Community Report for 2015
Our distinctive position among Canadian universities arises not from a slogan or a marketing campaign, but from the beliefs we put into action. We are the only public university in Canada devoted exclusively to liberal arts education and we are tireless advocates of the value of liberal arts education, both for the individual and society. To realize that ideal means that we strive daily to innovate and achieve excellence in all facets of liberal arts education. This Community Report for 2015 demonstrates the results of our efforts—the success of our students, faculty and alumni, many of whom were supported by philanthropy and by community partnerships. I hope that you understand your significant role in these successes as we put your partnerships and gifts into action. One example is our Human Rights program. We not only offer one of the few programs of this kind in the country, but we now also offer students one of the only undergraduate moot court classes in Canada. Thanks to your support, students travel to competitions in the United States and argue Supreme Court cases in front of judges. A recent example of innovation in academic programming is our relationship with HBX CORe of the Harvard Business School. We are the first Canadian partner of HBX CORe. Their courses will add business fundamentals to the advanced literacy, critical thinking, and collaborative skills that we provide to students—a great way to strengthen a liberal arts degree. Year after year, in national surveys of student engagement and alumni satisfaction, STU is among the leaders in learning, campus environment and graduate satisfaction. With your support, we are offering our students one of the finest liberal arts educations in the country. Thank you. Dawn Russell, President and Vice Chancellor
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© Keith MinchinFaces of Fredericton/Faces of New Brunswick
President’s Message
Gifts in Action “Competing in moot court has been invaluable in my career journey, helping me enhance my written and oral advocacy skills and solidifying my choice to attend law school.” – Lindsay McLellan, BA ’15, STU’s Moot Court Team
Experiential Learning: Moot Court Aspiring lawyers have an advantage at STU. We offer the only undergraduate moot court program in Maritime Canada, which means our students get real court-room experience. Last year, we sent students to two competitions in the United States – one in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and the other in Chicago. The teams placed extremely well, despite having to learn American constitutional law. Moot court is made possible thanks to generous donors, the STU Fund, and more recently, a new partnership with the firm Stewart McKelvey Lawyers • Avocats. Moot court will be a course at STU starting in 2015-2016.
Gala Dinner Raises Money for Student Aid Alumni and friends gathered at the STU Gala Dinner during Alumni Weekend 2014, raising more than $93,000 to support students in financial need. At the dinner, we honoured Bernard Riordon, BA ’70, with the inaugural Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award.
Giving Tommies a Leg Up
We established three new athletics funds to help student athletes make the most of their time at STU. • The Dwight Dickinson Basketball Award Endowment will provide a scholarship annually to a member of the men’s basketball team. • The LeRoy Washburn Tommies Championship Fund will support team costs associated with championship travel, preparation and play. • The Vance Toner Memorial Bursary Endowment will support a student athlete in financial need annually.
Washburn Dickinson
Toner
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Artists in Residence Program Our Artist in Residence program allowed the community to witness art in the making. Nationally acclaimed carver Ned Bear kicked off the program in October. Other participating artists included choreographer Lesandra Dodson, artist Mario Doucette, artist Richard Clements, the musical group Trio Sambucca featuring Sally Wright, Steven Peacock, and Michel Deschênes, the woodwind quintet Ventus Machina and the Saint John String Quartet. The initiative draws upon the expertise of artists from diverse disciplines and media to inspire the university community and young artists. During their week-long residencies, each artist developed some aspect of their creative work and interacted with the community through exhibitions, workshops or performances. The program was made possible by ArtsNB and the STU Fund.
Dr. Rosemary Clews Memorial Student Research Internship A new endowed research internship honours the late Rosemary Clews, former Social Work faculty member and Assistant Vice-President of Research. The internship enables a student to receive compensation while developing a set of research skills by working with a professor in an area of the student’s interest. Last year’s recipient was Social Work student Kelly Cunningham, who assisted Social Work professor Dr. Amir Jamal with his research on Muslim youth identity.
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Ned Bear
Bob Rae: Beyond Polling and Branding Former Ontario Premier and Liberal Party leader Bob Rae spoke about the importance of community engagement on tough policy issues at the St. Thomas University Lecture in Public Engagement sponsored by TransCanada.
A Meaningful Student Experience Advocating for Social Justice Social Work students showcased projects tackling pressing social issues affecting New Brunswickers’ social and economic well-being at their annual Social Action Fair in March. “Here is a vibrant group of students who are passionate about social justice and are committed to inspiring their peers to take action and to act out for a more just, equitable world,” said Rory Crath, assistant professor, School of Social Work.
