Intercom is published regularly and serves to inform Vanier staff and teachers of notices and special events. It is posted on the Vanier College Website and distributed electronically. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Submissions should be in WORD, and sent as an attachment. No formatting or bullets. Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding publication. Online Grade Submission for Fall 2013 Semester - Day Teachers Please note that the deadline is TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013, 12:00 MIDNIGHT. All grades must be submitted online. You will receive a memo summarizing the steps to follow in your OMNIVOX account. If you need assistance using the Omnivox online system, please contact Pierina Primiano at 7109 or Olga Mardas at 7124 during regular office hours. During the holidays (Dec 25-Jan 1 st ), please e-mail [email protected]. It is very important that all grades be submitted by the deadline as the Registrar’s Office cannot determine those students in poor academic standing nor graduate students until all the marks for the semester have been entered. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Thomas Ingerman, Registrar Honours Social Science and Commerce Recruitment Campaign Please encourage your strong first semester students (ID number begins with 13) to apply to the Honours Social Science and Commerce program. They need to have an 80% average and be presently taking 6-7 classes. Applications can be found in A-286. You can also send me the names and ID numbers and I will contact the students directly. The deadline to apply is Tuesday December 10 th , 2013. If the teachers or the students have any questions they can contact Loris Peternelli Honours Coordinator at: [email protected]. Loris Peternelli, Social Science Vanier Welcomes Qufu Normal University from Qufu, Shandong Province, China On December 5, our College welcomed the President of Qufu Normal University, Mr. Jin Zhaoxun; Mr. Zhao Jinglong, Director of the Service Department; and Mrs Liang Meilling, Director of the Office of International Exchanges and Cooperation. Qufu Normal University has been our partner since 2011. Vanier also welcomed Mr. Gary Johnson, the Dean of Science and Social Science at John Abbott College, also our partner in this project. The purpose of this visit to Vanier by the three Chinese delegates was to consider future projects that we could undertake together. The visit began with presentations by Gilbert Héroux, Director General, and Martine Gauthier, Academic Dean, on the Cégep system and measures undertaken to ensure the quality of programs. After a visit to Industrial Electronics (thanks to Louise Robinson) and the Language School (Maria Weekes), I then described the projects we had undertaken together. Vanier and John Abbott had organized a cultural trip for students to China in 2012 (Shirley Zhu, the Mandarin teacher at both colleges was the leader of the trip) and they were invited by Qufu to visit the University. In 2012 and 2013, Sanaa Rizk (Vanier French Department) and Michelle Trepannier (John Abbott English Department) visited the Volume M 11, Issue No. 16, December 9, 2013 Qufu Normal University Delegation Visit
Transcript
Intercom is published regularly and serves to inform Vanier staff and teachers of notices and special events. It is posted on the Vanier College Website and distributed electronically. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Submissions should be in WORD, and sent as an attachment. No formatting or bullets. Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding publication.
Online Grade Submission for Fall 2013 Semester - Day Teachers
Please note that the deadline is TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2013, 12:00 MIDNIGHT. All grades must be submitted online. You will receive a memo summarizing the steps to follow in your OMNIVOX account. If you need assistance using the Omnivox online system, please contact Pierina Primiano at 7109 or Olga Mardas at 7124 during regular office hours. During the holidays (Dec 25-Jan 1
st), please
e-mail [email protected] . It is very important that all grades be submitted by the deadline as the Registrar’s Office cannot determine those students in poor academic standing nor graduate students until all the marks for the semester have been entered. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Thomas Ingerman, Registrar
Honours Social Science and Commerce Recruitment Campaign
Please encourage your strong first semester students (ID number begins with 13) to apply to the Honours Social Science and Commerce program. They need to have an 80% average and be presently taking 6-7 classes. Applications can be found in A-286. You can also send me the names and ID numbers and I will contact the students directly. The deadline to apply is Tuesday December 10
th, 2013. If the
teachers or the students have any questions they can contact Loris Peternelli Honours Coordinator at: [email protected].
