student Society should do the following:
i. Cease to be a member of the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia Component, as well as cease to be a member of the Canadian Federation of Students - Services; and,

ii. Cease collecting student fees for the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Federation of Students - British Columbia Component (at present $7.50 per full-time student per semester; $3.72 per part-time student per semester: $23.50 for a full time year; $11.16 for a part-time year; for a total of $435,204.72 for 2006); and,

iii. Instead, collect $7.50 per full-time student per semester and $3.72 per part-time student per semester, and put said fees towards improving student services such as departmental student unions, club infrastructure, online student services, affordable student housing, staffing at satellite campuses, a publicly-accessible indexed archive of SFSS documents, and lobbying the government for SFU student interests.
(This question will be voted on by all members of the Society)
------------------------
This email was composed by the Independent Electoral Commission (sfss-iec@sfu.ca).

Monday, February 26, 2007

Shared backyards for gardening - online locator

Want to grow veggies, but have no space? (or want to offer to share your garden?)

CityFarmer.org, a Vancouver-based urban farming initiative, has an online map of people in the greater Vancouver area who are offering or looking for backyard gardening space (with contact info).

Visit http://www.gworks.ca/lifecycles/initiatives/sharing_backyards_vancouver/index2.php

'Get to Know Us' Open House @ SFU's new gym!

Please find attached, and in the body of this message, an invitation to the "Get To Know Us" Open House on Wed, March 7. This year the event will be held in SFU's beautiful, brand new gymnasium.

The open house will feature displays from SFU on-campus conference and event service providers. It is our hope that you may want to bring your next conference to SFU and this is a great opportunity to become acquainted with the hosting services available to you (and, of course, a great opportunity to check out SFU's beautiful new gymnasium facilities!)

Thanks, we look forward to seeing you!
Lisa

[click on image to enlarge]

Changes to University Policies

Please note that the following policies have been revised or newly-approved.

The gazette of all policies can be found on the Internet at: http://www2.sfu.ca/policies/.

B 10.11 -- Signing Authorizations (Effective February 1, 2007)

This Policy sets out the authority of various University Officers to make financial commitments on behalf of the University; therefore, it is of special interest to all those who hold signing authority at all levels and in all departments. Board approval is required for commitments exceeding $2 million, with the exception of specific research equipment and services funded outside operating and capital funds. A variety of other signing level thresholds are also set out in this Policy, along with clear outlines of the responsibilities of signing officers. A one-page document summarizing the 16 signing resolutions may be accessed by following the link on the first page of the pdf file.

AD 11.21 -- Ethical Procurement (Effective November 25, 2005)

The Policy establishes the ethical procurement of goods and services as a guiding principle in University procurement practices, articulates some of the University's and its Suppliers' responsibilities during the procurement process, and creates the Ethical Purchasing Committee.

Note: Although approved in November 2005, the posting of this Policy has been delayed pending the approval of Part B (Guidelines and Procedures). Although Part B is not yet approved, the Policy is being posted to provide guidance on the subject of ethical procurement.

Questions regarding these policies should be directed to Robert Szczotko, Director of Purchasing, at 604-291-3256 or email robert_szcsotko@sfu.ca.

B 10.09 -- Investment Governance Policy (Effective February 1, 2007)

In addition to minor editorial changes, changes to Schedules 1 and 2 of the policy. Schedule 1 specifically includes references to private equities and limited partnerships as approved equity investments. Schedule 2 approves a new Benchmark Index for Global Equities and increases the target allocations to total equities in the Endowment Fund from 65% to 70% by reducing the allocation o Canadian Equities from 40% to 35%, increasing the allocation from Global Equities from 25% to 35%, and reducing the allocation to Fixed Income from 33% to 28%.

AD 3.15 -- Investment Management Operating Procedures (Effective January 25, 2007)

These Procedures are ancillary to Policy B 10.09 (Investment Governance Policy) and have been revised due to the rapid growth and complexity of the University's investment portfolios. They will allow the University to broaden its investment opportunities and further diversity its mandates and activities in order to reduce financial risk.

Questions regarding these policies should be directed to Jim Boyd, Treasurer, at 604-291-4013 or email jim_boyd@sfu.ca.

--
K.C. Bell
Director, Special Projects
Office of the President
Simon Fraser University
604-268-6877 (phone)
604-291-4860 (fax)
kbell@sfu.ca

Event - Internat'l Women's Day - Sat, March 3rd

Dear Simon Fraser Students Society

For more than 20 years the International Women’s Day Organizing Committee in Vancouver has come together to organize a day of action to honor women and continue the struggle for women’s rights. Again, this year, the International Women’s Day Organizing Committee has brought together women from all backgrounds including students, workers and women of the third world, who are united for women’s rights and equality at home and abroad.

This year we have joined together under the theme of: ”Unite Against Attacks on Women’s Rights at Home and Abroad: Not to Poverty! No to War!” Alongside women all around the world who are fighting for dignity and basic human rights, we in Vancouver will host a march and rally followed by a dance on March 3rd 2007 to celebrate women’s rights. The march will begin at 11:30am at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (302 Columbia St) and will end at the Vancouver Public Library. The rally will begin at 12:30 at the Vancouver Public Library, followed by an information fair, from 1:15-3:30 in the Peter Mackay room of the Vancouver Public Library. The celebration will run from 7pm- 12midnight at the Trout Lake Community Centre (3350 Victoria Dr.).

In order to be as accessible as possible for all women including mothers, students and working people we have again keep our tradition of hosting our events on the weekend before International Women’s Day. We envision these events as inclusive and participatory events that would focus on women but would be open to all members of the community.

We recognize the Simon Fraser Students Society as a organization that has a proud history of defending women’s rights and thusly we are appealing to you for support in helping to make International Women’s Day a success this year. We would like to ask for your endorsement of the International Women’s Day events on March 3rd. With an endorsement, we hope that you could send an announcement to your members and supporters and encourage them to join us on March 3rd. As well, given that we are a grassroots, self-funded group, we also would like to take this opportunity to request a financial donation (or any in kind donation you are able to provide to help with things such as photocopying). If you are able to assist in this important initiative in any way we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance for all of your work and we look forward to seeing you with us on March 3rd!

Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions you may have and thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Janine Solanki International Women’s Day Organizing Committee 604-812-2964 Janine_solanki@yahoo.ca

* Please see the attached poster for the March 3rd Events (click on image to enlarge).

Upcoming Dialogue Workshops

SFU Dialogue Programs presents:
a dialogue and workshop with Frances Moore Lappé
The Way of the Storyteller with Mary Gavan

Student, group, and non-profit rates are available for the workshops.

Exploring Democracy's Edge: dialogue
Thursday March 1, 2007 | 7pm-9:30 pm
DLOG 410 | $25
SFU's Centre for Dialogue, Rm 320-580 W Hastings St.
Exploring Democracy's Edge: workshop
Friday March 2, 2007 | 9:30 am-noon
DLOG 415 | REG $170 | DISC $136
SFU's Centre for Dialogue, Rm 320-580 W Hastings St.
You must register for this workshop concurrently with DLOG 410

Frances Moore Lappé is the author of fifteen books including Democracy's Edge, and the 1971 bestseller, Diet for a Small Planet, which continues to awaken readers to the human-made causes of hunger and the power of our everyday choices to create the world we want.

"We are living in an extraordinary historical moment," says Lappé, "one in which anti-democratic forces seem to be ascending while at the same time -- invisible to most of us -- a powerful current is stirring that may well take us to democracy's next historical stage. Imagine you can be part of that."

Join Frances Moore Lappé as she shows participants how citizens around the world are discovering the power within themselves to act on democracy's core values and find solutions to society's toughest problems.

Growing numbers of Americans recognize that today's problems are too pervasive, deep and complex to be solved by experts from above. So they are rethinking power, self-interest, and public life to put themselves at the center of problem solving.

This form of living democracy is the evolving practice of citizens reframing democracy's meaning - from something done to us or for us to democracy as an engaging, life-enhancing, everyday practice.
Space is available for this dialogue and workshop. Please inquire about our group, student and non-profit rates. For more information or registration, contact dialogue-info@sfu.ca, 604.268.7694 or see:
http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/current.htm#j

Supported in part by the ICBC Civil Economy Endowment.


