Volume 7 • Issue 2

Message from the Dean

The academic year 2011-12 has been a successful one for the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension. There has been an overall increase in registrations during the fall and winter semesters. Our oil and gas programs have experienced exponential growth this year, showing a steep recovery from the recession years.

The Centre for Complementary Health Education facility on the second floor of the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning has provided new programming opportunities. We are adding several new health-related extension certificate programs in coming semesters.

The Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension’s biggest news this year has been our two new diplomas: Personal Fitness Trainer and Massage Therapy. These full-time programs had been successful certificates for a number of years and were approved as diplomas this year by the Alberta government. The official launch took place at the Community and Health Studies Information Night on March 28.

Norma MacIntosh, Dean Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension

New Education Assistant Certificate

A new full-time Education Assistant Certificate program has been launched. This one-year full-time program combines academic coursework, practical field experiences and online activities to provide a well-rounded educational experience to prepare students for the role of education assistant. This program will prepare students for the demanding and multi-faceted activities of Alberta’s educational assistant professionals. The first intake for this program will be Fall 2012. Admission is by application only.

Graduates of our Education Assistant program will be qualified to seek employment in a variety of sectors including public schools, private schools, charter schools and other learning institutions.

The certificate may be accepted for course credit in Mount Royal University’s Bachelor of Education - Elementary degree program.

Personal Fitness Trainer Diploma Launched

The Personal Fitness Trainer Certificate was approved as a Diploma by the Alberta government. The first intake for the new diploma will be in Fall 2012 but the launch was celebrated at the Community and Health Studies Information Night on Wednesday, March 28, along with the Massage Therapy Diploma which had been approved earlier this year. Our Faculty takes great pride in this defining point in our history.

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION Recognizing Outstanding Contributions to Lifelong Learning

For more than 15 years, Donna Sharman has been passionate about her work in the Transitional Vocational Program (TVP), and in her final year as Program Administrator, Sharman’s dedication to her students was honoured at the Life of Learning Awards (LOLA) hosted by Learns.

Sharman was the recipient of a LOLA, which recognizes a program designer or director who has made extraordinary and innovative contributions to the promotion, advancement and development of lifelong learning in Calgary.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be working with adults with developmental disabilities,” says Sharman. “We work closely with Calgary Learns and when I was first nominated I was taken by surprise.”

TVP at Mount Royal has a long history of success and is regarded highly in the community. Sandie Cheney and Donna Sharman with Mayor Naheed Nenshi at the Throughout TVP’s achievements Sharman has been at the heart of it all. Life of Learning Awards put on by Calgary Learns. “Donna is so passionate and such a huge advocate for these students,” says Sandie Cheney, Program Director, Faculty of Continuing Education The second, soon-to-be-released component is an online math course. It and Extension and Sharman’s nominator for a LOLA. “Donna sees things is essentially a virtual store where students learn to become more aware through the eyes of the student and what’s best for them.” as a consumer with money handling, making change and budgeting.

There were more than a few things that contributed to Sharman’s LOLA “Craig Baskett developed the course and I assisted with the development achievement; in addition overseeing 25 full-time students and 300 and piloting the online math course,” says Sharman. “It is like using adult part-time students, Sharman continues to be at the frontline of new gaming to help students develop and maintain their money skills and developments to enhance the students’ learning in and outside of the consumer math skills in a fun way.” classroom. Throughout the pilot process, Sharman, as always, kept the students’ Sharman has piloted two major components for TVP, including the needs first. Safeway Eating Right, Living Right and online math courses. “During the pilot stage, Donna sat beside each student and watched “In collaboration with part-time instructors and staff, we developed the them do it,” explains Cheney. “There were some activities that were Safeway Eating Right, Living Right course as a result of observing the difficult to use with the mouse so she had the developer change the needs of part-time students,” explains Sharman. “We saw students curriculum to help those who couldn’t use the mouse.” that needed support with medical issues because they would share medication or were not eating properly.” “I just think it’s truly awe inspiring what can be accomplished if you have some expectations and believe in someone’s true potential,” says After careful observation, Sharman didn’t merely address this issue with Sharman. parents or guardians; she made the decision to incorporate it into the programming to ensure that each student was well-equipped with the As Sharman is less than two months away from retirement, she knows skills needed to make informed decisions about nutrition, recreation and her passion for helping others will continue. medicine. A bursary was established in Sharman’s name which will enable part- “I still recall the very first course that occurred. A student came back time students who have already taken the program to come back without to the program saying ‘I have been buying the wrong granola bars all having to worry about monetary barriers. along’,” says Sharman with a smile. “It’s just amazing how many students will start to make those connections. Even if they are still living at home, “I am so thankful to have worked with many people in the University they can have some influence over the decisions and choices of food that that have helped in countless ways to contribute to the support and skill are made.” development of our students,” Sharman says.