Loris Peternelli, Social Science
Vanier Welcomes Qufu Normal University from Qufu, Shandong Province, China
On December 5, our College welcomed the President of Qufu Normal University, Mr. Jin Zhaoxun; Mr. Zhao Jinglong, Director of the Service Department; and Mrs Liang Meilling, Director of the Office of International Exchanges and Cooperation. Qufu Normal University has been our partner since 2011. Vanier also welcomed Mr. Gary Johnson, the Dean of Science and Social Science at John Abbott College, also our partner in this project. The purpose of this visit to Vanier by the three Chinese delegates was to consider future projects that we could undertake together. The visit began with presentations by Gilbert Héroux, Director General, and Martine Gauthier, Academic Dean, on the Cégep system and measures undertaken to ensure the quality of programs. After a visit to Industrial Electronics (thanks to Louise Robinson) and the Language School (Maria Weekes), I then described the projects we had undertaken together. Vanier and John Abbott had organized a cultural trip for students to China in 2012 (Shirley Zhu, the Mandarin teacher at both colleges was the leader of the trip) and they were invited by Qufu to visit the University. In 2012 and 2013, Sanaa Rizk (Vanier French Department) and Michelle Trepannier (John Abbott English Department) visited the
University on pedagogical exchanges related to Modern Languages. A scholarship program was implemented in 2012 and repeated this year whereby students from Vanier study Mandarin at Qufu. Shirley has been indispensable to the success of all these projects. Rhys Adams (Vanier Physics) and Greg Mulcair (John Abbott Physics) next presented on active learning, specifically on peer-based instruction and problem-based learning. In fact, Rhys and Greg, on faculty mobility grants, will be visiting Chinese institutions in January 2014 to engage in discussions with faculty there, including at Qufu Normal University. Jen Mitchell, IT Pedagogical Advisor from the PDO, gave the final presentation on Global Classroom initiatives. She showed how teachers have brought experts from around the world into their classrooms and how students have linked up with other students, particularly in Quebec but also with students from abroad, for example, from St. Petersburg University. Vanier extended an invitation to Qufu to connect with Vanier using various technologies. The visit ended with a lunch where teachers from math and science joined the delegation; our intention is to involve more students and teachers with Qufu Normal University through different training and student mobility projects and the sciences are of particular interest to this University. Thanks to all who participated in this College event and special thanks to Sonia Husseindjian and Jennifer Joseph for ensuring that all went smoothly. Our delegation was most appreciative. See the video report on the visit: http://youtu.be/zqXSIG-yrvQ
Judy Macdonald, Learning Enrichment and Support Services for Programs
Check out the Library Hours over the Holidays
Hours DECEMBER 1 to 20, 2013
Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday: 7:45 am – 8:00 pm Tuesday: 7:45 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday: 7:45 am – 8:00 pm Thursday: 7:45 am – 8:00 pm
Friday: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm Saturdays: Closed
Sunday, December 22
nd CLOSED
OPEN December 23rd & 24th
7:45 – 5:00
CLOSED December 25 to January 1, 2014
We will reopen on Thursday, January 2nd
at 7:45 am.
Suzanne Bissonnette, Library Services
2014 Vanier College BDC Case Challenge to set for February 7-9, 2014
With Yukon College joining the line-up of contenders, the Vanier College BDC Case Challenge will welcome 33 teams from schools across Canada to match wits and marketing skills February 7-9, 2014 in the hope of moving on to the finals and earning a top place trophy. Supported by the BDC, the Business Development Bank of Canada, this event has become the most prestigious, national, collegiate level marketing case competition in the country with teams this year hailing from the Yukon to British Columbia and all the way to Newfoundland. Check the Vanier Newsroom this week for more details.
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications
Vanier Honours Science Graduates interviewed on Global Television re DNA research project
Thursday morning, December 5, 2013, two graduates of Vanier Honours Science were interviewed by Richard Dagenais on the Global Television’s The Morning Show. If you missed it follow this link to catch a glimpse of two students who did Vanier very proud: http://globalnews.ca/video/1011353/vanier-science-excellence
Stephanie Wiseman who is currently at Concordia University, doing a Major in Exercise Science and a Minor in the Science College multidisciplinary program, and Vittoria Lipari, now at McGill University in Animal Health and Disease, spoke about their participation in the DNA project run by Edward Awad. See the news release: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/newsroom/2013/11/vanier-honours-science-students-publish-their-research-in-an-nih-database-science-is-real-at-vanier/
Congratulations to both these students and all their classmates who successfully cloned and sequenced the DNA for one of the genes that breaks down glucose.
