Project leads during the provost's admin leave

As you will have heard, the President recommended to the Board that I be reappointed to a third term as Provost, and the Board, at its meeting on June 15, approved the recommendation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support during the last nine years. We have had our challenges, but despite the difficulties, we have made great progress.

I will be on administrative leave from July 1, 2012, until June 30, 2013. During my leave year I will be traveling, teaching courses at a variety of institutions, primarily in China, and spending time at some peer institutions in China, New Zealand, Australia and Germany. I am interested in better understanding general trends that are reshaping high education and research globally. I will be looking at the range of innovative concepts and ideas that universities in various parts of the world develop as a response to those changes and challenges.

The President has appointed Martin Ferguson-Pell to be Acting Provost during this next year. I know Martin will effectively lead the university in continuing the hard work begun by The Umbrella Committee (TUC) and the President’s Review Committee (PRC). Some of the work of TUC and the PRC will have an impact on the work of the Renaissance Committee, and recommendations developed by the Renaissance Committee could have implications for the work of the PRC. Martin will also ensure that the Academic Policy & Process Review Task Force (APPR) will continue its work of reviewing our rules and regulations as they apply to academic programs to ensure our students have every opportunity to achieve their full potential. University Relations, led by Debra Pozega-Osburn, will assist Martin to update the university community on progress and achievements of TUC and the APPR.

In addition, earlier this year the President had a blue ribbon committee review the structure of the Provost's office. The current structure was formed in 1998 and this was the first time it has been formally reviewed. Martin will lead the provostial team in thinking through a structure that responds to the committee’s recommendations and meets the university's needs. Before I leave campus I will begin a discussion with the deans on whether our current academic organizational structure is meeting our goals. With the deans and the academic community, Martin will continue this assessment.

During the coming year Martin will work with the vice-provosts on a number of important academic issues:

• Murray Gray will work with the deans to ensure that current centres and institutes are working well within the university to advance the U of A’s academic mission.
• Mazi Shirvani will work with the deans to delineate those of his responsibilities that are related to his role as vice-provost, from those of dean of FGSR. This in turn will create the opportunity to consider ways to strengthen the role of each Faculty in supporting and managing their graduate students, while retaining the efficiencies of scale associated with an overarching Faculty for graduate students.
• Britta Baron will organize a discussion with Martin to continue the work of UAI that will coordinate international activities across various central administrative units.
• Duane Szafron will continue and extend the Vice-Provost IT initiatives to expand the use of IT technologies in the academy using mechanisms like the Visioning Committee. The Visioning Committee will continue to be co-led by Jonathan Schaeffer and Jennifer Chesney.
• Martin will be taking on the emerging need to create an interprofessional health science curriculum within the Health Sciences Council.
• Martin will co-chair the Committee on Aboriginal Initiatives and work to implement the Gathering Place vision.
• Martin and Mazi will work with the deans to implement selected graduate student projects.

As I begin my administrative leave I would like to thank each of you for the work you do for the university. At this time each year – the end of one very hectic year and the beginning of another – I like to remind myself that it is all about the students. We are defined as a university by the presence of students. I hear from people far and wide that we have remarkable students at the U of A – undergraduate and graduate. If we stay focused on what is best for them, including recruiting and retaining excellent faculty and staff, then all will be well in the long run. Short term challenges will remain with us until the great pressures in the global economy are relieved. In the long run the U of A will prosper because of the faculty, staff and students that define our institution.

I hope you all have a wonderful year.

Sincerely,
Carl G. Amrhein
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

Molzahn reappointed as Dean of Nursing

There is a story online with more on Dr. Molzahn's reappointment.

I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Dr. Anita Molzahn as Dean of the Faculty of Nursing. A duly constituted Dean Review Committee concluded its deliberations, and the Board of Governors has approved the committee’s recommendation that Dr. Molzahn be reappointed for a second five-year term of office, to begin July 1, 2014, following an earned administrative leave from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Since her appointment in 2008, Dean Molzahn has demonstrated exemplary leadership and operational oversight of one of the largest nursing faculties in North America. In that time, Dean Molzahn, in addition to other key activities, has overseen completion of a successful Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing accreditation process, development and implementation of a Faculty strategic plan, and a major budget restructuring process. Under Dean Molzahn’s leadership in teaching, research and practice, the Faculty of Nursing’s mission of "contributing to the attainment of health equity in the global community, to the development of nursing and health care services, and to the promotion of optimal health for all" is particularly well-served.

The University of Alberta is fortunate to have a Dean of such high calibre. We wish Dean Molzahn continued success in her second term.

I wish to thank members of the Dean Review Committee for their enthusiasm, commitment and hard work, and to thank all who participated in the review process.

