Daily News

Imperial Oil partnership means new opportunities for undergraduate education

A Learning Innovation Grants Program will be established at McMaster thanks to a $1 million partnership with Imperial Oil. "This is a unique opportunity to change substantially how undergraduate programs at McMaster are delivered," said President Peter George. "The University has led the way in developing inquiry and self-directed education, and the generous support from Imperial will allow McMaster to continue to deliver top quality programs in a way that will best serve our students." In announcing the donation, Imperial's chairman, Robert B. Peterson, said: " We believe that programs like the Learning Innovation Grants and the work of McMaster's Centre for Leadership in Learning will make a difference in undergraduate education and help to better prepare students for the increasingly challenging environment of the 21st century." The Imperial Oil Learning Innovation Grants Program will fund a total of 11 projects through McMaster's Centre for Leadership in Learning. The Centre's director is Dick Day. "The goal is simple. We want to give departments the opportunity to make significant changes in the way they teach undergraduate programs. Projects that receive funding must truly transform the way programs are delivered and must provide students with the chance to learn course content along with the inquiry, research, critical thinking and communication skills that will lead to life-long success. Each project will be evaluated and the most successful approaches can then be adopted by other departments or other universities," says Day. Each grant provides a total of $90,000 in funding over three years. Photo (L. to R.): Dick Day, Robert Peterson, Peter George, Red Wilson. Credit: Ron Scheffler

posted on Jan. 10: Transportation strategy encourages greater use of public transit

A Balanced Transportation Strategy for the McMaster campus was approved by the Board of Governors on Dec. 15, but the strategy generated some discussion among members prior to the vote. The strategy was developed by members of an ad hoc committee created by the Board to examine ways to encourage faculty, staff and students at McMaster to reduce vehicle traffic to campus in conjunction with consultants hired by the University to conduct a parking needs assessment and develop new campus parking strategies. The Board's Planning & Building Committee recommended the adoption of the strategy comprising the following components: * parking supply expansions limited to at-grade only (no garage); * participate with the Hamilton Street Railway to subsidize faculty and staff transit passes; * assess parking permit rates to make transit more attractive for faculty, staff and students (changes should be implemented before 2003); and * implement additional travel demand management measures.

posted on Jan. 9: New learning, wellness and workplace initiatives for staff, faculty funded

The Board of Governors has approved recommendations for the allocation of more than $1 million from the McMaster University Futures Fund (MUFF) for 2000-01. A total of $1,167,650 will be spent on a variety of initiatives as submitted by members of the McMaster community. The three broad categories that will receive funds are: education and learning, workplace environment enhancement, and total wellness/quality of life. "The committee received over 50 requests this year, totalling in excess of $4 million," notes Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "The recommendations made best reflect the principles of the MUFF fund." More than $300,000 has been allocated for initiatives that promote wellness, fitness and quality of life, in response to the high number of requests received that focused on these areas.