Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Volume M17, Issue No. 3, September 6, 2016
Intercom is published regularly and serves to inform Vanier staff and teachers of notices and special events. It is posted on the Vanier College Website and distributed electronically. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Submissions should be in WORD, and sent as an attachment. No formatting or bullets. Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding publication.
Reminder – Schedule Change – Day Division Please note that on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 students and faculty will follow their Monday schedule. Please remind students in your classes of this change.
Office of the Academic Dean
Survey from the Academic Space Committee
The Academic Space Committee, a standing committee of Academic Council, is seeking your input on the "ideal classroom". The focus of this survey is on regular classrooms; there will be a survey at a later date focusing on labs and specialized classrooms. This is a short survey that will be available from May 16, 2016 to September 16, 2016. Your input is important and we look forward to your ideas and suggestions. The results of the survey will be used to inform future renovation of classrooms. The survey title is “A short survey from the Academic Space Committee.” An alert message will appear in the upper right hand corner of the Omnivox main page under “What’s New” section that a survey is pending. The survey may also be accessed by clicking on Omnivox service Surveys and Votes.
Diane Nyisztor, on behalf of the Academic Space Committee
Space Elevator Operator App
I want to take a moment to share an online app created by a former student of mine, Ivan Miloslavov, who just graduated from Vanier and is now in computer science at McGill. He and I collaborated throughout his time at Vanier to create a wonderful tool for understanding what the space elevator is; it is called “Space Elevator Operator”. The simple 'video game' can be accessed here: http://imil.comule.com/OrbitSim/orbitSim.html The app was shared on the International Space Elevator Consortium (ISEC) website as well as last week’s space elevator conference in Seattle.
Stephen Cohen, Physics Department
Services and Maintenance
Services and Maintenance can be reached at local 7977 and are located at C-103. Work orders can be processed online through our Vanier College Omnivox Portal under the heading of Other Vanier Services, Vanier Work Orders, (Online Work Orders). Please complete the request for light bulbs to be changed, electrical/ventilation problems, broken desks, missing/defective blinds etc. Should you require more information regarding online work orders please contact local 7977. Note: For any emergencies or situations which could affect the health or safety of community members, please contact security at local 7575
Brendan Flynn, Services and Maintenance
Spotted at Vanier
Poison Ivy: Toxicodendron radicans Identified by three leaflets with the middle one having a longer stalk, this nondescript plant should be on your “must know” list. Poison ivy contains usushiol, a poisonous resin that causes contact dermatitis. In general symptoms develop 24 to 48 hours after contact with the extent and severity depending on the individual's sensitivity and the quantity of usushiol in contact with the skin. Symptoms vary widely and between exposures. Typical reactions include redness, swelling, blisters, and wet, weeping sores accompanied by severe itching. A single, small plant was spotted along the south fence, along the cemetery between D and N buildings last year and there are a few more this year. They will be removed carefully this fall. Poison ivy has colonized areas in St. Laurent along the fence by the railroad tracks behind CEGEP St. Laurent, and residents have reported plants showing up on their property. Poison ivy spreads by underground stems called rhizomes or by seeds within the berries. Birds and other animals may ingest the berry and disperse the seed to a new location via their digestive tract. The name ivy is a misnomer, as this plant may take form as a shrub, a climbing or trailing vine or a small plant. To identify it look for clusters of three leaflets with alternate leaf arrangement and each group of three leaflets growing on a separate stem which connects to the main vine. Flowers are small, white and inconspicuous and small black berries may be present. If you are lucky, you may be part of the 15-30% of the population that does not develop an immune system response to urushiol, but don’t get too confident as reactions may develop after multiple exposures. The rash spreads by contact to the plant sap so it is possible to get a reaction from touching pets, tools, clothing and camping gear that have sap on them, and not from direct exposure to the plant. It is very important to note that if poison ivy is burned and the smoke is inhaled, it may affect the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal breathing problems and if consumed, the digestive tract, airway, kidneys, or other organs can be damaged.
Keep your eyes open. Vanier College hosts a wide diversity of plants on our grounds. Take the time to look around. You may be surprised at what you see.
