Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Yukon College is celebrating its receipt of $80,000 in endowment funds. Funds are donated to the College through the Yukon Foundation.

On October 7th, Yukon College President, Terry Weninger and Chair of the Yukon Foundation, John Firth will officially unveil an Endowment Wall, displaying donors to the Yukon College Endowment Fund.

The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the College, visible from the staff parking lot entrance.

“I am honoured to have received these significant donations to the Yukon College Endowment Fund,” said Terry Weninger, Yukon College President. “It’s a testament to our donors’ valuation of post-secondary education. We look forward to developing the fund further, to the benefit of Yukon College students.”

Yukon College matches donations to the Endowment Fund up to $15,000 per year.

The Endowment Fund for Yukon College students was set up in 2007 and is managed by The Yukon Foundation, which is the Yukon’s largest charitable foundation. It has been providing financial assistance for post-secondary education to Yukon students since 1980.

Chair of the Foundation, John Firth said “this endowment wall is a tribute to Yukon College and those individuals and corporations in the Yukon who are dedicated to ensuring a higher standard of education. The Yukon Foundation is proud to be a partner with all of them in this endeavor.”

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Yukon College will host the first ever Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS) International Student Conference to be held North of 60. It is also the first program to highlight an international focus that includes both polar regions. Two hundred delegates from around the world are registered to attend. The conference will give students and young researchers the opportunity to develop professional experience, exchange ideas and connect with established scholars, government partners, northern community stakeholders, as well as national and international contacts. The 9th ACUNS conference; Communities of Change – Building an IPY Legacy will take place October 2-5th, 2009 and will include representation from Canada, China, Chile, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Sweden, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and others. “This conference helps to establish Yukon College as a leader in northern research and provides a tremendous opportunity for Yukon College students to connect with their international counterparts to discuss northern and polar issues,” says Yukon College President, Terry Weninger. Topics will be covered through plenary talks, student presentations, discussion sessions and a dynamic roster of speakers and panelists. Student Organizing Committee Co-Chair, Kevin Turner says, "Our goal is to highlight International Polar Year research, which is focused on physical, biological and social changes in polar regions in response to factors such as climate change and increased development.” “This student conference is significant not only because of its international content, but also because it has been a long-term goal to hold it in the North, by the North and for the North,” says Robert Bailey, ACUNS president. ACUNS is an association of more than 40 universities, northern colleges and centres devoted to supporting and facilitating northern research and education in Canada.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Five students will be presented with a Northern Residence Award and two students will receive Millennium In-Course Excellence Awards on September 17th. One of the students is a two-time award winner. The ceremony will take place from12:00-1:00 in the Yukon College Boardroom.

The five awards are distributed by the Canadian Northern Studies Trust; the awards branch of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies (ACUNS).
Students are awarded the Northern Studies Trust for research projects they will undertake in their programs that will contain fieldwork in northern or circumpolar regions.

The purpose of the Canadian Northern Studies Trust is to develop a group of scholars and scientists with northern experience and enhance the educational opportunities available for northern residents. To be eligible students need to be enrolled in a full-time post-secondary program at a recognized Canadian university or college.

Karen Barnes, Vice President of Education and Training says the awards help to boost not only the students receiving them, but the College as well, as a school that offers unique courses, research and programs focused on the north.

“Interest in the north is growing everyday and Yukon College students are not just studying northern issues, they are experiencing them firsthand and that knowledge is in demand right now,” says Barnes.

The national Millennium Awards are part of the scholarships awarded by the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation. The Millennium In-Course Excellence Award recognizes talented Canadians who make positive and significant contributions to the betterment of their communities, demonstrate leadership and commit themselves to academic excellence.

“I’m a student in the social work program and the award allows me to spend more time on my studies and gain valuable job experience,” says the excited two-time Millennium Award winner.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Over the past few months, Yukon College has been working with the local Pandemic Planning Coordinator, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Yukon Medical Officer of Health to prepare for a possible second wave of the H1N1 virus and the upcoming fall and winter flu season.

Colleen Wirth, Director of Student Services, says staff and students are receiving the information they need to reduce their risk of contracting or spreading flu viruses.
“We want to do everything we can to ensure the health and well-being of our students, staff and faculty,” Wirth says.

Yukon’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Brendan Hanley will speak and take questions about H1N1 during Student Orientation. The discussion will take place in the Pit on September 14th at 12 p.m.

The College is sending an email to registered students this week, containing general information on H1N1 and frequently asked questions. A direct link to Yukon Health and Social Services has been placed on the Yukon College website.

Wall-mounted hand sanitizers have been installed in the Ayamdigut campus, as well as in the community campuses; around entrances, bathrooms and other pertinent areas.
Research shows that washing hands with liquid soap and water is one of the easiest ways to reduce the spread of infections; however it can be difficult to ensure consistent and effective hand washing. Hand sanitizers are useful to use after opening doors and holding stair railings.

Students in health programs will soon incorporate preventative information such as hand washing in their program activities. Four Yukon College staff members have also attended a Yukon Government Workplace Risk Assessors Training course.

A regular flu clinic will be setup in the First Nations Lounge at the College on October 13th from 9:00-6:00PM. An H1N1 clinic will be established when priorities are set by Yukon Health and Social Services.

For more information on H1N1 please visit: http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/programs/health_officer/h1n1_qa/

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Yukon College will welcome students for the new school year during Student Orientation September 8th – 18th. Student Orientation Coordinator, Kieran Slobodin has organized events to help students transition into college life including, school tours, a barbeque and a pie-eating contest on the first day of school.

Orientation events are another way the College supports an active student life, where students can learn, meet, socialize and engage in healthy activities.“These events help to create a welcoming atmosphere for students, especially those coming from outside of Whitehorse,” Slobodin says. “It gives students a chance to develop friendships early on in the school year.”

On September 8th Yukon College will host speakers including, Yukon Senator, Dan Lang; Education Minister, Patrick Rouble; Mayor, Bev Buckway; President of Yukon College, Terry Weninger and Yukon College Chancellor, Rolf Hougen. They will give their welcoming remarks beginning at 9 a.m. in the Pit.
The first week of orientation continues with a First Nations feast and Dene Games on September 9th, giving students and staff an opportunity to participate in some great cultural events.
Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) will give an alcohol awareness presentation on September 10th, which will include a driver simulation and Alcohol and Drug Services will be serving up some delicious ‘mocktails.’

On September 11th students new to Whitehorse will have the opportunity to take a tour of the downtown core on a bus provided by the City of Whitehorse.
In the second week of orientation, there will be gym sports, a pizza lunch and a talk on H1N1 in the Pit.
Students can also keep entertained with a movie night at the Arts Centre and a family barbeque.
Director of Student Services, Colleen Wirth, says research shows that student engagement in college life is a strong contributor to student academic success and orientation is the opportune time to make those connections.

In addition to the orientation events, the College will be promoting the photography, outdoors and arts and craft clubs as well as student job opportunities and community volunteer opportunities.
Student Orientation wraps up on September 18th with a concert in the gym.