Preparing for the fine arts department's "miniature exhibition and sale" later this month is Sarah Jane Gorlitz, who has been hired under a work-study program. "She has been working on all aspects of the sale, from poster distribution to matte cutting," says department secretary Lesley Hartley. The sale will be held November 30 through December 4, with previews November 27-29, "in the very heart of the Christmas shopping season".

UW launches diploma in communication

A news release explains that the new Education Program in Organizational Communication will be offered "in response to the increasing demand for professionals with a broad range of communications skills" and is "aimed at professionals who want to communicate skillfully, effectively and knowledgeably".

EPOC is to be available to students early in 2002. The program is actively seeking additional corporate sponsors, the news release says.

EPOC will offer two university-level diploma options: the Organizational Communication Diploma and the Training and Development Diploma. Each diploma program will be offered part-time and can be completed in 12 to 16 months.

Diana Denton of UW's drama and speech communication departament emphasizes the applied nature of the new program. "Our courses combine theoretical understandings with skill development in such areas as interviewing, public speaking, leadership, team communication, training and consulting skills and conflict management. Participants are videotaped in action so as to enhance performance in diverse communication contexts."

Jill Tomasson Goodwin, chair of the department, said: "Human Resources Development Canada and the Conference Board of Canada have identified 'essential skills' that Canadian professionals need in the workplace: public speaking, listening, presentation, team leadership, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills. We are pleased to be able to extend these essential skills to professionals by offering this diploma program."

EPOC is one of several diploma programs being developed by Epstar, a provider of education programs for professionals at UW. This innovative program is modelled on the Education Program for Software Professionals, which provides a foundation in computer science to practising information technology professionals. The Epstar diploma programs are designed and structured for those who want to enhance or update their education with university-level programs on a part-time basis.

The program will be launched at a networking event entitled "A Step Towards Success: Careers in Communication", tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Laurel Room, South Campus Hall. "It is a networking reception for students and industry professionals," Denton explains.

Speakers from industry will highlight the importance of communication in their work, and wine and cheese will follow. "Industry partners are invited to bring promotional material about their organizations," adds Jassie Sidhu, one of the students who are helping to organize the event, "and students are encouraged to bring lots of questions."

Professionals in human resources, consulting, training and development, public relations, marketing, broadcasting, media and other communication-related fields are expected.

Campaign promotes arts and science

"We believe that it's vitally important for all Canadians -- and especially high school students -- to understand that studies in the arts and sciences are a great choice for the future," said AUCC president Robert J. Giroux at the campaign launch. "University graduates of arts and science programs do well in the labour market and have exciting careers with significant responsibilities."

Many Canadians recognize that the arts and sciences are fundamental to our future, says an AUCC news release. "Last year, a group of high technology CEOs issued a statement supporting a balanced approach to higher education. 'A liberal arts and science education nurtures skills and talents increasingly valued by modern corporations,' the CEOs said."

But the leaders of Canada's universities remain concerned that "many high school students, their parents, guidance counselors and even some opinion leaders aren't aware of the enduring value of an arts and sciences degree. That's why the AUCC has launched the campaign to tell Canadians more about the kinds of skills graduates of the arts and sciences will gain. These include the ability to think critically, analyze and reason clearly, communicate effectively, and find creative and innovative solutions to a wide range of problems. By nurturing and developing such skills, graduates of the arts and sciences learn to adapt to an ever-changing world, transforming themselves and the society around them in the process."

The campaign began with a "Meeting of Minds" breakfast that brought together business and community leaders of the National Capital region to hear from students, faculty and recent graduates from the region's three universities -- Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Université du Québec à Hull -- about the value of an arts and sciences education. It was the first of a series of such events that will take place at university campuses across Canada in the next few months.

AUCC has also established a campaign Web site and will distribute posters and other material to students and schools.

The organization says Canadians in general "support a broadly-based and balanced university education. In an opinion poll conducted in the spring of 2001 by Ekos Research, three out of four Canadians said that universities need to offer a broad range of arts and science programs to help ensure that students develop the flexibility to navigate their way in a knowledge-based economy."