The SSHRC will be holding three webinars on the upcoming Insight Development Grants 2014 competition and the changes to the application portal, including the SSHRC Canadian Common CV. This is for applicants and research administrators. You do not need to register in advance. The webinars will be held on Thursday, December 5
th and Friday,
December 6th
at the following times: In English: Thursday, Dec 5th, 13:30-15:30 EST and Friday, Dec 6th, 13:30-15:30 EST In French: Thursday, Dec 5th, 10:00-12:00 EST.
The webinars will be held via Adobe Connect (for the visual presentation and written questions only) and teleconference (for the sound). To join via Adobe Connect: http://nsercofcanada.adobeconnect.com/idg2014/ Please login as a guest. To join the teleconference: Toll free Dial-in: 1 877-413-4788 Enter the Conference ID: 5248493 Le CRSH tiendra trois webinaires concernant le prochain concours des subventions de développement Savoir et les changements au système de soumission des demandes, incluant le cv commun canadien du CRSH. Ces webinaires s’adressent aux candidats et aux administrateurs de la recherche. Vous n’avez pas besoin de vous inscrire à l’avance. Les webinaires se tiendront jeudi le 5 décembre et vendredi le 6 décembre aux heures suivantes : En anglais: jeudi, 5 déc., 13:30-15:30 HE et vendredi, 6 déc., 13:30-15:30 HE En français: jeudi, 5 déc., 10:00-12:00 HE. Les webinaires se dérouleront via Adobe Connect (pour la présentation visuelle et les questions écrites seulement) et par téléconférence (pour le son). Pour vous joindre via Adobe Connect:
http://nsercofcanada.adobeconnect.com/idg2014/ Veuillez vous inscrire en tant qu’invité ( ‘guest’). Pour vous joindre à la téléconférence:
Sans frais: 1 877-413-4788 Numéro de conférence: 5248493
Nora Boyadjian, Institutional Development & Research Office
Teaching Tip: Discouraging Plagiarism Through Structured Assignments
It’s that wonderful time of year, with snow falling outside your window, the holiday season fast approaching, the end of the semester around the corner, and student assignments that are suspiciously too good appearing on your desk. At the end of the semester we are always surprised by the number of students who try to get away with some kind of cheating. Now is a good time to look back on the semester and reflect on what we could have done to discourage students from taking that route, and to consider how to build these strategies into course assignments in the semester ahead. One way to discourage plagiarism on a term assignment is to include smaller structured assignments throughout the semester. These would involve completing steps to build up to the final assignment. When students are required to hand in materials as they go, it’s harder for them to just grab a paper off the internet and hand it in to you. This structured approach can also help those students who may struggle with putting together a larger assignment and discourage them from trying to tackle it the night before it’s due. Examples of structured assignments Essays
o Annotated bibliography o Outline o Thesis statement or topic proposal o Other elements of the research cycle o Final paper
Peer-review assignments o Initial draft o Peer-review o Edited draft o Reflection assignment
Field Work or Volunteer Work Reports o Description of Initial contact, physical location, clientele,
supervisors. o Journaling o Follow-up reports o Final report
Other resources on cheating and plagiarism Teaching Tip: Your Cheatin’ Heart Brown Bag Lunch Notes: Academic Integrity See this and other Teaching Tips on the PDO web page
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles/ Freedigitalphotos.net
CCDMD The CCDMD Call for Projects 2013 is now available. If you have a project to develop a resource for teaching, check out the project proposal information at the CCDMD website. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 7, 2014. AQPC The call for proposals has gone out for the AQPC's 34th symposium to be held in Laval on June 3-5, 2014. This year’s topic is DARE Innovation at the Collegial Level. You can find information on submitting a proposal at the AQPC website. The submission deadline is Friday, January 17, 2014. STLHE The call for proposals has gone out for the STLHE 2013 conference, to be held in Kingston, Ontario, June 17-20, 2014. This year’s conference theme is Transforming our Learning Experiences. For more information on submitting a proposal check out the STLHE proposals website. The submission deadline is Monday, January 13, 2014. If you have any questions about submitting a proposal please contact the PDO at [email protected] or come see us in F-217.