Sincerely,

Carl G. Amrhein
Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

3M Teaching Fellowship nomination workshop offered July 12

The Academic Awards and Ceremonies Office will be holding a workshop on Preparing a Successful 3M National Teaching Fellowship Nomination on Thursday, July 12.

Workshop Details
Date: Thursday, July 12, 2012
Location: 1-190 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy
Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Workshop Description
The Academic Awards and Ceremonies Office invites you to a workshop designed to allow 3M candidates and nominators to work through all aspects of preparing nominations for this unique award.

Special guest Carole E Dence, who has worked with recent University of Alberta recipients, will provide valuable insights and strategies on the construction of a successful nomination package for this prestigious award, which recognizes and rewards exceptional contributions to teaching and learning at Canadian universities.


If you would like to attend this workshop, please RSVP to me at laura.connell@ualberta.ca by Friday, July 6.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Laura Connell
Academic Awards and Ceremonies
Office of the Registrar
2-2644

BOG appoints Amrhein to third term as provost

More detail on Dr. Amrhein's reappointment is in the June 22 issue of Folio.

I am pleased to announce that the Board of Governors has reappointed Dr. Carl Amrhein as Provost and Vice President (Academic), for a third five-year term, effective July 1, 2013.

Since joining the University of Alberta as provost in 2003, Carl has provided instrumental vision and leadership in setting and achieving the academic goals and mission of the university. He has led the development and execution of Dare to Deliver I and II, and has put in place multiple strategies and initiatives that have measurably strengthened the U of A’s national and international reputation over the last decade, and enhanced students’ curricular and co-curricular experiences. Throughout his tenure, Carl’s energetic, creative approach to various challenges and his ability to solve problems has brought enormous benefits to the institution. We have been very fortunate to have someone of Carl’s calibre in the position of provost, and his reappointment is the result of broad and enthusiastic support across the academy.

As many of you know, Carl will be on administrative leave for one year, beginning July 1, 2012. During his absence, Martin Ferguson-Pell, Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, will assume the duties of Acting Provost and Vice-President (Academic). While on administrative leave, Carl will be travelling and spending time at institutions worldwide to see how others manage their academic operations and effectively meet the changing needs of students, faculty and staff. I expect that he will return to us refreshed, re-energized, and full of ideas about the future of the U of A. I look forward to learning from him upon his return and using that new knowledge to further enhance the operations of the provost’s office, and more broadly, the learning and research environment of the U of A.

Please join me in congratulating Carl on his reappointment and wishing him the best as he begins a well-deserved administrative leave from campus.

Sincerely,
Indira Samarasekera, OC
President

Provost reflects on the HUB Mall incident

It is hard to believe that only a weekend has passed since the peace of our campus community was shattered by an armed robbery and shooting in the early morning hours of Friday, June 15, that left three employees of G4S Security dead and one critically injured.

Friday was a whirlwind – and one that few of us will ever forget – but I’ve had a little time to reflect on the incident. The news that the suspect was arrested certainly is a relief for everyone and allows us to take the first steps in moving forward.

First and foremost go condolences to the loved ones of those who tragically lost their lives: Michelle Shegelski, Brian Ilesic and Eddie Rejano – and fervent wishes and prayers for the recovery of Matthew Schuman. This morning Edmonton Police announced that his condition was improving but still critical.

I would like to acknowledge the bravery and quick action of the first responders to the scene. These folks came upon a chaotic and terrible scene, which was no doubt traumatic. In particular I would like to recognize two SafeWalk volunteers, Ashley Moroz and Sapphira Nuttall, who found one of the gravely wounded victims and stayed with him until police arrived on the scene. Ladies, you are heroes and a credit to our community.

The outpouring of support and the offers of assistance that came from every quarter of our city, and in fact from concerned institutions across Canada and abroad, was amazing and humbling. In the early hours of the event, we received offers of support from Mayor Mandel and Enterprise and Advanced Education Minister Steven Khan. Edmonton Police Chief Rod Knecht opened a direct line of communication with us that was reassuring and most welcome. On behalf of the University of Alberta, I commend the Edmonton Police Service and all the cooperating agencies who have worked so hard on this difficult case.

Thanks go as well to the many university staff and contractors who went above and beyond the call of duty to respond to the needs of our community, many arriving hours before their normal time. It has been very affirming to see the way that our campus community pulled together to meet this challenge.

As Edmonton Police continue their investigation, we as an institution will do a debrief on our emergency response as we do following any type of incident. There have been some concerns expressed that we did not activate the text messaging feature of our alert system. Text messaging is one of several methods of emergency notification; every incident involves an evaluation of the situation with the best information available at the time. Emergency notification and other communication to our community will be part of our incident debrief to assess whether we would do things any differently if a similar situation were to arise.

We must now begin the long journey toward returning to a sense of normalcy. This will not be an easy journey – we will all need to manage it in the way that makes sense to us individually. I encourage any member of the University of Alberta community to seek support or counseling to deal with the impact of Friday’s events.