SFU Dialogue Programs presents:
The Way of the Storyteller: workshop with Mary Gavan
Friday April 20, 2007 | 9 am-4:30 pm
DLOG 420 | REG $325 | DISC $260
dialogue-info@sfu.ca | 604.268.7694

We understand intuitively that good stories open up our minds and hearts and make it possible for others to understand us and for us to empathize with and know others. But what does it take to become a good storyteller? What is necessary to create the sacred space within where stories arise? What might we do to cultivate our own capacity for storytelling and listening?

Mary Gavan grew up in the Celtic countries of Scotland and Ireland and experienced stories as a way of living. Mary Gavan's purpose in being a storyteller is to continue the Celtic tradition of sharing values and understanding through specific stories, as well as through the interchange of listener and teller that occurs in dialogue, so that we all grow in respect toward ourselves and others.
For more information about these workshops, contact dialogue-info@sfu.ca or 604.268. 7694.

--
Nicole Mah
Program Coordinator
Dialogue Programs, Simon Fraser University
3325-515 W Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3
ph: 604-291-5179 fx: 604-268-7892
www.sfu.ca/dialogue

Dialogue Programs presents:
Exploring Democracy's Edge
dialogue and workshop with Frances Moore Lappé
http://www.sfu.ca/dialogue/current.htm#j

LIDC Upcoming Events (March 2007)

Below, please find the Learning and Instructional Development Centre’s schedule of events for March 2007. We are trying to minimize the number of postings to email lists, so please keep this email if you are interested in any of these sessions, and please accept our apologies if you receive multiple postings.

All registration is done online using the links for each event.

Upcoming Events | March 2007
Learning & Instructional Development Centre

Calls for Proposals

Call for Proposals: 9th Annual Symposium on Innovative Teaching
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=122
Wednesday & Thursday, May 23 & 24, 2007| 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily
Halpern Centre & MBC | Burnaby | No charge
Call for Proposals submission deadline is March 15, 2007
Join educators from SFU and elsewhere as we explore the challenges and rewards associated with the innovative use of pedagogical approaches and learning technologies in mathematics and science education. This year's Symposium will focus on strategies, tools, lessons and examples, and critical perspectives on quantitative reasoning, and beyond "Q". Relevant themes include: exploring Q as a form of critical, analytical thinking to demonstrate that Q is more than numeracy and calculations; overcoming Q anxiety; interdisciplinary Q courses, and course design to incorporate math, stats, and logic in traditionally non-Q courses; and, Q support mechanisms. The call for proposals application form (printable PDF) is available at https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/getPdf.php?c_id=122
Symposium web site coming soon to http://www.sfu.ca/symposium2007

Call for Proposals: 22nd Annual Fall Semester TA/TM Day--The Teaching Orientation Program
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=121
Friday, September 7, 2007| 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Halpern Centre & MBC | Burnaby | No charge
Call for Proposals submission deadline is April 18, 2007
The Learning and Instructional Development Centre and the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies invite experienced teaching assistants and tutor markers to apply to lead workshops at the Fall TA/TM Day. This orientation day is intended for new and veteran TAs and TMs. Successful applicants will be selected on the basis of experience, references, and relevance and usefulness of workshop proposals to the intended audience.

Scholarly and reflective practice

Faculty workshop series: Preparing writing-intensive courses
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=142
3 Thursdays: March 8, 15, & 22, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
EDB 7512 | Burnaby | No charge
Interested in rethinking your course(s) and adjusting them to meet the W-requirements? Do you want to learn more about writing-intensive learning? This workshop series offers an introductory orientation to writing-intensive learning and provides a background for revising an existing course, or creating a new course. Resources include SFU examples and instructional materials from across the disciplines.

Teaching & Learning Readers' Group: Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=146
Thursday March 29, 2007 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Halpern 114 | SFU Burnaby | No charge
Freire’s seminal work is widely regarded as a classic, particularly for those in the field of adult education. The key message is that education must be linked to social change, and Freire acted this out in his own literacy work with the underprivileged in Brazil. To many, his book continues to remind us of what it should mean to be an educator. During this meeting, we will be viewing recordings of Canadian educators Roby Kidd and Alan Thomas in conversation with Paulo Freire when he visited the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.
The first fifteen people to register will receive a free copy of the book.

Skills for Teaching

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=120
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, April 23, 24, & 25, 2007| 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily
Room TBA | Burnaby | $125 for TAs; $200 for sessional/lab instructors & staff; $250 for faculty
Registration deadline is March 15, 2007
Widely recognized as a forum for peer-based instructional development, this workshop is designed to strengthen instructors' skills through intensive, yet practical exercises in learning-centred teaching. A unique and rewarding experience, the ISW not only builds skills and confidence, but also enables participants to learn from, and foster partnerships with colleagues from other disciplines. Participants successfully completing the 3-day program will receive a Certificate of Completion that may be applied as credit to the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program. Space is limited and early registration is recommended. The 2-page ISW registration form (printable PDF) is available at https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/getPdf.php?c_id=120&pdfnum=0. If this workshop fills up, a second workshop may be held Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, April 26, 27, & 28, 2007.

Educational Technology

SCoPE Seminar: Learning the art of online facilitation

http://scope.lidc.sfu.ca/mod/forum/view.php?f=173
March 1 - 21, 2007 | Online | No charge
How do we learn to facilitate online? During this 3-week seminar, participants will be encouraged to bring their own stories about individuals, courses, workshops, communities, resources, (and mistakes!) that have made a difference in their own learning. We also extend a special invitation to individuals who have contributed to advancing our knowledge about online facilitation. We'd like to know about your books, blogs, workshops and whatever else you have to offer!

Online discussion: Delivering quizzes and surveys in WebCT
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=126
Beginning Tuesday, March 6, 2007 | Online | No charge
Create a short quiz in WebCT to test student comprehension, encourage critical thinking or self-assessment. Some of the benefits that quizzes can offer are automatic grades and mark release, ungraded self-tests, selective release of materials and repeat quizzing for mastery learning. Is cheating inevitable? Learn about some options!

WebCT drop-in
No registration required

Tuesday, March 6, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Education Building | Room 7512 | Burnaby | No charge

-or-

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 1:30 - 3:30 pm
SUR 3300 | Surrey | No charge

-or-

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Education Building | Room 7512 | Burnaby | No charge
This drop-in session is an opportunity to ask specific questions about your use of WebCT. Some possible questions or topics are: converting PowerPoint and Word files for use in WebCT, using the Gradebook, navigating the Discussions forum, loading files into WebCT, and deciding which WebCT tools to use.
-----------------------

For more information, please contact any of the LIDC's program coordinators:
Kathy Borneman tel: 604-268-6696; email: kbornema@sfu.ca
Andrea Hankinson tel: 604-268-6570; email: andrea@sfu.ca
Christine Kurbis tel: 604-291-5529; email: kurbis@sfu.ca

For assistance with registration, please contact the LIDC at 604-291-3910 or email lidc@sfu.ca

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Green Roof Policy Development Workshop (Mar 8)

Find out what leading jurisdictions are doing to turn wasted rooftops into cleaner air and water!

Green Roof Policy Development Workshop
Vancouver March 8th AND Victoria March 9th, 2007
For more information or to register please visit www.greenroofs.org

This half-day workshop will examine what kind of incentives currently exist in other jurisdictions, how the incentives are tied to performance standards and how policy makers can assess what types of incentive programs will work best in their areas. It will also provide a framework for planners and governmental agencies to gain an understanding of the multi-faceted impacts of green roofs and areas of consideration for implementing green roof
policy.Tuition is $95 or $45 for NGO's and students

Instructor:
Karen Moyer is an Environmental Co-ordinator for the City of Waterloo with 16 years municipal experience. She developed and implemented Waterloo’s Environmental Strategic Plan and has managed several sustainable building research projects such as a Green Roofs and Alternative Fuel Study (Bio-diesel) and a Wind Energy study. Karen is also a member of the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities’ Policy Committee and Winner of the 2005 GRHC Civic Award of Excellence.

Thursday, March 8th, 2007
British Columbia Institute of Technology,
555 Seymour Street, Room 362, Vancouver
9 am till 1 pm


Friday, March 9th, 2007
University of Victoria
McKenzie Sinclair Room
Main Floor
Victoria
9 am till 1 pm


This Green Roof Workshop has been made possible through a financial contribution from Infrastructure Canada.