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
The PDO presents: Two Magna Online Workshops
The Academic Dean's Office and the PDO would like to invite you to the following online workshops presented by Magna Publications: Why Students Cheat and What We Can Do About It Thursday, Dec 12, 2013 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. D-244 For more information on the content of this workshop please see the Magna webpage. Helping Introverts Thrive in an Active Learning Classroom Tuesday, January 21, 2014 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. F-217 (PDO) For more information on the content of this workshop please see the Magna webpage. Please register by contacting us at [email protected]
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
Vanier Community Connection (VCC) Day 2014
On Thursday, January 16
th, 2014, come join us for VCC Day 2014!
It will be your first opportunity to meet our new Director General, Normand Bernier, and will feature a keynote speech on this
year’s theme, Essential Skills for Student Success, by acclaimed speaker Sylvain Boudreau. The Vanier Team Challenge, as well as various workshops, lunch, and happy hour afterwards will all play a part in what should be a magnificent, enlightening, and fun-filled day!
For more information and the schedule for the day please check out our VCC Day 2014 webpage.
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office
VCC Day Poster Session: Call for Proposals
At this year’s VCC Day, Thursday January 16th
, we will be holding a Poster Session to promote the different projects and services offered throughout the college. If you are involved in a research or pedagogical project, or offer services to the college community, and would like to share what you are doing in our Poster Session, please let us know. We are looking for projects that:
Help develop partnerships within the college, the Montreal community, or even internationally
Help students gain an original authentic learning experience
Develop new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning
Engage in innovative pedagogical research
Provide services to the college community Please send a short description of your project or service to us by Friday, December 13th to [email protected].
Jen Mitchell, Pedagogical Development Office for the VCC Day Team
End of semester news from Safety & Security Services
Published protocols, procedures or guidelines Within the last few months, Safety & Security has received approval and published a number of regulations that are important to everyday life in the college. Here are the documents that were published: Sale or Service of food protocol: The protocol was put in place to insure that event organisers are aware of the risks of holding an event with food and to have the proper protocol to reduce the risks associated with it. The protocol also addresses the legal consideration when food is exchanged for money where a permit from the MAPAQ is required. Building Corridor protocol: The protocol explains, in a short and simple document, the requirements of the different codes that are applicable at the college for the conditions that must be maintained concerning means of egress and fire exits. Hot Work Protocol (In effect, January 2014): A hot work protocol is a standard set of rules that are put in place in institutions to minimize the risks to people and property during hot work
operations. A strict protocol is required to ensure the safety and continuous operations of the college and the community members. Protocols and guidelines to be published in winter 2014: In the continuous process of establishing clear procedures and make them available to the Vanier community in order to facilitate the organisation and the understanding of the processes, some documents will be published within the next semester. Animals on campus: The protocol is intended to allow animals on a campus in a way that respects the safety of the campus population. Events with alcohol: The protocol is intended to explain the steps that need to be taken to receive approval for an event with alcohol, and define in which situation a permit from the Régie des Alcools, des courses et des Jeux du Québec is required. Safety & Security community communication guidelines: these guidelines will be put in place to inform the community about the type of communications that will be used by Safety & Security Services to communicate with the whole community to request or provide information following a crime or an emergency. Completed projects: In accordance with the action plan that was put in place in collaboration with the CSST, the first phase of the project has been completed. That phase covered machine safety and resulted in the installation of guards, upgrades or replacement of over 140 machines across the college. Vanier College has been described by the assigned inspector as the 2
nd college to have their machine
safety inspection file closed at the CSST on the island on Montreal. Thanks to all the members of the community who participated in the project to make it a success. Upcoming projects: The next phase of the action plan with CSST is electrical safety and electrical lockout. An assessment of the current college situation in this regards will be completed as well as a formalised planned put in place for the work that has to be done. A training plan will be made and documentation for electrical safety be made available to the community. As usual, ongoing inspections of the facilities will continue to detect any outstanding issue. We encourage any member of the community to report what they see as a defect or an issue that may affect the health or safety of the members of the community. Safety & Security services will also be looking at running a pilot project with photo luminescent emergency exit signs using the “Running man” ISO pictograms. If this pilot project is a success, a wider installation program will be implemented to replace the signs throughout the college. This project will not only help the college be greener, it will also considerably reduce electricity and
maintenance cost of the units and improve safety by not relying on an external power source to function. Phasing out of PIN Codes In the next few months, pin codes that were used on the door locks will be phased out of service in order to have everyone using their ID cards for their access needs. Information regarding the responsibilities and use of the ID card will be published periodically to remind everyone of the importance of the ID cards and the control of access. Maintaining the facilities in a state where the community can safely enjoy learning and having access based on needs of the different community members such a students and teachers is a priority. The current established timeline is that by spring break, all PIN codes will be discontinued.
