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Current issue of For the Record

Thursday October 29, 2015

For the Record provides postings of appointment, committee, grant, award, PhD examination and other notices set out by collective agreements and university policies and processes. It is the university’s primary vehicle for sharing this information with our community.

The next issue of For the Record will be published Thursday, Nov. 12. The deadline for submitting information is Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the Record is published bi-weekly throughout the academic year and monthly during the summer months.

Submit For the Record information for posting to Communications Officer Wanda Praamsma. 

Appointments

David R. Pichora — Inaugural Paul B. Helliwell Chair in Orthopaedic Research, Faculty of Health Sciences

Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), has appointed David R. Pichora as the inaugural Paul B. Helliwell Chair in Orthopaedic Research in the Faculty of Health Sciences. This appointment is for a five-year period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020.

After graduating with his Doctor of Medicine from Queen's in 1978, Dr. Pichora completed his orthopaedic training at Queen's in 1984. He went on to complete postgraduate fellowships in trauma, orthopaedic and hand surgery at Sunnybrook Medical Centre in 1985, and hand and microsurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1986.

Dr. Pichora returned to Queen's as an academic surgeon in 1986 and has been making outstanding contributions locally, nationally and internationally ever since. he was promoted to professor in the Department of Surgery and granted tenure in 1998. Dr. Pichora is an active researcher, with particular interest in computer-assisted surgery, wrist and shoulder biomechanics, kinematic studies of the rheumatoid wrist, 3D motion and imaging studies of the upper extremity, and clinical outcome studies in orthopaedic trauma.

From 1991 to 1997, Dr. Pichora was the medical co-director of Kingston General Hospital's Regional Trauma Service. From 1993 to 1998, he served as program director in orthopaedics, and served as chairman of the division from 1994 to 2009.

In 2004, Dr. Pichora was appointed chief of staff at Hotel Dieu Hospital, and in 2009 he was asked to lead the hospital as its chief executive officer, a position he still holds.

Established in 2014, the Paul B. Helliwell Chair in Orthopaedic Research will help to attract and support clinician scientists, enable clinical research, enhance a culture of collaborative, trans-disciplinary investigation, and strengthen Queen’s reputation as a leading research institution that is committed to biomedical science. 

Committees

Advisory committee — Vice-Provost and University Librarian 

Martha Whitehead’s term as vice-provost and university librarian ends on June 30, 2016. Martha has indicated that she would be pleased to consider a further term in her role. In accordance with the procedures established by Senate, an advisory committee chaired by Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), will be established to advise the principal on the present state and future prospects of the library and on the selection of the vice-provost and university librarian. 

Members of the university community are invited to suggest individuals who might serve on the advisory committee, and to submit letters with commentary on the present state and future prospects of the library and the vice-provostship. Respondents are asked to indicate whether they wish to have their letters shown, in confidence, to the members of the advisory committee. 

Letters and advisory committee member suggestions should be submitted to Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), via lacey.monk@queensu.ca, by Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015.

Notices

Fall convocation — Confirm participation and reserve regalia

Queen’s faculty members have until Wednesday, Nov. 4 to reserve regalia to participate in the academic processions during this fall’s convocation ceremonies.

Fall convocation includes five ceremonies held on Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18. Faculty members who are Queen's graduates can confirm their participation in one or more of the academic processions and reserve regalia by filling out an online form. Members of the academic procession who are not Queen’s graduates must make their own arrangements for hoods. However, they may reserve a black gown and confirm their participation online.

Faculty members can pick up their regalia 30 minutes prior to each ceremony in Room 209, Kingston Hall. Those not requiring regalia can still confirm their attendance after the Nov. 4 deadline for booking regalia.

For more information about convocation, including the department and faculty breakdown for the five ceremonies, visit the University Registrar website.

For more information, or if there is difficulty submitting the form, please contact Brent Cameron, Convocation and Communications Administrator, Office of the University Registrar, by email or call ext. 74050.