Students affected by this tragedy are encouraged to seek counseling support from one of our campus support resources:
- Chaplains' Association (http://www.chaplains.ualberta.ca/), including 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily in HUB
- Mental Health Centre (http://www.uwell.ualberta.ca/)
- University Health Centre (http://www.uwell.ualberta.ca/)
- Community Wellness Social Worker (http://www.uwell.ualberta.ca/)
- International Centre (http://www.iss.ualberta.ca/en/ContactUs.aspx)
- Faculty Offices and Advisors

University of Alberta faculty and staff who seek support or counseling can contact HPaWS at 2-7124 or hpaws@ualberta.ca. Faculty and staff also have 24-hour access to counseling services through Homewood Human Solutions at 1-800-663-1142.

Counseling services will continue to be available indefinitely for those affected by this event. Please do not hesitate to use these resources if you are struggling to move forward. It is important that we take care of ourselves and each other.

I am reminded through this experience of the rare characteristics of the University of Alberta community that define it: our deep commitment to each other's safety and successes, our willingness to reach out to each other, our acknowledgement that a tragedy such as this is, thankfully, a rare moment in time in the life of our community. Let's move forward together. It's the only way, I think.

Sincerely,
Carl Amrhein
Acting President; Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

Donations for the robbery/shooting victims' families

The news that Travis Baumgartner was arrested last night in connection with the armed robbery and shootings early Friday morning in HUB Mall brings a sense of relief to all of us in the University of Alberta community. We hope this can begin the healing process for all of us who have been affected by these tragic events.

The show of support and offers of assistance that have poured in from within the university and across Canada has been impressive and much appreciated. Among the calls and emails that we have received are several from those wishing to make donations in honour of the victims.

G4S, the security firm employer of Michelle Shegelski, Brian Ilesic, Eddie Rejano and Matthew Schuman, has established a trust fund to assist their families. Any TD Bank branch in Canada will accept donations to the trust fund. Simply ask the TD Bank branch to mark your donation to “the families of the victims of the University of Alberta Edmonton shooting.”

Students seeking support or counseling can do so in several ways:
Lister Centre 24 hours until 5 a.m. Monday
Chaplain’s office, HUB Mall, daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mental Health Centre/University Health Centre, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Staff seeking support or counseling should contact HPaWS at 2-7124 or hpaws@ualberta.ca.

Thanks to everyone who has shown support for the university in these last few days.

Sincerely,
Carl Amrhein
Acting President; Provost and Vice-President (Academic)

Provost's message on HUB incident

Dear U of A community,

The last 24 hours, since the armed robbery and fatal shooting occurred in HUB mall, have been among the most difficult that our campus has had to face. All of us are shocked by the events and the resulting loss of life on our campus. I know that I speak for the whole university community in extending our condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

We are relieved that no University of Alberta students or staff were injured during the event. Nevertheless, ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in the university community has been our main concern throughout the day. Counselling and support services for students have been made available at Lister Hall, and HPaWS counsellors are available for staff. Students temporarily displaced from HUB Mall have been accommodated at Lister.

I know that there have been some questions and concerns relating to communications in the minutes and hours immediately after the events. I want to assure you that within minutes of the first alarm, before officers from both the Edmonton Police Service and University Protective Services arrived on the scene, Residence Services employees had begun alerting and moving HUB Mall residents to a safe location. Once the Edmonton Police did arrive, they immediately took control of the crime scene, and as part of their protocol, they took over the process of alerting students and conducting a room to room search, in order to ascertain if there was any remaining immediate threat. They advised students to remain in their rooms. After they had ascertained that HUB was no longer in danger, the HUB public address system was activated and used to make public announcements informing students.

As you know, the university has many communications tools to use during an emergency; depending on the factors of each case, the University Protective Services makes a decision. In this case, because among the first notifications we received from Edmonton Police Service included information that the suspect was no longer in the area and that there was no immediate danger to people on campus, we chose not to send a full-scale alert stretching far beyond campus. The university homepage went into Emergency Alert mode and became the primary communication channel. Once we have emerged from this crisis, we will conduct a full review of our crisis and communications protocols as is usually done. Information has been posted there throughout the day as soon as accurate information has been received from Edmonton Police Service. I ask that you look for all further updates for the university community—including when HUB Mall is re-opened—at the UAlberta homepage.

I would like to thank all of the students, staff and faculty who have responded so quickly to the circumstances today, making arrangements for students and staff impacted by the event. In particular, the efforts of the members of the Crisis Management Team, University Protective Services, and our partners in Edmonton Police Service have been instrumental in ensuring the safety of students, staff, faculty and visitors at the U of A.

