Wednesday, December 15, 2010

[PDADC-L] George Luste's Pension Tragedy: Titanic Misinformation

To: Faculty, Librarians and Staff, University of Toronto

Date: December 15, 2010

Re: George Luste's Pension Tragedy: Titanic Misinformation

I write in response to yesterday's communiqué from the president of the Faculty Association.

With regret, I observe that Prof. Luste's commentary seems designed primarily to provoke unwarranted panic about the University's pension plan. There is absolutely no rational basis for the picture that he paints. In a nutshell, Prof. Luste has envisioned a very adverse scenario that depends on idiosyncratic assumptions and the wildly hypothetical situation of a complete and permanent cessation of the University's operations. The latter assumption is absurd. However, even were the University to cease operations, its total assets on wind-up would more than sustain the pension plan for all enrollees. Returning to reality, I can affirm that the Administration is following the Ontario Government's new framework for all pension plans. We shall soon be seeking input on a suite of strategies to reduce our pension deficit and put the U of T plan on a stronger long-term footing. For a more detailed response, please read on.

In private exchanges, I have occasionally challenged some of the hyperbole and pessimistic assumptions in Prof. Luste's commentary on the pension plan. My responses have been tempered by personal respect for his decades of service to the institution, and my own agreement with various of the critical comments raised by Prof. Luste about both the pension plan and UTAM.

Today, however, I find myself compelled to express deep disappointment at the alarmist tone and misleading content of Prof. Luste's communiqué. It is arguably irresponsible for a senior member of our community to use his position of influence to circulate an inflammatory analysis of a pension plan that affects thousands of people. To do so just in advance of the holidays is particularly unfortunate, notwithstanding Prof. Luste's attempt at leavening his commentary with an apology for being "a Grinch".

By way of context: The University of Toronto is not alone in having to deal with a significant pension deficit. Many defined benefit plans in the broad public sector in Canada as well as in the US are in the same position. Some plans have opted to reduce future benefits - for example, the Ontario Teachers Plan and the University of California Plan. Most are also seeking to increase member contributions.

Past members of the University of Toronto have enjoyed excellent pension benefits, and I want to assure retirees that they can count on those benefits continuing for their lifetimes. For current members, the plan can be put on a sustainable footing with moderate increases in contributions that align us appropriately with our peers. To ensure, however, that future generations of students and staff are not forced to underwrite the plan unfairly from tuition revenues and the University's operating budgets, we must take action to reduce the past service deficit in the plan.

The size of that deficit is currently $1.1B - a total that is daunting, but bears little relationship to the much larger amount projected by Prof. Luste. That difference arises because Prof. Luste's projections are based on constructs and assumptions that represent his personal view of the history and future of the plan and the long-term prospects for the global economy. It is truly puzzling that Prof. Luste would promote his projections as definitive without obtaining independent actuarial advice.

As members of our community can imagine, the Administration has been steadily working through a set of strategies that will enable the institution to deal with this cumulative pension deficit. We are in a very long-term game here. However, the earlier we take steps to change the trend-lines, the faster this situation will resolve itself.

Our goal is therefore to balance the positive impacts of faster remediation against the need to contain the negative impact of significant additional payments on the fabric of the institution. While some short-term commitments must be made to start the process, we shall be considering a range of financing strategies that amortize the impact on the operating budget. Our frustration with this situation is doubtless more than matched by the feelings of the members of our community who are also affected. We shall be seeking input and ideas on strategies early in the new year, not least through the governance process. But I am confident that, while there will be difficult choices, the impacts will be time-limited and manageable. That view, I repeat, is shared by many who have both relevant expertise and experience derived from analyzing countless institutions and pension plans.

How then does Prof. Luste arrive at his doomsday scenario?

The first and over-riding failure of his analysis is an insistence that everyone must think about the pension deficit primarily in terms of 'wind-up' costs. The wind-up solvency test for pension plans is the one that has repeatedly been criticized as poorly applicable to public institutions. It was designed for private corporations that can go out of business in the near or medium term. Plan assets should therefore be sufficient to ensure that pensions are covered, given the harsh reality of bankruptcy proceedings in the private sector.

A second's reflection will show that such a scenario is nonsensical in our context. The University has operated for 183 years. We have sister institutions that are more than 800 years old. This "great good place" will be here and thriving hundreds of years hence.

Let us imagine, however, that we were somehow to close our doors. The land and buildings of the University on three campuses have a value amounting to several billion dollars. Combining the pension plan assets and the real estate assets, and subtracting current borrowing, the net proceeds exceed the actual pension wind-up deficit by a margin well in excess of a billion dollars. This, moreover, is true without factoring in what would by that time be a major endowment fund.

A second problem arises from Prof. Luste's interpretation of the history of the pension plan. Indeed, Prof. Luste favours an independent inquiry into past pension "holidays", as if the process of putting his predecessors or mine in the docket would somehow generate funds for the plan. The reality is that contributions were not taken away mindlessly for the 18 years he highlights. For much of that period the pension surplus was sufficiently high that the Income Tax Act simply prevented the University from making any contributions - as was the case for many other plans in those years.

Furthermore, a substantial tranche of the money that did not go to the pension plan was used to fund pension improvements for active and retired plan members. Improvements included initiation of the Supplemental Retirement Arrangement (SRA) that enabled plan members to have pension coverage for salaries above the usual cap set by the Canada Revenue Agency. Surplus funds also catalyzed the hugely successful Campaign for U of T by matching donations for scholarships, endowed chairs and professorships, and other academic priorities.

Finally, during the time of the Social Contract, the Ontario Government suggested that pension contribution holidays could be used to meet the some or part of the required compensation reductions - and the University did so with UTFA's agreement. Indeed, many of these initiatives were negotiated with and agreed by the Faculty Association. All were discussed fully and openly and incorporated into the University's budget reports.

Nonetheless, to support his view that these contribution holidays were wrong-headed, Prof. Luste alleges that the plan actuary wilfully manipulated assumptions over the years to create an artificial surplus. Our actuary is nationally respected for his integrity and expertise, and the assumptions for U of T have consistently been in full alignment with the standards for other plans. In contrast, Prof. Luste's analysis depends on unusual assumptions about investment returns. His assumptions, if widely applied, would put the vast majority of pension plans in Canada into a solvency crisis. Small wonder, then, that Prof. Luste's analysis inflates the anticipated deficit for the U of T plan. Furthermore, he projects forward the value of the "missing contributions" as if they are relevant and factors them into his wind-up solvency projection. The result is an elegant exercise in perfecting chagrin.

I should add that this Administration has repeatedly affirmed that we are opposed to pension contribution holidays. We have also signalled our interest in working with UTFA to lock in contributions and ensure a safe haven for funds in the event that a surplus is again generated in the plan many years from now.

As to UTAM, George Luste was the most visible of a number of internal critics of the previous oversight mechanisms and investment philosophies. In yesterday's communiqué, however, he continues a pattern of post-hoc investment analysis, emphasizing a missed opportunity to buy high-yield inflation-proofed bonds in 2000! In investing, hindsight is both perfect and unhelpful. Financial markets, moreover, rise and fall and rise again. A constant prediction of adverse events will always be validated at some point but should not be confused with keen foresight.

Notwithstanding these differences of perspective, I have fully shared Prof. Luste's frustration with UTAM, and undertook a comprehensive restructuring of its governance last year. An entirely new group now oversees the investment strategy. That group consists of outstanding individuals who are focused on long-term portfolio management. The membership, which I will introduce more formally in the new year, includes leaders with experience in risk management, large-scale trusts, insurance assets, and pension funds. Major changes continue at UTAM and I believe they will pay off handsomely in the years ahead.

For now, suffice it to say that we lost more money than most other Canadian plans in 2009, while we made more than most in 2007. Neither fact is very relevant because our focus is long-term. And, on that longer-term basis we are tracking back towards our return target - a target that Prof. Luste chops more or less in half to generate his doomsday scenario.

Given the assumptions underlying that scenario, it is regrettable that Prof. Luste framed his analysis with inflammatory language that could cause needless anxiety for University pensioners and current members of our community. Prof. Luste goes so far as to counsel current faculty to consider retiring and cashing out their pensions. He also suggests that new faculty should not join the plan - advice that amounts to a direct attack on recruitment and renewal in every department of the University. I suggest we instead consider the University as others see it, even as the President of the Faculty Association calls for current faculty and librarians to head for the lifeboats and for others to avoid the good ship that has given him a livelihood for more than thirty-five years.

The University's finances have very recently been reviewed by private credit agencies. These agencies have become more cautious after stringent criticism of their methodologies in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008. Yet this fall, the Dominion Bond Rating Service, a Canadian company, gave U of T a stable AA rating -- slightly better than the credit rating of the Province of Ontario itself. DBRS was fully aware of the University's pension liabilities. Moody's, an international company, rated U of T as Aa1 stable, and wrote as follows: "Over the medium term, the impact of increased unfounded pension liabilities and the policy to provide scholarships to all qualified students could place additional pressure on expenditures. Nevertheless the university's prudent budgetary policies provide comfort that it will be able to successfully manage these cost pressures."

