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CNFS distributes $20,000 in awards to Laurentian University students

CNFS distributes $20,000 in awards to Laurentian University students

Congratulations to all CNFS award recipients!

January 23, 2014 - Every year, the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS) at Laurentian University awards $20,000 to $30,000 in scholarships to students enrolled in French-language health and wellness programs at Laurentian University. For 2013-2014, eligible students are enrolled in Nursing, Midwifery, Speech Pathology, Social Work, Public Health and Kinesiology. In addition to supporting operations for these programs, CNFS also approved 93% of scholarship applications received this year for a total of $20,000.
 

Entrance Awards

Stéphanie Frenette (Orthophonie); Karine Gosselin, Jenna Ouellette and Mélanie Belanger (Sciences infirmières)

This scholarship encourages Francophone and Francophile students who graduated from Ontario’s French or French immersion high schools, or other persons with the necessary academic requirements, to pursue French-language studies in the field of health.
 

Undergraduate Awards

Marie-Josée Charrier, Angel Mathieu and Alexandra Albert (Orthophonie); Claudie Finlay (Sages-femmes); Christiane Kensa, Christian Kowa, Meng Liu, Danielle Bourgeois Lapiccirella, Chantèle Mayer, Lydia Jabil, Michelle Leblanc and Nadia Omni (Sciences infirmières)

This scholarship is awarded to Francophone and Francophile students enrolled in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of a bachelor’s program in health at Laurentian University, as outlined on the form. The program may be offered on campus or through distance education, on a full- or part-time basis.
 

“Active Offer” Award (graduate studies)

Stéphanie Léveillé, Maxine Bélanger and Sarah Nicholls (Orthophonie); France Rainville and Mélissa Therrien (master’s, Orthophonie); Caroline Piquette and Michèle Lajeunesse (master’s, Kinésiologie); Mélanie Simon (Service social), Sophie Ouellet (master’s, Service social) along with Christiane Kensa, Céline Giroux and Nadia Omri (who plan to continue their studies at the master’s level, Sciences infirmières, next September).

The “Active Offer” Award is offered as an incentive to students in health programs to understand the principles of the “Active Offer” and integrate them into their professional practice. This means finding ways to indicate from the very first contact with a client in a health context that they speak French and offer care and services in French in an effort to contribute to the client’s well-being by communicating in French if they prefer.
 

Depending on available funds, the CNFS may also offer awards for student placements in minority settings. For more information on support offered to Francophone students, please visit www.cnfslaurentienne.ca.

Information: Érik Labrosse, director, CNFS and Health and Wellness Initiatives, 705-675-1151, ext. 4111
This initiative was made possible thanks to a financial contribution from Health Canada

 

 

 

 

Province commits multi-year funding to Professions North/Nord

Province commits multi-year funding to Professions North/Nord

Initiative promotes careers for foreign-trained professionals

Sudbury, ON (January 8, 2013) –  A three-year funding commitment by Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration will support the continuing work of Professions North/Nord (PNN) to facilitate the appropriate employment of internationally trained professionals in Northern Ontario.


The $2.7M investment was awarded to Laurentian University after a competitive bidding process and is based on the success of the PNN pilot project. The funding was announced today at Laurentian University by the MPP for Sudbury, Rick Bartolucci, at a gathering of PNN officials and clients and university representatives.


“Professions North/Nord has seen great success since its inception in 2010. With the announcement of the funding extension, the program will continue to grow and help meet the labour demands of Northern Ontario employers,” said Stephen Havlovic, Dean, Faculty of Management at Laurentian University.


“This three year commitment will assist internationally trained professionals attain their career goals by bridging the gap between education, experience, culture and employment which will assist them in reaching their full potential,” said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci.  “I am proud of the innovation associated with this program and the important role it plays in growing our economy and making lives better for immigrants and their families.”


Professions North/Nord also provides services to Northern Ontario employers in recruitment, job matching, resume screening and employee retention. “By working to meet the recruitment needs of Northern Ontario employers, Professions North/Nord is helping generate diversity, growth and economic development in Northern Ontario communities,” stated Michel Racine, Project Manager, Professions North/Nord.