Human Resources

Successful Candidates

Job Title: Elder in Residence (USW Local 2010)
Department: Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre (FDASC)
Competition: 2015-233
Successful Candidate: Betty Carr-Braint

Job Title: Coordinator, Facility Operations (USW Local 2010)
Department: Athletics and Recreation
Competition: 2015-224
Successful Candidate: Brittany Jennings

Job Title: Instructional Design Multimedia Support Analyst (USW Local 2010)
Department: Continuing & Distance Studies
Competition: 2015-132
Successful Candidate: Candace Parsons (Continuing & Distance Studies)

Job Title: Departmental Assistant (USW Local 2010)
Department: School of Policy Studies
Competition: 2015-200
Successful Candidate: Lee Van Niedek

Job Title: Financial Assistant (USW, Local 2010)
Department: Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering
Competition: 2015-246
Successful Candidate: Brenda Wood (Financial Services)

Job Title: Analyst L1 (USW Local 2010)
Department: Information Technology Services
Competition: 2015-234
Successful Candidate: Jesse Kimber (Campus Computer Sales)

Job Title: Facilities Key Clerk (USW Local 2010)
Department: Residences
Competition: 2015-212
Successful Candidate: Chad Brightman

Job Title: Data Systems Administrator (USW Local 2010)
Department: Student Wellness Services
Competition: 2015-242
Successful Candidate: Francis Semenuk

Job Title: Human Resources Assistant
Department: Human Resources, Queen's School of Business
Competition: 2015-240
Successful Candidate: Kelly Rathwell

Job Title: Executive Assistant
Department: Athletics and Recreation
Competition: 2015-238
Successful Candidate: Karen Carter

Job Title: Administrative Assistant to the Dean
Department: Faculty of Health Sciences
Competition: 2015-223
Successful Candidate: Kate Minor (Mechanical and Materials Engineering)

Job Title: Admissions/Clinical Skills Assistant (USW Local 2010)
Department: Undergraduate Medical Education
Competition: 2015-162
Successful Candidate: Rachel Bauder

Job Title: Receptionist/Office Assistant
Department: Faculty of Law, Clinics
Competition: 2015-228
Successful Candidate: Nicole Clark

Job Title: Assistant (USW Local 2010)
Department: Athletic Therapy Services
Competition: 2015-250
Successful Candidate: Laura Legge

Job Title: Coordinator (USW Local 2010)
Department: Aquatics
Competition: 2015-231
Successful Candidate: Erica McPherson

Job Title: Undergraduate Program Assistant (USW Local 2010)
Department: School of Nursing
Competition: 2015-248
Successful Candidate: Laura Walker

Job Title: Fix-It Coordinator (USW Local 2010)
Department: Phsyical Plant Services
Competition: 2015-262
Successful Candidate: Todd Hartrick (Campus Services Operating)

Job Title: Junior Safety Technician (CUPE Local 254)
Department: Environmental Health and Safety
Competition: 2015-225
Successful Candidate: Tyler MacDonald (Area One)

Job Title: Gift Administrator (USW Local 2010)
Department: Gift Services, Office of Advancement
Competition: 2015-263
Successful Candidate: Erin Gunsinger (Advancement Gift Services)

Job Title: Lab Assistant (CUPE Local 254)
Department: School of Medicine
Competition: 2015-251
Successful Candidate: Elizabeth Johnston

Job Title: Communications Specialist, Issues & Media
Department: University Communications
Competition: 2015-249
Successful Candidate: Jasmine Toor

Job Title: Systems Analyst
Department: Information Technology Services
Competition: 2015-269
Successful Candidate: Charles Bagg

Tags: Campus Community|Health Sciences

Faculty invited to share in graduates' special day

Thursday October 29, 2015
By Communications Staff

Faculty members planning to participate in the academic processions during this fall’s convocation ceremonies have until Wednesday, Nov. 4 to reserve regalia.