Then there is the Province of Ontario, which has undertaken a comprehensive analysis of each university's pension plan as part of a general review of public and private pensions. The relevant Ministries have recently set out their expectations for exactly what steps should be taken and what funds must be committed for each University's plan to be considered sustainable and solvent. These steps and funding requirements align with everything that has been communicated repeatedly by my Administration - and those funding requirements bear no resemblance to Prof. Luste's Titanic numbers.

Let me therefore conclude this message on a happier note. We have an amazing University, full of outstanding faculty, staff and students. Our performance in myriad dimensions of our mission is extraordinary. We will need to tighten our belts for a limited time to put the pension plan back on a firm footing, and we also must contribute appropriately for the post-retirement benefits we are slated to receive. However, I am personally committed to a long view and to examining how to leverage our varied institutional assets to reduce the pension deficit. Our intent is to strike a balance between making the requisite payments early to start containing the deficit, and ensuring that we mitigate the effects of those payments on our core academic operations. I don't expect it will be easy sailing. However, the University of Toronto is wonderfully resilient and enjoys a massive base of external support. We also enjoy a certain immunity, born of a remarkable history over more than 180 years, from the overwrought prognostications of those who see icebergs in the waters all around us. I am confident that the voyage of the next few years will have its stresses and strains, but will be marked above all by high achievement and continued institutional success.

I wish you a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to seeing you in 2011.

Yours sincerely

David Naylor

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Newsletter Vol. 4//No. 4

A Message from Dean Cristina Amon

Our Faculty is a place of creativity where engineers put innovation to work. Our faculty and students apply their engineering knowledge to assess, analyze, and solve problems, and to create novel devices, products, processes and technologies. Many establish and lead companies and organizations around the world.

In this issue, read about the entrepreneurial activities of four faculty members – and one PhD candidate – who share their insights on what it takes to turn innovative research into commercialized products. These enterprises represent just a few of the Faculty's more than 100 spin-off companies. Led by Engineering and in collaboration with the Rotman School of Management, we developed an Engineering Business Minor and Certificate, approved by Faculty Council to begin next year. These programs bridge our students' creativity and innovation in engineering with the skills of managing a technology-based business.

We are proud to tell the story of five of our undergraduates who have been selected from across Canada to compete in The Next 36, a program that aims to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

I thank you for your dedication and outstanding contributions on behalf of everyone at our Faculty. I wish you and your families a joyful holiday season and a rewarding 2011.
December 15, 2010

Volume 4, Issue 4
In this issue:

Spotlight On: Entrepreneurship

What's New
Honours and Awards
Research
Governance
Engineering Events
In the News
Archives


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Spotlight On: Entrepreneurship

Professor, Researcher, Entrepreneur
Andrew Goldenberg (MIE), Molly Shoichet (ChemE, IBBME), Joseph C. Paradi (ChemE) and Ted Sargent (ECE) are just a few U of T Engineers starting their own companies

Engineers Get into the Startup Game
The entrepreneurial culture in Engineering picks up steam

Five Students Selected for The Next 36: Canada's Entrepreneurial Leadership Initiative
EngSci students Shahed Al-Haque (1T1), Shane Gu (1T3), Saksham Uppal (1T1 + PEY) as well as ECE students Michael Del Baso (1T2) and Tulika Gupta (1T2) among undergraduates chosen for new entrepreneur-oriented program







What's New

U of T-hosted Regenerative Medicine Project Awarded $15 Million from Federal Government
Initiative will focus on turning biomedical research and engineering into treatments for diseases; Professor Peter Zandstra (IBBME) named Chief Scientific Officer

Engineering Business Minor and Certificate Approved by Faculty Council
Option and certificate approved on Dec. 1; Professor Jonathan Rose (ECE) appointed Director

Faculty Council Approves New Global Engineering Certificate
Certificate builds on Faculty's Centre for Global Engineering (CGEN)

State-of-the-art Facial Recognition System Unveiled
ECE Professor Kostas Plataniotis and team develop biometrics encryption technology for use in casinos

Joint Venture Achieves First Field Application of Portland Limestone Cement
Holcim Canada, CivE Professor Doug Hooton and Ministry of Transportation join forces to promote innovative and sustainable construction solutions

Acting Vice-Dean, Undergraduate, Appointed
Professor Sanjeev Chandra (MIE) to serve as Vice-Dean from Jan. to June 2011

BioZone Established as an Extra-departmental Unit C
New centre approved by Faculty Council will advance environmental microbiology research

Gravy Train Makes Stop at City Hall and U of T
Built by Engineering students, in hopes of kick-starting a public food drive

Full-Scale Earthquake Testing of New Seismic Protection System Goes Off Without a Hitch
CivE Professors Constantin Christopoulos and Jeffrey Packer supervised PhD research of Michael Gray

Movember Campaign Reaches Goal, Professor Grant Allen Shaves Mo
Skule™ team successfully raises money for prostate cancer research

Regent Park Girls Visit Google's Toronto Offices for Learning, Sharing
U of T Engineering undergraduates assist girls in design challenge



Honours and Awards

Call for Nominations: Staff Awards
Nominate staff for five awards initiated last year; open until Jan. 31

U of T Engineers Receive Six of Nine Ontario Professional Engineers Awards
Mansoor Barati (MSE), Jeffrey Packer (CivE), Andrew Goldenberg (MIE), Joseph C. Paradi (ChemE), Stephen Armstrong and alumna Deborah Goodings (CivE 7T5) honoured

Engineering Awarded Five Canada Research Chairs
Professors Zheng Hong Lu (MSE), Ted Sargent (ECE) and Peter Zandstra (IBBME) take bulk of U of T's CRC appointments; Tier II Chairs renewed for Professors Hani Naguib (MIE) and Craig Simmons (MIE)

Two Engineering Alumnae Named as Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada
Anne Sado (MIE, 7T7) and Dawn Tattle (CivE, 8T5) recognized for outstanding career achievements

Two Professors Inducted into the Royal Society of Canada
Stewart Aitchison (ECE) and Harry Ruda (MSE) honoured

PhD Candidate Named Global Graduate Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Vincent Cheung (ECE) is creator of Shape Collage, an automatic photo collage maker

Founder of U of T Startup Wins University of Waterloo Alumni Award
Carlos de Oliveira (CivE, 0T6) was awarded for his startup company, Cast Connex



Research

Two New Ontario-India Calls for Proposals for Collaborative R&D Projects
Expression of interest deadline is Jan. 21

Canada-Brazil Awards – Joint Research Projects
Application deadline for Canadian submissions is March 31

U of T Connaught Fund Programs
Upcoming deadlines for new programs that promote research and innovation


Governance

Dec. 1 Faculty Council Meeting
Recap of decisions made

Mark your calendars! The 2010–11 Faculty Council meetings will take place from 12:10 to 2 p.m. in the Michael E. Charles Council Chamber. The meeting dates are:

•Tuesday, March 8, 2011
•Thursday, April 28, 2011


Engineering Events


Dec. 22–Jan. 2
January 3
January 4
January 5
January 12
January 13
January 14
January 21

U of T closed for holidays
University re-opens
George Brown College: Machining Courses Enrolment
ChemE: Distinguished Speaker Yury Gogotsi, Drexel University
ECE: Engineering Entrepreneurship Series; Speaker Vincent Cheung, Shape Collage
You're Next! Science and Engineering Career Fair 2011
Engineering Science Education Conference 2011
MIE: Distinguished Speaker Gamal Refai-Ahmed, AMD Fellow



More Engineering events



In the News

Phys Ed: Why Wii Fit is Best for Grandparents
Assistant Professor Elaine Biddiss (IBBME) comments on exergames in The New York Times

Mineral Engineering Instructor Named to EurOmax Advisory Board
Roger Moss (Geol 0T8) to provide technical expertise

Fuel Consumption: Toronto Star Measured it Right in 1960
The late Professor William A. Wallace (MIE) helped Toronto Star test cars in seven classes for fuel consumption

CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks Asks Researchers to Discuss Extraordinary Achievements in Their Fields
Assistant Professor Aimy Bazylak (MIE) speaks on renewable energy

Conflicting Theories on Explosion at Mexican Hotel
Professor Emeritus Olev Trass (ChemE) comments on gas build-up resulting in fatal resort accident

Researchers Plot Locations Where Defibrillators Can Save Lives
Assistant Professor Timothy Chan (MIE) has researched where automated external defibrillators can best be used

Conterfeit Tokens Are Used Daily on Toronto's Transit System, Engineering Analysis Finds
Professor Zhirui Wang (MSE) oversaw analysis of TTC tokens

More Engineering In the News


Newsletter Archives

Did you miss a past issue of The Engineering Newsletter? Revisit past articles and catch up on Faculty news on the Engineering homepage.

The Engineering Newsletter is a monthly summary of key headlines, events and opportunities for faculty and staff in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. If you have questions or comments, please contact: liz.do@utoronto.ca.

Follow us on Twitter and watch us on Vimeo.


All contents copyright © Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, University of Toronto. The University of Toronto respects your privacy.
We do not rent, trade or sell our mailing lists.

Engineering Career Fair - You're Next 2011 - January 13, 2011

Please send this message below about this year's Engineering Career Fair that is taking place on January 13, 2011 to all your faculty, instructors and graduate students. Undergraduate students are receiving notice of this event through their program student liaison officers and Eng Soc. This is a great event for all students (undergraduate and graduate) and I'd encourage faculty to encourage students to attend and also consider dropping by to support our students and visiting industrial partners.