Evelynne Barten, Environmental and Wildlife Management
Vanier College Collective Gardens
Thank you Janella! The challenge of keeping our gardens healthy throughout the summer has once more been achieved. This time we were able to hire a Vanier student thanks to a federal government grant for a student summer job. I want to take this opportunity to thank Janella Snagg-ROmeo for the amazing job she has done throughout the summer! Not only did she care for the gardens with great dedication but she was also a inspiring leader and motivator for all the volunteer gardeners. You will still see her around but I will now take the lead until the very end for the growing season. Still active until end of October! The garden still needs helping hands for weeding, trimming, and harvesting until the end of September. Then will come the clean-up and the planting of garlic bulbs in October. Below are ways you can reach us and/or follow us. Bringing your class: Over the season, the Vanier Collective Gardens will continue to be developed as an educational tool accessible to all teachers, programs and sectors of the college. It is in this perspective that you are invited to contact me to find out and discuss how this special live laboratory and overall educational landscape can serve you in your pedagogy. Every semester, classes come out to learn and actively participate in the gardens. Contact me to book a session! Your input: Equally important is your input as to how Gardens, with all its existing components (labelled edible and non-edible plant species, rainwater harvesting, irrigation system, composting setups and bird habitat, to name a few) can contribute to your students' learning. Our slogan is Growing Knowledge is at the root of all the initiatives we undertake. Displays: You are invited to take a look at the Vanier Gardens and the Sustainability Major displays located outdoors near the garden shed and indoors in the Carrefour, near F216.
• Sign-up on Mail Chimp to receive regular updates and gardening schedule by email: http://eepurl.com/b7vStn
• Join us on Facebook: Vanier College Collective Gardens: https://www.facebook.com/groups/956934947670755/
• Visit our webpage: Vanier homepage Our programs
Sustainability Collective Gardens:
http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/sustainability-major/collective-gardens/
For information please contact: Myriam Mansour, Geography, Responsible for the Garden Project; [email protected]
Myriam Mansour, Geography
STM cards
Did you know you can get 2 months free on your STM card? If you commit to buying 12 months of STM public transit passes, Vanier and Opus will pay for your last 2 months. Find out more here: http://www.stm.info/English/tarification/a-opusetcie.htm To sign up: http://www.stm.info/en/info/fares/subscriptions/opus-cie/opus-cie-employees Access code: T3R4VZ3E (You must be a Vanier employee as each user is verified in the system). An Opus card will be sent to you and a monthly bill charged to your credit card or bank account. To be eligible for the program, you need to commit to buying 12 passes in the year to come and you also need to be a resident of the Island of Montreal. If you want to profit from the second month offered for free through the MTQ, you must sign up before November 14th. If you live off island and are a yearly transit user, you can sign up individually through the AMT for a one-month fare reduction: https://www.amt.qc.ca/en/fares/memberships/opus-plus Any questions? Please contact Marya Grant, C203, ext 7395, [email protected]
Marya Grant, Student Development, Sustainability, & Indigenous Students
Interested in finding out more about Sustainability on campus and Vanier College’s Sustainability Committee?
VCACE (Vanier College’s Advisory Committee on the Environment) is holding its first meeting of the year on Sept 8th, from 2pm to 3:30pm and you’re welcome to join in. Please contact Marya Grant to RSVP or find out more. Student Development, Sustainability, & Indigenous Students Student Services—C203E, (514) 744-7500 ext. 7395
Marya Grant, Student Services
Information Session on St. Petersburg Study Trip
The Information Session on the St. Petersburg Study Trip taking place in May 2017 will be held on September 14, 2016 at 12:30 p.m. (UB) in the Amphitheatre (B-223). Students interested in experiencing Russian culture in Russia are invited to attend the Info session. See the poster at the end of Intercom.
