NSAC E-Bulletin

Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to Stephanie Rogers (news@nsac.ca) by Friday at 3:00 p.m. for inclusion in the next week's edition.

Feb 2, 2004 --- Week 164

Celebrating the Success of the Community Based Conservation Management Project

The CIDA-funded Tier 1 project, Community Based Conservation Management (CBCM), came to a close on October 31st, 2003. This highly successful five year collaboration between universities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, China and Vietnam focused on building resources in the Asian institutions to involve communities in environmental awareness and conservation. The project involved NSAC faculty and staff from all departments, and included Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada participants. NSAC hosted eleven visiting scholars from the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), Xiamen University and Vietnam National University for periods ranging from three to twelve months. Six NSAC faculty and staff traveled to China and Vietnam on many occasions to work on the development of pilot projects, to deliver workshops, and to collaboratively develop curriculum. Three NSAC students spent time in China and Vietnam on project activities.

Dr. Dian Patterson, NSAC Project Director for the CBCM project, will present a plaque to Dr. Hicks, President, on behalf of St. Mary’s University, the lead institution, to commemorate our excellent working relationship through the CBCM project. A copy of the two volume Compendium of Resource Materials will be presented to the MacRae Library.

NSAC and FAFU continue to collaborate on joint initiatives, including the FAFU 2+2 programme which will bring Chinese students to NSAC to complete their undergraduate degree. Please join us for the presentation of the plaque and some refreshments on:

Date: Wednesday, February, 4th, 2004
Place: Foyer of Haley Institute
Time: 10.30 am

This event aptly coincides with International Development Week (Feb 1st - 7th) which celebrates Canadians’ contributions to the world.

President's List Invite

This year's President's List Reception will be held next Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. in the Riverview Room, Jenkins Hall. The guest speaker is the Honourable Jamie Muir, Minister of Education. Sixty-six students have been named to the list this year. Please come out and show your support. RSVP to Theresa Blois at 893-6720 or tblois@nsac.ns.ca

News from the Road

This weekend we will be hosting 70 Intermediate level 4-H students on campus. This group of 13-15 year olds will be taking part in activities in the RAC and in Haley Institute. We are looking for NSAC students with a 4-H background to take part in a question and answer panel for these visiting students. If you are interested in helping out between 8:30 and 10:30 Sunday morning please let us know at recruit@nsac.ns.ca

This week Brian will be visiting high schools throughout Connecticut, and Craig will be meeting students in Saint John and Sussex. Last week invitations to University Day were sent out to over 1000 students, and we are looking forward to seeing lots of these students on campus at the end of February. Thanks to Andy Kenny, Emily DeLong, Sandra Murphy and Roseanne Chapman for their help in sending out all these invitations.

Good Discussion at Alumni Sponsored Name Change Forum

The Alumni Association held a forum on the name change for NSAC Saturday Jan 31st in Jenkins Hall. Some 35 alumni ranging from Class of 1944 to 2003 were in attendance to hear panelists Dr. Phillip Hicks, President, NSAC, Dr. Les Haley, former Principal, NSAC, (Class of '58), Ms. Melanie Laird, NB Government, (class of '94) and Mr. Danny Phinney, dairy farmer, Annapolis Valley (Class of '86) express their views on the name change. The panel was moderated by Dr. Garth Coffin, Class of '60. Those assembled then had an opportunity to discuss the issue.

In summary, the feeling toward a new name for NSAC was generally receptive. While there were some who were ready to lead the charge, many were more in the category of "accepting the arguments of the need for change". Several of the alumni spoke about the barriers that they had personally experienced in the work place as a result of the word "College" and recognition was given to the modern limiting perception that the word "Agriculture" does present for recruiting potential students. There was question and discussion on the process for changing the name and the need for continuing to evolve the governance of NSAC. There were also good suggestions for possible names, the best advice being to choose wisely, pick a name that is noble and generic and will stand the test of time. There was also the request for continued dialogue as the process moves forward with suggestions and comments being forwarded to Alumni Association President Jeff Morton at Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, (or by e-mail to jmorton@nsac.ns.ca). The Alumni Website is also a place for information on the process.

Varsity Sports Results