PNN was launched as an initiative of Laurentian University’s Faculty of Management, to facilitate accreditation and career opportunities for professionals trained outside Canada. The agency offers a range of services to internationally trained professionals, including portfolio development, bridging to accreditation, and networking and mentorship opportunities.  Professions North/Nord also provides services to prospective employers in northern Ontario, helping them to find trained, job-ready professionals to fill critical roles in the regional economy.  
 

About Professions North/Nord

Professions North/Nord (PNN) is an initiative of Laurentian University that assists employers with labour shortages, and internationally trained professionals (ITPs) in finding employment in Northern Ontario at no cost.


Funded by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Professions North/Nord provides services to Northern Ontario employers in recruitment, job matching, resume screening and employee retention. Our offices are located in Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie.


Professions North/Nord also specializes in assisting internationally trained professionals reach their career goals by bridging the gap between education, experience, culture and employment. Our goal is to help ITPs acquire the information, training and resources they need to be successful in securing a career in their field in Northern Ontario.


PNN’s extensive database of pre-screened internationally trained professionals encompasses numerous occupational fields such as engineering, accounting, management, environmental sciences, IT and others. Residing in Ontario, our internationally trained professionals are looking for new opportunities in Northern Ontario.

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury, it now offers a growing number of programs in Barrie to the 1,200 students located on that campus. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada.

 


MEDIA CONTACTS

For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Joanne Musico                                                                                            
Director, Communications                                                                          
Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 3445 or 1.800.263.4188 ext. 3445                                          
jmusico@laurentian.ca                                                                      
 

Sherry Drysdale
Communications
Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 3412 or 1.800.263.4188 ext. 3412 
sdrysdale@laurentian.ca   
 

Amy Bouillon
Marketing Officer, Professions North/Nord
Tel: 705-222-1766 ext. 4  
abouillon@laurentian.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sudbury Cancer Test Predicts Breast Cancer Survivability

Sudbury Cancer Test Predicts Breast Cancer Survivability

The RDA™ test was developed by Dr. Amadeo Parissenti of Sudbury, and his research associate Dr. Baoqing Guo of Health Sciences North.

Sudbury(January 7, 2014) – A test developed in Sudbury is proving successful in predicting which breast cancer patients will best respond to chemotherapy and live cancer-free for a longer period of time following treatment.

 

Results conducted into the RNA Disruption Assay™ (RDA™) test were presented last month at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas.

 

The RDA™ test was developed by Dr. Amadeo Parissenti of Sudbury, and his research associate Dr. Baoqing Guo of Health Sciences North.  Dr. Parissenti is Chief Scientific Officer for Rna Diagnostics, based in Toronto and Sudbury.  Dr. Parissenti is also a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Laurentian University, Professor of Medical Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), and an affiliate scientist at the Advanced Medical Research Institute of Canada (AMRIC), which is the research arm of Health Sciences North.

 

The research findings were based on a clinical trial of 85 breast cancer patients. The patients were given the RDA™ test midway through their chemotherapy treatment. The patients were then tracked following the completion of their chemotherapy.

 

The RDA test quantifies the effect of chemotherapy on the quality of ribonucleic acid (RNA) within the tumour. Tumours responding positively to chemotherapy  showed  markedly reduced RNA quality (a phenomenon called “RNA disruption”).  The tumour is then assigned an RNA disruption score. A high RNA disruption score means there has been significant degradation of the RNA within the tumour, making the tumour nonviable and likely to die. A low RNA disruption score means very little loss of RNA quality within the tumour, which means it will continue to be viable and likely grow.

 

The research concluded that those patients with a high tumour RNA disruption score lived about two to three-and-a-half years longer cancer-free than patients with a low tumour RNA disruption score, following completion of chemotherapy.

 

“This new test could become the gold standard for predicting the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast cancer,” says Dr. Amadeo Parissenti. “The current benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of chemotherapy only happens after the treatment is finished. But with the RDA™ method we can predict during treatment who is actually responding to chemotherapy and who isn’t. Those patients who are not responding can then be switched to another treatment and spared the side effects of unnecessary chemotherapy. By having that ability to predict who is not responding and switching their treatment, we can potentially improve both their survival rates and quality of life.”

 

“These are wonderful results. This study shows the RDA method is very effective in predicting which breast cancer patients are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy. This will have profound implications for their care and ability to beat cancer,” adds Dr. Kenneth Pritzker, CEO of Rna Diagnostics.

