Just a reminder that as part of our preparedness for emergencies, we will conduct a “Shelter in Place” drill on today at 11:30 a.m. The “Shelter in Place” action is intended to protect people from severe weather events like tornadoes. The emergency broadcast system will be used and will say:
"Attention. Attention. This is a tornado warning. Please move to the lowest level and seek shelter away from any windows or outside walls".
Check your areas and move people towards shelter areas rather than out of the building. Please review your individual procedures booklet and the pdf map displaying suggested shelter areas around the college prior to the drill.
With its claim to fame as Canada’s sunniest city, Medicine Hat is an obvious choice for solar energy development. As a result, MHC’s newest applied research project will examine the viability of solar thermal technology and generate further awareness of this renewable resource in the community.
Led by Trades Innovation Coordinator Danny Wilson and the college’s Office of Innovation and Scholarship (OIS), this project will address performance verification of solar thermal equipment, integrate solar technology into college programming and reduce utility costs of the T wing. Funding for the project has come from both local and provincial sources including the college’s OIS and the Alberta Association of Colleges & Technical Institutes.
“Our hope is that this will be the first of many projects supporting the development of sustainable energy and new programming opportunities at MHC,” said Wilson.
This project will also provide MHC first-year engineering student, Bhavin Vyas, with the opportunity to explore his interest in renewable energy and receive hands-on experience at the same time. Vyas will assist with the installation of the solar thermal equipment and monitor, collect and analyze the data generated. In addition to the experience gained on the solar thermal project, Vyas will also benefit from an informal plumbing apprenticeship this summer which will provide relevant industry context and skills to assist him this summer and beyond as he continues his engineering education.
“This experience is more practical whereas first year engineering classes are more theoretical. This job gives me an opportunity to learn both sides,” said Vyas. “It is a learning experience, starting from scratch and seeing the project through, not just for me but for the whole college.”
He is also gaining practical knowledge through Medicine Hat-based Hyperion Research where he is monitoring and analyzing bacterial growth and its effect as connected to the solar thermal energy. Peter Wallis, owner of Hyperion and dean of science at MHC, was able to recognize Vyas’ ability to contribute to the solar thermal project and connected him with Wilson at the college. Wallis has also played a key role in the project by securing additional funds through the AACTI.
To follow Bhavin's progress over the summer, visit the solar thermal project blog.
MHC Environment Challenge Over
The 2012 Environment Challenge is now complete. Hopefully each of us adopted at least one of the challenges to reduce our impact on the environment. Quite a few staff were spotted walking around the inside and outside of the building. This is a great habit to maintain as we wait for the construction of our Campus Trail.
The challenge posters will be picked up on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, so please complete your mileage calculations and check off which challenges you accepted. The ‘greenest’ MHC department will be announced in a few weeks when our environment mascot, Kermit, will be passed from the Library to this year’s challenge winner. Thanks to everyone who participated.
Spring Clean Your Email
In the coming weeks, ITS will be installing new hardware (servers) to run MS Exchange which controls email and other Microsoft Outlook tools. This will involve moving data (lots of email, calendar appointments, contacts, tasks) from the old system to the new. This transition will be eased if we have less mail on the server to move. With that in mind please note the online instructions explaining how to clean out your Outlook mail box, getting rid of deleted and junk email and organizing the mail to help you as you work. As always, we have technicians available through our Support Centre to explain or directly assist you in this. Call 403-529-3899 (local 3899), email callcentre@mhc.ab.ca or go online for assistance.
Welcome and Congratulations
Please join Human Resources in welcoming the following new employees:
Faculty
Division of Health Studies
Margeurite Dorchak, Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Jennifer Haas, Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Jessica Hern, Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Janelle Moch, Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Anna Wagman, Clinical Instructor, Nursing
Management
Sean Cai, Student Recruiter, International Education
Kris Samraj, Intern Librarian, Library Services (This is a shared position with the Shortgrass Library System and the Medicine Hat Public Library)
Support Staff
Jamie Hunt, Maintenance Worker I, Brooks Campus Facility Operations
Please join Human Resources in congratulating the following employees on their new appointments:
Faculty
Division of Adult Development
Garrett Flaig, Instructor, Open Learning Centre
Division of Science
Steven Letkeman, Instructor, Information Technology
Support Staff
Tafadzwa Bamhare, Student Services Assistant, Student Finance & Employment
Human Resource’s News You Can Use
Health Spending Account & Year End Notice
A notice was recently sent out listing important yearend deadlines for submitting medical expense claims and information on how to claim your Extended Health & Dental premiums through your Health Spending Account.
If you are interested in claiming your Extended Health & Dental premiums through your Health Spending Account, please contact Denise at dpaul@mhc.ab.ca or Gerda at gerda@mhc.ab.ca.
Are you participating in conferences, research or an interesting project? Maybe you are travelling somewhere exciting to spread the MHC love? Perhaps you’re using your skills for other community projects?
We’d like to hear about it, and so would our community! Advancement would love to post your photos and stories on our Facebook page. It’s a great way to engage our community and keep them connected to our staff and faculty. If you’d like to share your summer with us, please email Jennifer Thompson at jthompson@mhc.ab.ca or call ext. 3643. The first two people to submit their stories will win a pair of tickets to the 2012 Jazzfest!
YOU Innovate Canada – Challenge your students to innovate!
Are you looking for ways to inspire and encourage your students to be more creative, innovative and entrepreneurial?
For the second year in row, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is hosting the YOU Innovate Canada tournament in celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week Canada. Taking place this fall, this tournament challenges Canadians over 16 years old (one to five people per team) to create as much value as they can, whether it be social, environmental, monetary or other, out of the secret object. Participants then submit a video explaining what they did. The top innovators will receive exciting awards!
YOU can bring this great learning experience to your students by:
- Integrating YOU Innovate Canada into any course you're teaching at a Canadian post-secondary institution or high school. Or,
- Promoting the tournament and encouraging students to participate independently
Applications open September 27, 2012 along with the announcement of the top-secret object at the centre of this tournament. All submissions must be received by October 15. Champions will be selected by our expert judging panel and through online public voting and will be announced during Global Entrepreneurship Week (November 12-18).
Visit www.cybf.ca/youinnovate for more information about YOU Innovate Canada. If you have any questions, contact us at gewinfo@cybf.ca.
Not sure how to keep your kids busy over the summer months? Register them in the many exciting summer programs offered through Continuing Studies at MHC. Choose from a wide variety of arts, science and sports programs, or check out special theme programs like Cooking with Strawberry Shortcake or Superheroes Camp. Camps are also offered for children ages 3-5.
If you are a full-time faculty member, full-time regular support staff, or full-time administrator, you may be eligible for a partial tuition waiver for these programs. Click here for more information. Eligible employees must get their tuition waiver from HR before registering their children at the registration desk.
Make sure to know the course codes when you go to HR, it will make the process even easier. Calendars are now available in print on campus or at your child's school. You can also view programs and register online at http://www.mhc.ab.ca/.
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