Views expressed in the workshop do not necessarily represent the views of the Government of Canada. For more information or to register please visit: www.greenroofs.org

Regards, Alex Johnston
Visit us at www.greenroofs.org

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Simons Student Citizenship Award

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

SIMONS STUDENT CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM at SFU

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 31, 2007. Please submit your application directly to the Institute for the Humanities (AQ 5116).

This program is intended to promote and advance the understanding of citizenship issues and practices in
Canada. Each year, eight students will be selected for participation in the Program and be provided with a $1,000 stipend to prepare and deliver a piece of work suitable for publication or performance (e.g., an academic paper or other writing, a play or other artistic performance) at a special conference to be organized in that year. The successful applicants will be considered Institute for the Humanities Associates and be invited to participate in Institute events.

Application Process
The program is open to all SFU graduate and undergraduate students of at least third year standing. Interested students should submit a letter of application together with:
a) a one-page abstract summarizing the proposed topic and approach
b) a one-page résumé
c) a sample of written work (no more than six pages)
d) confirmation of student status and good standing

All complete and eligible applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the Institute for the Humanities' steering committee. Undergraduate and graduate submissions will be considered separately.

Topics
Paper topics should focus on one or more of the themes of the Institute for the Humanities Imagining Citizenship Project:
- environment
- culture
- social justice
- religion
- the university
- modernity

Deadlines
In each year, applications must be submitted by March 31.
Successful applicants will be notified by April 30.
Completed papers etc. must be received by September 30.
Conferences will be held in October/November.
Further details of these themes and contact information are contained on the Institute for the Humanities web site: http://www.sfu.ca/humanities-institute/citizenship.htm

Keert Khanghura
Acting Co-ordinator, Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries
Financial Assistance, Student Services
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC, V5A 1S6
Tel: (604)291-3893 Fax: (604)291-4722
E-mail: kjohal@sfu.ca
Website: http://students.sfu.ca/fa

2ND ANNUAL SFU HUMANITARIAN FAIR 28-30th March

Does your club or campus group have a humanitarian mandate? (See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian). If so, please e-mail
caapaak@sfu.ca to register for a free table and to participate in the 2nd
annul SFU Humanitarian fair.

1)Humanitarian fair; March 28-29, from 10am-3pm
2)Darfur Talk; March 29 from 3:30-5:30 in MBC 2295-96
3)Humanitarian Social; March 30th at the SFSS pub with DJ and African
performers

Tables and chairs will be provided free of charge to SFSS clubs, groups, and
other groups on campus with humanitarian mandate on March 29 and 30th in the
North AQ from 10am-3pm.

We ask that you consider placing a
Darfur donation box on your table during
the fair, help promote the
Darfur talk on the 29th and a humanitarian social
on the 30th. All proceeds less cost will go to the $ a student for
Darfur
campaign which has so far collected $14, 000 for Oxfam
Canada to help
refugees from the
Darfur conflict. We also need you to promote and attend a
talk on
Darfur by three speakers; from Oxfam, from Darfur and a politician
on the 29th of March in MBC 2295-96.

We will end the fair with a social event at the SFSS pub on the 30th, with
professional African performers and a DJ. We will need you and your club
members to come out and dance for humanity.

We will like to start listing participating groups and to produce
promotional material asap. Please help spread the word.

Contact Apaak at caapaak@sfu.ca to book the participation of your club or
group.

Progress on severe weather plans

The following message is from SFU's office of Environmental Health and
Safety:

In response to the Community’s concern over the events surrounding
the snowstorm on January 10th, a working group was struck to develop
a plan to handle situations where travel to and from the campus is
impeded due to severe weather conditions. We want to take this
opportunity to share with you some of the progress that has been
made to date.

Many thoughtful and useful suggestions were compiled from the
various e-mails and meetings held on the
Burnaby campus in the days
following Jan 10th. Many of them are being considered and put
forward into our new strategies.

• Communication within operational groups on Campus, with
Surrey and
Vancouver Campus as well as with external agencies such as the City
of
Burnaby and TransLink are being strengthened.

• Notification procedures of class cancellations or a closure are
being reviewed and as appropriate will be enhanced to include
multiple means of communication to ensure that those without access
to phone or email are also advised.

• Information Centres on Campus are being developed. The purpose of
an Information Centre is to provide an area where students and staff
can comfortably congregate and receive the most up-to-date
information on road conditions and bus service resumption. In the
event of a snow storm or an occurrence that postpones travel off
campus, communications will be posted around campus directing you to
these Information Centres.

• Should conditions dictate that individuals will be required to
remain on Campus for several hours or overnight, units responsible
for providing basic needs and services will be activated.

• Essential functions such as Health, Residences and Dining services
will be required to maintain partial or full operations.

• Additionally, the working group is developing means for
implementing traffic control measures to ensure that snow removal
can be performed for safer driving conditions for all.

This past winter’s weather has been eventful and while we don’t
anticipate another snow storm of this magnitude to occur again
anytime soon, if it should, we will be prepared.

As we progress in development of the Plan we will continue to keep
you updated.


The preceding message was from SFU's office of Environmental Health and
Safety

Reading by Fiction Writer Bill Gaston in Library Special Collections, February 22, 2007

Highly regarded B.C. fiction writer Bill Gaston is the prolific author of five novels, including THE GOOD BODY (2000) and SOINTULA (2004), plus five collections of short fiction – most recently the very well-received GARGOYLES (2006). His writing has appeared in many publications, including GRANTA, TIN HOUSE, and BEST CANADIAN STORIES, and has been nominated for numerous prizes, including in recent years both the Giller and the Governor General’s Award. In 2003 the Writers Trust of Canada awarded him the
inaugural Timothy Findley Award for a Canadian male writer at mid-career. Raised in Winnipeg, Toronto, and North Vancouver, Gaston is a graduate of UBC, where he studied creative writing and played varsity hockey. An avid lifelong player, he writes of his semi-pro and beer-league career in the recent ‘bullshit memoir’ MIDNIGHT HOCKEY (Doubleday Canada, 2006). He lives with his wife, the writer Dede Crane, and their four children in Victoria, where since 1998 he has taught in the U. Vic Creative Writing Department. SFU Special Collections is pleased to have acquired Bill Gaston’s literary archive this past winter.

Bill Gaston will be reading from his work in Special Collections on Thursday, February 22, 2007 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Special Collections is located in room 7100 on the 7th floor of the W.A.C. Bennett Library, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby. Free! Refreshments will be served.

-----------------------------------------
For more information contact:
Tony Power
604.268.6676 or power@sfu.ca
www.lib.sfu.ca/special/


(Click for larger version)

Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights (play by Gertrude Stein ) opens soon at SFU theatre

Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights opens next week. You can reserve your tickets now with the SFU Theatre Box Office.

Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights
a play by Gertrude Stein

SFU Theatre - Burnaby Campus
Feb. 28, Mar. 2, 3, 6, 7, 9 & 10 at 8:00 pm
Free matinees Mar. 1 & 8 at 12:30 pm
For Ticket Information: 604-291-3514 or email: theatre@sfu.ca

Miss Stein published Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights in 1938 and it is a play about Faust and the devil and many other characters as well and you may be nervous but do not worry. Miss Stein did not like theatre that made her nervous and most theatre made her nervous and that is why she wrote her own plays. The plays that Gertrude Stein wrote were what she thought a play ought to be: a landscape you could look at in your own time without being nervous. From the Narrator’s prologue in Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights

In Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights, Gertrude Stein discards the traditional narrative conventions of playwrighting for a topsy-turvy re-envisioning of the Faust tale. Using language to create space and atmosphere, Stein constructs a daring and unorthodox play that seems to have no construction at all – a whimsical collage of visual and aural surprises that invites the audience to join in the process of discovery.

Direction by DD Kugler, Victoria Lyons & James Coomber Composition & Sound Design by James Coomber Set Design by Anil Chauhan Lighting Design by John Macfarlane Costume Design by Rina Liddle Stage Management by Lucia Lorenzi & Kathryn Schmidt Featuring a cast of students from the School for the Contemporary Arts Theatre Performance program: Anna Busch, Pedro Chamale, Duran Cruickshank, Jessica Dunfield, Uriah Field, Matthew Graham, Aliya Griffin, Josette Jorge, Lauren Kresowaty, Gina Readman, Esther Reich, Natalie Schneck, Ben Stone, Ryan Swanson, Aileen Yoon.