 

Laurentian University licensed the technology behind RDATM to Rna Diagnostics, the first commercial license ever granted by the university, in order to bring this new medical diagnostic tool to breast cancer patients around the world.

 

"This is an incredible achievement for medical research in Sudbury which demonstrates the importance of research in universities and hospitals," said Dr. Patrice Sawyer, Vice-President, Research and Francophone Affairs at Laurentian University. "Health research is a key focus for Laurentian University and we are thrilled by the recent developments using the RDA technology."

 

“As a professor of medical sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Dr. Parissenti sets a first-rate example for our learners in two ways: first, in his commitment to improving the quality of patient care, and second, in his dedication to high-quality medical research” explains Dr. Roger Strasser, NOSM Dean. “I am so pleased that our learners have the opportunity to work with world-class researchers such as Dr. Parissenti here in the Northern Ontario. I extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Parissenti and his team for this important breakthrough!”

 

The laboratory testing for this study was conducted in Sudbury at AMRIC, where Rna Diagnostics leases lab space. Further evaluative research of the RDA method is ongoing within Sudbury.

 

“Congratulations to Dr. Parissenti and his team for these remarkable and promising results,” says Dr. Francisco Diaz-Mitoma, AMRIC’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. “The success so far of this work and the collaboration involved with other key partners is a prime example of the value and potential of developing the health research sector in Greater Sudbury. The world-class research being done here has global implications.”

 

“Dr. Parissenti’s breakthrough work once again demonstrates that research is health care,” adds Dr. Denis Roy, President and CEO of Health Sciences North. “It is research like this that leads to discoveries and innovations that ultimately save lives.  Health care and research partners in Greater Sudbury’s are showing true initiative and global leadership in this field.”

 

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Media contacts:

 

Jan Craig, Rna Diagnostics

519-822-1560

jcraig@rnadiagnostics.com

 

Joanne Musico

Manager, Communications

Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 3445 or 1.800.263.4188 ext.3445

jmusico@laurentian.ca

 

Laurentian University Board of Governors welcomes new member

Laurentian University Board of Governors welcomes new member

Barrie lawyer Rose Adams brings “passion, energy” to role with Laurentian

BARRIE, ON (December 16, 2013) – Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux and the University’s Board of Governors applaud the appointment of Barrie lawyer Rose Adams as the newest board member.

 

“We are delighted with the appointment and welcome Rose with the greatest enthusiasm,” said President Giroux.  “She is a candidate of exceptional calibre and we know she will bring a unique energy and passion to the role of governor.”

 

Adams runs her own law practise in Barrie with a focus on family law and real estate.  She began her legal studies at Osgoode Hall in 1991, after graduating from Georgian College.  She was a recipient of the Ontario Premier’s Award of Excellence in 2003.  Adams has volunteered her time and energy to numerous community organizations, including Out of the Cold,the Simcoe Literacy Network, and Big Brothers, and is currently active in Rotary.  Adams is also known as an effective motivational speaker with an inspiring story.

 

Ms Adams’ spouse, Marc Fortin is an alumus of Laurentian University and a native of Sudbury.

 

“The Board is excited to have Rose as a colleague and a partner in the work ahead,” said Board Chair Michael Atkins.  “As we continue to develop plans for our campus in Barrie, we will be very well-served by the vision and dedication Rose brings to our board.”

 

Laurentian has committed $14M toward the development of a central, stand-alone campus in Barrie, to deliver expanded university studies in the Simcoe and GTA regions.  The City of Barrie has pledged a matching amount.

 

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Laurentian celebrates teaching excellence and Dean's scholars

Laurentian celebrates teaching excellence and Dean's scholars

‘Students’ choice’ professors and first-year student achievement feted at ceremony

Sudbury, ON (November 30, 2013) – Laurentian University and the Centre for Academic Excellence celebrated the first ever Students’ Choice Teaching Awards this month at a festive event that also served to recognize 70 high-achieving first-year students.

 

Students, who earned an average of 80% and higher in their first year of studies, were individually recognized with a certificate of achivement, presented by Vice-President, Academic and Provost, Dr. Robert Kerr.

 

“We know that it takes hard work and persistence to attain these grades in the first 30 credits at university,” said CAE Executive Director Dr. Christine Blais.  “We believe in celebrating student success, and the Deans’ Honour List is quite an achievement.”

