Dear Faculty of Arts,
It’s been quite a week! Fall began with a suitable gust of rain and wind on the heels of Canada’s “most important [election] since 1945” (according to noted historian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau). As expected, the results were explosive!! Transformative!!! Oh heck, downright world-altering:
OK, maybe not. But if Parliament remains in a peculiar stasis, we in Arts forge ahead with our transformative mission. Onward, then, as we fall forward…
KUDOS & CONGRATS!
Transforming Learning through Research: The 2021-22 Arts Speaker Series got off to an exhilarating start on Wednesday with a session on “Learning and Social Change: Reflections from Two Canada Research Chairs”. Asma Sayed (ENGL) and Danny Bernstein (PSYC), and their stellar student researchers, shared powerful thoughts on the intersections between scholarship and teaching and the transformative effects that participation in research can have on students’ lives. Congratulations to all involved!
Game Changer: Francis Abiew (POLI) shared that his son Tyler will be featured in an upcoming NHL advertisement on ESPN! You can see Tyler strut his stuff at 0:40 here. Way to go, Tyler – and congrats to the proud “Hockey Dad!”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Transforming KPU? Please join Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani (AVP Teaching and Learning) and Dr. Lori McElroy (AVP Planning and Accountability) on MS Teams on Monday Sept. 27 at 6:15 for a Senate Engage Series discussion of KPU as a Multi-Modal Institution. Here is the link for the meeting; and for more on the topic, click here.
Transforming Thought, Actions, and Hearts: The 2021 Indigenous Dialogue Speaker Series will launch on Wednesday, September 29th from 12:00-1:30 pm. The first speaker in the series this year is Len Pierre (Pul-ee-qwe-luck), Special Advisor to the President on Indigenous Leadership, Innovation and Partnerships. Len, who will be speaking on Reconciliation with Radical Thought, Action, and Heart. is Coast Salish from the Katzie First Nation and is an educator, TEDx Speaker, Knowledge Keeper, and cultural practitioner who specializes in decolonial, reconciliatory, and Indigeneity work with organizations. This event will be held virtually. To register, submit a question to the speaker, and to view further details, please visit https://www.kpu.ca/indigenous/dialogue-series
INFORMATION ITEMS
Changes Long Overdue: KPU will, of course, be closed for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday of next week. All are encouraged to use this time to reflect upon the history and legacy of Canada’s residential school system and what each of us can do to foster reconciliation. The following resource may be of help: https://libguides.kpu.ca/indigenous/truthandreconciliationcommission Also of great interest is the MOOC, “Reconciliation through Indigenous Education,” out of UBC, which begins next Thursday: https://pdce.educ.ubc.ca/reconciliation/. Thanks to Maddie Knickerbocker (HIST) for sharing this opportunity.
Transforming Alumni Careers: Candy Ho (EDST) has partnered with John Grant (BUSI) to develop a special asynchronous career transitions program for our recent graduates (from Spring 2020 and beyond). The first session of the New Grad Career Accelerator Program begins Oct 1. Please consider sharing the following message with recent alumni (not current students) – and feel free to reach out to candy.ho@kpu.ca with any questions:
Do you want to find out where to get support your career transition? Learn how to identify your transferable skills? Or explore how to adapt to new workplace formats? We are delighted to announce that KPU is introducing a new four-week program designed to help recent KPU graduates advance in their careers. Sign up for the New Grad Career Accelerator Program. Taught by KPU faculty members with expertise in career development and communications, the program consists of cohorts of 25 participants who will work asynchronously through online modules with optional live online group sessions and office hours.
In the program, participants will:
- Identify transferable skills and attributes relevant to their future career possibilities
- Compose tailored, high quality applications for employment and further studies
- Develop a personal interview strategy to enhance performance and first impressions
- Expand their support network by developing and deepening professional connections
- Explore how to adapt to new workplace formats (hybrid, online, etc.)
Fall program dates: Oct 4 – 31, 2021, with one more session from November 1 – 28, and two more offered in Spring 2022!
Fee: Complimentary for individuals who graduated from KPU with a citation, certificate, diploma, or degree in the Class of 2020 or Class of 2021.
Registration is here. Click on the “Enterprise Sign In” button
Questions: Dr. Candy Ho: candy.ho@kpu.ca or John Grant: john.grant2@kpu.ca
And with that, we mark the change from week to weekend! Please note that there will be no Update next Friday, as your intrepid correspondents take a brief hiatus. All our best for a wonderful week!
Diane, Wade, Shelley, and Greg
Comments by Greg Millard