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.

NOVANET signs contract for new Library System
The Board of Directors of the Novanet Consortium - on which Dr. Philip Hicks represents NSAC and the Novanet Policy Board - on which the Chief Librarian represents NSAC, have approved a contract for the purchase of EX LIBRIS, a powerful new integrated Library System. Work on implementing the large system has begun, with participation of every library staff member. The main task involves migrating the 2.5 million records in the database, along with supporting files and services and policies unique to each of the ten participating universities. You can expect to see EX LIBRIS Catalogue (including Novanet Express) and Circulation services in September 2005, with other functions and modules available over the following months. It is a very big project but library users will see many improvements and a more modern interface to the catalogue and to both NSAC and Novanet library holdings.

NSAC Adjunct Professor Seminar Series
Our third presentation in this series is by: Dr. Gilles Boiteau, Entomologist Potato Research Centre

Title: Influence of the Landscape on Colonization of Potato Fields by Adult Colorado Potato Beetles

Tuesday March 1st, 2005 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Alumni Hall in Cumming Hall
Please feel free to bring a bag lunch; coffee, juice and cookies will be provided

Presented in cooperation with NSERC, the Research and Graduate Studies Office and the NSAC Seminar Committee

UNIVERSITY DAY - Rescheduled
As you know, University Day was postponed on Friday, February 25th due to predicted storm conditions. University Day will now be held FRIDAY MARCH 11TH. We hope that everyone who had planned to participate will still be able to attend on March 11th. Plans for the day will remain the same, with information sessions, lunch, program tours and an information EXPO. If you have already sent an RSVP for lunch, please re-confirm your attendance for March 11th.

If you are a student, staff or faculty member who is now able to be involved in University Day March 11th, please contact Student Recruitment at jtingley@nsac.ns.ca

In order to allow all faculty and staff to participate in the University Day program, classes will be cancelled after 1:00 pm on 11 March. We anticipate almost 400 visitors on University Day and it is important for faculty and staff to be available to participate as planned. If you have any questions regarding this cancellation, please contact Dr. Bruce Gray, VP Academic at bgray@nsac.ns.ca

Watch for updates about University Day over the next two weeks.

Frosty Frolics Fundraiser
Kegger's Alehouse is hosting a wing night on Thursday, March 3 from 4 - 7 p.m. All proceeds from the sale of wings in this timeframe will be donated to Frosty Frolics, a new Hospital Foundation event that will be held on Saturday, March 5th.

NSAC staff are cordially invited to join us for some social time armed with the knowledge that you are supporting a great cause!

Hope to see you at Kegger's!

Barbara Goit, CFRE, Executive Director
Colchester Regional Hospital Foundation
Web site: www.cehha.nshealth.ca

New Veterinary Technology Program under Development
As you know, NSAC constantly strives to be competitive among post-secondary institutions and provide the highest standards of quality to our learners. As such, a new two-year Veterinary Technology (VT) Program is being developed to replace our current three-year AHT program. The Veterinary Technology Program will admit its first class in September 2006. Therefore, during this time of transition, the AHT Program will not be accepting a first-year class in 2005.

The new two-year Veterinary Technology program will be composed largely of career-directed courses. As is the case with our existing AHT program, it is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge they require to function as technical assistants to practising veterinarians, researchers and other persons who deal with animals. The Veterinary Technology Program will still conform to the accreditation standards of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, thus ensuring graduates’ eligibility to write the credentialing examinations of the Eastern Veterinary Technician Association and other provincial registration bodies.

We are encouraging students, who have applied for the September 2005 intake, to consider redirecting their application to one of our other programs, where they would have an opportunity to acquire a breadth of knowledge, skills and experience to help prepare them for the VT Program and enhance their application for the September 2006 offering. They will also receive personal follow-up from our Recruitment staff and Dr. Bruce Ramsay.

Guidance counsellors will also be made aware of this change over the next several weeks. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me directly at (902) 893-6720

Sincerely,
T. Philip Hicks
President