Loïc Boyer, Safety and Security Services
Vanier Cafeteria
Please take note that we are now testing alternative menu items for the winter session. We would appreciate your comments and suggestions, by filling out the commentary card at the cash register. Thank you for your collaboration. Please see the attachment at the end of Intercom for the cafeteria hours from December 9, 2013 to January 24, 2014. The kitchen staff would like to extend to you and your family our warmest Holiday wishes. If you have questions, comments or suggestions please contact Chantal Riffon, Vanier Cafeteria, extension 7938.
Chantal Riffon, Vanier Cafeteria
Book offerings from the Library
Every year we receive updated editions of some reference books and we are offering the older editions, on a first come first serve basis, to anyone interested in taking them. The titles are:
1. Martin’s Annual Criminal Code 2013 2. Associations Canada 2012 3. Libraries Canada 2012-2013 4. Financial Services Canada 2-12-2013 5. Governments Canada 2012 Winter/Spring 6. Governments Canada 2012 Summer/Fall 7. Directory of Canadian Universities 2012 8. Canadian Environmental Resource Guide 2012-2013 9. Canadian Almanac and Directory 2013 10. Canadian Parliamentary Guide 2012
Please contact Nina Arabian, ext. 7544.
Nina Arabian, Library Services
Back by Popular Demand: Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Tea Sales
Nursing students participating in this year's Malawi Nursing Exchange are selling coffee, hot-chocolate and new this year, tea, to raise funds for their learning experience abroad.
In March 2014, eight students will complete over 160 hours of bedside nursing in rural and urban settings in Malawi, Africa.
Students will complete their DEC requirements, transport $50,000 in medical aid, and learn first-hand how poverty and cultural values and beliefs impact on the health of a country. This transformational learning experience costs each student $5,000.
Each year fundraising activities help to diminish this cost so that the experience is more accessible to all graduating nursing students. I thank you in advance for your continued support of our efforts.
Melodie Hicks, Nursing Department
Academic Council: Minutes from the November 8, 2013 meeting
Please note that the approved minutes of the November 8, 2013 Academic Council meeting have been posted online under:
Summary of Joint Coordinators Meeting, October 30, 2013
This is the report made to Academic Council on November 8, 2013 regarding the Joint Coordinators meeting held on October 30, 2013.
1. Roxanne Coulombe and Johanna Cosentino made a presentation on the restricting of the Human Resources
Department. The presentation explained that the goal of the restructuring is to optimize workflow and clarify processes.
2. Monique Magnan made a presentation on access services for students with special needs and highlighted the increase in the number of students requiring these services. There was also information shared on exam accommodations and that it was pointed out that it is the student’s responsibility to provide forms for teachers to complete.
3. Sylvie Tardiff provided an update from Vanier College Advisory Environment Committee and their concern in not having received funds that had been allocated by the College to be used for sustainability initiatives.
4. There was a discussion and a proposed motion on the need to upgrade the College Wi-Fi.
5. The Academic Dean presented a report providing updates on the CEEC recommendations, KPI reports and course pass rate data.
6. Shirley Pettifer reported on her work in the PDO office with new teachers and new coordinators.
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications
Next Intercom
Another semester is coming to a close and this is the last Intercom before the Holidays. The first issue in the New Year will come out on Monday, January 20
th, 2014.
Please send me the items you want published as a WORD attachment – no formatting, by Wednesday, January 15
th, at 4:30
p.m. Email your item to [email protected] Happy Holidays to all of you, and all the best for 2014.