Alumni Leaders Forum - February 21, 2007

SFU Alumni Relations invites members of the SFU campus community to meet our Outstanding Alumni Award winners and hear their inspiring stories of success and leadership at a speakers event and catered reception.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
4:30 - 7:30 pm
Presentations start at 5:30
Diamond Alumni Centre
SFU Burnaby

Faculty and staff, students, alumni, and the public are welcome. The event is free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required.

REGISTER ONLINE: www.sfu.ca/alumni/events

Our outstanding alumni guest speakers include:

Robert Armstrong, BSc (Hons) ’75, chief of pediatric medicine at B.C. Children’s Hospital
Larry Beasley, BA ’73, former senior city planner for the city of Vancouver
Sarah England, MBA ’97, health activist with the World Health Organization
Roy Miki, MA ’70, SFU professor, poet and writer and advocate for social justice

---------------------------------------------------------
ALUMNI RELATIONS
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Simon Fraser University
Diamond Alumni Centre
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
Phone: 604.291.4723
Fax: 604.268.6776
www.sfu.ca/alumni

Conference: Hegemonic transitions and the state

HEGEMONIC TRANSITIONS AND THE STATE
23-24 February 2007

Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

An International conference hosted by the Centre for Global Political Economy and sponsored by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Department of Political Science, the Institute for the Humanities, and Department of History.

The conference, "Hegemonic Transitions and the State", aims to contribute to our understanding of complex interconnections between capitalist globalization and political authority. The conference features sessions, papers, and plenaries dealing with such topics as: states, sovereignty and crisis, the post Cold War re-shaping of global power, cultural politics in Latin America, and the Middle East, the development of a transnational capitalist class, indigenous peoples movements in Latin America, global governance structures, neo-liberalism in the Middle East and South East Asia, post Cold War eastern Europe, global finance, state formation, social movements, and democratic alternatives to neo-liberal globalization.

They keynote address will be delivered by Philip McMichael ( Cornell) and Plenary speakers include Christopher Chase-Dunn (University of California, Riverside), William Carroll (University of Victoria), Greg Albo (York University), and Yildiz Atasoy, Stephen McBride and Gary Teeple (Simon Fraser University)

Full details on the programme and on-line registration can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/cgpe/.

Please note that registratioan fee for sessional instructors is $45.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PLEASE CIRCULATE TO OTHERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED

Yildiz Atasoy, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Simon Fraser University
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
E-mail: yatasoy@sfu.ca
Tel: (604) 291-5520
Fax: (604) 291-5799

Free lecture: States, Sovereignty and Crisis in the Neo-Liberal Development Project

The upcoming International Conference Hegemonic Transitions and the State presents a free public lecture by Dr. Philip McMichael on "States, Sovereignty and Crisis in the Neo-Liberal Development Project".

Friday, February 23, 2007
SFU Harbour Centre, Labatt Theatre
Room 1700

Friday, February 16, 2007

SFSS Elections Announced

Positions open: All positions on the SFSS Board of Directors. Also, all Forum positions can be contested. Terms of office run from May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008.

Nomination period: open Monday, Feb. 19, close March 5 at noon. Nomination kits are available from the SFSS General Office (MBC 2250)

Campaigning period: March 7-19.

Voting: March 20-22.

More info: visit MBC 2250 or email communications@sfss.ca

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Announcement: Report on the World Social Forum

Report on the World Social Forum and the World Forum on Theology and Liberation: Another Spirituality is Possible, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2007.

SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings, Vancouver Room 7000 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2007

This report is being given by Denise Nadeau, Interim Director of the Interfaith Summer Institute for Justice, Peace, and Social Movements, to be held at SFU August 4-12, 2007. Denise attended both forums as a member of the Peace for Life delegation and will report on women's peace movements, migrant workers movements, and LGBT movements. This event is sponsored by the J.S. Woodsworth Chair in the Humanities, and the Interfaith Summer Institute for Justice, Peace, and Social Movements, and endorsed by the Vancouver and District Labour Council, Stopwar.ca, and the World Peace Forum.

-- Trish Graham Institute for the Humanities SFU, 8888 University Drive Burnaby, B.C. V5A 1S6 Telephone (604) 291-5855 Fax (604) 291-5788

Seniors Forum: Buddhism In East Asia

Saturday February 17, 1 pm.
Simon Fraser University Vancouver.
515 West Hastings St.

Buddhism In East Asia

Jan Walls, SFU Professor Emeritus of Humanities discusses the basic features of Asian Buddhism and the relevance of its teachings to life in the 21st century.

Admission is free and open to anyone of any age on a first come first served basis.

This free Seniors Saturday Forum is sponsored by the SFU Seniors Lifelong Learners Society.
The forums offer lectures and discussions on topics of wide general interest.
www.sfu.ca/seniors or call 604-291-5212 for more information.


Thank you,

Anna Kalfa, Program Assistant
Seniors Program
Centre for Integrated and Credit Studies
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3

tel: 604-291-5212
fax: 604-291-5098

http://www.sfu.ca/seniors

International Educators Training Program (IETP) June 10-15, 2007

Professional Development Opportunity

As part of SFU International's mandate to promote the internationalization of the university, SFU has recently become an institutional sponsor of the International Educators Training Program (IETP), run through Queen's University. The IETP has been offering competency-based training to international education professionals for the past five years. www.queensu.ca/quic/ietp

The 2007 IETP will take place June 10-15, 2007 in Kingston, Ontario. Courses will be offered at the beginner (Advising & Programming for New Professionals in the Field of International Education), advanced (Advanced Topics in International Education) and specialist levels (Marketing & Recruitment in International Education).

In partnership with UBC's Centre for Intercultural Communication, Certificate in Intercultural Studies courses will also be offered (CIS 501/502, CIS 603).

For course details please visit http://www.queensu.ca/quic/ietp/2007_courses.php

New this year, the IETP, in coordination with the Queen's University Faculty of Education, is offering a Certificate for International Education Professionals. Details can be found at http://www.queensu.ca/quic/ietp/2007_certificate.php

Anyone working in the broad field of international education or who is looking to expand their professional training are encouraged to consider this week long professional development program.

If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact the IETP Coordinator, Alison Cummings at ietp@post.queensu.ca

Frances Moore Lappé : Exploring Democracy's Edge

SFU Dialogue Programs presents a dialogue and workshop with
Frances Moore Lappé
Exploring Democracy's Edge: dialogue
Thursday March 1, 2007 | 7 pm-9:00 pm
DLOG 410 | $25
Exploring Democracy's Edge: workshop
Friday March 2, 2007 | 9:30 am-noon
DLOG 415 | REG $170 | DISC $136
You must register for this workshop concurrently with DLOG 410
Frances Moore Lappé is the author of fifteen books including Democracy's Edge, and the 1971 bestseller, Diet for a Small Planet, which continues to awaken readers to the human-made causes of hunger and the power of our everyday choices to create the world we want.

"We are living in an extraordinary historical moment," says Lappé, "one in which anti-democratic forces seem to be ascending while at the same time -- invisible to most of us -- a powerful current is stirring that may well take us to democracy's next historical stage. Imagine you can be part of that."
Join Frances Moore Lappé as she shows participants how citizens around the world are discovering the power within themselves to act on democracy's core values and find solutions to society's toughest problems.

Growing numbers of Americans recognize that today's problems are too pervasive, deep and complex to be solved by experts from above. So they are rethinking power, self-interest, and public life to put themselves at the center of problem solving.

This form of living democracy is the evolving practice of citizens reframing democracy's meaning - from something done to us or for us to democracy as an engaging, life-enhancing, everyday practice.
Space is available for this dialogue and workshop. Please inquire about our group, student and non-profit rates. For more information or registration, contact dialogue-info@sfu.ca, 604.268.7925 or see: http://www.sfu.ca/~nmaha/2007DialogueWorkshops.pdf

Supported in part by the ICBC Civil Economy Endowment.

--

Nicole Mah
Program Coordinator
Dialogue Programs, Simon Fraser University

Vice-President Legal Affairs Appointment

To: The Campus Community From: President Michael Stevenson

I am pleased to report that, following the unanimous advice of the Search Committee, the Board of Governors has approved my recommendation to appoint Professor Judith Osborne as Vice-President Legal Affairs commencing February 12, 2007.

Professor Osborne has been a valued member of the senior administrative team at SFU since July of 1992 when she was appointed Associate Vice-President Academic. Since 2001 she has taken on increasingly complex and demanding roles in the University's legal portfolio, first as Associate Vice-President, Policy, Equity and Legal and then as Associate Vice-President, Legal Affairs. She has been Interim Vice-President, Legal Affairs since April 1, 2006 following the upgrade of the Associate Vice-President, Legal Affairs portfolio to reflect the addition of key functions with respect to human resource operations within the University.

