Campus Digest — June 3, 2010

More layoffs on the horizon

Provost Carl Amrhein announced that 43 staff have been involuntarily laid off and another 181 staff have left, choosing the U of A's Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program. The announcement was made at the General Faculties Council on Monday, May 31.

Amrhein also told the GFC that the total number of jobs lost will be higher, though he expects to have more information by the fall. He expects the final losses to be in the range of "between 50 and 75 people."

Canada Research Chairs

While they make up about half the population and hold 16 Nobel Prizes in Science, when the Government announced the scientists that were awarded the inaugural Canada Excellence Research Chairs, none of the 19 positions were awarded to women.

Nor were any women listed among the 36 shortlisted nominees. To investigate this fairly unbalanced outcome, the federal government asked a panel of academics, including the U of A's President Indira Samarasekera, to look into the matter. The panel produced a list of recommendations on how the program could change in order to attract more female talent.

The U of A received the most Canada Excellence Research Chairs out of any Canadian institution: four men, who will receive $10 million each for research over seven years.

Hunger Awareness Day

June 1 was Hunger Awareness Day and the Campus Food Bank distributed apples and pamphlets with information about hunger and food insecurity on campus to mark the day. The food bank served over 2000 individuals last year, and relies on donations from the university community.

The food bank accepts donations of both perishable and non-perishable food items, as well as toiletry items. Monetary donations also allow them the flexibility to purchase items that are most needed. The Campus Food Bank is located in the basement of SUB, room 040-J.

Program spots cut in medicine

Facing a tight budget, the U of A will be offering fewer medical seats in the fall. While last September 188 students were accepted to the program, this year the university will only be welcoming 167.

Although there will still be fewer physicians graduating in Alberta, the numbers are not as high as had been expected. The U of A indicated that up to 50 medical seats lacked provincial funding in April.