What started as an idea came to fruition with only four months of For Cheney, she is sad to see Sharman go. “I am very proud of all that she planning and proposing, due to Sharman’s drive to enrich the lives of her has done for these students.” students. — Angela Sengaus, May 17, 2012

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION Oil and Gas Programs Experience Record Growth New Business Education and Training Certificates Doing Well During 2011-12 the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension’s science programming, featuring oil and gas certificates, has In the Fall 2011 semester several new business certificate programs experienced record growth in registration. were introduced. These included extension certificates in Change Management, Lean Enterprise and Continuous Improvement and Registrations are up 75% from last year and up 44% from 2007-08, Leadership Development. Focusing on in-demand management our previous best year. Registrations are up 170% from recession year techniques for the modern workplace, the new certificates have been 2009-10. This is the first year that the science portfolio has earned over well received and attended throughout 2011-12. $1 million, a figure that is 25% greater than our previous best year.

Changes made in the Land Administration certificate program as well as the addition of several new programs, including the Contract Management Extension Certificate, contributed greatly to the improved performance of the portfolio. Massage Therapy Students Outreach

New Computers for Boomers Courses

People like to poke fun at the technical prowess – or lack thereof – of the baby boom generation. The Computer Applications area stepped in to offer specialized programming for baby boomers. Classes focus on mobile technology such as iPhones, iPads and Blackberrys and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. These courses have been very popular with their target audience and more courses have been developed for next year.

Massage Therapy students lending a hand at The Underwear Affair run.

New Mac Lab Ready for Fall As part of the Clinical Internship course within the Massage Therapy Diploma, our Massage Therapy students have given complimentary A lab featuring Apple iMac computers is being completed in EC1045 massage treatments for these events/organizations during the past year: in the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning. There will be 27 student stations and one instructor station. As Mac computers steadily • MRU Open House • Kyle Shewfelt Gymnastics gain ground against their PC counterparts in an increasingly online • MRU CHS Info Night Festival world, there is significant demand for training. The Publishing Extension • Flint Energy • Cochrane Hockey Certificate will now be taught on iMacs, as this has traditionally been Tournament the case in the graphic design industry. A number of introductory Mac • Highland Dance Competition • Underwear Affair classes are scheduled for Fall 2012. The new lab opens the door for • Multiple Sclerosis Society many new programming opportunities such as learning to build apps for • Synchronized Swim Meet mobile devices. • Calgary Quest School (for children with special needs) • Calgary Parks and Recreation • Sierra’s of Tuscany • Calgary Marathon • Louise Dean - Pregnancy Teen Centre • MS Bike Tour - Olds Corporate Training Up 50 Percent • Volleyball tournament • MS Bike Tour - Airdrie The Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension’s Corporate Training • Ladies Group at First • Canadian National Burns area experienced a 50 percent increase over last year. Existing clients Lutheran Church Survivors Conference expanded their programming and new clients have signed on for • Nurses Week - Foothills customized training. Corporate Training clients will be the first to utilize • Uthrive/Synaptic - Spinal Hospital the Faculty’s new Flexible Registration system for course registration. Cord Injury Clinic This new system is currently being finalized by Information Technology • Sprint Triathlon • Prenatal Massage Clinics and the Faculty’s Systems Administration and Marketing teams. • Police Half Marathon

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION Event Social Media Shift 2 Conference

Human Trafficking – They Have a Name took place on February 16 Building on the success of the first annual Social Media Shift event held in the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning. The evening in June of 2011, Social Media Shift 2 took place on May 10, 2012 in the focused on the serious topic of human trafficking. It featured a keynote Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning. The focus was on bridging address by leading expert in the field Yvon Dandurand, a reading from the gap between traditional marketing methods and social media. the play by Andrew Kooman and a book signing for Human Trafficking: Exploring the International Nature, Concerns, and Leading experts in the growing field of social media headlined Social Complexities, edited by Mount Royal’s John Winterdyk, Benjamin Perrin Media Shift 2 - Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Marketing and and Philip Reichel. The event was attended by about 80 people, including Social Media. Event speakers included industry leaders Chris Brogan, members of the public, nonprofit organizations, and Mount Royal Peter Shankman, Alexandra Samuel and Julien Smith. University alumni and students. The one-day conference helped over 100 business people and marketers to integrate social media with traditional media such as print, radio and television. The keynote speaker was best-selling author Chris Brogan of New York. A panel discussion with the guest speakers was featured after lunch.

Art from MRU Archives Graces Faculty Walls

A house just isn’t a home without some personal touches. The Faculty’s new offices on the second and third floors of the Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning became more of a home with the addition of artwork from the Mount Royal University Archives. Dean Norma MacIntosh worked with Patricia Roome, Director, University Advancement Centennial Archives Project, to select a colourful variety of art pieces from the archives. They were installed early in 2012.

List of artists and artworks: Chagall, Marc. (1 woodcut. Framed)

• Dans Ma Memoire, 1966, woodcut.

This important piece by the famed Russian/French artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was donated in 2011 by Jeanette Sutherland in memory of her husband, an art collector.

Beam, Carl. (5 serigraphs. Framed)

• Barbara 2001, no. 31/200 • Celine 2001, no. 31/200 • Cher 2001, no. 89/200 • Elvis 2001, no 97/200

These portraits were part of a donation to MRU. Four others in this series are hung in the Media Department. Carl Beam (1943-2005), of Ojibway heritage, was an important Canadian artist who was instrumental in the development of the art of Canada’s First Nations.

