Daily News

posted Sept. 10: Collaborative nursing program sets new course for nursing education

Be they pioneers or guinea pigs, students enrolled in the new Collaborative Bachelor of Science Nursing Program offered jointly by McMaster, Mohawk College and Conestoga College are looking forward to their first year. The McMaster program is the largest collaborative program in the province which fully integrates college and university students through all four years of study. There are now 226 first-year students enrolled in McMaster's BScN program: 68 at the Mohawk site, 36 at the Conestoga site and 100 at the McMaster site who will spend the next four years studying for their Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Also, under special government funding, an additional 22 students have entered the fast-track BScN program at the McMaster site. It's a degree they'll need come 2005. Under new provincial government and College of Nurses of Ontario regulations, all graduating nurses will need to have a baccalaureate degree in nursing to become licensed to practise as a registered nurse. The three-year diploma program offered by the colleges will be phased out. Photo(left to right): Bill Jeffrey, dean of the school of health sciences and community services, Conestoga College, Daphne Cheung, member of the McMaster University Nursing Society and Amber Wooldridge, BScN nursing student at McMaster-Conestoga, celebrate the launch of the new collaborative nursing program.

posted on Sept. 6: OSAP interest relief period increased for some recipients

The Ontario government is changing the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to provide some students in need with additional assistance to manage their repayable student loan debt. "We are committed to providing students with a high quality education through a strengthened and expanded publicly funded postsecondary education system," said Dianne Cunningham, minister of training, colleges and universities. "We believe that students should contribute a reasonable portion of the cost of their postsecondary education, but we recognize that some will need additional assistance as they begin to build their careers." Under the changes, a person who has left school and: has a low-income or is unemployed will be eligible to receive up to 54 months of interest relief under OSAP, up from the current 30 month limit; and who has exhausted his/her interest relief options and is still unable to meet their repayment obligations will have access to an additional one-time reduction in the balance of his/her OSAP to bring the debt to an affordable level. "Our college and university students are vital to Ontario's continued prosperity," Cunningham said. "With an aging population and new occupations, today's students will have tremendous opportunities to pursue their goals." Students in Ontario are required to pay upon graduation only the first $7,000 of their annual OSAP loan under the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant. In 2000-01, the Ontario government spent $578 million to provide financial assistance to 160,000 students through OSAP, including grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships. (End of story)

posted on Sept. 5: Campus parking will be tight squeeze

Several construction projects mean parking will be at a premium on campus as everyone gears up for the beginning of classes on Thursday. Several parking spaces in Zone 3 have been lost because of construction of the new student residence and at the Arthur Bourns Building. Additional spaces will be lost during the expansion of the E. T. Clarke Centre and the Tandem Accelerator Laboratory. The addition of more than 100 spaces in the Zone 3 annex means that all valid permit holders should be able to find a spot -- just. Parking & Transit Services manager John Abraham said everyone with a valid parking permit should allow extra time to find a spot. "Parking will be very tight," said Abraham. Visitors to the west side of campus will not be permitted in Zone 3. They will be rerouted to Zone 6/7 and can take the shuttle bus or they can go to Zone 1 and walk back. Visitors to the north end of campus will go to Zone 1 to park. Abraham said everyone parking on campus will have to adjust. "The secret is to allow yourself plenty of time to get to your appointment. You may have to spend an extra 15 minutes to get to your destination. Please obey signage and parking control officers." Abraham said undergraduate parking permits for Zones 6/7 were released to anyone who applied before July 31. That means the parking areas are oversold and will be busy, Abraham said. "They will have to allow more time and we will get them parked," he said. Two more lots in Zone 7 won't be completed for the beginning of term so Parking & Transit Services will be using environmentally-friendly paint to mark out parking spaces on the grass and the ball diamond in a bid to ensure the space is well used and as a safety measure. The painting substance will not harm or burn the grass, Abraham said. Visitors may be able to purchase parking on a daily basis, but there may be times when the lots are full and they will be turned away, he added. Abraham said all drivers and pedestrians need to take extra care when travelling on campus this fall as there will be several heavy vehicles and supply trucks travelling on site due to construction projects. "Remember, McMaster is predominately a pedestrian-oriented campus," Abraham said. (End of story)

posted on Sept. 4: McMaster welcomes students with games, comedy, karaoke

They're back. Students are back on campus, adjusting to residence life, registering for classes, renewing friendships and finding their way around. Welcome Week began Sunday and continues to Sunday, Sept. 9. Events continue throughout the week and are designed to introduce students to the University -- the serious and the fun sides! Today students have an opportunity to visit their respective Faculties. This afternoon there is a Maroons Spirit Event featuring a "human conveyer belt" on Les Prince Field and a concert in the Faculty Hollow this evening. Wednesday's activities include the MSU ClubsFest 2001 and the Air Bands Competition from 2 to 4 p.m. The McMaster Backyard Party 2001 which includes a comedy festival, laser tag and Karaoke@the Rat begins at 9 p.m. Classes begin Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, the Mauraders take on the Waterloo Warriors at Les Prince Field at 2 p.m. Various other charity events and the First Year Finale are scheduled throughout the day. For a complete schedule, click on Welcome Week 2001: A Mac Odyssey. (End of story)

posted on Sept. 4: TA Day 2001 features workshops to improve teaching

The Centre for Leadership in Learning presents the 21st annual TA Day tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept.5). The day is broken into two streams with one group of seminars aimed at new teaching assistants and the other directed to experienced TAs. Topics include Using technology for effective presentations, Keeping the thesis on track and Teaching in a different culture: focus for international students. "We want to provide some support and skills for people who are teaching as they are often the closest contact the students have," said Erika Kustra, TA Day co-ordinator and educational consultant. All new and returning TAs are invited to attend the day long event which features workshops in the morning and Faculty-specific meetings in the afternoon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Burke Science Building, room 137. Go to http://www.mcmaster.ca/learning/ta_activities/taday2001.htm for more information.