 

The ceremony at Alumni Hall was also the occasion of the inaugural Students’ Choice Teaching Awards.  More than 250 students submitted nominations for top teaching by faculty at the Sudbury and Barrie campuses.  The Awards are being given each year to one faculty member teaching first-year courses in English, and to one teaching first-year courses in French. The Students’ Choice selections for 2013 were Professor Rizwan Haq of the Department of Physics, and Professor Suzanne Lamothe of the Department of Biology.  Each of the honourees received a commemorative plaque, along with a cheque for $1,000.

 

Laurentian University and the Centre for Academic Excellence sincerely thank the students who participated in the Students’ Choice nominating process, and congratulates all the students and teachers who have been recognized for excellence. 

 

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Laurentian Hosts Science and Humanities Forum on Extinction

Laurentian Hosts Science and Humanities Forum on Extinction

Unique international symposium will combine philosophy, conservation biology

Photo of Polar BearNovember 6, 2013 – Conservation biology, increasing threats to habitat, and the growing list of species at risk are all on the agenda—alongside ethical and philosophical aspects of extinction—at a unique international symposium to be held at Laurentian University this month.   

 

“Thinking Extinction,”  November 14-16, will address and discuss a range of approaches to the crisis of mass extinction in an unprecedented gathering of leading thinkers, researchers and scientists from Canada, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.  

 

The symposium is organized and hosted by Laurentian University’s Centre for Evolutionary Ecology and Ethical Conservation (CEEEC) and will include talks, panel discussions, roundtables and evening events dealing with numerous aspects of endangered species conservation.  The events are free and open to the public.

 

“The innovative aspect of our symposium is that it brings the humanities into what is typically treated as a scientific discussion,” said Laurentian University professor and Canada Research Chair in Applied Evolutionary Ecology, Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde.  “We think this approach recognizes that all of us are facing fundamental questions about our role in protecting the diversity of species on this planet, and we hope the symposium will add new dimensions to the conversation.”

 

On Friday, November 15th, Conservation Biologist Stuart Pimm will speak at a public plenary session entitled Extinctions: When, Where, How Fast, and What We Can Do to Stop Them.  Pimm, the Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University and Chair of SavingSpecies.org, has worked on ecosystem restoration in the Everglades, the coastal forests of Brazil, and the savannas of southern Africa.

 

During the day’s proceeding’s on Friday, noted Canadian authors and wilderness advocates Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson will take part in a roundtable discussion on the future of endangered species conservation.   The curator of reproductive programs at the Toronto Zoo, Gabriela Mastromonaco, and Bridget Stuchbury, author and expert in threats to songbird populations, will also be part of Friday’s round-table.

 

Among the many topics to be covered during the conference, expert speakers will discuss the use of reproductive technology in efforts to preserve and even resurrect threatened or extinct species.  “People often think the idea of recreating the wooly mammoth in a lab is science fiction, but in fact the existing technology allows us to contemplate the revival of species that have vanished, “ said professor Brett Buchanan, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Laurentian University.   “This is but one of the potential solutions to our extinction crisis that opens up many of the philosophical questions we are exploring at the symposium.”

 

The full agenda for Thinking Extinction can be viewed at http://thinkingextinction.com/program/

 

 

About Laurentian University

 

Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury, it now offers a growing number of programs in Barrie to the 1,200 students located on that campus. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada.

 

Dual Degree with Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics

Dual Degree with Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics

Laurentian University and Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics (ZUFE) in Hangzhou, China have joined forces to deliver a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

October 26, 2013 - Under the agreement signed in 2012, up to 100 students will begin their first two years of study at ZUFE. They will then enroll in the LU English for Academic Preparation course (EAP) in the summer of 2014 in Hangzhou before coming to Sudbury from January to December 2015 in order to complete 42 academic credits. They will form their own cohort while at Laurentian. After successful completion of the 42 credits in Sudbury, these students will return to Hangzhou to complete the remainder of their degree requirements. With this dual degree program, they will receive two bachelor degrees, one from each institution.

basketball-goodwill-game-china

Laurentian Voyageurs basketball team’s Goodwill Game at ZUFE in October 2013: the two Presidents and team captains (above).