A Bag of One’s Own Social Work student Zoe Bourgeois, BA ’14, works hard for foster children, because she knows what it’s like to be in their shoes. For more than 14 years, she was under the care of the government. Bourgeois relied on her experiences in the foster care system when she and three other classmates embarked on a mission to get every child in care a suitcase as part of their Social Action project. Since many foster children use garbage bags to transport their belongings from one foster home to the next, the social work students started a petition in March to team up with Bentley Canada, Partners for Youth, and the provincial government to get each child proper luggage and, as a result, a degree of dignity. The group received national attention for the initiative.
Students Travel to Model United Nations Ten International Relations students recently travelled to Boston to compete in the Harvard National Model United Nations. At the event, student-diplomats from around the world are divided and assigned to committees to discuss issues facing the international community today from perspectives different from their own. St. Thomas represented Malaysia.
“We were exposed to the world of diplomacy. We experienced firsthand the process that a resolution of the United Nations must go through for approval, and the more competitive side of the simulation gave us a taste of real world politics.” – Shannon Carmont, BA ’15, head studentdelegate
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Learning from Great Speakers McKenna Centre Distinguished Speaker Series Elizabeth May
Dalton Camp Lecture in Journalism Nelofer Pazira
National Green Party leader Elizabeth May discussed women in politics, the role of the Green Party in Canadian society and the struggles of today’s federal politicians.
Journalist and filmmaker Nelofer Pazira discussed a journalist’s objectivism and how many reporters fail to tell the real story, whether it’s because of a lack of courage, lack of information or lack of experience.
In his lecture, “Playing the Inside Out: Integrity in the Written Word,” awardwinning author David Adams Richards explored the theme of truth in writing and the importance of experience and individuality.
Upcoming Lectures Dalton Camp Lecture in Journalism – Lyse Doucet, BBC’s Chief International Correspondent
Vigod Memorial Lecture – Alex Neve, Secretary General with Amnesty International Canada
John McKendy Memorial Lecture on Narrative – Philip Thomas, Psychiatrist and Writer
Irving Chair in Journalism Lecture – Ros Guggi, Award-Winning Journalist
Annual Great Ideas Lecture – Mary Nichols, Professor at Baylor University
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Irving Chair Lecture in Journalism David Adams Richards
Royal Society of Canada Lecture – Michael Dawson, Department of History at St. Thomas University Lodhi Lecture in Human Rights – Roméo Dallaire, Humanitarian, Retired Senator and General
Global and International Studies Initiative Lecture Dr. Besim Can Zirh Dr. Besim Can Zirh, a visiting scholar who teaches Sociology at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey examined the recent Gezi Park protests in Turkey as part of a global geography of resistance.
Student Success Political Science and Great Books graduate Natalia Gutierrez, BA ’15, attended an international conference in Dallas, TX, hosted by the Association for Core Texts and Courses. This year’s conference focused on the relation between core texts and liberal education. Gutierrez’s thesis research directly relates Nietzsche’s work with the ideas and values of a liberal education.
Philosophy graduate Trisha Pelletier, BA ’15, earned a prestigious Beaverbrook Scholarship to study law at the University of New Brunswick. The scholarship is renewable for three years and is worth $18,000 annually. Pelletier saw law school as the next step following her honours degree in philosophy — a degree that taught her to articulate and debate difficult ideas.
Alumni Receive Scholarships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Daniel Blais, BA ’11, was awarded $17,500 and is attending York University to pursue a master’s degree in Sociology. Kelly Ferguson, BA ’14, was awarded $17,500 and is attending Carleton University this fall to pursue a master’s degree in Public History. Gordon Tuckwell, BA ’15, received more than $35,000 in funding from SSHRC and Queen’s University to pursue his master’s in Philosophy.
Margaret Fitzgerald, BA ’12, was awarded a renewable three-year scholarship of $35,000 and is attending Carleton University, where she will begin her Ph.D. in Political Science with a specialization in Political Economy. Billy Johnson, BA ’12, was awarded a renewable three-year scholarship of $35,000 and is attending the University of Toronto in the fall to pursue a Ph.D. in English Literature with a concentration in Canadian Literature.
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Johnny Cullen Teaches Rugby in Africa Johnny Cullen, BA ’16, believes a true Tommie is always looking for opportunities to improve themselves and leave a positive impact on others. “Whether they are exploring another region of the world, lending a helping hand in the community or hanging out on campus, a Tommie always offers useful insight and is open to new opinions and ideas.” The scrumhalf with the men’s rugby team embodies this to a “T.” He and one of his teammates spent a month teaching children in African communities how to play rugby through an organization called Bhubesi Pride. Only 15 people are selected each year for the program, which aims to unite communities, empower staff, and inspire
long-term development through sport. “One of the many highlights of coaching in various countries was seeing so many kids from different backgrounds working together on the rugby field. Instances like these were an excellent example of how sport bridges the gap between culture, language and social status. The kids proved that teamwork, passion and hard work are universal traits.” Cullen knows first-hand that hard work pays off and that balance is key to success. The dean’s list student, whose academic performance has earned him a St. Thomas Scholars Award for the last three years, also makes time to play rugby and give back to the community by volunteering with the Best Buddies Program on campus.