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This year the Engineering Society is again organizing the You're Next! Science and Engineering Career Fair 2011 . It will take place shortly after the break on Thursday, January 13, 2011, 10am – 4pm. Last year marked the beginning of the annual You’re Next! fair, with over 24 companies and over 3000 students in attendance. This year promises to be build on last year’s success with a focus on preparing students to meet employers and learn about their companies, opportunities, and recruitment practices.
Event: You're Next! Science and Engineering Career Fair 2011, University of Toronto
Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
Time: 10am – 4pm
Location: St. George Campus - University Examination Centre, 255 McCaul Street, Toronto
Details: www.yourenext.ca You can also follow us on our Facebook page @You're Next or on Twitter @yourenext2011

Are you a student looking for employment in the field of engineering?
Need a platform to talk to employers directly about why You should be their Next employee?

You’re Next! 2011 is the University of Toronto’s one stop recruitment event for undergraduate and graduate students in Engineering and Science, which will be held this winter, Thursday, January 13, 2011, 10am – 4pm, at the University of Toronto St. George campus. In 2010, over 3000 undergraduate and graduate students attended You’re Next! meeting representatives from companies such as RIM, Microsoft, Diageo, Husky, Schulmberger, and many more. Whether you are in Mechanical, Engineering Science, Mineral, Chemical or any discipline, You’re Next! is the perfect opportunity for students, graduates and post-graduates to meet recruiters looking for 12 - 16 month internships, summer employment/ internships and full-time employment. This is also a chance for you to check out what the job market is like and what opportunities may lie ahead in your career path. In addition, because you represent the world’s highest ranked engineering program in Canada, you may even get the chance to land an interview on-the-spot in the new designated interview booths!

***Engineering Career Centre Student Preparation & Development***
To prepare students for the fair, the Engineering Career Centre has scheduled targeted sessions in the first two weeks of January, such as resume development and networking. http://www.engineeringcareers.utoronto.ca/student/calendar.htm Please continue to visit the site throughout the year, as new sessions will be added to the calendar to meet the growing demand. The Engineering Career Centre Counsellors are also available to meet with students throughout the year to discuss career development strategies and practices.

For more information and profiles on companies in attendance please visit us at www.yourenext.ca. You can also follow us on our Facebook page @You're Next or on Twitter @yourenext2011. Don't miss out on what could be an opportunity of a life-time. Come out on January 13th, 2010 and connect with what could be your future employer!

Thank you and Happy Holidays,
You're Next 2011 Team"

--
Best Regards,

Art de Guzman
Executive Director
You're Next 2011 Career Exposition

MIE Newsletter Vol. 02 // No. 24

December 13, 2010 Vol. 02 // No. 24
Table of Contents: Chair's Office // Awards and Recognition // Graduate Studies // Student Affairs // Job Opportunities // Vacation // Previous Newsletter & Links


Chair's Office
MIE Holiday Luncheon


On Friday, December 10th, MIE hosted its annual Holiday lunch to celebrate the season.

Held this year within the Great Hall of Hart House, about 300 Faculty, staff, graduate students, and research staff came to enjoy the company of colleagues, as well as a festive buffet.


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University & Department Closure

The University and the department will be closed Wednesday, December 22 to Friday, December 31 inclusive. The University and department will re-open on Monday, January 3, 2011. During this period, all buildings will be closed except for the following locations. Users should contact these facilities for holiday hours.

Note: The machine shop will close early on Tuesday, December 21 at 2 PM and department offices will close at 3 PM.


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MIE Newsletter Break

There will be no issue of the MIE newsletter, next week (Monday, December 22). The next issue of MIE news will be released on Monday, January 10, 2011.

A reminder all submissions are due by 12 noon on Thursdays (e.g. next issue: Thursday, January 6) to: newsletter@mie.utoronto.ca.


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MIE 2010 Year in Review and Happy Holidays!

Click here to view a PDF copy of the PowerPoint presentation shown at the holiday luncheon highlighting our many Departmental events this past year.

Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing holiday season and best wishes for 2011!



Awards & Recognition
Anne Sado (IndE 7T7) is named among Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada



On Nov. 29, Engineering alumnae Anne Sado (IndE 7T7) was among those honoured at a gala celebrating Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Sado, who has been the President of George Brown College since 2004, was honoured in the Cisco Public Sector awards category for her leadership in the growth and renewal of George Brown. She was also recently named the Chair of the board of ORION, an organization supporting Ontario's advanced research and education network. As well, Sado was given the Engineering Alumni Hall of Distinction Award at this year's EAA awards ceremony earlier in November.


The Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards is Canada's most recognizable award for the country's highest achieving female leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Read more

Graduate Studies
AMIGAS Holiday Social



Date: Friday, December 17
Time: 4:30 PM
Location: Molly Bloom's Irish Pub, 191 College St.

Come celebrate holidays, the end of exams or anything you feel like with food, drinks and good company. Faculty and staff are welcome – don't be shy! Come join your favorite grad students at the party!


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New Teaching Assistants Training Session

All first-time teaching assistants must attend the following training session:

Date: Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 1 - 4 PM
Location: Robarts Library, 4th floor, Rm. 4049

More info regarding the January 5th training session for new TAs by the Engineering Faculty.


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March 2011 (in absentia) or June 2011 (convocation) Deadline

MASc and MEng students wishing to graduate in March 2011 (in absentia) or June 2011 (convocation)
without fees being charged for the January 2011 session must complete their degree requirements
by Wednesday, January 26, 2011.

For detailed information click here.



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PhD Final Oral Exam

Ming Yang presents: Early Faulty Detection Scheme and Optimized CBM Strategy for Gear Transmission System Operation Under Varying Loads
Date: Monday, December 13
Time: 10 AM
Location: School of Graduate Studies, 63 St. George Street, Room 301
Exam committee: Prof. Sam Toueg (examination chair, Department of Computer Science); Prof. V. Makis (supervisor); Prof. J.W. Zu; Prof. R. Kwon; Prof. D. Frances; and Prof. C-G Lee.
External examiner: Prof. Ming Liang (University of Ottawa)



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MASc Oral Exam

Egor Sanin presents: Generating Reliable and Predictable Lower-Limb Torque Vectors Using FES
Date: Wednesday, December 15
Time: 4 PM
Location: Toronto Rehab, University Centre, 550 University Ave., 12th Floor, Room 12010
Exam committee: Prof. M.R. Popovic (exam chair and supervisor); Prof. C. A. Simmons; and Prof. J.W. Zu.



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PhD Qualifying Exam

Dina Badawy presents: Development of a New Artificial Bone Matrix by Employing Novel Microfabrication Technologies
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 10 AM
Location: MB101
Exam committee: Prof. H. Naguib (co-supervisor); Prof. L. You (co-supervisor); Prof. C. Simmons (exam chair); and Prof. A. Guenther.

Student Affairs
Machining Program in partnership with George Brown College, Casa Loma

The Faculty of Applied Science Engineering has introduced a voluntary program by which students can gain introductory experience at metal machining and welding. Students will have the opportunity to receive hands-on training in George Brown's extensive and up-to-date machining facilities and those interested in the vast array of campus groups such as the Solar Car Team and Formula SAE will find this training invaluable. All current U of T engineering students (undergraduate and graduate) are welcome to participate, including those on PEY.

There are three short courses available starting in January. Each course is two days long and runs on successive Saturdays. There is a fee for each course; receipts will be issued for tax purposes. The three courses in this machining and welding program are as follows:

1/ *Basic Machining (lathe, mill, drill press)
2/ *Advanced Machining (pre-requisite: the Basic Machining course)
3/ Introduction to Welding
* Students who successfully complete these two courses will have access to the George Brown Machine Shop following the program for work on their academic projects. For dates, click here.

Course registration is available online starting January 4, 2011.

For more information, please contact Prof. Tony Sinclair.



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University of Toronto Consulting Association (UTCA) Business Case Competition

Registration for the 2011 UTCA Business Case Competition is now open! Apply for an opportunity to demonstrate your analytical skills, network with consulting professionals, and win cash prizes!

This year's competition is a one-day event on January 22, 2011. If you are one of the 16 successfully admitted teams, you will be given three days to solve a business case selected form the Harvard Business Review and the chance to present your solutions to a panel of judges from the world's top management consulting firms. First, second, and third place winners will receive cash prize.

Applications close, January 1, 2011.

Learn More


Job Opportunities
University of Ottawa » Faculty of Engineering » Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. The Department is specifically looking for outstanding individuals with practical mechanical engineering design experience as well as research expertise in any of the areas relevant to mechanical engineering.