Natalia Pakhomova, East European and Slavic Studies
PSI News
AQPC at Vanier
Do you know the Association québécoise de pédagogie collégiale (AQPC)? The association was founded by and is dedicated to educators eager to stimulate pedagogical innovation in colleges and to enhance the teaching profession. It does so through its journal Pédagogie collégiale, its annual symposium (this year hosted by Vanier College and Cégep de St-Laurent) and its online communities of practice. Learn more here: http://aqpc.qc.ca/en. Or come talk to Vanier staff members involved with the AQPC:
Your main contact person: Patti Kingsmill, Vanier-AQPC
College Liaison
To write in the journal: Isabelle Delisle, Member of
Pédagogie collégiale’s editorial committee
To find out more or get involved with the symposium:
Eric Lozowy
Isabelle Delisle, Pedagogical Support and Innovation
Academic Council
AGENDA Friday, September 9, 2016, 1:00 p.m. Room F-216 1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Approval of the Minutes of May 20, 2016
4. Business Arising from the Minutes a) By-Law No. 3 Ad-Hoc Committee Update (E. Lozowy) b) Policy Advisory Committee Update (E. Lozowy) c) Academic Space Committee Update ( D. Nyisztor) 5. Main Business
i. Items for Recommendation
a) Election of 2016-2017 Alternate Vice-Chair (D. Nyisztor) b) DEC-BAC Agreement – Université de Laval (Q. Van Ginhoven)
ii. Items for Consultation
a) 2016-2017 Academic Council Standing Committees (D. Lafaille)
b) 2016-2017 Academic Council Items (D. Lafaille) c) Course Outline Policy (D. Lafaille)
6. Reports, Announcements and Correspondence a) June 2016 Board of Directors Meeting (D. Lafaille) b) June 2016 CAP meeting (D. Lafaille) c) Fall 2016 Enrollment Update (T. Ingerman) d) AQPC (D. Lafaille) e) Learning Commons Update (H. Kavallos)
Olga Mardas on behalf of Academic Council
The latest from VTV
Check out how construction is progressing on the new Library and Learning Commons: http://vtv.vaniercollege.qc.ca/2016/09/construction-tour-of-vaniers-new-library/#.V8l7sGf2bIU
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications
The Counselling Centre Personal problems often seriously undermine academic success. To the extent that these problems are addressed, performance will surely improve. Counselling can help students better cope with stress and depression as well as acquire more effective problem-solving, decision-making, communication and interpersonal skills. Faculty and staff are often in a position to identify students who are experiencing difficulties and in distress. You may be the first to recognize that a student requires assistance and can encourage the student to make an appointment with a counsellor. The Counselling Centre is located in Student Services C-203. We provide personal and crisis counselling, as well as career counselling services to all students. The team of dedicated, qualified professionals includes Adelina Rovito, Irma Mazzonna, Leanne Rondeau, Kiraz Johannsen, Phani-Nicole Papachristou and Olivia Morin. We offer free individual counselling in a private and confidential setting. In the event of a crisis, students can be seen immediately without an appointment. Sometimes you may want to accompany the student to our office. You can also contact the receptionist at 744-7885. If it is an imminently life-threatening situation, please call Security at #7575.
From left to right: Irma Mazzonna, Adelina Rovito, Kiraz Johannsen, Olivia Morin and Leanne Rondeau.
Student Services office hours are from Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 6:00 and Friday 8:00 to 4:30. To make an appointment, students can come to any of the following drop-in hours (please note that hours may change occasionally): Monday 1:00-3:30, Tuesday 8:00-11:30 and 1:30-2:30, Wednesday 10:00-12:00, and Friday 1:30-3:30. Please refer to our website for more information: www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/student-services/counselling-centre/
Irma Mazzonna, on behalf of the Counselling Centre staff
Access for Students with Disabilities
Access for Students with Disabilities provides accommodations, support and advocacy for students with all types of disabilities including learning, physical, sensory, mental, and health-related conditions. If you have a student registered with us or a student whom you suspect may have a disability, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information. General Inquiries: Jennifer Green Access Reception Student Services, Room C203, ext.7090 [email protected] Ourania Zafiri Exam Accommodation Coordinator Access Centre, Room B207, ext. 8211 [email protected] Advisors for students with disabilities: Irma Mazzonna Advisor for Students with Mental Health Conditions Psychologist Student Services, Room C203, ext. 7943 [email protected] Jim Atkinson Advisor for Students with Mental Health Conditions Socio-Economic Officer Student Services, Room C203, ext. 7883
Martine Roy Advisor for Students with Physical Conditions Orthopédagogue Student Services, Room C203, ext. 8234 [email protected] Shana Stafiej Advisor for Students with Learning Disabilities and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Autism & ADHD) Adapted Service Counselor Access Centre, Room B209, ext. 7071 [email protected] For more information, please visit our website at http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/access/ For any inquiries or for students who need to register with the Access Centre please e-mail [email protected].
Ourania Zafiri, Access Centre
Learning Commons: The Learning Centre Services
The Learning Centre (TLC), soon to be the Tutoring and Academic Success Centre (TASC), offers an array of resources and services for both students and faculty in order to promote student academic success. We are located on the second floor of the B-building (B205).