“Convocation is the moment when it all comes together – the hard work, dedication and rigorous study.  For our graduates, this is their moment to shine,” says Brent Cameron, Convocation and Communications Administrator, Office of the University Registrar. “Having those people who guided and facilitated this journey share in the celebration gives our ceremonies added significance.”

Fall convocation includes five ceremonies held on Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Wednesday, Nov. 18. Faculty members who are Queen's graduates can confirm their participation in one or more of the academic processions and reserve regalia by filling out an online form. Members of the academic procession who are not Queen’s graduates must make their own arrangements for hoods; however, they may reserve a black gown and confirm their participation online.

Faculty members can pick up their regalia 30 minutes prior to each ceremony in Room 209, Kingston Hall. Those not requiring regalia can still confirm their attendance in the period leading up to the ceremonies after the Nov. 4 deadline for booking regalia.

For more information about convocation, including the department and faculty breakdown for the four ceremonies, visit the University Registrar website.

For more information, or if there is difficulty submitting the form, please contact Mr. Cameron by email or call ext. 74050.

Tags: Campus Community

Queen’s welcomes two Banting Postdoctoral Fellows

Thursday October 29, 2015
By Chris Moffatt Armes, Government Relations Analyst

Researchers investigating the local impact of oil and gas extraction in Ghana and the historical surveillance of Canadian Aboriginal peoples. 

Nathan Andrews (Political Studies) and Scott Thompson (Sociology) have been named recipients of the Government of Canada’s Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships.

[Nathan Andrews]
Dr. Nathan Andrews (Political Studies) will be conducting research into the economic effects of oil development in Ghana. (Supplied Photo) 

Dr. Andrews is joining Queen’s after completing his PhD at the University of Alberta. His research seeks to ask whether Ghana’s oil development has the potential to alleviate levels of poverty or risks falling victim to the “resource curse” – a paradoxical trend in economics that shows countries with an abundance of natural resources, specifically non-renewable resources, tend to have lower levels of economic growth and worse development outcomes than those with fewer natural resources.

“I am very privileged to be listed as a Banting fellow this year, among a group of emerging scholars,” says Dr. Andrews. “The Banting fellowship is going to give me peace of mind in terms of financial security as I investigate the impact of oil and gas extraction on local communities in the context of Ghana. As a stepping-stone to a promising future research career, this funding will enable me to stay active in the broader field of the international political economy of natural resources in Africa.”

[Scott Thompson]
Dr. Scott Thompson will be conducting research on government surveillance and the treatment of Canada's First Nations. (Supplied Photo)

Dr. Thompson was a post-doctoral fellow at the Surveillance Studies Centre under Dr. David Lyon (Sociology) prior to being awarded the Banting Fellowship. His research is focused on examining the historic use of surveillance technologies by the Government of Canada to impose the category of ‘Indian’ on First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. This work will help to better understand how this category came to construct a single cultural understanding for a diverse group of peoples and cultures, imposed an identity onto them. Dr. Thompson will also investigate what can be done to address the negative cultural stereotypes that continue as the legacy of these programs.

"The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship has given me the opportunity to add my own voice to the incredibly important and groundbreaking research being done by the Surveillance Studies Centre here at Queen's University,” says Dr. Thompson. “ I am very excited to bring my own research regarding the historical surveillance of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit to these discussions, and work with members of the community to seek out means of dispelling some of the hurtful stereotypes regarding these peoples."

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is administered by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. It aims to attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent and position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow. More information on the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program can be found here.

Tags: Campus Community|Research Prominence|Student Learning Experience

Ramp to KGH ER reopened

Thursday October 29, 2015

Construction work on the ramp leading up to the Emergency Department at Kingston General Hospital (KGH) is complete, and the entrance to the Emergency Department has returned to its regular location as Wednesday.

The Emergency Department access ramp, located off of King Street West, was closed earlier this month as the hospital began work to repair the asphalt, as well as the heating system under it that melts snow and ice. This work was completed two days ahead of the original project schedule.