How to apply


VacationStaff:

Joe Baptista, Facilities Coordinator and Building Officer: December 17 - 21

Nina Haikara, Liaison – External Relations: December 17 - 21

Raymond Low, Computing Services Manager: December 20 & 21

Eleanor Morris, Executive Assistant: December 20 & 21

Oscar del Rio, Senior Computer and Web Administrator: January 3 - 7

Previous Newsletter & LinksPrevious MIE newsletter

All MIE newsletters

MIE Website: www.mie.utoronto.ca

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Copyright © 2009-10 University of Toronto | Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering | Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, All Rights Reserved

Friday, December 10, 2010

EngSci Levy funds for distribution in 2010-2011

As you know, Engineering students in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering contribute $100 each year into a Special Levy Fund, money that is allocated by the students towards improving and updating academic-related equipment and facilities. A significant portion of the funds contributed by Engineering Science students has been assigned to the Division for allocation to departments and institutes involved with teaching courses in the EngSci program. In 2009-2010, the amount of Levy Fund money that was distributed by the Division in this way was ~$90,000.

I would like to invite all of you to consider preparing submissions to the 2010-2011 Special Levy Fund on behalf of the EngSci courses that you currently teach or will be teaching next year. These submissions should consist of specific equipment requests targeted at meeting the needs of your EngSci undergraduate labs and facilities. Please provide the following information to Gina John, Director (gina@ecf.utoronto.ca):
1. A brief description of the equipment.
2. What EngSci course (Years 1-4) this equipment will be used to support.
3. How this new equipment will enhance the EngSci student learning experience in the course.
4. A quotation for each request.
EngSoc has asked that these requests be collected and then submitted to them by Friday January 14th, 2011. This is earlier than in previous years, but we will do our best to meet this deadline with your help.

After all of the requests have been collected, I will meet with the EngSci Club Executive to ask them to come to a consensus by flagging each item as high, medium or low priority and projects will be funded on this basis.

For UTIAS and IBBME, units that receive direct allocations from the Special Levy Fund on behalf of the Years 3 and 4 students in the Aero and Biomed Options and the Years 2 students in AER201, I would still encourage submissions and simply ask you to provide an accounting of how these funds would be used to enhance what you are not able to do with your direct allocations.

One final important point about the distribution of the 2010-2011 levy funds. Departments and Institutes that receive Levy Fund money via the Division of Engineering Science will now be expected to provide a 50 cent on the dollar match, e.g. if you have a project approved that is expected to cost $150, then your unit will receive $100 from the Levy Fund and your unit will be expected to provide the $50 match. Note: if it actually comes in at $120, then your unit will receive $80 and will be expected to provide the $40 match.

This matching formula was developed and funded in the past by the Provost’s Office but is no longer available. Our Faculty decided to continue to honour the match in recognition of the students’ contributions.

In closing, please note that for the 2009-10 Levy Fund allocations via the Division of Engineering Science, we are waiting on documentation from Physics, MIE and IBBME before transferring these funds.

Sincerely,

Will

William R. Cluett, Ph.D., P.Eng., F.C.I.C., F.A.A.A.S.
Chair, Division of Engineering Science
Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry
Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
University of Toronto
40 St. George Street, Room 2110
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2E4
CANADA

Tel: 416-978-5889
Fax: 416-978-0828
will.cluett@utoronto.ca
www.engsci.utoronto.ca

McMaster University: faculty positions in civil engineering - Structural & Environmental

The Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University is currently recruiting for two positions at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. See below for details.

Sincerely,

Tatiana Dobrovolska
Administrator
Department of Civil Engineering
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West, JHE 301
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L7
tel (905) 525-9140 ext. 24746
fax (905) 529-9688

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Faculty Position in Structural Engineering

The Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University invites applications from outstanding candidates for a tenure-stream position in the structural engineering area. Qualified applicants from both academic and industrial sectors will be considered for this position at the assistant professor level. Applicants must have a bachelor and doctoral degree in Civil Engineering and be eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. The ideal candidate would have a track record involving innovative experimental and/or high quality theoretical research. Interests in rehabilitation and retrofit of structures, seismic engineering, durability of infrastructure, and sustainable infrastructure design are of particular interest. The successful candidate is expected to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise graduate students, and attract funding from granting agencies and other external sources to support her/his research activities.

Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applicants are asked to send their curriculum vitae, a statement detailing research and teaching interests, including anticipated areas of research collaboration with existing faculty in the Department, and names of three referees to Dr. B.W. Baetz, Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L7. Telephone (905) 525-9140 ext. 24912, Fax: (905) 525-9688 or e-mail: baetz@mcmaster.ca. Applications review will begin immediately and the appointment will ideally commence July 1, 2011. However, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Note: All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be considered first for these positions. McMaster University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, members of sexual minorities and persons with disabilities.

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Faculty Position in Environmental Engineering

The Department of Civil Engineering at McMaster University invites applications from outstanding candidates for a faculty position in the area of environmental engineering. Starting rank will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. Applicants must have a bachelor and doctoral degree in Civil Engineering and be eligible for registration as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario. The ideal candidate will have a track record involving innovative experimental and/or high quality modeling-based research. Interests in environmental engineering, with emphasis on sustainable wastewater treatment technologies, will be considered an asset for this position. This position is one of the McMaster Engineering designated appointments in the broader area of engineering for a sustainable society. The successful candidate is expected to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, supervise graduate students, and attract funding from granting agencies and other external sources to support her/his research activities.

Salary and rank are commensurate with experience and qualifications. Applicants are asked to send their curriculum vitae, a statement detailing research and teaching interests, including anticipated areas of research collaboration with existing faculty in the Department, and names of three referees to Dr. B.W. Baetz, Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L7. Telephone (905) 525-9140 ext. 27214, Fax: (905) 525-9688 or e-mail: baetz@mcmaster.ca. Applications review will begin immediately and the appointment will ideally commence July 1, 2011. However, applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Note: All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be considered first for these positions. McMaster University is strongly committed to employment equity within its community, and to recruiting a diverse faculty and staff. The University encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, members of sexual minorities and persons with disabilities.

Material from housing industry available

Hello,

I received a phone call this morning from an elderly gentleman who is interested in finding a home for some of his material. I told him I would contact the Civil Engineering Department and the Engineering Library to see if either of your areas is interested.

Mr. Jack Hussman (aged 92) was heavily involved in the building industry from 1972-1992. His involvement was mostly in Ontario, and with the new home warranty program. He has a lot of research and technical material, particularly from the 1980's.

Mr. Hussman is wondering if any area at the UofT could make use of any of his documents. If not, he will simply dispose of them.

If you are interested or have any other ideas, please contact Mr.
Hussman directly at 416-225-0882 or by e-mail "ajh@sympatico.ca". He is very pleasant and knowledgeable, and easy to speak with.

Regards,
Eleanor

--
*************************************************
Eleanor Morris, Executive Assistant to the Chair Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Toronto
5 King's College Road, Room 136
Toronto, ON M5S 3G8

Tel: 416-978-3042 Fax: 416-946-5988

Mine Closure 2011 - Call for Abstracts

Hello,

The 6th International Conference on Mine Closure will be held on September 18 - 21, 2011 in the Canadian Rocky Mountains at Lake Louise, Alberta. We invite you to submit an abstract as indicated below.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Les Sawatsky
Conference Chair, Mine Closure 2011

Catherine Puchalski
Conference Manager, Mine Closure 2011


Become a Presenter at an International Conference

The Steering Committee for Mine Closure 2011 invites you to submit an abstract to qualify you to present at an industry-leading, international conference on mine closure and reclamation. The conference will be held in Lake Louise, Alberta from September 18 to 20, 2011.This will be the sixth international mine closure conference, held for the first time in North America.

The goal of Mine Closure 2011 is to share mine closure successes, develop a better understanding of multi-disciplinary requirements and identify best management practices. Mine planners/managers, engineers, scientists, financial specialists and community engagement practitioners will assemble to participate in a program that integrates the many disciplines involved in mine closure. Delegates will gain a better understanding of mine closure challenges, risks and opportunities to develop cost effective solutions that reduce environmental impacts and improve social legacy. Delegates will learn about innovative mine closure techniques, strategies and processes.

Over 500 delegates from North America and overseas are expected to attend Mine Closure 2011. Many will submit papers for the technical program that emphasizes innovation and showcases the application of state-of-the-art technologies and cost-conscious practices as industry specialists seek to minimize the environmental footprint, provide for sustainable mining practices and avoid end-of-mine liabilities.

To learn more about Mine Closure 2011 visit us at www.mineclosure2011.com.

Abstracts relating to one of the following themes are welcomed:

Vegetation Establishment for Closure
Long Term Surface and Ground Water Management
Soils for Mine Closure
Recent Mine Closure Case Studies
Progressive Reclamation
Community Engagement in Mine Closure
Erosion Control
Engineered Mine Waste Cover Systems
Unique Challenges in Mine Closure
Corporate Social Responsibility
Mine Closure in Cold Regions
Mine Closure Risks & Liability
Mine Closure Disparities: Failures and Lessons Learned
Mine Closure Wetlands & Pit Lakes
Regulatory Issues In Mine Closure Planning and Transfer of Care & Custody
Monitoring after Mine Closure
Financing Closure
Landform Design for Sustainable Closure
Maintenance-free or Perpetual Maintenance
Decommissioning of Tailings Dams
Beneficial Re-use of Mine Sites

Abstracts must include the title, author(s), author affiliation, and a brief outline of the presentation (350 words or less) to be discussed.

For further details, please visit the conference website at www.mineclosure2011.com or contact Catherine Puchalski at +1 403-299-6442 or catherine_puchalski@golder.com.

