UNIVERSITY NEWS

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE LEARNERS

A generous gift from the Lobstick Foundation will endow two scholarships at SFU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, guaranteeing its financial support to students enrolled in the Indigenous Languages Program. These awards promise to continue the legacy of doctors Aimee August and Ruby Peter for many years to come.

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CHALLENGING CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION PRACTICES

The Future of Sustainability Education at North American Universities, edited by the dean of SFU Faculty of Environment Naomi Krogman, suggests that more integration is needed by institutions to teach sustainability, help students tackle pressing world issues, embrace experimentation and foster meaningful involvement with local communities.

“There is a sea of change coming to make sustainability and care for our sustenance base, the environment, important for all academic programs, and this book is a part of that change,” says Krogman.

MEET ANGELA STERRITT

Angela Sterritt is a writer, award-winning investigative journalist and is the 2023 SFU Library writer in residence. With over a decade of experience covering powerful stories, Sterritt is releasing her first book, Unbroken, this May.

As Sterritt begins her residency, she shared how valued and honoured she feels being part of the university community. She shared, “The residency that I am going to do at SFU is going to be groundbreaking.”

RESOURCES + OPERATIONAL UPDATES

SENATE, SCAR DISCUSS CHANGES TO RESEARCH ETHICS BOARD TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS

Changes to SFU’s Research Ethics Board (REB) are being considered by the vice-president, research and international (VPRI). Following a discussion at Senate on February 6, the Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules (SCAR) will be meeting on February 14 for further discussion and guidance on procedures as we work to ensure REB complies with national standards. In the meantime, there is no disruption to the current process, and ethics approvals continue as usual.

NEW POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR HONORARY DEGREES

A subcommittee of SFU’s Senate Committee on University Honours (SCUH) has been working over the past few months to establish a policy for honorary degrees that includes a procedure for revoking an honorary degree. In the past, there has never been a request to revoke an honorary degree at SFU. The university needed to develop a formal process in order to address questions or concerns about honorary degrees, which includes requests to revoke the SFU honorary degree given to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond in 2016.

After much research and careful consideration, the SCUH sub-committee proposed to adopt a similar model to the one used to review recipients of the Order of Canada and the Order of BC. The new policy and procedures were approved by Senate on Feb. 6, 2023. The university is now following this policy and procedures in response to requests to review Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s honorary degree.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: SFU'S DIGITAL LEARNING SHOWCASE 2023

The Centre for Educational Excellence invites you to share how technology has changed your understanding of teaching and learning in online, blended or face-to-face courses.

The new deadline for proposals is February 15.

FEATURE EVENT

SPIRIT DAY AT SFU

February 14 | Hosted by The Community Vibrancy Project

Take part in SFU's first ever Spirit Day and wear your best SFU gear or red clothing to show your love and pride for the university at all three campuses. Get together with your friends and colleagues for s'mores, music and freebies, as well as participate in different contests and games at Convocation Mall from 12-3 p.m.

SFU PRIDE

CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME

February 16 | Hosted by Athletics

Come out and watch elite NCAA basketball game on Thursday at 7 p.m. Not only will the game feature thrilling basketball action, but will also celebrate and honour Black students with dance performances, speeches by Black artists and Jamaican food.

GO RED LEAFS