Sincerely,
Carl Amrhein
Acting President and Provost

Congrats to teaching award recipients

Excellence in teaching and an institutional commitment to improving and enhancing teaching at all levels is a hallmark of the University of Alberta. Here are a few recent examples of our celebrated colleagues:
Teaching award winner shares his rules of engagement (Gordon Bell)
McCalla prof turns work into rich classroom debate  (Frances Pownall)
Engineering professor named Academic Woman of the Year (Suzanne Kresta)
Uncovering passion and breaking down barriers keys to good teaching  (Mark Glover, Melanie Lewis)
Engineering professor’s outstanding teaching is by design (Pierre Mertiny)
Centennial Professorship for literacy researcher (Linda Phillips)

In addition, Engineers Canada announced its awards last week, and recognized our chemical and materials engineering assoc. prof. John Nychka, PhD, PEng, with its Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education, the only such award given nationally. More details will follow.

Here is a more complete list of those recognized recently for excellence in teaching:
Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching: Mark Glover (Med & Dent), Linda Ogilvie (Nursing), Jonathan Veinot (Science)
Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Gordon J. Bell (Phys Ed & Rec), Melanie Lewis (Med & Dent), Todd Lowary (Science), Hassan Safouhi (CSJ)
William Hardy Alexander Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Jonathan Gordon (Arts), Mathieu Martin-LeBlanc (Arts)
Provost's Award for Early Achievement of Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching: Eric M. Adams (Law), Eric Rivard (Science)
Teaching Unit Award: Fac. of Education EDEL 316–Communication Through Mathematics Education. Team members – Allison Finch, Audrey Hodgson-Ward, Beverley Kula, Julie Long, Janelle McFeetors, Lynn McGarvey, Gladys Sterenberg and Carrie Wyatt

Congratulations to all the honorees!

Chancellor: optimism of convocation is contagious

As Chancellor Linda Hughes nears the end of her term in office, she wrote an Open Door column for Folio reflecting on her U of A experience and the magic of convocation: The eternal optimism of convocation can be quite contagious. (Chancellor-elect Ralph Young will be installed during the convocation ceremony at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 13.)

For stories, photos, vignettes and social media posts from this year's convocations, visit our comprehensive convocation site. And here's the Folio Staff Spotlight on Lorie Cinq-Mars from the Office of the Registrar, who doubles as a "robing room attendant" during convocation. She's involved with students on their first and last day at U of A.

Journal profiles Board Chair Goss

In case you missed it, please see the excellent profile of our new Board Chair, Doug Goss, that appeared in Saturday's Edmonton Journal: No challenge too big for new U of A board of governors chairman

Outar appointed VP Advancement

I am delighted to announce that the Board of Governors has approved the appointment of O’Neil A.S. Outar as the University of Alberta’s first Vice-President (Advancement), effective July 1, 2012.

In this newly created role, O’Neil will work closely with me, the Board of Governors, Alumni Council and Senate to strengthen and expand the university’s fundraising and alumni relations programs. This position was created in recognition of the growing importance of engaging alumni in the life of the university and the enhanced role of philanthropy in securing the resources to attract and retain leading students and scholars, as well as supporting innovations in research and education.

O’Neil brings to the university an impressive record of building relationships with donors, a proven ability to lead large-scale fundraising initiatives, and a depth and breadth of knowledge in philanthropic giving. We are fortunate to have an advancement professional of his experience and dedication working with alumni, parents, friends, foundations and industry.

O’Neil joined the University of Alberta two years ago as Chief Development Officer. Since then, the university has established fundraising records in consecutive years, and seen a significant increase in alumni involvement. With the creation of the vice-president position, the chief development officer position will be eliminated.

Prior to joining the University of Alberta, O’Neil served in a variety of senior leadership roles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. As Senior Director of Global Initiatives, he led the development of large-scale initiatives in China and India, and with the World Economic Forum, where he continues to serve as a member of the Knowledge Advisory Board. While in this role, philanthropic support from outside the United States increased by more than six-fold.

As Senior Director of Institutional Initiatives at MIT, O’Neil managed the fundraising of more than $1.25 billion in support of energy and the environment, integrative sciences, and student life and learning. In 2008, he was appointed to Leader to Leader, an MIT-wide best-practice leadership recognition and development program. In 2003, he was recognized with the MIT Capstone Award for Achievement.

O’Neil holds a master of arts in urban and environmental public policy and a bachelor of arts, both from Tufts University in Medford, Mass. He is a frequent speaker at Council for Advancement and Support of Education and other professional conferences as well in nonprofit management education programs.

Please join me in congratulating O’Neil as he assumes his new role as Vice-President (Advancement).

Indira V. Samarasekera, O.C.
President and Vice-Chancellor

AASUA proposal ratified

The proposed AASUA agreement was ratified by members: 59% in favour, 41% opposed. For more, please go to Rhumblines.