Notification of acceptance will be given by February 15th, 2011.

"MAKING CITIES RESILIENT": Special Themed issue call for papers from International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment (IJDRBE)

“MAKING CITIES RESILIENT”

Special Themed issue call for papers from International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment (IJDRBE)


Background and Scope
Cities and local governments need to get ready, reduce the risks and become resilient to disasters. For 2010 – 2011 and beyond, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) will campaign together with its partners for this to happen. "I call for the need of world leaders to address climate change and reduce the increasing risk of disasters- and world leaders must include Mayors, townships and community leaders", stated UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (2009). In this context, the 2010-2011 World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Making Cities Resilient” addresses issues of local governance and urban risk while drawing upon previous ISDR Campaigns on safer schools and hospitals, as well as on the sustainable urbanizations principles developed in the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign 2009-2013.

Local governments are the institutional level closest to the citizens and to their communities. They play the first role in responding to crises and emergencies and in attending to the needs of their constituencies. They deliver essential services to their citizens (health, education, transport, water, etc.), which need to be made resilient to disasters. Accordingly, there is a need for national governments, local government associations, international, regional and civil society organizations, donors, the private sector, academia and professional associations as well as every citizen to engage in the process of making cities safe from disasters.

This themed issue of the International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment is proposed for researchers and academics, policy makers and other professionals working with disaster prevention, mitigation, response and reconstruction responsibilities who wish to improve their working knowledge of both theory and practice in making cities resilient to disasters.

Themes
This issue will cover the following sub themes (but not limited to):
• National and local governance
• Participation of citizen groups and civil society in the disaster risk reduction process
• Role of the local government in the disaster mitigation, management and reconstruction process
• Risk assessment on hazards and vulnerabilities
• Disaster risk reduction
• Manage and reduce urban risk
• Disaster risk reduction educational programmes and capacity building
• Risk-reducing infrastructure
• Infrastructure upgrades and improvement
• Building regulations and land use planning norms
• Early warning systems and emergency management capacities
• Building resilience auditing
• Risk reduction and continuity management
• Knowledge management practices
• Community engagement and development

High quality original papers are invited within the "Making Cities Resilient" Themed Issue. All papers will be subjected to the journal’s double-blind peer review process.

Important dates

• 28th February 2011 : Deadline for abstract submission
• 15th March 2011 : Decision and call for full papers
• 31st July 2011 : Full paper submission

Submissions
At this stage, we are calling for abstracts (200 words) with proposed title and up to three key words. These will be reviewed against the Themed Issue scope, and IJDRBE’s aim and objectives. Relevant authors will be asked to submit full papers. Themed issue editors are Helena Molin Valdés, Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga & Dr Richard Haigh. Helena is the Deputy Director, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR) and the champion of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign. Dilanthi and Richard are the Editors of the International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment who are also Advisory panel members of the UNISDR’s “Making Cities Resilient” Campaign. In addition to the academic papers, practice notes and case study reports are also encouraged to submit for consideration for publication in this themed issue linking with the “Making Cities Resilient” campaign.

Any queries on this themed issue and your abstracts to be submitted to Chamindi Malalgoda (C.I.Malalgoda@edu.salford.ac.uk) at the Centre for Disaster Resilience, The University of Salford, UK.

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment (IJDRBE)
International journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment aims at developing the skills and knowledge of the built environment professions and will strengthen their capacity in strategic and practical aspects of disaster prevention, mitigation, response and reconstruction to mitigate the effects of disasters nationally and internationally. The journal publishes original and refereed material that contributes to the advancement of the research and practice and provides contributing authors with an opportunity to disseminate their research and experience to a broad audience. IJDRBE is the only journal to promote research and scholarly activity that examines the role of building and construction to anticipate and respond to unexpected events that damage or destroy the built environment. IJDRBE is indexed in: British Library, Construction and Building Abstracts, ICONDA - The International Construction Database, Business Source Premier (EBSCO), ABI INFORM Global (ProQuest), Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (ProQuest), INSPEC, and is also a CIB encouraged journal.

Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/ijdrbe.htm to read more about the Journal.


Kind regards
Helena Molin Valdés, Professor Dilanthi Amaratunga & Dr Richard Haigh

MITACS Step workshops: Jan-March 2011

What's MITACS Step?

• Program provides graduate students and postdocs with opportunities to build on their professional and transferrable skill sets.

• Opportunities are open to all past, present and prospective graduate students and postdocs.



Why should you Attend?

• Strengthen your working relationships, increase your ability to connect with industry, improve research results and impact.

• Access to industry recognized expertise.


JANUARY
Effective Networking - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials provided!


When: Monday, January 24, 2011
Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm (Registration 1:00pm SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. George Room, 3rd Floor

Practice Your Interview Skills - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!


When: Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. George Room, 3rd Floor

Managing Projects - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!


When: Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: Armoury Suite, 2nd Floor

Foundations of Project Management 1 (2-Days)- Toronto, ON REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!

*Please note: This workshop runs at the same time as Practice Your Presentation skills and Proactive Communication; You may only register for one of these.




When: Thursday, January 27 - Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: Armoury Suite, 2nd Floor


Practice Your Presentation Skills - Toronto, ON


REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!



*Please note: This workshop runs at the same time as Foundations of Project Management 1 and Proactive Communication; You may only register for one of these.

When: Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. George Room, 3rd Floor

Proactive and Practical Communication - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials and Breakfast basics provided!



*Please note: This workshop runs at the same time as Foundations of Project Management 1 and Presentation Skills I; You may only register for one of these.

When: Friday, January 28, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 12:00pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. David Room North, 3rd Floor




FEBRUARY


Proactive and Practical Communication - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials provided!

When: Monday, February 7, 2011
Time: 1:00pm - 4:30pm (Registration 12:30pm SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: Lombard Suite, 2nd Floor

MARCH
Managing Projects - Toronto, ON
REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!


When: Monday, March 7, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: Armoury Suite, 2nd Floor

Foundations of Project Management 1 (2-days)- Toronto, ON REGISTER HERE!
Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!

*Please note: This workshop runs at the same time as Practice Your Presentation Skills I; You may only register for one of these.



When: Tuesday, March 8 - Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. David Rm, 3rd Floor

Practice Your Presentation Skills - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!

Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!

*Please note: This workshop runs at the same time as Foundations of Project Management I; You may only register for one of these.


When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. Patrick Room, 3rd Floor

Practice Your Interview Skills - Toronto, ON

REGISTER HERE!
Materials, Breakfast basics, and Lunch provided!

When: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm (Registration 8:00am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: St. David Room North, 3rd Floor



The Art of Powerful Conversation- Toronto, ON REGISTER HERE!

Materials and Breakfast basics provided!


When: Friday, March 11, 2011
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm (Registration 8:30am SHARP)
Where: 89 Chestnut Street
Room: Armoury Suite, 2nd Floor




*Please note:

• A valid credit card is REQUIRED to complete and secure your registration.

• There is a $50.00 charge for no-shows and late cancellations

• You have 5 calendar days prior to the scheduled workshop to modify or cancel your registration at no penalty.

• Pending availability and the discretion of the Program Specialist, limited funding is available for travel and accommodation for participants coming from universities outside of the region where the workshop is being held. You MUST first register, then request travel funding, only those registered for a workshop are eligible for travel funding!



If you have any questions regarding the upcoming MITACS Step workshops or would like more information on the program in general, please do not hesitate to contact us.



Hope to see you there!


For more information on MITACS please visit http://www.mitacs.ca.
MITACS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of Ontario.

Lena Hussain, MES
Program Specialist, Step

MITACS Inc.
York University
York Lanes, Suite 353
4700 Keele Street,
Toronto ON, M3J 1P3

Ph: 416.650.8416
Fax: 416.650.8448
Email: lhussain@mitacs.ca
Web: www.mitacs.ca
Web: www.mitacsaccelerate.ca

Connect with us! [cid:image001.gif@01CB97B2.5325CC30] [cid:image002.gif@01CB97B2.5325CC30]

Making research count / La recherche, ça compte

Division III: Notification of New Course Postings on GWS - MSE1031H & APS520H1

Greetings:

You are invited to view and provide feedback on the following new course proposals which were recently posted to the Graduate Webposting System (GWS):

MSE1031H: Forensic Engineering

APS520H1: Technology, Engineering and Global Development

These proposals may be of specific interest to you, and can be found by clicking on the links above. Your feedback will be directed to the Faculty Graduate Affairs Office with a copy sent to SGS officers. Feedback is not posted on the GWS.

If you have questions about the GWS, please contact the Curriculum Review Officer at sgs.gws@utoronto.ca. If you have questions about SGS governance processes, please contact Anil Purandaré, SGS Governance Officer, at sgs.governanceofficer@utoronto.ca.

MIE Newsletter Vol. 02 // No. 23

December 6, 2010 Vol. 02 // No. 23

Table of Contents: Chair's Office // Awards and Recognition // Research Activities // Seminars // Graduate Studies // Student Affairs // Announcements // Vacation // Previous Newsletter & Links


Chair's Office
MIE Holiday Buffet Lunch » Early Office Closure


This Friday, December 10
Time: 12:30 PM
Location: Hart House, Great Hall

Administrative and technical support offices and the MC-78 machine shop will close for staff to attend the holiday luncheon, and will remain closed following the lunch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Thanks to Prof. Chandra



Prof. Sanjeev Chandra will depart from the Vice Chair position effective January 1, 2011, to take-up the role of Acting Vice Dean, Undergraduate Studies.