I have every confidence that Professor Osborne will continue to provide superb executive management of the University's legal affairs and I look forward to working with her in the coming years.

I am grateful to the members of the Search Committee and to all those members of the community who assisted the committee in its deliberations.

Office of the President:mm

SFU Recreation & Athletics Spring Camps and Clinics

Hello,

SFU Recreation & Athletics is offering several Spring Camps and Clinics including: Girl's Soccer Pro-D Day Clinics and Spring Break Camp, Elite Track & Field Clinics and Spring Break Rec Camp. For complete details on these offerings and registration information, please visit http://rec.sfu.ca - Camps/Clinics.

Girl's Soccer Pro-D Day Clinics:

Train with the SFU Women's Soccer Team's Top Stars in this exciting all day Clinic!!
The first portion of the clinic (morning session) will focus on developing and refining basic soccer skills (passing, shooting, defending etc.) the second portion of the clinic (afternoon session) players will showcase these skills during a World Cup Tournament.

**Teams sharpen those skills just in time for playoffs. Special group rates will be offered for groups of 7 or more players.**

Dates: Friday, Feb. 16 AND/OR - Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
Time: 9:00 - 15:30
Location: SFU Recreation & Athletics Facilities
Ages: 8-12 & 13-16
Cost: $60

Clan World Cup Soccer Camp:

Shelley Howieson (head Coach, Women's Soccer) organizes and supervises the instruction of each camp. Varsity Student-Athletes and alumni round out the high caliber coaching staff. The day will be divided into skill development, team building, mental training and small sided Clan World Cup qualifying games. The week's activities will culminate in World Cup final on the Friday.

Dates: Monday, Mar. 19 - Friday, Mar. 23
Time: 9:00 - 12:00
Location: SFU Recreation & Athletics Facilities
Ages: 8-12 & 13-16
Cost: $100

SFU Track & Field Elite Clinics:

This is a unique opportunity for young high performance Track and Field athletes to receive expert instruction in Track and Field by top level National and International coaches. The clinics are limited in numbers to ensure the best practice environment. The athletes attending will participate in high level practice sessions with the camp coaches. Each Monday will offer a session in one of either, sprints and hurdles, jumps or middle distance and distance running. Athletes should have some background in Track and Field and a strong level of fitness. They should be motivated to learn and be prepared to work hard at each session.

Winter Session:

Dates: Mondays, Feb. 12 - Apr. 2, 2007
Time: 16:15-17:30
Location: SFU Recreation & Athletics Facilities
Ages: 10-16yrs
Cost: $145

Spring Session:

Dates: Mondays, Apr. 9 - May 28, 2007
Time: 16:15-17:30
Location: SFU Recreation & Athletics Facilities
Ages: 10-16yrs
Cost: $145

SFU Spring Break Rec Camp:

This camp is a one week version of our popular Summer Clan Kids Camp. This five day camp includes cooperative games, arts & crafts, and other recreational activities. A field trip to Science World on Wednesday, March 21 and a grand special event will also take place. T-Shirt and water bottle included.

Early and Late Supervision available.

Dates: Monday, Mar. 19 - Friday, Mar. 23
Time: 8:30 - 15:30
Location: SFU Recreation & Athletics Facilities
Ages: 5-7 & 8-12
Cost: $165

Full details and registration information is online at http://rec.sfu.ca - Camps/Clinics.

Look forward to seeing you here!

Sue

Sue Hatten
Camps and Instructional Programs Coordinator
Recreation & Athletics
Simon Fraser University
Phone: 604-291-5434
Fax: 604-291-3425

Monday, February 12, 2007

celebreate black history month at sfu: Africa Trio (Feb 15, Free)

Bringing the rhythm and groove of West Africa to this celebration of Black History Month are Yoro Noukoussi, Aboubacar Camara and Sekou “Dico” Sylla of African Trio.

African Trio is composed of Yoro Noukoussi, Aboubacar Camara, and Sekou “Dico” Sylla, accompanied by dancer Kesseke Yeo. Kesseke Yeo was a national star and member of the National Ballet of Cote d'Ivoire. Since 2001, he has performed at various festivals with Masabo Culture Company and Kokoma Dance among others. Yoro Noukoussi was born into the family of the Chief of the Wama people and learned drumming and storytelling from his family as they traveled through North Benin. He has been performing in Vancouver for several years. Sekou "Dico" Sylla came straight from a small village in the Republic of Guinea to join Masabo on-stage in Canada. He is rightly recognized here as a djembe master, and in addition to Masabo he is an active teacher and performer with dance companies. Aboubacar Camara is a performer native to Guinea, He spent 16 years performing and training with professional dance troupes, touring Africa and Europe. He came to Canada in 1995, performing with Vancouver-based African group, Bafing Productions. He is now leading his own group, Doundounba Music & Dance.

SFU THEATRE FEBRUARY 15 AT 12:30 PM FREE

INFORMATION: 604-291-3514

call for working group members: Task Force on Academic Structure

Dear Members of the University Community:

The Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure will be establishing several Working Groups to assist the Task Force in reviewing realignment proposals from academic units.

The Working Groups will be governed by the mandate outlined in the attached document. Members of Working Groups will be appointed by the Vice President, Academic in consultation with the Task Force. We will be looking to establish Working Groups of approximately 4-6 members each. Members will be chosen in consideration of establishing a Working Group with both expertise in the areas being considered as well as objectivity and the ability to assess from a university-wide perspective. Note that each Working Group will be assigned a subset of proposals expected from the attached list of units who have indicated that a submission will be forthcoming.

Each Working Group will have representatives from the Task Force (one of whom will Chair each Working Group). The Working Groups will actively be seeking the expertise, input and advice from faculty, staff and students as part of their operations.

If you are interested in serving on a Working Group, please advise me by Wednesday, February 14, 2007. Your notice of interest must include a brief description of why you are interested and how you feel you can contribute to one of the Working Groups on Academic Structure.

Please note that we expect the majority of the Working Groups’ activity to occur over the period February 15, 2007 to May 31, 2007. Individuals expressing interest should be aware that membership on a Working Group will require a fairly significant time commitment during this period.

Please send your expressions of interest to: jhw@sfu.ca

Sincerely,

John Waterhouse
Chair of the Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure
Vice President, Academic

Mandate for the Working Group(s) on Academic Structure

The Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure will establish several Working Groups on Academic Structure. Each Working Group will have the following mandate:

    1. Consider and evaluate proposals for academic reconfiguration assigned to it by the Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure:
      1. Review background statistical and strategic planning documents of areas submitting and affected by a proposal;
      2. Consider and evaluate the written proposals submitted to the Working Group in consideration of the Senate approved principles for evaluation;
    1. Engage with members of the University community affected by proposals:
      1. Meet with units/individuals who submitted proposals,
      2. Meet with members of areas potentially affected by the proposal, and
      3. Meet other members of the University community as self-identified or as deemed important by the Working Group;
    1. Liaise regularly with the Task Force as it undertakes its activities;
    1. Prepare a written report for the Phase 2 Task Force; and,
    1. Provide feedback to the Phase 2 Task Force on the Task Force’s proposals to the University Community regarding academic configuration.

The Working Group(s) on Academic Structure will be committed to the principles and processes of transparency, communication, meaningful consultation and engagement of the University community, and comprehensiveness and diligence in the consideration and evaluation of proposals. Proposals will be evaluated in consideration of the University’s overall goals, vision and priorities for the future.

The Working Group(s) on Academic Structure will endeavor to carry out their work in accordance with the timelines identified by the Task Force.

SFU's new Visual Identity

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past 40 years, SFU has grown from a small, innovative programme with a fresh mission and a local student base to a major Canadian university with an expanding presence on the international stage. We now have three campuses, six faculties, 60 departments and schools, 63 institutes and centres, our first international dual-degree programme, and student enrolment of about 30,000.

Each individual department and programme has built a strong identity within its own specific communities, but the image of SFU collectively has been relatively unclear. Our visual identity has been distorted by the tendency for every unit on campus to take a unique approach to letterhead, business cards and even the use of the university’s crest. This may be typical for dynamic, rapidly growing, young organizations such as ours, but with increased competition for students, faculty members, staff, research grants, government funding and philanthropic investment, we need to stand above the crowd.