Francis, John. (2 pen, ink and watercolour sketches)

• Mount Royal College, ca 1960s • Kerby Memorial Building & Stanley Gymnasium, ca 1966 Dans Ma Memoire - Marc Chagall (1966) These Mount Royal vignettes were a centennial gift from Gay Robinson, a Public Relations alumnus. She received them as a graduation gift from Chuck Cook, who started Mount Royal’s Communications and Broadcasting program.

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION Gibbs, Len. (4 prints. Framed) Sager, Peter Winchell. (4 linocuts/1 woodcut. Framed)

Series title: Land of Energy, Prints #217/275 • Project for Sculpture, 1st proof, Linocut, 1955

• The Arrival • Monument 8/25, Woodcut, nd.

• Breaking the Land • 5/25 Batiment, Linocut 1956. • Hard Times • 5/25 untitled, Linocut 1956 • Energy the New Prosperity • For Lorne from Peter, 1st proof, Linocut, 1957 These prints by Alberta artist Len Gibbs (1929-2010) were a thank-you gift to MRU in 2008 from the Junior Achievement program “Economics These pieces by Canadian artist Peter Winchell Sager (b. 1920) were a of Staying in School” hosted annually at Mount Royal. Len Gibbs was a gift from Paul Ziff & Company in 2012. Paul Ziff has also loaned MRU 24 self-taught artist who painted in a highly realistic style. pieces of art that are hung around the campus.

Continuing Education Appreciation Night

The annual Continuing Education Appreciation Night took place on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Dean Norma MacIntosh joined Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension staff in celebrating the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students. A welcome reception was followed by an awards ceremony. Greetings from Mount Royal University were presented by Randy Genereux, Associate Vice-President, Academic. Clifton Thornton, advisory committee member and instructor with the Project Management programs gave the keynote address, which emphasized the power of relationships and networking in education. Norma MacIntosh gave recognition to advisory committee members and community partners. Long-service certificates were given out to instructors who have served 5, 10 and 15 years with the Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension. A variety of door prizes were given away. Instructors receiving 5-year service awards: Gail Purdy, Dawn Hankins, Ola Ifidon, Richard Akitt and Tracy Elliot.

Robin Hornby and Elaine Danelesko receiving 10-year service awards. 15-year service award recipients, Sherry Evans and Gordon Ross.

Payroll Student Receives Regional Award

Lizhi Feng, a student in the Canadian Payroll Association’s Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) Program at Mount Royal University, received the PCP Certification Award - Bronze Prairie Region in April 2012 for attaining the third highest overall mark in the compulsory courses of the PCP Program for the Prairie Region.

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION Employee Awards

Several staff members from Community and Health Studies and Marketing/Communications received the Effective Team Award at the Employee Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 12. These employees worked with members of MRU’s Child and Youth Studies department, Media Services and the Library to redevelop and re-launch the online Children’s Mental Health Extension Certificate for 2011-12.

MRU Kids Develops New Camps

It may seem like summer camp employees would have an easy time during the winter months, but program staff for MRU Kids kept busy developing new programs and new partnerships for summer 2012. These new programs join the many popular returning camp programs this summer.

For the budding athlete MRU Kids introduces a Triathlon Camp for 9-14 year olds to train to run, bike and swim with experienced triathletes. For creative and curious 5-9 year olds, there is a new Movers and Shakers program combining athletics, science and creativity. For youths interested in learning vital job skills or wanting to become the next generation of MRU Kids camp leaders there is a Leaders in Training program to provide hands- on experience.

Illustrated MRU Kids characters Maya, Sam, Alex and Hana were developed by Michael Poon of the Marketing and Communications team in consultation with the MRU Kids staff. These illustrations are featured on the MRU Kids website, brochure and camp T-shirts.

Conservatory News

Summer Programs

The Conservatory offers a variety of workshops and camps, focused on specific instrument or vocal studies, for a variety of age groups. These programs provide an intensive immersion program, allowing students to master a specific skill or challenge, try a new instrument, study with nationally acclaimed and world-renowned faculty, and have a lot of fun in the process. A full list of summer programs can be found at mtroyal.ca/summer

Morningside Music Bridge

In 1996, Paul Dornian, director of the Conservatory and classical music fan, and Chinese business man Andy Chan, met an exceptionally talented young Chinese cellist named Ni Tao. Mr. Chan sponsored Tao and another student to study in Canada, at the Mount Royal Conservatory. The arrangement was so successful that the next summer Morningside Music Bridge (MMB) was developed.

Ni Tao has recently been named the principle cellist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His is just one story of the hundreds of students that have come after, each year spending one intensive month studying with some of the world’s best music teachers. This summer, there will be 19 concerts and recitals in the MMB2012 Concert Series. All but five are free to attend, and student focused. This is a perfect opportunity to hear the future of classical music. More information at mtroyal.ca/musicbridge

NEWSLETTER – VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 – MOUNT ROYAL UNIVERSITY – FACULTY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION AND EXTENSION