 

About ZUFE

Located in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province in China, ZUFE has a focus on Economics and Management. It has also successfully branched into programs such as Literature, Art, Law, Science, and Engineering. It is an outstanding university with a growing reputation in China and abroad.

ZUFE have three campuses totaling 153 hectares, all of which have excellent teaching and research facilities. The campuses all have tree-lined roadways, gardens and parklands. At present, ZUFE has a physical educational department, an independent college, a continuing educational college, and 14 different Schools. It has 45 bachelor and 38 master programs in total. ZUFE has over 1,300 staff members, including 818 full-time professors and instructors, to serve a total of 20,000 full time students. ZUFE’s School of Accounting serves 3,000 students and is actually the top school of its kind in Zhejiang (a province with a population of 54 million).

"Bridge-Builder" Gisèle Chrétien Honoured

"Bridge-Builder" Gisèle Chrétien Honoured

Fall Convocation also celebrates installation of Chancellor Steve Paikin

October 25, 2013 – Former College Boréal President and long-time leader in the Greater Sudbury community Gisèle Chrétien will be awarded an Honourary Doctorate at Laurentian University’s Fall Convocation October 26.  A Laurentian graduate in Nursing with a Master ‘s degree in education, Mrs. Chrétien has been active in education and training in Ontario, and was a key contributor in the establishment of Collège Boréal.   

“Gisèle’s years of work in the nursing sciences and in the broader field of post-secondary education have yielded tangible results and great successes,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux.  “Her dedication and her achievements have built bridges to learning for young people across this province, and she has made our community a better one through her efforts.”  

 

Chrétien served as President of Collège Boréal from 1998 to 2006.  She is also a past chair of the Board of Directors at Sudbury Regional Hospital and a member of the board of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO).  She was named to the board of governors of the Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVOntario) in 2002, and in 2007 became chair of the board of the province’s French-language educational and cultural television service (TFO).   

 

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Gisèle for the community-building she has accomplished among Franco-Ontarians,” said Dr. Patrice Sawyer, Vice-President, Francophone Affairs and Research at Laurentian University. “She has been a champion of French-language services in health, and a tireless advocate for education in the Francophone community.”  

 

This Fall Convocation at Laurentian will also be one of the first official functions for the University’s new Chancellor, Steve Paikin.  The anchor and senior editor of TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin will be installed as Chancellor during the morning convocation ceremony on Saturday, October 26.  “I am honoured to be presiding over Convocation for the 500 students who are graduating this Fall,” said Paikin.  “It is a significant milestone for each graduate and for all of their family and friends, and I feel privileged to be playing a part in their celebrations.”

 

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About Laurentian University Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury, it now offers a growing number of programs in Barrie to students located on that campus. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada. 

 

Media Contacts For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact: 

Joanne Musico                                                                          

Manager, Communications                                                          

Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 3445 or 1.800.263.4188 ext.3445              

jmusico@laurentian.ca                                                                   

 

Sherry Drysdale, Communications 

Tel: 705-675-1151 ext. 3412 

Cell: 705-698-4702  

sdrysdale@laurentian.ca

School of Architecture Marks Grand Opening

School of Architecture Marks Grand Opening

Ontario premier says new school will create jobs, opportunities for future generations

September 4, 2013 – Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne today cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially launch the Laurentian University School of Architecture, the first school of architecture to open in Canada in 45 years.    

 

The Premier stood alongside Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development (Northern Ontario) the Honourable Greg Rickford, and Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk, surrounded by members of the School’s Fall 2013 charter class.

 

“I know this program will lead so many young people here in the North to rewarding jobs and great opportunities. That is why we are proud to have given Laurentian University our support, to help nurture the talent that exists in this community and connect more people to great careers,” said Premier Kathleen Wynne.

 

Laurentian Architecture’s first cohort of 70 students will follow a curriculum informed by sustainable design practices and design that incorporates the natural environment.  In future years the School will also offer the only French-language Master of Architecture program in Canada outside Quebec.  By September 2018, the school will accommodate 400 students and more than 30 faculty and staff, in a landmark building designed by LGA Architectural Partners.