During the construction, the entrance to the Emergency Department was temporarily relocated to the Armstrong wing of KGH, located off Lower University Avenue. Now that the project is complete, the Armstrong entrance has returned to normal use as an entrance for the various outpatient clinics in that area of the hospital. Also, Lower University Avenue has returned to a two-way roadway for traffic as well.

Tags: Campus Community

Feeling stressed? Take a minute to Thrive

Wednesday October 28, 2015
By Mark Kerr, Senior Communications Officer
[Dodge ball team]
A team of Employee and Labour Relations staff members (pictured above) will square off against a team from Faculty Relations in a friendly game of dodgeball on Nov. 6 during Thrive week at Queen's. Nearly 70 events are planned for Nov. 2-6 to promote positive mental health and wellbeing among Queen's staff, faculty and students.

The campus will come alive with Thrive activities all next week.

The new initiative designed to promote positive mental health kicks off this Monday with activities planned throughout the week.

Thrive began several years ago at the University of British Columbia, with other post-secondary institutions adopting the event for their campuses. Human Resources staff members are spearheading the effort at Queen’s.

“We are excited to engage all staff, faculty and students,” says Sydney Downey, Manager, Return to Work and Accommodation Services. “Thrive is all about fostering a safe and welcoming environment where people can discover resources and support their colleagues so that we can all ‘thrive’ at work and at home.”

Thrive gets underway Monday with a blast from the past for staff, faculty and students: a large ball pit that will be set up in front of Stauffer Library.

“The ball pit is a great opportunity for members of the Queen’s community to take a break from their busy schedules and connect with others across campus,” Ms. Downey says. “We hope the ball pit will create a relaxed environment where people can talk about life’s challenges or share a funny story with a new friend.”     

Currently there are close to 70 activities throughout the week. Some of the highlights include:

  • A workshop focused on combatting stress
  • A Zen meditation session on West Campus
  • A yoga session in the Agnes
  • A sleep workshop where participants learn about getting a better night’s rest
  • A variety of wellness activities such as a walking/running club, a dodgeball tournament, and a cardio funk dance class.

The complete schedule of events is posted on the Thrive website. The organizing committee has also provided resources for hosting a Thrive event in your department or unit.

Follow Queen’s Thrives on Facebook and Instagram. 

Tags: Campus Community

Non-academic misconduct advisory committee begins consultations

Wednesday October 28, 2015
By Communications Staff

The Advisory Committee on Non-Academic Misconduct (ACNAM) is now formed, and has begun an extensive consultation process with the Queen’s community.

The committee was announced following direction from the Board of Trustees for the university to review its current non-academic misconduct system with the aim of improving the system to support student safety, health and wellness.

“The committee includes representatives from a diverse range of bodies, including students, university senators, and administrators,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. “We are looking forward to receiving valuable input from a variety of stakeholders as the review is undertaken.”

The committee began its consultations last week at Alma Mater Society (AMS) Assembly. In the coming weeks the group will meet with several other stakeholder groups including Athletics and Recreation, Residences, the Senate Committee on Non-Academic Discipline (SONAD), Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) Council, Senate, and the Board of Trustees. The committee will also host consultation opportunities for several key external stakeholder groups. This is the initial round of consultations; more will be held in the winter term. 

“We recognize there are strongly held views on all sides of this topic, and all are concerned with student safety,” says Principal Woolf. “We want to consider all of those perspectives in a fair process that ultimately results in a better non-academic misconduct system.”

The members of the committee are as follows: 

Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor (Chair)
Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) (Vice-Chair)
Heather Black, University Council 
Chris Cochrane, SGPS President
Kanivanan Chinniah, AMS President
Caroline Davis, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)
Bill Flanagan, Dean, Faculty of Law
Deborah Knight, Associate Professor, Senate
Lon Knox, University Secretary
Palmer Lockridge, Student Senator
Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs

The committee also includes the following non-voting advisors: 

Michael Fraser, University Relations 
Dan Langham, Environmental Health and Safety 
Lisa Newton, University Counsel 
David Patterson, Campus Security and Emergency Services 
Stephanie Simpson, Human Rights Office 
Harry Smith, University Ombudsman 

The principal will bring forward the recommended student code of conduct for approval by the Board and subsequent receipt by the Senate in early May 2016. 

