NSAC E-Bulletin

Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to the newsdesk at (news@nsac.ca) for inclusion in the next edition, which run on Monday and Thursday of each week. Remember you can post notices anytime on the NSAC Forums at http://nsac.ca/forums.

Graphic Standards Manual Highlights:
Colour, Co-titling, Merchandising, Signage and Stationery

As mentioned in last week’s E-Bulletin, NSAC now has a Graphic Standards Manual that will help make the preparation of promotional pieces and documents much easier. The Graphic Standards Manual is one of the tools on NSAC’s new internal Marketing and Communications website. Please download the manual at nsac.ca/development/
marketing/graphicstandards/manual.asp

The manual has a lot of useful information, some of which is highlighted here:

Colour: Colour is one of the most important ways universities identify themselves. The official colours of NSAC are blue and gold. The Graphic Standards Manual provides you with the proper Pantone colours to be used in promotional pieces and documents. It will also explain how to appropriately use colour with the different versions of NSAC logos.

Co-titling: NSAC has guidelines to show units how to combine their unit name with NSAC’s logo. These guidelines communicate the unit’s relationship to the university, while protecting the university logo. The Graphic Standards Manual will show you the different options for co-titling and includes information on the co-titling process.

Merchandising: To help strengthen NSAC’s brand identity and recognition, it is essential that the graphic elements on merchandise appear consistently. The Graphic Standards Manual shows you acceptable ways to put NSAC’s name, logo and tagline on promotional items and also gives you a list of promotional items the Development and External Relations office currently offers. The office maintains an inventory of merchandise items that are available for purchase by departments. There are usually a range of items covering a number of price points. You will be able to view some of the items on the new website.

Signage: Signage is any kind of graphics created to display information to a particular audience. Street signs, for example, are a type of signage. Signage is an important piece of NSAC’s on-campus branding efforts. The Graphic Standards Manual includes information on signage guidelines for campus and the resources available when designing and creating signs.

Stationery: Stationery is a key component in communicating a consistent visual image. The Graphic Standards Manual explains how stationery, including letterhead, envelopes and business cards, can be obtained and the templates available.

For the next few E-Bulletin editions, you will find an article introducing different tools you can find on the new marketing communications website. The next article will discuss typography, logos and taglines. If you have any questions about any of the new tools, please contact Sarah Morris at 893-6527 or Stephanie Rogers at 893-7247.

NSAC Alumnus to deliver Al Gore’s Global Warming Message

Carl Duivenvoorden, an alumnus of NSAC and native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, will be one of only two Atlantic Canadians tasked with spreading Al Gore’s message on climate change. Carl will make his presentation at the NSAC on Friday, October 19th at 10:00 a.m. in the Alumni Theatre. Please click here for more information.

2007 How's Work Going? Employee Survey Results

The results of the 2007 How’s Work Going? employee survey was released on October 4. I encourage you to visit the survey website to read more about corporate results and our department’s results, www.gov.ns.ca/psc/survey. The department results are also available on our new intranet site.

After four years, it’s clear that government has made progress. Still, we know there is much more to do and I believe we can work together to make many of the changes you want to see.

This year’s response rate from across government was 37%. While this is a representative sample, incorporating responses from 3,300 employees, I believe that we should strive for higher participation in the future.

I want to thank those of you who participated. I also encourage everyone to take part in the next employee survey, planned for early 2009, to share your opinions and ideas about making the workplace better for you and your colleagues.

The results from our department were overall fairly positive although there are a few areas highlighted as requiring attention. I will be asking the Work Well Team to review our department results.

Highlights of 2007 Corporate Survey Results Employees are committed, proud to be public servants, and generally satisfied with their job, department and organization. They feel safe in the workplace, people they work with make an effort to help each other
out, and they have positive working relationships with their co-workers and with those they report to.

Whereas in 2004 when employees did not identify any clear strengths in the workplace (over 80% favourable scores), today, employees identify 17 such areas. In fact, all questions received improved ratings from employees, with the exception of just one.

Our progress may stem from a great deal of work since 2004: some department survey action teams were established, advances made in diversity management, healthy workplace initiatives, and recognition programs; management development programs created; Disclosure of Wrongdoing regulations and policy introduced; and increased efforts to better communicate with employees.

This year there were 17 clear strengths, 44 moderate areas of strength, 23 improvement areas, and 4 areas recommended for immediate attention.