To achieve this, SFU, like other universities, has sought ways to encapsulate our complexity in a clear visual identity and tagline summary of our distinctive vision and mission. Our goal has been to develop a new SFU brand, building on our heritage and success, inspiring us as we move forward, and strengthening our position on the world stage.

I am now announcing the creation of a new visual identity for Simon Fraser University, which includes a new logo, business cards, stationery, website design and recommendations for applying the new logo to all of our marketing materials and signage. The new logo is in fact a return to our past. The original SFU logo – a “toothpaste” stripe of the three letters - was designed by the renowned visual artist Iain Baxter of the legendary Centre for Communication and the Arts in the Faculty of Education, in the 1960s. The new logo is again a bold, clear and contemporary representation of the letters SFU, designed by Jim Rimmer, perhaps Canada’s premier font designer. His papers are deposited in SFU’s Special Collections, and the SFU Library’s “Rimmerfest” celebrated his achievements this past November.

The new logo is supplemented by a tag line -- “Thinking of the World” -- which has emerged from a process of consultation with high school students and counsellors, current students, staff, faculty, alumni and community stakeholders. It speaks to the role that the university plays in fundamental research uncovering the mysteries of the world, and applied research responding to the needs of the wider community, as well as to SFU’s distinctive commitment to active social engagement locally and globally. The logo and tagline have been accepted by the Board of Governors and will be used from this day forward.

Together, the logo and tagline create a new visual identity which will, I hope, create in the external community greater recognition of SFU’s collective presence and achievements, and a more consistent impression of this university’s values and commitments.

As we think of the world, the world will think of SFU.

Michael Stevenson, President and Vice-Chancellor

NOTE: You will find more information, and official Graphic Standards manuals, at http://www.sfu.ca/clf The manuals cover the application of the new brand and logo to such things as brochures, stationery, business cards, print products and websites. Shortly, you will also find stories about the new branding in today's SFU News, at the main SFU website (http://www.sfu.ca) and in SFU News online (http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfu_news/) Public Affairs and Media Relations and the SFU Design Group can have someone visit your department to answer questions about use of the logo and tagline, and to discuss the requirements established by the Board of Governors.

Office of the President:mm

Students united in wrath over new SFU logo



SFU's new logo, a red rectangle with the letters "SFU", has sparked an outpouring of student ire on the internet. Since the logo's unveiling last week, over 530 people have joined the group, "the new SFU logo makes me cringe" on a popular online community website, Facebook (6 new people have joined since I began typing this post). Another group, "The New SFU Logo is Fugly" is less popular, with only 250+ members, perhaps because - as one member puts it - the new logo is "not fugly. just lame".

Of the many images posted to Facebook parodying the new logo, my favorite is from James Smith:

Student reps needed: university hiring committees

Hello Everyone,

This is a quick notice to inform people of two opportunities to sit on hiring committees, aka search committees, within the University. Ideally, one director from the Student Society and one student representative from the University at-large will participate in each of the hiring committees. The information about each committee, (albeit not necessarily complete information) is posted below. Since the work of these committees may commence this week, please respond ASAP if you are interested in either one and I will pass your information onto the appropriate person. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.

Forum Reps, please pass this information onto your student union or caucus. I sincerely appreciate your assistance in consistently doing so.

1. Search Committee for Director, Enrollment Services:
The candidate profile input session will be the week of Feb 12 - 16th.

The committee membership will be as follows: Registrar/Director Student Services, Two Student Representatives ­ one SFSS, Two Faculty Representatives ­ one SFUFA, One other Senior Director, One direct report to the position, One line report to the position, Committee support: Secretary to the Registrar

The committee will start to meet the week of 12-16th. A complete list of dates and times are still to be determined, but the time commitment will be something like this:

* 4 1.5 hr meetings
* 1/2 day to reveiw resumes
* Interviews of the candidates (probably 3, 1 - 2 hrs each)

2. Search Committee for Associate Registrar, Information Services:

I don't have information about the dates or times that this committee intends to meet, but I am confident that it will be very shortly, if not this week. I will find out the appropriate information and get back to y'all. My hunch is that the responsibility of the Associate Registrar, Information Services is to oversee on-line registration systems (SIMS), and such.

Please get back to me ASAP if you're interested in either of these opportunities!!

Cheers,

Andrea Sandau
University Relations Officer
Simon Fraser Student Society
Canadian Federation of Students Local 23
p: 604.291.3182
uro@sfss.ca | www.sfss.ca

Task Force on Academic Structure: Update

Dear Members of the University Community:

The Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure would like to update you on our activities in each of the three areas of our mandate: Academic Configuration, Interdisciplinarity, Academic Structural Building Blocks.

Academic Configuration:
  • To date we have received notification from a number of academic areas across the University that they are planning to submit proposals to the Task Force for alternative academic unit configuration within the University.
  • Full proposals from the University community are required by March 9, 2007. Once received, we will share with you a summary overview of each of the proposals for your information.
  • A “Call for Interest” will be issued on February 8, 2007 seeking expressions of interest from any member of the University community who would like to serve on a Working Group for the consideration of realignment proposals. Full details will be placed on our website at the time of the “call”.
  • The Task Force is now in the process of reviewing background statistical and planning documents in preparation for the pending proposals.
Interdisciplinarity:
  • We will be hosting an “Interdisciplinarity Charette Day” on Friday, March 23, 2007 from 8:30-5:00 followed by a wine and cheese social. This major event will launch our investigations into interdisciplinarity. The interactive day with members of the University community will feature guest speakers, the successes and challenges of interdisciplinarity research and teaching at SFU, and an afternoon of brainstorming. Book your calendars now, and watch for an announcement within the next two weeks giving full details, free registration information, and opportunities to share your successes or challenges as part of the agenda.
  • In the meantime we will be exploring the literature on interdisciplinarity, SFU’s framework for interdisciplinarity, and interdisciplinary initiatives elsewhere. If you know of any articles or initiatives that we should be aware of, please let the Task Force know.
  • Once the Charette Day has taken place, the Task Force will be determining its full strategy for exploring the interdisciplinary element of its mandate.
Academic Structural Building Blocks:
  • The Task Force is in the process of preparing an information report on the use of academic structural building blocks (i.e. programs, departments, schools, faculties, colleges, centres and institutes) at SFU. The report will be looking at their coherence, roles, responsibilities, functions, administrative requirements, costs, and the extent to which there is administrative effectiveness and appropriate levels of differentiation. The report will also examine how these “building blocks” are used at other institutions. The information report will be shared with the University community. Following a consideration of the report, the Task Force will be outlying its overall strategy for the consideration of this area of its mandate.
Other News:
We have posted an overall timeline showing our planned activities for the next year on our website.
To ensure that you are kept fully informed about the activities of the Task Force and its Working Groups and in the spirit of our commitment to be transparent and collegial in our activities, we plan to send you an information update about once every 5-6 weeks. Occasionally we will also send you other communications about key events and opportunities to engage with the Task Force.

Website and Contact Information:
The Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure’s website is available at:
http://www.sfu.ca/vpacademic/Committees_TaskForces/Ad_Hoc_Committees/Phase2_TF/index.html

In addition to the various formal opportunities that will be developed to consult extensively with the University community, we wish to invite you at any time to send us your input, advice and comments. The Task Force can be contacted by email at: facultystructure-phase2@sfu.ca or you can contact the Secretary to the Task Force, Sharon Eng, at 604.291.3925

Sincerely,

John Waterhouse, Chair, Phase 2 Task Force on Academic Structure
Vice-President, Academic

Faculty position at U Waterloo (Terrestrial Ecology)

Assistant or Associate Professor in Terrestrial Ecology

The Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in Terrestrial Ecology. The Department of Biology is strongly committed to excellence in research, and both undergraduate and graduate teaching.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. and post-doctoral experience, and be prepared to establish an active externally-funded research program. We are particularly interested in candidates who emphasize the use of innovative research approaches to understand factors that regulate ecological structure and function at community, ecosystem or landscape scales. Candidates should be committed to enthusiastic and innovative teaching.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applicants should send their curriculum vitae, the names and address of three individuals willing to provide letters of reference, and a 1-2 page outline of their proposed research program to: Ms. Gini Ivan-Roth, Secretary to the Chair, Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1. This information may also be sent via email to: givan@uwaterloo.ca. The closing date for all applications is March 31, 2007 with an anticipated start date after September 1, 2007.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Waterloo encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, native peoples, and persons with disabilities. We also encourage applicants who have had career delays associated with family responsibilities. Additional information about the Department is available at: www.science.uwaterloo.ca/departments/biology/index.html