It says an education in the arts or sciences "makes a significant different in quality of life and personal growth, career advancement, lifetime earnings and securing a good job after graduation. . . . A recent British Columbia survey found that two years after graduation, 96 percent of students who had degrees in the humanities (programs such as English, philosophy and classics) had found jobs, 95 percent of those in the social sciences (programs like sociology, anthropology and political science) were employed, while 98 percent of graduates in the natural resources and agriculture were working."

Students can elect two senators

Graduate Student (term to April 30, 2002): There are two candidates, Amer Dawoud and Angela Garabet, both of systems design engineering.

Environmental Studies/Independent Studies Undergraduate Student (term to April 30, 2002): There are two candidates, Nayan Gandhi and Stephen Gardiner, both of planning.

Statements from the candidates were published in the October 31 Gazette and can be seen on the secretariat's web site.

Voting will be conducted electronically. The polls opened yesterday and will close at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 20. To cast a ballot electronically, students will need their Quest userid (UWuserid) and password.

Events and a few other notes

There's a table in the Student Life Centre this week -- I noticed a smiling person behind it yesterday -- collecting contributions for Operation Christmas Child. That's an organization that sends shoebox-sized boxes "filled with toys, candy, hygiene items and school supplies" to impoverished children in countries all over the world. At the booth in the SLC, open from 11:30 to 2:30 again today and tomorrow, "you can come pick up a shoebox or just get more information," says local organizer Meredith Cossitt.

Today:

• The pension and benefits committee meets all morning in Needles Hall room 3004.
• The annual "Tex-Mex raffle and bake sale" will be held today, "from 9 to 3-ish", in the Environmental Studies I foyer. It's a fund-raiser for Environment and Resource Studies 475T, which will be making a field trip to Texas and Mexico in February. "in addition to homemade treats," I'm promised, "raffle tickets for the illustrious every-ticket-a-winner as well as chocolate bars will be sold."
• The craft, gift and toy fair sponsored by the Hildegard Marsden day care centre continues today (and tomorrow) all day in the Davis Centre lounge.
• Toronto-area alumni will have lunch at the Marriott Eaton Centre today with Dean Hopkins of Cyberplex Inc. as well as two UW vice-presidents (Laura Talbot-Allan, university relations, and Paul Guild, university research). Tickets were $30.
• A workshop on "The Job Interview in Academe", sponsored by the teaching resources and continuing education office, starts at 12 noon in Davis Centre room 1351.

  By the way, I said yesterday that "Twelfth Night" is set in "a vaguely Renaissance Italy". A Bulletin reader with historical sense demurs: "It may be vaguely renaissance," he writes, "although the set suggests more senescence, but Illyria, a real region, if only historically so, is on the other side of the Adriatic from Italy." Thanks.

• The drama department's production of "Twelfth Night" continues in the Theatre of the Arts, with a student matinee this afternoon and a public performance tonight at 8:00.
• The architecture school's series of "24 Academic Positions" continues with a talk tonight by faculty member Brian Hunt (7 p.m., Environmental Studies II room 280).
• This week's showing in the Korean film series, sponsored by the fine arts film society, is "Joint Security Area", made last year. The showing starts at 7:00 in East Campus Hall room 1220.
• "Closeted Issues: The Plight of Sexual Minorities Worldwide" is the topic of a talk tonight by Toronto lawyer Richard Elliott. He's brought to campus by WPIRG and Amnesty International, and will speak at 7:00 in the multipurpose room of the Student Life Centre.

Reminder: Fee bills for the winter term 2002 will be mailed the week of November 19, which is next week, to each student's mailing or home address. "Make sure your current mailing address is on file," says a memo from the finance office, "and if not, please do so immediately through Quest." Fees are due December 27, if paid by one of the several bank payment methods, or December 14, if paid by cheque or money order.

Tomorrow was the announced deadline for nominations for this year's President's Circle Awards for Volunteerism -- recognizing volunteer work by students, either on or off campus. The student services office sends word that nominations have been extended to November 23, the end of next week. "All information is available on the web site," writes Heather FitzGerald from that office.

Shannon Macri, legal resource coordinator for the Federation of Students, says the Feds will be offering "a mock LSAT" on November 24, Saturday of next week. In other words, it's a chance to experience the Law School Admission Test without really writing the LSAT. "Don't waste $133 because you are not prepared," she advises. "Very few people achieve their full potential without some preparation." The legal resource office is accepting sign-ups for the mock test now -- phone 888-4634.

CAR