Prof. Chandra has made significant contributions to MIE during his tenure as Vice Chair from July 2009 to December 2010. He headed the space committee, implementing a new space policy and made many space moves for the new CFI projects, new student service centre and increased space requirement. He chaired the task force on teaching groups that led to the successful creation and operation of six new teaching groups. He also effectively worked with the student levy fund that has seen a significant increase in applications. In the spring of 2010, he devoted much time to preparing and writing the MIE strategic planning report.

We wish him all the best in his new position with the Faculty.


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New Position: Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories



Prof. James Mills has kindly agreed to take on the position of Coordinator of Undergraduate Laboratories as of January 1, 2011. The duties will include student levy fund allocation, supervising Tom Bernreiter and his team, Osmond Sargeant and Terry Zak, in the maintenance of existing lab equipment, the development of new lab equipment, and upgrades for undergraduate laboratories.

Many thanks to Prof. Mills for agreeing to take on this important task.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Administrative Arrangement

Effective as of January 1, 2011, the Vice Chair position will be phased out.

As a result of the elimination of the Vice Chair position, the new administrative arrangement will be as follows:

Space committee chair: Jean Zu
Signing on reimbursement: Jean Zu
Student levy: Jim Mills
Undergraduate labs: Jim Mills


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Staff Announcement



MIE is pleased to announce Terry Zak will continue to serve as senior student lab machinist. Terry joined the department in November 2009, on a term position. Terry has extensive mechanical design and machining experience from working in the tool and die industry, and has also lectured at a local Ontario college. His combination of industrial and academic experience will make Terry a continued asset to our department.

Congratulations, Terry!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Building Access Requests

The department now has a central service for all department access requests. Please e-mail buildingaccess@mie.utoronto.ca for the following types of access requests:

1.BCIT room, controlled by the faculty Locknetics system.
2.MIE access for the MC, RS, MB and HA exterior doors and interior doors that are controlled by the Chubb system.
3.MIE access for doors in MC, RS, MB and HA that are controlled by the department Locknetics system.

Awards & Recognition
Fuel Consumption: Toronto Star Measured it Right in 1960

In late 1960, 26 years before the launch of Wheels, the Toronto Daily Star exhaustively tested the gas mileage of 31 new 1961 cars.

Late Mechanical Engineering professor William A. Wallace helped the Toronto daily newspaper test cars in seven classes for fuel efficiency.

Read the Wheels.ca article


Research Activities
Invited Talk

Prof. Paul Milgram will be away December 6 - 8 to attend AFRV2010 – "Les 5-ièmes Journées de l'AFRV" (Association Française de la Réalité Virtuelle), in Paris, France. He will be giving an invited keynote talk entitled Un cadre conceptuel pour caractériser les interactions en environnements réels et/ou virtuels. He will also be leading a workshop entitled, Réalité Mixte, Téléopération et Facteurs Humains.


Seminars
MIE Seminar Series » Past, Present and Future Challenges of Electronics Packaging


Distinguished speaker: Gamal Refai-Ahmed, AMD Fellow, Advanced Micro Devices, Toronto
Date: Friday, January 14
Time: 2:10 PM
Location: MC102

More Info

Graduate Studies
MIE 2011 Research Symposium Planning Underway

2011 MIE Research symposium organizers, Maby Boado, David Romero and Poorya Ferdowsi met with the 2010 Research symposium team Dan Sellan, Craig Metcalfe and Michael Marr, Prof. Jean Zu and Prof. Axel Guenther on Friday, November 26th to kick-off planning for 2011.

The purpose of the meeting was to set-up the symposium agenda and share success and failure stories from 2010. Information and contacts were transferred from the past team to the new organizers.

For more information regarding the 2011 Research Symposium (to be held May 13th, 2011) please contact: symposium@mie.utoronto.ca.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graduate Leaders of Tomorrow

Are you interested in taking a leadership development course next term? Are you looking for an immersive course taught by two exceptionally experienced management consultants? If so, apply for APS1011: Concepts and Applications of Authentic Leadership today!

First offered last winter, this course has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students. Check out video testimonials provided by last year's students.

To be considered for this course, you must submit an online application form here by December 13, 9 AM. You must then sign up for this course on ROSI and await instructor approval. Due to limited enrolment, we regret that we cannot guarantee a spot to all interested students. To learn more about APS1011, please click here.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

University of Toronto Post-doctoral Association (UTPDA) Town Hall Meeting

Date: Monday, December 6
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: OISE (252 Bloor West, between St. George and Bedford), Room 5250

UTPDA is pleased to announce Minister of Research and Innovation, Glen Murray, will be delivering a keynote speech at our fall semester town hall meeting. All post-docs at UofT and the affiliated research hospitals – international and domestic – are welcome and encouraged to attend.


Minister Murray will discuss the direction of research funding and issues related to university start-up companies that related to his Ministry, particularly as they related to post-doctoral fellows in Ontario. Time will be made available for questions.

There will also be a short update on the process underway at the Ontario Labour Board to determine the status of post-doctoral fellows (student vs. employee). Recent improvements to the UofT post-doctoral health plan (Greenshield) will also be reviewed.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter 2011 Course Enrollment and Deadlines

Most of winter 2011 courses begin in the week of Monday, January 3rd, unless otherwise noted.

Course schedule and classroom information is posted online here. Course enrollment instruction and supervisor's approval procedure are also available online here.

Friday, January 14: Final date to add winter session courses on ROSI and to submit a supervisor's course approval to gradoffice@mie.utoronto.ca.

Friday, February 25: Final date to drop a January half-course without academic penalty.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MASc Oral Exam

Tim Chan presents: Aromatic Hydrocarbon Sampling and Extraction From Flames Using Temperature - Swing Adsorption/Desorption Processes
Date: Tuesday, December 7
Time: 12 PM
Location: MB101
Exam committee: Prof. M. J. Thomson (supervisor and exam chair); Prof. J. Wallace; and Prof. G. Evans.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PhD Final Oral Exam

Araz Sarchami presents: Investigation of Thermal Hydraulics of a Nuclear Reactor Moderator
Date: Friday, December 10
Time: 10 AM
Location: School of Graduate Studies, 63 St. George Street, Room 111
Exam committee: Prof. E. Acosta (examination chair, Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry); Prof. N. Ashgriz (supervisor); Prof. A. Bazylak; Prof. P. Sullivan; Prof. S. Chandra.
External examiner: Prof. C.K. Madnia (CUNY at Buffalo)

Student Affairs
2011 IAESTE Exchange

IAESTE is an international student exchange program, founded in 1948. IAESTE Canada is sponsored and administered by Queen's University Career Services as a service to all Canadian students.

Located in over 80 countries, IAESTE is an independent, non-governmental program, with consultative relationships to UNESCO, UN Economic and Social Council, UN Industrial Development Organization, the ILO, and other bodies. More than 7,000 Canadian students have benefited from the program.

Copies of the IAESTE application form can be found online. Application packages for both summer and fall 2011 placements are due December 10.

Announcements
Holiday Toy & Food Drive 2010



The holiday season is upon us again. This year we are collecting baby toys and baby food for those families less fortunate during this festive time.

We have a 'gift and food train' in the main office, Room 134 in the Mechanical Building. Please donate to this very worthy cause. The main office is also accepting cash donations to the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund.

MIE will be delivering to the Family Care Office on the morning of Friday, December 10.

Flyer



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walk@Work

How long do you think you spend sitting at your desk each day? A few hours? Maybe three or four?

Myra Lefkowitz, manager of UofT's Health and Well-being office, says that many UofT employees spend the majority of their work time engaged in sedentary tasks, such as computer work. Some recommendations to decrease sitting time include walking to a co-worker's desk instead of sending an email, or to have a walking meeting.

The Walk@Work program is open to all UofT staff and faculty. If you are interested in participating or would like further information, contact Laura Zeglen at walkatwork@utoronto.ca or 416-978-2736. Sign-up now until December 17th. The program starts January 10, 2011.

Walk@Work is supported by UofT's Office of Health and Well-being Programs and Services and the Organizational Development and Learning Centre.


VacationStaff:

Elisabete Augusto, Manager of Research Accounting: Tuesday, December 7

Joe Baptista, Facilities Coordinator and Building Officer: December 17 - 21

Nina Haikara, Liaison – External Relations: December 17 - 21

Raymond Low, Computing Services Manager: December 20 & 21

Ryan Mendell, Machine Shop Manager: Monday, December 6

Eleanor Morris, Executive Assistant: December 20 & 21

Previous Newsletter & LinksPrevious MIE newsletter

All MIE newsletters

MIE Website: www.mie.utoronto.ca

Back to top
Copyright © 2009-10 University of Toronto | Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering | Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, All Rights Reserved

Friday, December 3, 2010

[PDADC-L] Call for Nominations for the Advisory Committee for the Vice-Principal, Research, University of Toronto Mississauga

PDADC#38, 2010-11
MEMORANDUM

Date: November 30, 2010.

