NSAC E-Bulletin

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September 9, 2002 - Week 101

PRINCIPAL’S JOTTINGS #59

Smooth Start

From where I stand, it looked like we got the new academic year off to a smooth start last week.  Among the other meetings scheduled last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with the new students and their parents on Tuesday morning, the new students again on Wednesday morning and the new graduate students on Friday morning.  On all counts, I felt reason to be encouraged.  There are more new students and there seems to be a new excitement in the air.  I spoke with one of our veteran lecturers on Friday evening who couldn’t believe how excited he felt about getting back into the classroom.  I hope there are lots of others feeling the excitement as well.

But my real purpose in raising this subject is to salute all those who contributed to the smooth start.  Sure there were glitches, such as the water problem which could not be helped and likely others not apparent to me but, in general, it felt like things rolled out very well.  So a big “Bravo” to Student Services, the Registrar’s Office, Research and Graduate Studies, Security, Physical Plant, Financial Services and anyone else, including the Student Union and the Frosh Committee for a job well-done, in fact, very well done!

Meeting With Dalhousie Officials

Members of the NSAC Executive Committee were pleased to host a visit last Wednesday of three senior officials from Dalhousie in the persons of Tom Traves, President, Sam Scully, Vice-President Academic and Provost and Bryan Mason, Vice-President Finance.  The meeting came about as a result of an earlier conversation I had with Dr. Traves about how we might capitalize to a greater extent from our relationship with Dalhousie in terms of recruitment, academic profile, etc., a recommendation which emerged from our market study.

There are many things that could be done under the umbrella of the existing association agreement with Dalhousie, including more joint academic programming.  Of course, there is also the long-term question of the form of governance that NSAC will pursue, as outlined in the strategic plan.  One of the options that we are committed to explore is that of becoming part of Dalhousie.  The meeting last week was of a general nature and did not get into specifics, but we do intend to continue our discussions with a view to developing alternative models for the longer term.

Kyoto, Johannesburg and the Global Challenge

In the noisy confines of federal-provincial politics in Canada, such as the debate over ratification of the Kyoto Agreement, it is easy to lose sight of the big picture of the global challenges facing mankind.  Many of these were profiled and tackled at the recent Johannesburg summit and by world leaders in other venues.

To put things in perspective, for example, it is not only the political conflicts that are creating hardships. To illustrate that point, British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, speaking in Mozambique recently, noted that in 1999, over half of all refugees “were fleeing, not from war or oppression, but from natural disasters and environmental degradation.”  He also predicted “over half the world’s population will suffer water shortages in the next five years.”

These are problems requiring scientific, as well as political, solutions.  These are problems that challenge scientists and institutions all over the world to seek solutions, a challenge to which our scientists and this institution are responding, in our own way.  We only need to stay focused on the ultimate goal of improving the well being of mankind around the world in order to make a difference even in our own backyard.

Grad Survey Results

Last week I offered a few observations from our 2002 grad exit survey, along with a promise to highlight a few more.  This week, as we turn our attention to ensuring that our students are served well, I want to summarize how last year’s graduates rated the services provided by various units on campus.

Since services and circumstances vary greatly, it is not appropriate to make comparisons but, among those services which received a satisfaction rating of 80 percent or better, as determined by the proportion of responses in the “good” or “very good” category, we find the following:

That’s a commendable standard of performance and those responsible deserve to be applauded.  Of course, even here there is room for improvement, and those services that did not make this cut are challenged to work even harder to raise that satisfaction level.  It may not take much more than a friendly and helpful approach to problem solving.  A well-timed smile and word of encouragement may go a long way.

Incidentally, the service that scored lowest on the satisfaction scale was “parking,” with only 23 per cent reporting “good” or “very good.”  As we try to attract more students, some of whom will be commuting, it is something for our Campus planners to keep in mind as a challenge to be confronted.

For those who wish to consult the survey report directly, it is now available on the Notice board.

Meetings This Week

In the continuous stream of meetings on my agenda, here are a few that I will be participating in this week:

Performance Genomics Inc. Board Meeting (Conf. Call)
Executive Management of NSDAF (Halifax)
Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (Halifax)
Faculty Council (NSAC)
Executive Committee (NSAC)
Joanne Fewer, Executive Director of CORDA (at NSAC)

Thought for the Week: “For every negative thing you demonstrate to people, it takes 50 positive things to overcome it.”  - Bill Zollars, CEO of Yellow Freight Systems.

H.G.C.

AASTW --- Mark your calendar for November 14 &15

Plans are progressing for the third Atlantic Agricultural Science and Technology Workshop, which will be held on the NSAC campus this Fall. Sessions are focused around the new Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and will feature speakers from within and outside the region.  For the latest information, and to register, check our website at; http://www.nsac.ns.ca/conferences/aastw2002/

Specifics on speakers and papers will be posted very soon. Don't miss this important opportunity to network and discuss regional implications for Agriculture and the Agri-Food Sector under the APF.

Interested in spending a semester in the UK, Finland or Denmark?
The Nova Scotia Agricultural College is the lead institution on a Canada-EU Mobility Project. The project funding subsidizes students from NSAC to embark on a study semester in either the United Kingdom, Denmark or Finland. Two NSAC students studied overseas in January 2002 for a semester and three NSAC students just departed this August.

If you are interested in spending a semester in the UK, Finland or Denmark, please plan to attend an information session on Monday Sept 9th at 6:00 pm in Cox room 257 OR on Thursday, Sept. 12th at 6:00 pm in Cox room 257. Application processes, eligibility information, financial issues, host country information, host institution information, cultural orientation etc will be discussed at the information sessions.

Applications are available at NSAC International -179 College Road on Sept. 9^th and are due September 19th at 4:00 pm at NSAC International.

United Way Campaign

Stephanie Rogers and Jo-Anne Jordan are leading the NSAC United Way Campaign throughout the month of September with a goal to raise $6000.00 in support of the United Way and its program to build a better community.  We will keep you posted of upcoming incentives, kick-off events and others.  In the meantime, the three remaining Fridays in September will be $2.00 casual days in support of United Way.  Please talk to the canvasser in your area if you have any questions, or contact Jo-Anne Jordan or myself at 6721 or 7247.

Jo-Anne Jordan - Administration/campus
Stephanie Rogers  - Administration/campus
Sandra Fisk  - Environmental Sciences
Brenda Ryan  - Engineering
Anne Swan - Environmental Sciences
Pat Jeffcock  - ACS
Brenda Fisher  - Animal Science section
Dawn MacKay  - Physical Plant
Kent Loughead  - Athletics
Sherree Miller  - MacRae Library
Lynn Sibley  - Registry
Roseanne Chapman - Career Services
Marianne Clark  - Plant Science section
Carolyn Crewe  - Business & Social Sciences

Agricultural Services Newsletter

The next issue of the Agriculture Services Newsletter will be published in mid -October. We are asking once more for your input. The newsletter provides our clients with information on Department programs, services, policies, staff changes, etc; as well as current regional and provincial events of interest to the agriculture community. Any short articles of interest to the agricultural community are greatly welcomed.

The next edition of the Agriculture Services Newsletter will be distributed during the week of October 14, 2002.

The deadline for submissions for the next Newsletter  is Friday, October 4, 2002.  Please send articles in electronic format to Carolyn Rushton at  rushtocm@gov.ns.ca

Suggestions:  Articles should be short, i.e. one half page/ 12 point type. Summarize long items. Keep the format simple. Fancy fonts are not necessary. (Articles will be reformatted.)

The Agricultural Services Newsletter is published five times per year in February , April, August, October and December.