Daily News

posted on May 1: Employment outlook rosy for students, graduates

The employment market looks good for McMaster's graduates and for students seeking summer employment. "Overall the job outlook for students is really positive", says Karen Johnson, manager of McMaster's Career Planning and Employment Centre(CPEC). "Summer jobs look good, full-time and part-time jobs also look good An economic downturn may affect graduates in the future but we haven't experienced it yet." The campus employment centre posted 4,313 jobs from May 2000 through March 2001, almost 1,000 more than last year and not all of this year's job postings have yet been counted. Summer job postings have doubled over last year and full-time job postings are up by 400 positions. "Everything has increased," says Gisella Oliviera, employment operations co-ordinator, who keeps track of the statistics for the career centre. Oliviera predicts the rosy outlook will persist because she already has employers booking now to come to campus in the fall to interview future graduates. "They have new positions to fill and they want to hold information sessions," says Oliviera. Photo(l-r):Edward Baker,political science; Nicole Frocking,commerce, and career counsellor David Lawson review job postings in the CPEC office. Photo by Ron Scheffler.

posted on May 1: Toronto alumni branch lecture draws large crowd

The hype surrounding the Olympics has been turned up a notch in Canada with the announcement recently that Dick Pound, our own Olympian and Canadian representative on the International Olympic Committee, is a candidate for the IOC presidency. Pound is currently vice-president of the International Olympic Committee. Pound was the guest speaker last week at McMaster's Toronto alumni branch spring luncheon at the Royal York. The event drew more than 160 McMaster alumni and friends, providing an opportunity for graduates to network with fellow graduates and chat informally about, among other things, Toronto's odds for hosting the 2008 Olympics. Chair of the marketing commission and television negotiations committee, Pound spoke on the Commercialization of the Olympic Movement. He told the lunch-hour listeners that with the advent of the IT revolution many internet giants were urging the Olympic committee to air the competitions on line rather than on screen. The IOC, he said, went ahead with its own research and its own plan after learning that three billion people watched the games on TV versus 25 million online information seekers. Pound says the IOC has been able to help smaller countries finance the Olympics due to the progress it has made in the past few years. The Olympics are the only sporting competition of its calibre that doesn't include branding or sponsor logos in facilities or on the backs of athletes. Pound, vice-president of the IOC, led the Salt Lake City corruption-inquiry panel and investigated the secret negotiations behind the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. He competed in the Rome Olympics in 1960 and became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1978. Photo (l-r): Earl Cochrane, president, McMaster Alumni Association; Mel Hawkrigg, University Chancellor; Gary Collins, president, Toronto Alumni Branch; Richard (Dick) Pound, vice-president, International Olympic Committee; and Lance Trumble, member, Toronto Alumni Branch executive.

posted on April 30: Parking fees to increase in September

It's going to cost you more to park on campus this fall. The rates are going up for monthly parking permits at McMaster beginning Sept. 1. The cost of parking in Zones 2 and 3 on central campus is increasing by $3 to $36 per month. Monthly parking permits for all other zones will go up by $2. It will cost $15/month for a permit that allows drivers to park on West Campus in Zones 6 and 7 and on any lot after 4 p.m. Permits to park in Zone 1 to the north of the tennis courts and in Zones 4 and 5, west of Cootes Drive, are going up to $22/month. The annual rate for motorcycle parking will increase to $75 per year (from $50). The central campus daily rates will remain the same at $8.50. To park after 4 p.m., drivers will have to pay $3 per entry, an increase of 50 cents. On west campus, the daily rate will go up to $3 per day. The Saturday flat daily rate for central campus will also go up to $3. The surplus generated by these increases will go into Parking & Transit Services' reserve account to pay for capital improvements. The new funds will help pay for the redesign and expansion of the surface lot and fund the anticipated costs for a new Main Street entrance. (END OF STORY)

posted on April 27: 2001 President’s Awards for Excellence in Instruction, Course or Resource Design announced

Professors from the fields of comparative literature and chemical engineering are the 2001 recipients of the President's Awards. Jean Wilson, a professor of comparative literature in the Faculty of Humanities, has won the President's Award for Excellence in Instruction. She will accept her award at Spring Convocation. Tom Marlin, a professor of chemical engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, will receive the President's Award for Excellence in Course or Resource Design. He will accept his award at Fall Convocation. Both recipients will also receive a $5,000 honorarium and will have their photos mounted on the Wall of Recognition in Gilmour Hall. In a congratulatory letter to the recipients, President Peter George said: "McMaster has been well served by your continuing efforts on behalf of teaching and learning and our University is very fortunate to number you among our most celebrated colleagues."

posted on April 26: University, MUSA agree to voluntary arbitration

McMaster University and the McMaster University Staff Association reached an agreement yesterday to achieve a first collective agreement through voluntary arbitration. Voluntary arbitration, an alternative to compulsory arbitration, involves a third party who acts first as a mediator to assist and enable further agreement between the union and the University, and then, if any issues remain unresolved, as an arbitrator to resolve these issues through a binding arbitrated award. The two parties have agreed to the appointment of George Adams as the mediator/arbitrator for the process. Adams most recently assisted the Hamilton Board of Education and its elementary teachers. July 31 has been set as the date by which Adams will render a final award, although he may extend this date if he considers it necessary. To view the Memorandum of Agreement reached yesterday by both parties on the process, click here. University President Peter George commended negotiators for both parties for agreeing to this process and called the agreement an extremely positive step. "I am very hopeful that we will be able to come to terms quickly so that we can successfully conclude negotiations and implement the first contract's pay increase and improvements in working conditions for MUSA members." George says the University's work does not end once a collective agreement is achieved. "There are bridges to rebuild and fundamental changes will need to be made to achieve a positive and progressive work environment at McMaster. I am committed to making this happen. Our senior team is committed to making this happen and I trust that MUSA members and others at the University will work with us to make this happen." (END OF STORY)