To: Faculty, Staff, and Students of the University of Toronto Mississauga
Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

From: Deep Saini, Vice-President & Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga

Re: Call for Nominations for the Advisory Committee for the Vice-Principal, Research, University of Toronto Mississauga

cc. President David Naylor
The Bulletin


On June 30, 2011, Professor Ulli Krull will complete his second term as Vice-Principal, Research at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Professor Krull is not eligible for re-appointment.

In accordance with Section 83 of the Policy on Appointment of Academic Administrators, I am writing to call for nominations of individuals to serve on the advisory committee that will advise the President on the appointment of a new Vice-Principal, Research.

The Policy on the Appointment of Academic Administrators mandates the potential composition of the advisory committee as follows:

* the Principal or representative who shall chair the committee;
* five to eight persons drawn from teaching staff (including at least three Chairs of Departments), students and administrative staff of the division, teaching staff from outside the division and members of the wider community including alumni, each group not necessarily being represented

Nominations for the Committee should be sent by December 17, 2010 to Colleen McColeman, Executive Assistant to the Vice-President & Principal, Rm. 3216-SB, University of Toronto Mississauga or by e-mail to colleen.mccoleman@utoronto.ca

TAC Foundation Scholarships - Application Deadline is February 11, 2011

Full details and applications forms on the TAC Foundation scholarships can be found at www.tac-foundation.ca or by contacting the Foundation at scholar@tac-atc.ca.

Deadline for applications is February 11, 2011.

In 2004 the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) established a charitable foundation, the TAC Foundation, to support the educational and research needs of the Canadian transportation industry.

Since that time, the TAC Foundation has distributed over $800,000 in scholarships for studies in transportation-related disciplines at the 3rd and 4th year undergraduate level, the postgraduate level, and more recently at the college level. The transportation-related disciplines include:

• transportation planning
• traffic management
• design of transportation infrastructure and public transportation
• program management
• environment monitoring and mitigation, and
• operations, construction and maintenance.

Our sincere thanks for your assistance with our Scholarship Program!


Deb Cross
Secretary
TAC Foundation

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2011-12 UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Foundation and its scholarship donors strongly believe in supporting the education and research needs of the Canadian transportation industry.

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
􀂪 TAC Foundation – HDR | iTRANS $10,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Waterloo Alumni 7,500
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Stantec Consulting Ltd. 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Albert M. Stevens 5,000

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
􀂪 TAC Foundation – AECOM 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Armtec 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Dillon Consulting Limited 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – McCormick Rankin Corporation 5,000

POSTGRADUATE OR UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
􀂪 TAC Foundation – 3M Canada Company “Bob Margison Memorial” 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – AMEC 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Cement Association of Canada 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Delcan Corporation – W.J. Malone 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Hatch Mott MacDonald Ltd. 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – IBI Group 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – LEA Consulting Ltd. 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – MMM Group Limited 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Morrison Hershfield Limited 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Provinces and Territories (several to be awarded) 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – SNC-Lavalin 5,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation – Municipalities 3,000
􀂪 TAC Foundation TBD

The 2011-12 TAC Foundation Scholarship Application Form will be accessible on the Foundation’s website as of December 3, 2010. Students are encouraged to read the instructions carefully, as only complete applications submitted no later than day’s end on Friday, February 11, 2011 will be considered.

Undergraduate scholarships will be awarded to students entering third or fourth year studies only.

All applications must be submitted electronically.
www.tac-foundation.ca

CSCE-Ryerson Lecture: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 from 6-9pm

CSCE Toronto Section is pleased Co-Host Seminar on:

NON-DESTRUCTIVE ASSESSMENT OF GROUTED PRESTRESS CABLE DUCTS IN POST-TENSIONED DECKS

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2010,
FROM 6:00 TO 9:00 P.M.

LECTURE ROOM ENG-103, FIRST FLOOR, GEORGE VARI ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING CENTRE,
RYERSON UNIVERSITY, 245 CHURCH STREET, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5B 2K3

ADMISSION IS FREE- PIZZA AND BEVERAGE WILL BE PROVIDED

To reserve a space, please respond by e-mail to: ksennah@ryerson.ca

Regards,

Peter Langan, P.Eng.
Chair, CSCE Toronto Section
c/o
R.V. Anderson Associates Limited
2001 Sheppard Avenue East Suite 400 Toronto ON M2J 4Z8
Tel 416 497 8600 Ext 301 Fax 416 497 0342
www.rvanderson.com
plangan@rvanderson.com

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Abstract: Post-tensioned concrete deck bridges have been in service in Ontario for more than 30 years. Many of them have been operating without any waterproofing/asphalt protection from their initial construction. Concerns currently exist as to the condition of the prestressing cables in the grouted ducts particularly in the negative moment regions where the cables are closest to the deck surface. Deterioration of post-tensioned bridge decks due to prestress cable corrosion is matter of considerable concern since the repair or replacement can be a costly process. As Ontario bridge infrastructure enters the era of maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement, there is a need to investigate/develop non-destructive methods of assessing the conditions of the grouted prestressing ducts and cables inside that require little or no invasive concrete work such as removal of concrete to expose the ducts for visual inspection. The seminar will start with a presentation of the recent German technologies (Remanent Mangantism (RM) and Impulse Thermography) for detecting voids in ducts as well as breaks in prestressing cables and strands. The seminar will also present results of a research program conducted at
Ryerson University on the use of GPR, Impact Echo, Half-Cell Potential and Shear Wave technologies on detecting voids and prestressed cable corrosion, as applicable. The seminar will conclude with an explanation of the use of vacuum grouting technology in filling the detected voids.

Seminar Schedule
6:00 -6:30 p.m. Registration, snacks and beverage - CSCE Ryerson Student Chapter
6:30-6:40 p.m. Introduction - Dr. Khaled Sennah and Dr. Bala Tharmabala
6:40-6:55 Case studies on locating ducts using GPR - Mr. David Redman
6:55-7:40 Application of Remanent Mangantism (RM) to detect prestressed cable break. Application of Impulse Thermography technologies to detect void in post-tensioned decks - Mr. Dave Whitman, Dr. Bernd Hillemeier, Mr. Andrei Walther
7:40-7:45 Use of Half-cell Potential in detecting corrosion of pretsessed cables - Mr. Hamidreza Khederzadeh
7:45-8:00 Recent research at Ryerson University on detecting voids using GPR, and Impact Echo technologies - Mr. Hamidreza Khederzadeh
8:00-8:15 Case studies on detecting voids - Mr. Garth Fallis
8:15-8:30 Advances in Impact Echo and future directions - Mr. Ron Grieve
8:30-8:40 Recent research at Ryerson University on detecting voids using Shear-Wave technology - Mr. Nabil Al-Bayati
8:40-8:50 Vacuum grouting of voids, DSI experience - Dr. Khaled Sennah
8:50 Concluding remarks Dr. Khaled Sennah

School of Graduate Studies E-News: December 2010/January 2011 – New Students

GradSchool E-News: December 2010/January 2011 – New Students

WELCOME

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Toronto. The SGS website has valuable information for new students including a section specific to new international students. Watch for your copy of the Essential Grad Guide to arrive in the mail. It's a great resource to help you get started at U of T.

NEED TO KNOW

TCard and UTORid: your keys to U of T services
Your TCard is your student photo identification card, your library card, and your key to various student activities and services. If you have not yet picked up your TCard, please stop by the Tcard office at Robarts Library (St. George Campus), the Card Office (Mississauga Campus), or the Registrar's Office (Scarborough Campus).

You will need your TCard to activate your UTORid, which will also automatically create your U of T email account. All official communication from the University is sent to your U of T email account. Your UTORid also gives you access to online services.
More TCard information
Activate your UTORid
Configure your UTORmail account

Registration deadline
Students admitted in January 2010 have until January 7 to register. You are not registered until you have paid tuition and incidental fees, or have made an appropriate fees arrangement (see below). Your tuition invoice is electronically deposited directly to your student account. Fees paid after January 7 will be subject to late charges.
Check your student account
Sessional dates and deadlines

Courses start week of January 3
Most graduate courses and seminars begin the week of January 3. The final date to add January session courses is January 14. Most departments permit students to use the Student Web Service (SWS) to enrol in courses within required deadlines. Some departments require students to fill out an enrolment form listing their courses. For detailed information and instructions consult your department. It is your responsibility to ensure that course enrolment is accurate on the SWS. Log on to the SWS to double check your enrolment and contact your department if you have questions. The SWS site also has a course enrolment demo.

Your health is important to us
Are you coming to Toronto for the first time? U of T’s health services suggest you bring your immunization records and medical certificates with you. These documents are not required for registration, but your immunization and medical certificates will ensure that we can provide the highest level of health care while you are here, should you need it. The health services provide confidential, student-centred health care, including comprehensive medical care, travel education, immunization, counselling, and referrals.
St. George campus Health Service
Mississauga campus Health and Counselling Centre
Scarborough campus Health and Wellness Centre

MONEY MATTERS

Fees arrangements to defer service charges
OSAP and other provincial loan recipients can apply online via the Student Web Service to defer fees, pending receipt of funding. Students with full funding packages, awards, research stipends or teaching assistantships which cover at least the minimum tuition fee may also make a request to register without payment, pending receipt of funding. Contact your department graduate administrator for more information.