 

“Through strategic investments such as this, our Government proudly supports projects which create meaningful opportunities for young people in our region,” said Minister Rickford. "By investing in local priorities and collaborating with strong community partners like Laurentian University, our Government is delivering on its commitment to support innovative projects which spur job creation and economic growth, and lay the foundations for the long-term prosperity of Northern Ontario.”

 

“This is an exciting new era for Laurentian, for Ontario and for the architecture and design communities,” said President Dominic Giroux.  “Seventy new students of architecture are just beginning their studies and hundreds more will follow in time.   They represent the heart of a bright, creative design culture, and they will make their mark in communities here and abroad for years to come.”

 

“The Laurentian School of Architecture has already brought fresh energy and excitement to our city’s core,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk.  “As the School grows and develops, it will support our creative industries and generate many new opportunities in our city and across the North.”

 

 

In its inaugural phase, Laurentian Architecture is housed in two renovated heritage buildings in the heart of downtown Sudbury.  The CPR Telegraph Building (1914) and the CPR Rail Shed (1905) have been refurbished and adapted to provide studio/atelier spaces, meeting rooms and offices, with some of the original design features preserved and enhanced.

 

Beginning in 2014, the second phase of the project will see new construction of 65,000 sq. ft. to incorporate the existing buildings and to add the library, lecture hall and workshop. Laurentian Architecture will also showcase the first large-scale use of Cross-Laminated Timber in a public building in Ontario, through the support of the Centre for Research in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE).

 

“Our School will be a teaching tool in itself, as well as a locus for learning through Francophone and Indigenous cultures, designing in winter cities, and the use of natural materials,” said Laurentian Architecture’s Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin.  “We believe that our curricular mandate, combined with the diverse talents and interests of our faculty and of our students, will give this school a remarkable signature in the field of Canadian architecture.”

 

Ribbon cutting at School of Architecture

Michael Atkins, Blaine Nicholls, Marianne Matichuk, Greg Rickford, Kathleen Wynne, Rick Bartolucci, Steve Miller, Douglas Cardinal, Terrance Galvin, Dominic Giroux.

 

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury and plans for a new campus in Barrie, Laurentian offers more than 175 programs, including a growing number of programs for the 1,200 students studying in Barrie. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada.

 

 

Laurentian Employees Drive University’s Goal for Organizational Excellence

Laurentian Employees Drive University’s Goal for Organizational Excellence

Latest Employee Engagement Survey Reflects Positive Momentum

August 28, 2013–Laurentian’s strategic plan aspiration for organizational excellence is showing measurable progress in the latest employee engagement survey.  The results of the bi-annual survey measuring 20 drivers of employee engagement were released to faculty and staff this week, with progress reported in all 20 areas.

 

In 2011, Laurentian launched the first Have Your Say employee engagement survey as a means of starting a discussion with employees throughout the university community.  It drew responses from 535 members of the Laurentian community, while the the 2013 Have Your Say survey elicited responses from 602 employees.

 

“The Have Your Say survey is about listening to our faculty and staff, finding out what they think is working and what they believe needs improvement,” said acting President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Kerr.  “We’ll never be the organization we aspire to be without listening to our people.”

 

Dr. Kerr said the survey represents a “feedback point” as part of an on-going campus discussion about organizational excellence.  “It’s a conversation about what it means to be a great organization, and frank discussion about what needs to be done.  Certainly, this isn’t a process that happens in the span of a couple of years.  But we’re committed to the objective, and the survey shows that some of the things we’re focusing on are making a difference to our employees.”

 

Stemming from the 2011 survey results, a number of specific actions were identified and were incorporated into the University’s 5-year strategic plan.  These include investments of;

  • more than $1.4M to establish the Centre for Academic Excellence,
  • more than $1.8M to enhance training and development opportunities for employees,
  • more than $2M in food services upgrades,
  • more than $44M to improve campus facilities.

 

Dr. Kerr says the University will continue to seek and act upon feedback from the Laurentian community, discussing various initiatives and directions as part of the ongoing process of employee engagement.

  

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University is one of the fastest growing universities in Canada in the past decade, now serving close to 10,000 students. With its main campus in Sudbury, it now offers a growing number of programs in Barrie to the 1,200 students located on that campus. Laurentian has the highest post-graduation employment rates in Ontario after 6 months at 92% and 95% after two years. The University receives high recognition for its enviable class sizes, having one of the lowest average class sizes in Canada.

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