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Working safely at McMaster

The goal of North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, is to "focus the attention of employers, employees, the general public and all partners in occupational health and safety on the importance of preventing injury and illness in the workplace and at home." Risk Management Services (RMS) is once again celebrating NAOSH week by offering safety related seminars and displays to educate and reinforce the commitment to a safe and healthy workplace at McMaster. RMS has a full schedule of activities planned, beginning with four seminars on Tuesday (May 7), held in John Hodgins Engineering (JHE) 342. On Wednesday (May 8), everyone is welcome to drop by the vendor displays outside the main entrance to JHE and enjoy a $2.00 barbecue lunch (hot dog or burger and drink) between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Assess your safety knowledge and take the Safety Quiz with a chance to win one of many donated prizes. Thursday (May 9) includes a full slate of five sessions, offering everything from learning how to use a fire extinguisher to working ergonomically. NAOSH week is an annual initiative led by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety and Human Resources Development Canada. (End of story)

posted on May 3: Last day for Arts Quad Cafi

On Monday May 6 it might be wise to stay away from the halls leading from the Arts Quad Cafi to the new McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC). This route could be congested with caffeine and food deprived individuals seeking their daily hit of Tim Horton's or Pizza Pizza, who have forgotten that the doors of the Arts Quad Cafi are closed for good. Monday marks the opening of La Piazza, the MUSC's marketplace area that is one of the largest and most diverse campus facilities of its kind in Ontario. Tim Horton's self service, Pizza Pizza and Piller's Deli can be found inside La Piazza, as well as Creation X, serving everything from breakfast to dinner, and Tomassito's, where you can create your own pasta dish. By late summer, Made in Japan Teriyaki Experience, Williams Coffee Pub, a bakery and another Tim Horton's kiosk will be open to offer even more choice to the McMaster community. There will be 275 food court seats, but diners can also use the many comfortable seating areas located in the main foyer and throughout the centre. Ed Townsley, assistant director, hospitality services, is looking forward to the completion of the marketplace. "When everything is open and running, it will be quite the place." Townsley adds that there will be more service points (cashiers) located in La Piazza, which means "we have the ability to serve more people, quickly." McMaster's newest dining location will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays during the summer. (End of story)

posted May 2: Ontario’s first endowed chair in primary health care nursing established at McMaster

The commitment of nurses helping other nurses build stronger, healthier communities was celebrated today (May 2) with the establishment of the first endowed chair in the School of Nursing. The Dorothy C. Hall Chair in Primary Health Care Nursing will focus on education and research that supports community-based primary health care nursing. This type of health care ranges from nurses working in tuberculosis clinics to those working with volunteers in remote or rural areas in community health centres. It encourages self-reliance and community participation in decision-making about health issues and health promotion initiatives. "Primary health care really services the community at the grass roots level," said Andrea Baumann, associate dean of health sciences nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences. "It is the interface between the patient and the practitioner. It is essential health care, practical, but scientific." The chair is named in honour of Dorothy C. Hall, a pioneer in primary health care nursing and long-time international nursing consultant with the World Health Organization. Hall, who spent 26 years abroad pursuing her passion, advanced the role of nursing in primary health care in Canada and in countries such as Afghanistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Denmark. She was also instrumental in helping the Ontario government implement the concept of the primary health care nurse practitioner in the provincial health care system. PHOTO: Dorothy C. Hall and President Peter George

