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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

Happy Holidays from Holland!

NSAC’s Kyle MacRae and his international classmates at CAH Dronten wish you very happy holidays. Click here to see their electronic holiday card.

Time Capsule Found at AgriTECH Park

While demolishing a building on NSAC’s AgriTECH Park land, a time capsule was found dating back to the construction date of the building.

Built in 1949, the Sable Building was originally a home for 60 children with mental disabilities. It later became an industrial arts building (woodworking, home economics, etc) for children who attended the NS Youth Training Centre.

The capsule, pictured below, required three hands to open, including Dr. Bernie MacDonald, NSAC co-president, vice president administration, and John Walker, who was is a former supervisor of the home. The contents included a copy of both The Chronicle Herald and the Truro Daily News from November 1949; a fifty-cent piece, quarter, dime and penny (all from 1949); speeches; meeting minutes and a program from the cornerstone laying ceremony. The items have been entrusted to the MacRae Library staff for archiving.

The story was covered in the Saturday editions of both the Truro Daily News and The Chronicle Herald.

The Truro Daily story can be found at trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=203059&sc=68

Careert Starts Program Information

As in many other jurisdictions, the Nova Scotia Government faces an aging population. With a large number of retirements on the horizon, the recruitment of youth into the public sector grows increasingly important.

The Career Starts program provides Nova Scotians with practical employment experience and promotes the provincial civil service as a viable career path. The Public Service Commission funds several student employment programs through Career Starts and is currently accepting proposals for the following:

Co-operative Employment - Summer Term
Summer Female Mentorship Program
Summer Diversity Program

If your department/agency is interested in hosting an individual through this program, please submit the attached proposal form found in the "Career Starts Program Tool Kit" attached by Wednesday, Jan. 14 to the Public Service Commission to the attention of Theaston White, co-ordinator Diversity Employment Indicatives.

Additional information on the above mentioned programs can be found on our website: www.gov.ns.ca/psc/careerstarts

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Theaston White at 424-5722 or whitetz@gov.ns.ca

Thank you for your interest in the Career Starts Program and we look forward to your participation in this exciting initiative.

Click here for more details about the program.

Teaching Associate Workshop a Success

The Teaching Associate Workshop, "When the Rubber Hits the Road" was held on Thursday, Dec, 18 with about 30 in attendance. The participants all agreed that it was both informative and fun. As part of the session on learning objectives, untrained participants tried an unfamiliar task: using chopsticks to pick up peanuts. After a demonstration and some hints from some resident experts (our Chinese students), we found that having clearly stated learning objectives are the foundation for all of our courses. A presentation on marking by Norman Goodyear and Anne Lelacheur made us all think about how we could make this task much easier. Ideas from all corners of the campus were shared in the last session on time management. A special thank you to our Chinese students who helped with the session on learning objectives and for all those who participated in the workshop.

Norman Goodyear and Chris Cutler working hard to beat the clock while attempting to pick up peanuts with chopsticks.

NSAC Acknowledged Twice in Fall House Sitting

NSAC was acknowledged twice in the recent sitting of the House of Assembly. Karen Casey, minister of education, acknowledged the university as one of the top 50 research universities in Canada and Jamie Muir, Truro-Bible Hill MLA, recognized NSAC for being the most research intensive Atlantic Canadian university in 2007. NSAC received the same honour this year.

Click here to see copies of the resolutions.

Holiday Office Hours - Updated

Please note, the following holiday office hours will be observed as noted from Dec. 24 - Jan. 5. Please forward any additions and/or changes to Theresa Blois (tblois@nsac.ca or 893-6720):

• Plant and Animal Sciences: closed Dec. 24 at noon; reopen Jan. 5
• Print Centre: Glenn Desmond will be on holiday starting today, Monday, Dec.22. However, the Centre will be staffed by John Ulrich from Dec. 22 until noon on Dec. 23. The Print Centre will be closed from noon Dec.23; reopen Monday, Jan. 5
• Mail Room: closed Dec. 29, 30, and 31, inclusive. The Mail Room will re-open on Friday, Jan. 2
• NSAC International: closed noon Dec. 24 – reopen Jan. 5. Dr. Patterson, Mark Mason and Natalie Cole will be available by e-mail
• Career Services: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• Engineering Department: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Dec. 29; closed Jan. 1 only
• Enrollment Management: closed Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
  
  
• NSAC Bookstore: closed from Dec. 22 - Dec. 26; reopen Dec. 29
• The co-presidents will be checking e-mail and voicemail messages over the holidays
• AgriTECH Park: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5. ABVC staff may work Dec. 29 - 31
• Business & Social Sciences: reception desk closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• Faculty schedules could vary, please use direct lines
• Continuing Education: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• Development Office: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• Distance Education: closed noon Dec. 24 - Dec. 28; open Dec. 29 - noon Dec. 31; closed noon Dec. 31, reopen Jan. 5
• Environmental Sciences: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Dec. 29; closed Jan. 1 only
• Financial Services: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• IT: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Dec. 29; closed Jan. 1 only
• Registry: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5
• Research & Graduate Studies: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5. Dr. Lada will be available to grad students by e-mail at rlada@nsac.ca or phone 895-6503/956-4606
• Student Services: closed noon Dec. 24, reopen Jan. 5

Holiday Hours for Casual and Bargaining Unit Staff

In regards to the upcoming holiday season, please be advised that under the Labour Standards Code and the NSGEU collective agreement, casual and bargaining unit employees will be paid for holidays as follows:

CASUAL EMPLOYEES PLEASE NOTE:
In addition, Section 42 of the Labour Standards Code states:
1. An employee shall be entitled to be paid for a general holiday if:
(a) s/he has received or is entitled to receive pay for at least 15 days
during the 30 calendar days immediately preceding the general holiday; and
(b) s/he has worked on his/her scheduled working day immediately preceding
and immediately following the holiday.

The above noted section applies only to casual employees.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Amanda LeBlanc, junior HR consultant (893-2358 or leblana@gov.ns.ca).

Course Packs for 2009

With the new semester approaching fast, it's time to get course packs ready. Instead of putting extra time, effort and money into printing them in your office or sending them off-campus, send them to the on-campus Print Centre. Costs are lower than market and the impression fee for the Print Centre machines is lower than departmental machines. Using the Print Centre also means valuable staff time is not wasted.

Contact Glenn Desmond (xerox@nsac.ca) in the Print Centre to have your job started today.

Scholarship Spotlight

Rotary Club of Truro International Student Bursary Presented at NSAC
The $1,000 Rotary Club of Truro International Student Bursary was presented to Sukkasini Thissaverasingan, Portland, Jamaica, an M.Sc.(Agr) student at NSAC. Shown congratulating Sukkasini is Jim Goit, Executive Director, Development & External Relations, NSAC. The bursary is presented to an International student studying at NSAC. Special consideration is given to students who come from a developing country and plan to return and apply their education from NSAC. Selection criteria include financial need and potential impact of the bursary on the student’s lifestyle while at school and their future plans.