(above copied from http://jnewma01.typepad.com/guelphecology/2007/02/faculty_positio.html)

Sessional position: Population Ecology (University of Guelph, Fall 2007)

Department of Integrative Biology
BIOL*3110 Population Ecology
Projected Class Enrollment: 180
Level of Appointment (i.e. full/part time): Full Time
Start Date: September 4, 2007
End Date: December 21, 2007
Salary: $6,356.25 - $7,056.25

Required Qualifications: Requirements of the position include a PhD in Biology. Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate level is desired. This third year course provides an exploration of the structure and dynamics of animal and plant populations. The first part of the course will focus on demographic characteristics of populations and simple models of population growth and natural regulation. The second part of the course will concentrate on a variety of population processes, including predator-prey interactions, spatial dynamics, and disease-host interactions, and consider how these processes affect population dynamics. A quantitative approach emphasizing the use of mathematical models, graphical analysis, and statistics will provide the basic conceptual framework, which will be illustrated by selected case studies. The instructor, working with graduate teaching assistants will be responsible for overseeing weekly 1 hour tutorials.

Preferred Qualifications: Prior teaching experience in Biology is necessary.

Where to Obtain/Send Applications: Applicants should forward their curriculum vitae to: Dr. Moira M. Ferguson, Chair Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph, ON N1G 2W1

For more details click here
Application deadline: 1 April 2007

Yodzis Colloquium: Applied Evolution: Understanding the Past, Predicting the Future" (convenient for CSEE attendees!)

University of Guelph has anounced the 4th annual Peter Yodzis Colloquium in Functional Ecology, and it'll be held in the 2 days before the CSEE annual meeting, an hour's drive from Toronto (where CSEE is being held). This year's theme is "Applied Evolution: Understanding the Past, Predicting the Future".

"The colloquium will focus on the mechanistic basis of adaptation and the potential to predict adaptive evolution in pure and practical applications. There will be a series of keynote lectures and an open poster session, all at a pace conducive to conversation and interaction." (http://jnewma01.typepad.com/guelphecology/2007/01/2007_yodzis_col.html)

Confirmed speakers include:
Graham Bell (McGill University)
Michael Lynch (Indiana University)
Patricia Schulte (University of British Columbia)
Ruth Shaw (University of Minnesota)
John Willis (Duke University)

Thursday, February 08, 2007

REM seminar schedule so far

  • Feb 21 Scott Pavey Lessons from Aniakchak Sockeye Salmon: Evolutionary Dead Ends and Rapid Divergence
  • Feb 27 Sílvel Elías Gramajo Re-constructing indigenous territoriality in Central America
  • Feb 28 Bud Graham The role of the province in fisheries management
  • Mar 7 Stephen Kakfi? Title TBA
  • Mar 14 Michael Gordon Sustainable Planning (Specific Title TBA)
  • Mar 21 TBA Title TBA
  • Mar 28 TBA Title TBA
  • Apr 4 Special Topics REM 660 Presentation of research findings (Individual topics will vary)

UBC National Foreign Policy Conference: Failing, Failed, & Fragile States (Mar 8-10)

From: Director of Delegates and Promotion

*Failing, Failed, and Fragile States Conference *

The UBC International Relations Students Association is hosting a
National Foreign Policy Conference on Failing, Failed, and Fragile
States from March 8th to 10th, 2007 at the University of British Columbia.

The conference aims to challenge students across Canada from all
disciplines to actively participate in the process of forming Canadian
foreign policy by providing policy recommendations to the Canadian
Government. This is an amazing opportunity for students to engage policy
experts whom they don't normally have access to; there will be
representatives from CIDA, DFAIT, DND, the UNDP, the Parliamentary
Centre, and numerous other NGOs and academic institutions across Canada.

We are looking to recruit a second round of delegates and would
sincerely appreciate having the promotion text attached below forwarded
to your members. The deadline has been extended to February 16, 2007 and
applicants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Sincerely,

Lammie Cheng
Director of Delegates and Promotion
Failing, Failed, and Fragile States Conference
International Relations Students Association
The University of British Columbia
Web: http://www.irsa.ca
Email: delegates@fragilestates.ca
Tel/Fax: (604) 822-1604 Mobile: (604) 617-6577
6138 Student Union Boulevard, Suite 30-G
Box 197 Vancouver, BC CANADA V6T 1Z1

Failing, Failed, and Fragile States

The UBC International Relations Students Association is hosting a
National Foreign Policy Conference on Failing, Failed, and Fragile
States from March 8^th to 10^th , 2007 in Vancouver and we are looking
to recruit a second round of delegates! No previous conference
experience required! The deadline to apply is *February 16, 2007.*

The Failing, Failed, and Fragile States Conference aims to challenge
students (like you!) to actively participate in the process of forming
Canadian foreign policy by providing policy recommendations to the
Canadian Government. This is an amazing opportunity for students to
engage policy experts whom they don't normally have access to; there
will be representatives from CIDA, DFAIT, DND, the UNDP, the
Parliamentary Centre, and numerous other NGOs and academic institutions
across Canada.

*Keynote speaker:* Lowell Bergman, investigative reporter with /The New
York Times/ and a producer/correspondent for the PBS documentary series
/Frontline/. Be sure to check our website for the full list of speakers!

*Cost: * $80 CAD. The fee includes snacks and meals for the duration of
the conference, two formal reception dinners, conference materials, as
well as the fantastic line-up of speakers that are ensured to be great
resources for the students.

Apply now at * www.fragilestates.ca *.
Applications close on *February 16, 2007*.

Research accounting has moved

Following is a Reminder Message from Dianne Skode, Assistant to the VP Finance & Administration.

SUBJECT: RESEARCH ACCOUNTING HAS MOVED. Please note new mailing address:

Research Accounting has moved to the Multi-Tenant Facility. Our telephone numbers have been changed from 604-291-XXXX to 778-782-XXXX. To reach us by phone on campus, please dial “2” before dialing our current local numbers.

Our new campus mail address is: Research Accounting, MTF 210.

To avoid delay in processing, please send your Fund 31, 32 and 36 payroll appointments, purchase requisitions, cheque requisitions, business & travel claims and clearings, invoices and journal vouchers, etc. directly to Research Accounting, MTF 210.

Thank you very much for your cooperation. We look forward to serve you from our MTF office.

lecture: Ron Cohen, Winston Churchill biographer (free; Mar 15)

As part of the SFU Library Special Collections series Share the Enthusiasm, Ron Cohen will speak on collecting and authoring the Winston Churchill bibliography. This bibliography represents a 22 year labour of love to identify every edition, issue, state and printing of Churchill’s work. Churchill once wrote that “history will be kind to m! e, for I intend to write it”. He did and Cohen collected his works and authored a 3 volume (2183 pp.) bibliography, Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill (London and New York: Thoemmes Continuum, 2006).

Cohen has built several other collections. He donated the significant Ronald I. Cohen Lucy Maud Montgomery Collection to Library and Archives Canada. Cohen once stated that “if I begin to collect something, I’m likely to do so in a focused fashion … no half measures” --- this will become very evident in his talk on collecting Churchill.

Since 1993 Cohen has been National Chair of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, an independent non-governmental organization created by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Cohen was founding Chair of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television in 1979. He is both a lawyer and a film producer. His film, Ticket to Heaven, won four Genie awards. Amongst numerous professional accomplishments he was Sen! ior Counsel to Quebec’s Commission of Inquiry Into Organized Crime. He is President of the Friends of Library and Archives Canada…

Date: Thursday, March 15, 2007
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
(Hamber Foundation Board Room 470)
580 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C.

Cost: Free, but reservations required. Please reserve a seat by calling 604.291.4658 or emailing library@sfu.ca

Refreshments following lecture.

You may want to download a copy of the flyer: http://www.lib.sfu.ca/whatsnew/CohenPosterFINAL3.pdf

For further information contact:

Eric Swanick
Head, Special Collections
Simon Fraser University Libary

604.291.4626 or
eswanick@sfu.ca

update re: production way bus loop

Greetings!