UTM/UTSC campus affiliation
UTM/UTSC campus students can choose to pay incidental (non-academic) fees on that campus. Students in single campus programs do not need to apply. Any other student who wishes to affiliate with UTM or UTSC may do so by completing the Change of Campus Affiliation Form. For more information, contact your graduate unit or contact the graduate affairs office: UTSC, call 416-287-7047, UTM see Office of Vice Dean Graduate.


NEWS

Student nominations for Governing Council
Have you ever considered standing for election to the Governing Council as a student member? Nominations for two graduate student seats on Governing Council will be accepted between January 7 and January 21. All student seats will be for a one-year term from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Nomination forms will be available on the Governing Council website as of January 7, 2011.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Winter Welcome 2011 for new students
Discover graduate student life at the University of Toronto. Winter Welcome 2011 is designed to connect incoming graduate students to support services as well as opportunities for engagement and learning outside the classroom. Let us answer your questions as we take a tour of various locations on the St. George Campus that offer services, resources and programs that are available for grad students. Light refreshments will be served. Monday, January 17, 2011, 10:00am - 12:30pm. To register, please send an email to gradroom@sgs.utoronto.ca. Please include your name, email address, program of study, and degree.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Hart House Theatre presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a hilarious musical romp based on the hit film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin. On the French Riviera, two charming and unscrupulous con-artists are pitted against each other in this smart, sexy and side-splitting comedy. January 14 - 29, 2011. Tickets are $25/Students $15 and can be puchased from UofTtix.

SUPPORTS & RESOURCES

GPS orientation
The Graduate Professional Skills Program (GPS) comprises a variety of co-curricular offerings that provide doctoral stream graduate students a full range of optional opportunities for professional skills development. You can find out more at one of the GPS orientation sessions, Wednesday, January 19, or Friday, January 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Send an email to gps@sgs.utoronto.ca to register.

English Language Writing and Support (ELWS)
Online registration for January courses offered by the Office of English Language and Writing Support (ELWS) will open on Monday January 3 at 10:00am. ELWS courses are free, non-credit, and available exclusively to U of T graduate students. Courses fill quickly, so register on January 3 to avoid disappointment. ELWS also offers free single-session workshops and one-on-one writing consultations.

A fit for everyone: Active strategies to support your success in grad school
Learn the components of fitness and how you can adopt active strategies to support your success in grad school. Physical Activity Ambassadors from the Faculty of Physical Education and Health will be facilitating this workshop followed by a tour of the Athletic Centre. Bring your workout clothes and participate in a FREE drop-in fitness class after the workshop. Friday, January 14, 2011, 12:00pm at the Gradroom, 66 Harbord Street.

New to Canada? Support for international students
The Centre for International Experience (formerly the International Student Centre) is the place for international students on the St. George Campus to sign up for medical insurance (UHIP), apply for off-campus work permits, seek advice and mentorship, and much more. They can also provide you with valuable advice on coming to U of T. Students at UTM and UTSC can pick up their UHIP cards at their health service and have access to both the St. George and campus-based international student services.
Centre for International Experience (formerly the International Student Centre)
International Student Resource Centre at Mississauga
International Student Centre at Scarborough

Gradlife is now on Twitter
Follow Gradlife on Twitter to get connected with specialized workshops, social events, online resources and publications designed to enhance your graduate student experience.

In Focus: Margaret Lam

Margaret is a 3rd year Master’s student with the Faculty of Information. She is completing her thesis on the effectiveness of acquiring music knowledge from online resources.

Read more

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Important Dates

• December 22
University closes for winter break

• January 3
Most formal graduate courses and seminars begin this week

• January 3
Registration opens for English Language Writing Support January courses

• January 7
Last date for payment of tuition fees to meet registration deadline

• January 7
Deadline to request UTM/UTSC campus affiliation rebates for January session (if applicable)

• January 14
Final date to add January session courses

• January 17
Winter Welcome orientation for new students starting in January

• January 19 & 21
Graduate Professional Skills orientation sessions for new students

• February 1
Deadline to change immigration status or claim exemption from international student fees for the January session



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SGS Student Services
63 St. George Street

Hours of operation
Monday to Friday
10:00am to 4:00pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got Feedback?

Help us make the GradSchool e-News better meet your needs. Send us an e-mail at:
graduate.information@utoronto.ca.


Distributed on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 | ©2010 University of Toronto

School of Graduate Studies E-News: December 2010/January 2011 – Current Students

GradSchool E-News: December 2010/January 2011 – Current Students

NEED TO KNOW

Winter break
The University is closed for winter break from December 22 to January 2 inclusive and reopens on Monday, January 3. Enjoy your well-earned time off.

Courses start week of January 3
Most graduate courses and seminars begin the week of January 3. Most students can use the Student Web Service to enrol in courses, but some departments require an enrolment form. Be sure to consult your department for detailed enrolment instructions.

Final date to add winter courses is January 14
The final date to add a January session course is January 14. After the deadline you will need written permission of the course lecturer, written permission of your graduate coordinator and SGS approval. Add/Drop Course forms are available on the SGS website.

Doctoral thesis submission: Avoid January 2011 fees
Have you successfully completed your final oral examination? Congratulations! Remember, January 17 is the final date for doctoral candidates who have successfully defended, to submit their thesis in final, approved form to avoid paying tuition fees for the January session. See Final Year Fees for more information.

Dual registration period ends January 28
Dual registered students who were admitted to a Ph.D. program in September while having a minimal amount of work to complete in their Master's program have until January 28 to be recommended for the Master's degree to maintain their Ph.D. registration. If the Master's program is not completed, the Ph.D. registration is cancelled and full-time registration in the Master's program is reactivated.

MONEY MATTERS

Adel Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award
The Adel Sedra Distinguished Graduate Award is a fellowship of up to $25,000 recognizing a doctoral candidate in second or third year for his or her academic excellence, extra-curricular activities and involvement in university life. The deadline for applications is 5:00pm on Friday, December 10, 2010.

OGI Genomics Publication Fund
The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) has established a new fund that provides up to $3,000 for Ontario researchers to make their research publications open access. The OGI Genomics Publication Fund supports the free and unrestricted access to genomics research papers in high-impact publications. Contact OGI or visit the OGI Genomics Publication Fund website for details and to view examples of publications that have already been funded.

NEWS

Student nominations for Governing Council
Have you ever considered standing for election to the Governing Council as a student member? Nominations for two graduate student seats on Governing Council will be accepted between January 7 and January 21. All student seats will be for a one-year term from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Nomination forms will be available on the Governing Council website as of January 7, 2011.

UPCOMING EVENTS

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - December 6
This year marks the twenty-first anniversary of the murder of fourteen women students at l'Ecole Polytechnique. Events to commemorate this and other tragic events and to focus attention on the broader issues of addressing violence against women will be held on all three campuses of the University.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Hart House Theatre presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a hilarious musical romp based on the hit film starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin. On the French Riviera, two charming and unscrupulous con-artists are pitted against each other in this smart, sexy and side-splitting comedy. January 14 - 29, 2011. Tickets are $25/Students $15 and can be puchased from UofTtix.

SUPPORTS & RESOURCES

English Language Writing and Support (ELWS)
Online registration for January courses offered by the Office of English Language and Writing Support (ELWS) will open on Monday January 3 at 10:00am. ELWS courses are free, non-credit, and available exclusively to U of T graduate students. Courses fill quickly, so register on January 3 to avoid disappointment. ELWS also offers free single-session workshops and one-on-one writing consultations.

A fit for everyone: Active strategies to support your success in grad school
Learn the components of fitness and how you can adopt active strategies to support your success in grad school. Physical Activity Ambassadors from the Faculty of Physical Education and Health will be facilitating this workshop followed by a tour of the Athletic Centre. Bring your workout clothes and participate in a FREE drop-in fitness class after the workshop. Friday, January 14, 2011, 12:00pm at the Gradroom, 66 Harbord Street.

University Affairs magazine free subscription
Graduate students can subscribe to University Affairs magazine for free - a $39 value. Visit the University Affairs subscriber service. You have the option to subscribe to the digital format.


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In Focus: Margaret Lam

Margaret is a 3rd year Master’s student with the Faculty of Information. She is completing her thesis on the effectiveness of acquiring music knowledge from online resources.

Read more



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Important Dates

• December 22
University closes for winter break

• January 3
Most formal graduate courses and seminars begin this week

• January 3
Registration opens for English Language Writing Support January courses

• January 14
Final date to add January session courses

• January 17
Doctoral thesis submission deadline to avoid further tuition fees

• February 1
Deadline to change immigration status or claim exemption from international student fees for the January session



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




SGS Student Services
63 St. George Street

Hours of operation
Monday to Friday
10:00am to 4:00pm




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Got Feedback?

Help us make the GradSchool e-News better meet your needs. Send us an e-mail at:
graduate.information@utoronto.ca.



Distributed on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 | ©2010 University of Toronto

Welcome to the CIV-MIN Blog

This is where we compile all the announcements, postings and non-urgent alerts that used to clog up your email inbox. Feel free to scroll through the latest postings organized by date below, or check our categorized listings on the right for the information you want.