The corporate report recommends that among our highest priorities for improvement should be:
Compensation & recognition
Quality of leadership & supervision
Fair human resource practices
Ethics
Quality of work life

The Deputy Ministers Forum, and the leadership team of this department, are committed to working together and with employees to build on our strengths and to improve other areas important to employees. It’s appropriate to keep in mind that for some issues, change will take time, and in some cases, your ongoing participation.

Again, I encourage you to take a read through the department results.

Yours sincerely,
Paul LaFleche
Deputy Minister of Agriculture
Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

InnoVet Veterinary Business Conference and Partnering Event

For more information, please visit http://www.innovet.ca/index2.php. Or to register, please visit http://www.innovet.ca/registration.php.

For a conference schedule, please click here.

Bringing Research to Life

NSAC Engineering Open House

The Department of Engineering at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) will be hosting a public open house on Thursday, October 18th as part of NSAC’s Homecoming weekend.

The open house will take place from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Banting building on the NSAC campus.

Faculty and Staff will be on hand to meet with the public to discuss program options, available courses and current research projects.

As well, local Engineers representing the Association of Professional Engineers in Nova Scotia (APENS) will be available to discuss career options in Engineering.

Book Sale

We're looking to collect as many books, cookbooks, children's books, videos and cd's as possible. This is a great way to pass on your old books and pick up a new read for yourself, family members and friends.

If you would like to donate in support of a good cause, please drop them off at Harlow Institute, Main Floor, Room 108 before Friday, October 26th.

The book sale will take place in Harlow Institute from October 30-November 1.

Thank you for your support.

Samba Workshop

US Researcher Visits Campus

Dr. Arnold Schumann, Associate Professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Engineering will be visiting NSAC from October 9th through 12th.

An expert in precision agriculture, Dr. Schumann will be lecturing to undergraduate students and giving the “Friday at 3" seminar. Dr. Schumann will also be available for individual consultations in precision agriculture.

Dr. Schumann is a collaborative member of Dr. Qamar-uz-Zaman research in precision agriculture methods for improving blueberry production here at NSAC. During his time here, Dr. Schumann will also be meeting with wild blueberry producers, Oxford Frozen Foods Limited, and Doug Bragg Enterprises.

International Food Business Program Development Continues

The program team from CAH Dronten, a professional university in the Netherlands, visited NSAC from September 15-20 to continue development of a joint International Food Business Program. Work on the program was initiated in May 2007 when Dr. Steve Russell and Professor John Stackhouse visited Dronten.

The concept of the joint program has received approval from Senior Management at both universities. A concept paper presenting the joint program proposal has also been reviewed and approved by the Academic Planning Committee at NSAC.

The team from Dronten includes: Tim Menger, Ruud (Rudy) de Jong, Ron Methorst and Toon (Tom) Van Aert. Tim is the Director of very successful International Academic, Research, Development and Consultancy Programs at Dronten; Rudy is Head of the Department of Business; Tom is senior lecturer in food safety, security and quality assurance; Ron brings extensive private consultancy expertise to his faculty position in entrepreneurship at Dronten.

The team from NSAC headed by Dr. Steve Russell and Professor John Stackhouse includes Professors Diane Dunlop and Robert Lewis, Drs. Sam Asideau and Norman Goodyear, Leanne French, Heather-Anne Grant and Rosaria Campbell.

Current planning has targeted an implementation date of September 2008.

After a joint orientation session in Iceland, North American students will study the first year at NSAC and European students will study at CAH Dronten. The second year both groups will study together in The Netherlands while the third year will be completed in Canada. In the fourth year, students choose to finish the program either at NSAC or CAH Dronten. All instruction at both universities will be in English.

In addition to the opportunity to study an international program in a variety of international locations, students will participate in two periods of co-op work placement - one in North America and one in Europe.

Since students will be fulfilling the requirements for a degree at NSAC and a Bachelor of Administration at CAH Dronten, it is proposed that successful students will graduate with degrees from both institutions.

The CAH Dronten Team Plus One
Pictured from the left: Toon van Aert, Ruud de Jong, John Stackhouse, Ron Methorst and Tim Menger.

Fridays @ 3

NSAC Christmas Cards

NSAC is a specialized university that cultivates learning and research, focusing on improving and sustaining our environment for the health and well-being of society.