The concern about the imminent closure of the bus loop at Production Way only came to my attention yesterday, and I’m sorry we didn’t get to speak with The Peak reporters before they ran with the story, because the bottom line is, there will be a shelter at the bus stop on Lougheed Highway, which will be no more nor less exposed to the elements than the one at Production Way. The following points are from a note I’ve just sent up to The Peak, which should clarify things.

* Firstly, there will be shelters at the bus stops when the change is made. They may not be erected from Day One, but they will be set up. (We don’t have a firm closure date yet from the developers. We’re hoping it won’t be until after the current semester, so we can get everything in place in time for September, but that’s out of our hands right now.)
* The smaller shelters, which stand back-to-back at the loop, will be split up. One will go onto Production Way southbound to serve the #110. The other will go onto Thunderbird for the #136.
* The #145 will move to Lougheed Highway, and we’re working with the City of Burnaby to get all the spaces set aside for that stop and the shelter. The existing larger shelter is too big to go there, so we’re arranging for a new one.
* We also need to discuss how much we can encroach on the greenway parallel to the sidewalk.
* We also have to work out logistics regarding crowd management. As you know, we have an “all door loading” system at PW, which increases the efficiency and allows us to run buses frequently, so that means we have to manage three queues. The UBC General Services loop, where the 99 B-Line begins its eastbound trip, could give you an idea of a shelter and boarding arrangement which runs the length of the bus, the way it would have to along a sidewalk.
* In essence, we’re turning back the clock to the days before there was a loop at PW and the bus stopped on Lougheed Highway. There’s one difference this time, though: there’s one fewer service using the terminal now than there was then.

Hope this helps. Don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.

Cheers!

Drew Snider
Media Relations - Transit Operations,
TransLink
(604) 453-3054

Upcoming LIDC Events ~ February, 2007

Below, please find the Learning and Instructional Development Centre’s schedule of events for February. We are trying to minimize the number of postings to email lists, so please keep this email if you are interested in any of these sessions, and please accept our apologies if you receive multiple postings.

All registration is done online using the links for each event.


Upcoming LIDC Events ~ February, 2007 (and a bit beyond)
________________________________________________

*PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENTS/CALL FOR PROPOSALS*
9th Annual Symposium on Innovative Teaching
Wednesday & Thursday, May 23 & 24, 2007 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Halpern Centre & MBC | Burnaby | No charge
Call for Proposals submission deadline is March 15, 2007
Join educators from SFU and elsewhere as we explore the challenges and rewards associated with the innovative use of pedagogical approaches and learning technologies in mathematics and science education. This year's Symposium will focus on strategies, tools, lessons and examples, and critical perspectives on quantitative reasoning, and beyond "Q". Relevant themes include: exploring Q as a form of critical, analytical thinking to demonstrate that Q is more than numeracy and calculations; overcoming Q anxiety; interdisciplinary Q courses, and course design to incorporate math, stats, and logic in traditionally non-Q courses; and, Q support mechanisms. Symposium web site coming soon to www.sfu.ca/symposium2007

22nd Annual Fall Semester TA/TM Day--The Teaching Orientation Program
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=121
Friday, September 7, 2007 | 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Halpern Centre & MBC | Burnaby | No charge
Call for Proposals submission deadline is April 18, 2007
The Learning and Instructional Development Centre and the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies invite experienced teaching assistants and tutor markers to apply to lead workshops at the Fall TA/TM Day. This orientation day is intended for new and veteran TAs and TMs. Successful applicants will be selected on the basis of experience, references, and relevance and usefulness of workshop proposals to the intended audience. The online application form will be available shortly.



*SKILLS FOR TEACHING*
Speaking to be heard: Developing effective voice & communication skills
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=139
4 Tuesdays: February 20 - March 13, 2007 | 1:30 - 4:00 pm
SFU Burnaby | No charge
Eager to explore or expand your vocal skills? Looking for a supportive atmosphere where you can build and strengthen your voice over a four-week period? The Learning and Instructional Development Centre is proud to present this comprehensive series on the fundamentals of voice and presentation work for SFU instructors.

Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW)
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=120
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday, April 23, 24, & 25, 2007 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Room TBA | Burnaby | $125 for TAs; $200 for sessional/lab instructors & staff; $250 for faculty; $350 for others
Registration deadline is March 15, 2007
Widely recognized as a forum for peer-based instructional development, this workshop is designed to strengthen instructors' skills through intensive, yet practical exercises in learning-centred teaching. A unique and rewarding experience, the ISW not only builds skills and confidence, but also enables participants to learn from, and foster partnerships with colleagues from other disciplines. Participants successfully completing the 3-day program will receive a Certificate of Completion that may be applied as credit to the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program. Space is limited and early registration is recommended. If this workshop fills up, a second workshop may be held Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, April 26, 27, & 28, 2007.



*DIALOGUE EDUCATION*
Teaching and Learning Readers' Group (II)
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=123
Thursday, February 22, 2007 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Halpern Centre Room 114 | Burnaby | No charge
Join Elizabeth Wallace, a program director with the LIDC, for coffee, croissants, and a lively discussion about about Learning to listen, learning to teach: The power of dialogue in educating adults (Vella 2002). Jane Vella, the author of the book and founder of Global Learning Partners, Inc., will be participating in the discussion electronically. Register by February 8th and we'll send you a free copy of the book.



*WRITING-INTENSIVE LEARNING*
Faculty workshop series: Preparing writing-intensive courses
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=142
3 Thursdays: February 22 - March 6, 2007 | 1:30 - 4:30 pm
SFU Burnaby | No charge
Interested in rethinking your course(s) and adjusting them to meet the W-requirements? Do you want to learn more about writing-intensive learning? This workshop series offers an introductory orientation to writing-intensive learning and provides a background for revising an existing course, or creating a new course. Resources include SFU examples and instructional materials from across the disciplines.



*EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY*
Online discussion: Loading and showing your content in WebCT
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=124
Beginning Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Online | No charge
Loading and organizing content in WebCT can start out simply, and quickly become complicated. It is tempting to start loading files immediately, but consider what file types your students will be able to read, and consider how much information you want to provide. We will discuss planning and organizational strategies such creating a folder structure and using naming conventions for files and folders. How can you prepare content for online reading? We’ll discuss chunking material, use of headers, and methods of displaying content, such as using content modules to organize files for student view and to provide a global view of the course.

WebCT drop-in
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=128
Tuesday, February 6, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Education Building (EDB) Room 7512 | Burnaby | No charge
-or-
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=129
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
SUR 3300 | Surrey | No charge
-or-
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=130
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 | 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Education Building (EDB) Room 7512 | Burnaby | No charge
This drop-in session is an opportunity to ask specific questions about your use of WebCT. Some possible questions or topics are: converting PowerPoint and Word files for use in WebCT, using the Gradebook, navigating the Discussions forum, loading files into WebCT, and deciding which WebCT tools to use.

WebCT quick start
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=134
Thursday, February 8, 2007 | 9:30 am - 12:20 pm
MCF PC Lab - AQ 3148.2 | Burnaby | No charge
Would you like to add online components to your course? Attend this hands-on workshop if you are already comfortable with computing and the online environment and would like to begin using WebCT CE6. You will have the opportunity to experience WebCT from the point of view of a student and will then take on the role of course "designer" and learn how to create a basic WebCT course.

WebCT quick start for TAs/TMs
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=135
Thursday, February 15, 2007 | 1:30 - 4:20 pm
MCF PC Lab - AQ 3148.1 | Burnaby | No charge
Does your course supervisor use WebCT? This hands-on workshop is designed for teaching assistants and tutor markers who are comfortable with computing and the online environment and need to begin using WebCT CE6. You will have the opportunity to experience WebCT from the point of view of a student, a course designer, and will then take on the role of course teaching assistant within WebCT.

Online discussion: Entering and releasing grades in WebCT
https://webserver.lidc.sfu.ca/tep/spring-07/progdesc.php?c_id=125
Beginning Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Online | No charge
This is a favourite tool for many students and faculty members. Find out how to automatically add quizzes and assignments, add your own columns to help manage student grades, add grades over a period of time, and how to release grades to students when you've finished marking.


________________________________________________
For more information, or assistance with registration, please contact any of the LIDC's program coordinators:

Kathy Borneman tel: 604-268-6696; email: kbornema@sfu.ca
Andrea Hankinson tel: 604-268-6570; email: andrea@sfu.ca
Christine Kurbis tel: 604-291-5529; email: kurbis@sfu.ca