For more information visit the principal’s website. Comments can also be submitted to acnam@queensu.ca.  

Tags: Campus Community

Where have all the crayfish gone?

Wednesday October 28, 2015
By Chris Moffatt Armes, Government Relations Analyst

Researchers from Queen’s University, working with colleagues from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, have linked the localized near-extinction of a native crayfish species in four lakes in Algonquin Park to declining calcium levels, a long-term legacy of acid rain on forest soils and aquatic ecosystems.

[Crayfish]
A Cambarus bartonii found in Clayton Lake. (Photo by Ron Ingram, OMOECC)

“Crayfish are an integral component of aquatic food webs, because they function at multiple trophic levels and are a key element in the diets of popular recreational and economically important fish species,” says Kris Hadley, the lead author of the study and a PhD student at Queen’s University at the time the study was conducted.

Acid rain “mobilizes” calcium found in the soil and bedrock. Once mobilized, calcium levels in the water increase, before declining as calcium stores are used up. In areas such as Kingston, where much of the bedrock is comprised of limestone, the effect is mitigated by the high volume of calcium found in the bedrock. The lakes analyzed by the research team are farther north on Canadian Shield bedrock, which has a much lower concentration of calcium. The lakes selected allowed for a much clearer analysis of the effects of calcium decline on larger organisms.

Because long-term data records of lake water pH and calcium levels are typically not available, researchers analysed fossilized microscopic organisms (i.e., algal remains) to reconstruct past lake water pH levels and fossils of water fleas to track past changes in lake water calcium concentrations. Using this technique, the team was able to examine environmental trends in the four lakes over the past 150 years.

The research team found evidence that acid rain had impacted some of the lakes over time, but they also inferred marked declines in lake water calcium levels – a known legacy of acid rain. Dr. Hadley says the team’s findings suggest calcium concentrations began declining in these lakes as early as the 1960s, and may now have fallen below the threshold required for the survival of some aquatic organisms.

Crayfish shed their protective carapace – the upper exoskeleton that is primarily composed of calcium carbonate – several times during their life cycle and, as a result, have high calcium requirements. The researchers found that lack of calcium in the lakes has contributed to a decline in crayfish populations.

“Although lake water pH has been recovering in many waterways with controls on acid emissions, there has been no such recovery in calcium levels, and thus aquatic organisms are beginning to show the negative effects of what we are colloquially calling ‘aquatic osteoporosis,’”  says John Smol (Biology), the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change.

“Aquatic osteoporosis” has only recently been identified as an environmental stressor for many soft-water lakes in North America and elsewhere, with potentially serious ecological consequences, such as the “jellification” of lakes. This is the third major study published by Dr. Smol and his team on the effects of declining calcium levels on the ecosystems of soft-water lakes.

This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The study was published in the international journal Freshwater Science. A number of high-resolution images of the organisms and techniques used in this study can be found on the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Laboratory website.

 

Tags: Arts and Science|Campus Community|Research Prominence

PPS preparations and response to Special Weather Statement

Wednesday October 28, 2015

Due to the Special Weather Statement that is in effect for Kingston, Physical Plant Services (PPS) staff will be verifying the operation of sump pumps across campus and making arrangements to have portable pumps on hand for pumping out areas in the event of flooding. Grounds crew will also be mobilized to clear catch basins of leaves and debris.

Please assist PPS to prepare for these weather conditions by responding as follows:

  • keep electrical use in your unit to a minimum and turn off all non-essential lights, equipment and computers to assist in the effort to reduce the electrical load required for Queen’s facilities.
  • ensure that all windows are fully closed
  • immediately report any observed flooding or roof leaks to Fixit by calling extension 77301
Tags: Campus Community

Flags lowered for Susan Price

Tuesday October 27, 2015
By Communications Staff
Susan Price

Flags on campus are lowered for Susan Price, a financial assistant in the Regional Assessment and Resource Center at Queen’s University, who passed away Oct. 25 at Kingston General Hospital. She was 58.