posted May 1: Incoming MSU president centred on students and student centre

The in-coming president of the McMaster Students Union (MSU) faces big challenges, the most significant of which is the opening of the new student center. Evan Mackintosh, 23, starts his one-year term today. "The opening of the MUSC (the McMaster University Student Centre) is a great time of opportunity for the MSU. Students will know we exist and everyone will know where to find us." He thinks this will give the elected body a much more prominent and visible role, with increased contact with the general student body. However, responsibility for sharing the costs of operating the new 158,000 sq ft facility (along with Hospitality) poses a major concern for Mackintosh and his executive. In an agreement with McMaster University Centre Inc, the board that operates the three-storey building, the MSU is expected to pay the operating costs of its retail spaces - the convenience store, the bar/restaurant known as Quarters and the copy shop. During 2002, the organization will pay $50,000, but Mackintosh says estimates have pegged those costs at $350,000 in ten year's time. "We will have to generate alternative means of raising revenues." This fall, the MSU faces another problem. Many first-year students will be 17 and 18-year-olds, under the legal drinking age. In addition to "the typical bar nights", Mackintosh says the MSU will have to consider alternative activities to accommodate these students. Other issues and challenges for the coming year include working with the University in the on-going battle with the provincial government for increased funding, improving teacher evaluations, increasing student-professor class ratios, increasing funding for student services, and implementing the recycling program on campus. One new MSU initiative which Mackintosh hopes to have up and running by September is sure to be a hit with cash-strapped students. A proposed student reward program card (which operates much like an air miles card) offers card-holders an opportunity to accumulate points at a wide variety of participating local businesses. These points can in turn be redeemed at any participating location. Mackintosh, who graduates this spring with a BA in English, has been active in student affairs since arriving at McMaster in 1998. He has served as president of the University's Humanities Society and was the Humanities undergraduate Senate representative in 2000. Most recently, he was the MSU Vice President, Education. (End of story)

posted May 6: Highlights from Board of Governors meeting

Highlights from the April 25 meeting of the Board of Governors include the approval of: tuition and miscellaneous fees for the 2002-03 academic year, four new capital projects and The Management Group (TMG) Total Rewards Redevelopment. Tuition Fees Effective September 2002, tuition fees for Canadian students enrolled in undergraduate programs in Arts & Science, Engineering, Humanities, Science, Social Science, Nursing and Business will increase by 2.0%. Tuition fees for graduate programs other than the MBA program are frozen at 2001-02 levels. The MBA program will have a fee increase of 19.0%. International student fees for undergraduate programs have been frozen at 2001-02 levels, with the exception of the Faculty of Business, which has decreased its fees for undergraduate international students. International student fees for graduate programs have been frozen at 2001-02 levels, except for full and part-time international MBA fees, which will increase by 20.0%. Miscellaneous fees are collected on behalf of and remitted to student organizations. Increases to these fees were approved by student referendum prior to approval by the Board of Governors. The fee structure for miscellaneous fees (students taking 18 or more units) can be found by linking to Supplementary Fees Capital Projects A Health Sciences Expansion will be constructed north of the existing east wing of the McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) and east of the Life Sciences Building. This five-storey, multi-use facility will accommodate lecture theatres, Faculty of Health Sciences educational program space, the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Health, a research incubator, laboratories and hospital space (linked to MUMC by a bridge). Each floor will be approximately 55,000 square feet. Estimated project cost is $60.5 million. A five-level, 550 space Parking Structure will be constructed in the southwest area of campus in the Zone 3 Annex parking lot. Project costs are estimated at $9 million, plus associated professional fees. The parking structure will be completed by fall of 2003 to accomodate the campus parking demand impact of the double cohort. Expansion to the Information and Technology Building (ITB) was first approved in July of 2001. The scope of the project has now been expanded to include a basement which will add an additonal 9,000 square feet and increase the original cost from $7.5 million to $8.6 million. The additional $1.1 million will be fully recovered from the Faculty of Engineering. A Temporary Classroom has been approved for use beginning September 2002. The location for the classroom is currently under review. There are four possible locations: the tennis court area; Zone 2 parking lot south of the tennis courts; between the Institute for Applied Health Sciences and the Information Technology Building; in Zone 4 parking lot. The 50 X 100 foot pre-engineered steel structure will accomodate 350 students at a projected cost of $480,000. The temporary classroom will be used only until the lecture theatres in the new Health Sciences expansion are available. (End of story)

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Working safely at McMaster

posted on May 3: Last day for Arts Quad Cafi

posted May 2: Ontario’s first endowed chair in primary health care nursing established at McMaster

posted May 1: Incoming MSU president centred on students and student centre

posted May 6: Highlights from Board of Governors meeting

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