Daily News

posted on June 25: Edward Minich new chair of Board of Governors

Hamilton-born Edward A. Minich is the new chair of McMaster's Board of Governors, the University's highest governing body. He begins his term as chair July 1. Minich is president, chief executive officer and director of the board for Otis Canada and has a long association with the University. He has served on the McMaster Alumni Association's Board of Directors and as vice-chair of the Board of Governors. Last year he was inducted into the McMaster Alumni Gallery. "I owe a lot of my success to McMaster," said Minich. He received his Honours B.Sc. in Psychology from McMaster in 1972 and his MBA from McMaster in 1974. He met his wife Sian when they were both students at McMaster. His two sons are McMaster graduates. "I give enthusiastic support to McMaster being a student-centred research institution," said Minich. "It will make McMaster unique." "The board is the engine that can help get McMaster where we need to go. Our role is to help move things along," he said. "To go forward in this competitive world, everybody has to promote the University to attract the best students, faculty and research dollars." "Education is our infrastructure for the future," said Minich. "In this high-tech, fast-paced world, talented people will attract others." (End of story)

posted on June 21: Number of McMaster graduates employed after six months increases

More than 94 per cent (94.8) of McMaster graduates with undergraduate degrees were employed six months after leaving the University, a survey shows. The provincial average is 94.6 per cent. The rate is up from last year's result which showed that 93.9 per cent of graduates were employed six months after graduation. "McMaster's strong results demonstrate that we continue to graduate high-quality students who have the knowledge, skills and experience employers need," said University President Peter George. The Ontario University Graduate Survey also showed that 97 per cent of McMaster graduates are employed within two years of obtaining an undergraduate degree, a slight increase from last year's figure of 96.4 per cent. The provincial average in this category this year is 97.2 per cent. See the Graduation, Employment and OSAP Loan Default Rates, McMaster University, April 2001 table for full program results. The University received about $1 million in provincial funding last year because the employment rates matched or exceeded the provincial average, a target established by the Ontario government. The survey, sponsored by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Council of Ontario Universities, studied the employment experiences of 1998 graduates of undergraduate programs in Ontario. The Ontario Universities' Application Centre collected the information using a mail-out survey targeting graduates of bachelor and first professional degree programs. The survey also noted the default rate for Ontario Student Assistance Plan loan holders -- McMaster graduates posted a default rate of 5.8 per cent. (The Daily News provided a detailed story on the default rate earlier this year: See McMaster's OSAP default rate decreases for fourth straight year.) The results of a fourth performance indicator, graduation rate data, will be calculated and published later this year. (End of story)

posted on June 20: Trull appointed vice-president university advancement

Roger Trull has been appointed vice-president university advancement. Trull has been executive director of University Advancement since 1994 and led the development and implementation of a highly successful plan for advancement activities at McMaster. Within each of the advancement portfolios -- alumni relations, advancement services, decentralized advancement, development (fundraising) and public relations/government relations -- Trull has built a team that consistently exceeds performance targets. The Changing Tomorrow Today campaign surpassed its $100 million target eight months ahead of schedule. Trull is respected throughout the country as a leading advancement professional. The Board of Governors and Senate approved the change of title from executive director to vice-president university advancement last week. McMaster President Peter George said the vice-presidential title will bring McMaster in line with all other research-intensive universities in Canada and with leading universities across North America. It will also be an important advantage in developing new opportunities for the University. A devoted member of the McMaster community since his graduation in 1979, Trull has volunteered considerable time and energy to other organizations. He has served as the vice-president of the National Association of Canadian Clubs and trustee of Hillfield Strathallan College, was founding president of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (Ontario) and is a past board member of the United Way of Halton Burlington. (End of story)