Daily News

Posted on March 26: SSHRC president to visit McMaster

Researchers and graduate students at McMaster will have a chance to speak first-hand with the man who is leading the transformation of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Marc Renaud, president of the SSHRC, will be at McMaster Tuesday, April 6. Renaud is travelling across the country during March and April visiting academic institutions and meeting with university stakeholders as part of SSHRC's transformation process. The federal body, which funds research in the humanities and social sciences at universities across the country, is engaging key stakeholders in discussions to develop a new blueprint for the organization and to increase and improve dialogue between the council and its stakeholders. The council aims to expand and improve its current programs and adopt new structures to better serve the research community over the next 25 years.

Posted on March 25: McMaster science co-op student receives national recognition

McMaster health physics student Lindsay Churchley has great insight into her future thanks to her co-operative placement that garnered her an impressive recognition from the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education (CAFCE). Selected from among 74,000 post-secondary co-op students at 85 member institutions across Canada, the fourth-year student received one of four honorable mentions from the CAFCE Co-op Student of the Year Award (2003), based primarily on a job placement at Ontario Power Generation. "One of the best things that co-op has done for me, is it has given me the chance to try a variety of fields so that I can figure out which direction I would like to go in after graduation," says Churchley. "I now know I want to be a health physicist." Churchley's nomination included an impressive academic grade point record of 10.3, contribution to extra-curricular activities at school and in the community, volunteering with the McMaster Children's Hospital, participation in student governance, and involvement in the McMaster jazz choir and McMaster Ultimate Frisbee league.

Posted on March 24: Federal budget support for students, research, public health welcomed

The federal government's commitment in its budget to boosting financial support for students is welcome news, McMaster University President Peter George says. "The government's commitment to improving access to post-secondary education mirrors a fundamental tenet that we follow at McMaster fostering a passion for lifelong learning," said President George. "We wholeheartedly support efforts to ensure students who are qualified and have the desire can access post-secondary education. Achievement in university will mean Canada has a highly skilled, educated workforce that will foster a robust and dynamic economy. "Improving access and helping reduce student debt loads will undoubtedly spur an increase in demand for post-secondary education. The challenge continues to be to ensure that students receive a quality education in an environment where tuition fees - a major source of University operating funds to hire faculty and provide student services are frozen by the provincial government and operating grants lag well behind the Canadian average. "We are looking forward to the provincial government acting to ensure that Ontario students truly benefit from these federal initiatives by increasing provincial operating support and providing full compensation for the announced tuition freeze."

Posted on March 23: McMaster celebrates athletic excellence

McMaster's Department of Athletics and Recreation announced the award winners for 2003/2004 at the annual athletic awards presentation and celebration Monday. The Ivor Wynne Award for the Male Athlete of the Year was shared between McMaster basketball all-Canadian Adam Guiney and McMaster football all-Canadian Jesse Lumsden. The Female Athlete of the Year Award was presented to CIS gold medal winning wrestler Pam Wilson. The Dr. Ray Johnson trophy for the graduating player that demonstrates leadership on and off the field while exhibiting the "Spirit of McMaster" was awarded to OUA all around men's rugby player of the year Harry Cheung. The Dr. Edna Guest Award for the graduating player that participated in varsity sports each year at McMaster that displays outstanding athletic ability and the "Spirit of McMaster" is co-president of the McMaster Athletic Council, and women's volleyball player Deborah VanBolderen.