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS Drop-in Assistance: Students may receive free assistance from trained English peer tutors regarding reading, writing, speaking, time management & study skills as follows: Drop-In: Monday-Friday, 10am – 4pm starting August 29th. Extended hours to accommodate Continuing Education students starting September 12th as follows: Monday – Thursday 10am – 6:30 p.m. Friday – 10am – 4pm
During high volume periods, students can expect to see a peer tutor for a maximum of 15 minutes only. Students should bring the following:
instructions for the assignment
a draft of their paper
a specific question or a problem they would like to address with the peer tutor Please note that the TLC drop-in tutoring is not a correction service; consequently, the peer tutors will not proofread or edit papers. Private tutoring Trained English peer tutors are also available for students whose English is not their first language. A student can be matched with an English peer tutor to receive weekly help with their language and study skills. Encourage students who would like to improve their English skills to apply online at: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/tasc/tutoring
SERVICES FOR TEACHERS In Class Workshops: We have developed workshops on a variety of topics. The workshops can be as brief as 15 minutes, or take as long as an hour. It is possible to custom-tailor elements of any workshop to better suit your specific class or assignment(s). It is also possible to combine workshops or elements from several workshops. Please note that these workshops are also available for Continuing Education classes. Teachers can book their workshop at: http://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/tlc/book-a-workshop
Avoiding Plagiarism / Referencing: This focuses on the definition and consequences of plagiarism. Students are taught the skills needed to
avoid plagiarism, such as how to paraphrase, quote and properly reference their sources. It is available for APA and for MLA documentation.
Time Management and Avoiding Procrastination: This workshops looks at what procrastination is and some methods of addressing the
problem. It also looks at time management and some tools that can be used for managing one’s time and to help with procrastination.
Study Skills: This workshop discusses some of the ways that the brain learns and stores information. The workshop demonstrates how short term and long term memory works and presents students with different studying techniques using interactive activities.
Oral Presentations: This workshop discusses how to prepare and give an oral presentation. It can also include information on creating a
PowerPoint presentation.
Note-Taking: This workshop discusses different methods for taking notes in class and while reading, including concept maps and the Cornell Method. Active Reading: This workshop introduces students to the concept of active reading, which includes reading with purpose and how to use the SQ3R method.
Essay Writing: This shows students a step-by-step approach to writing a college-level essay. It can include discussion and exercises on
creating topics, writing effective thesis statements, proper paragraph structure, essay-outlining and essay structure. It can focus on different
essay types or different elements in the academic essay.
Essay Analysis: This workshop focuses on what it means to analyze evidence for the academic essay and how to incorporate analysis into the
essay properly.
Literary Analysis: These workshops help introduce students to the concept of literary analysis. Students learn about several literary
techniques and how to analyze them to understand a piece of literature.
Writing Better Sentences: This workshop offers students straightforward and easy-to-apply strategies for correcting common sentence problems such as fragments, run-ons, and comma splices. Students will learn key punctuation and grammar usage rules by revisiting the basics of sentence structure. Please pass on this information to your students. Feel free to visit Joanne Ellis (Coordinator), Kim Muncey, Josh Berman, Cari Clough, and Didier Brûlé-Champagne in B205.
Joanne Ellis, The Learning Centre
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STUDY ON CAMPUS?
A-Building
A-301 (Social Science Resource Centre)A-475 (Biology Resource Room)A-573 (Women and Gender Studies Resource Room)
B-Building
B-205 (The Learning Centre / Math & Science Centre) - Priority to peer tutoringB-400 (Physics Resource Room) B-512 (Chemistry Resource Room)
C-Building
C-403 (Languages and Cultures Resource Room) - Quiet StudyC-409 (CLEO - French Resource Room)
D-Building
D-100 (Vanier Library) - Quiet StudyD-140 (Vanier Library - Work space) - Quiet Study
E-Building
E-501 (Vanier Library - Literacy classroom / Work space) - Quiet StudyE-Building Back Courtyard (Outside Study Space)
N-Building
N-131 (Quiet Study Space)N-215 (I.T. Centre)N-262A (Business Administration & Commerce Resource Centre)N-362 (Office Systems Techonology Resource Room)N-400 (Study Space)N-500 (Study Space)
And if you need to print, go visit...
A-204 in the entrance foyerB-224 outside the Learning Centre/Language SchoolC-410 outside Modern Languages/French departmentD-100 LibraryD-140 Library Study Area E-120 in the Continuing Education corridorF-100 near the CafeteriaF-240 outside SecurityG-216 in the Sports ComplexN-100 outside the elevatorsN-215 in the I.T. CentreN-300 in front of the elevators
These spaces are available to ALL students.
Information Session:
Wednesday,
September 14, 2016
12:30 in Room B-223
(Amphitheatre)
Students with no or
minimal Russian will be
considered
Study Trip to St. Petersburg,
Russia
May—June 2017
For more information
Natalia Pakhomova in B-321
or
Jeniffer Joseph in Room B-230
Contact :
![Evolution-Guided Policy Gradient in Reinforcement Learningpapers.nips.cc/paper/7395-evolution-guided-policy... · temporal credit assignment problem [54]. Temporal Difference methods](https://img.pdfslide.us/doc/110x75/5fd268c02e36e14c83012bba/evolution-guided-policy-gradient-in-reinforcement-temporal-credit-assignment-problem.jpg)