Ms. Price worked at Queen’s for 15 years. A private ceremony will be held by her family. She will be laid to rest at Cataraqui Cemetery.

A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, Oct. 30, 7 pm at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, where everyone is welcome. In lieu of flowers, she has requested charitable contributions to World Vision (where she sponsored several children over the years), The Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, or The Canadian Cancer Society.

Tags: Campus Community

Computer Store services transitioning in 2016

Tuesday October 27, 2015
By Communications Staff

Several services currently offered by the Campus Computer Store will transition to existing shared services after the store ceases retail operations next year.

The university reviewed the Campus Computer Store and all other ancillary operations on campus during the 2014-15 fiscal year. In light of the growing deficit, the review recommended closing the store by April 29, 2016, with retail services being discontinued and core services that support the academic and business requirements of the university transitioning to existing shared services.

The decision to close the store is in line with the broader trend across the province, with only one university still operating a computer store.

“Queen’s is committed to financial sustainability in order to protect the university’s overall academic mission,” says Caroline Davis, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). “Increased external competition, especially from online retailers, coupled with broader product lines available instantly from local retailers challenged the Campus Computer Store’s business model.

“ITS explored different options in recent years to offset declining sales, but the opportunities could not guarantee the long-term financial sustainability of the Campus Computer Store,” Ms. Davis says.

Human Resources (HR) has met with the store employees and union representatives to discuss future options. HR is offering ongoing support to the employees and has made them aware of new positions that will be created as a result of some services transitioning to existing shared service units.

“We have given serious consideration to the impact this decision will have on store employees, who provide exceptional service to the Queen’s community,” says Bo Wandschneider, Associate Vice-Principal (Information Technology Services) and Chief Information Officer. “As we move forward with the transition plan, we will do our utmost to support the employees.”

Services transitioning

Departmental IT purchases will transition directly to Strategic Procurement Services (SPS) starting in May 2016. In the meantime, departments can continue to place orders through orderit@queensu.ca.

SPS is currently developing new processes to support departmental IT purchases. SPS will consult with stakeholders as it develops the processes, which will be publicized in the coming months.

“Staff and faculty will have access to a convenient online portal where they can obtain quotes and place orders,” Ms. Davis says. “Re-directing internal purchases to Strategic Procurement Services will deliver cost savings to departments by eliminating the current Campus Computer Store mark-up without compromising the service they have come to expect from store staff.”

The Queen’s Mobile Voice and Data Plans will transition directly to ITS after the store closes. Until that time, staff and faculty phone requests can continue to be submitted to qmobile@queensu.ca Any process changes that occur as a result of the transition to ITS will be communicated to the university community at a future date.

Students, faculty and staff members will no longer be able to purchase IT products for personal use from the Campus Computer Store after April 29, 2016. Personal purchases will continue at the store up until that date, but inventory and displays will be reduced as the store prepares to cease operations.  

Payroll deduction loans for staff and faculty will no longer be offered after Dec. 24, 2015 at noon. Furthermore, staff and faculty members will not be able to add to their existing payroll deduction loan after that point. ITS will continue to administer all existing loans after the store ceases operations. Staff and faculty members with loans will continue with their payout schedule until the loans are paid off.

Enterprise software agreements like Microsoft Office, onQ (the campus-wide learning management system) and others will continue to be managed and provisioned by ITS. All other software agreements will be reviewed and evaluated as they come due, and a committee will be struck to review software site licensing. The departmental leasing and rental program offered by the computer store, which has declined in use in recent years, will be discontinued.

Questions can be directed to Mr. Wandschneider or Brian McDonald, Associate Director, IT Support.

Tags: Campus Community|Financial Sustainability

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