Tommies Outstanding Achievements
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Men’s Volleyball
Track and Field
Wrestling
The men’s volleyball team claimed their second straight Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association championship after downing the Holland College Hurricanes 3-0 in the conference final in Halifax. This was the Tommies’ second championship in the last three years and sixth in program history.
Jonathan Gionet made St. Thomas history, becoming the first student athlete to win an individual medal at the Atlantic University Sport Track and Field Championships. Gionet captured the gold medal and was crowned the AUS shot put champion with a throw of 14.35 meters.
Third-year wrestler Lorena Ellis won the Atlantic University Sport Wrestling Championships’ 67 kilogram division and finished fourth at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport National Wrestling Championships.
Campus Success and Partnerships Endowed Chair in Native Studies
Partnership with Elsipogtog First Nation STU welcomed 15 First Nation students into its academic community in a T-Pin Ceremony held at the Elsipogtog First Nation. The students are taking St. Thomas English and mathematics courses at Elsipogtog and upon completion, they will have the opportunity to transfer to our Bachelor of Arts program.
New Logo Represents Duality of First Nation Students A new logo has been created for First Nation students at St. Thomas University. It was designed by Shane Perley-Dutcher, a prominent Wolastqui Silversmith from the Nekootkook (Tobique) First Nation. “The T-logo is a symbol of unity, respect and inclusiveness,” PerleyDutcher said. “The Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq culture will always be the heart of our learning process. Through this design, we honour the spirit of lifelong learning and we honour the heart of our students that take the steps to improve their well being through education. This design carries hope for a better future for First Nation learners at St. Thomas University.”
The Honourable Graydon Nicholas has been named the Endowed Chair in Native Studies. Nicholas served as NB’s Lieutenant Governor from 2009-2014. He was the first Aboriginal person to receive a law degree in Atlantic Canada and the first appointed as a provincial court judge. The Endowed Chair in Native Studies was established in 1984 as a result of the university’s long standing interest in the educational needs of Native students and its relationship with First Nations communities. Among its goals, the chair makes resources available to Aboriginal communities and New Aboriginal Student promotes the understanding of Exchange Program Aboriginal issues in Thanks to the generous support of society. The Chair also supports the the Harrison McCain Foundation, a Native Studies new First Nation Student Exchange Program at the with Vancouver Island University university.
will be launched this academic year. A First Nation student attending STU will complete a semester of study at VIU, while a student from VIU visits STU for a semester.
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New Partnership with Harvard Business School St. Thomas is partnering with HBX of the Harvard Business School to offer our students CORe, a multi-week, intensive program of online courses on the fundamentals of business. The Credential of Readiness (CORe) program introduces students to the language and concepts of business. The courses teach essential concepts that students need to know to begin a career in business—whether it is at a large company, a tiny start-up, or a nonprofit. The program is comprised of three courses on business analytics, economics for managers, and financial accounting. Upon successful completion of CORe, students receive an HBX transcript that reflects their achievement and provides a breakdown of performance in the courses. After students successfully complete the program, the courses can be counted as credit towards their degree at St. Thomas University.
Getting Aging Right St. Thomas entered into a partnership with the Atlantic Institute on Aging that will complement our existing work and public outreach on aging. As New Brunswick’s population ages, the need for aging-related research, analysis and program development will be even greater. Together, our two institutions hope to make New Brunswick the place that “gets aging right.”
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Ideas That Transcend Continents: STU Lectures Offered In India Professors in the Great Books program offered a series of lectures via webcam to a group of employees of the oil and gas exploration company Cairn India Ltd. The series includes four lectures on ethics from the point of view of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Rawls. The readings are designed to provide provocative, powerful and diverse ethical positions from influential thinkers through the ages.
“Extracting oil from the ground smartly requires extensive collaboration inside and outside our company. The Great Books course from STU, delivered in a live interactive format, builds their thinking, interpersonal and conceptual skills. It also allows them to see the many shades of grey versus a black and white deterministic answer.” – Mike Ashar, CEO of Cairn India
Faculty Success Psychology professor Dr. Dave Korotkov has
History professor and Associate Vice-President (Research) Dr. Michael Dawson has been elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s inaugural College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. The college is Canada’s first national system of multidisciplinary recognition for the emerging generation of intellectual leadership. It aims to generate new advances in understanding from the interaction of diverse intellectual, social and cultural perspectives. Dawson, the first professor from St. Thomas to join the Royal Society, teaches courses on Canadian history, the global history of sport and tourism, and comparative history of national identity and popular culture.
received recognition from the American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences for his editorial and scholarly contributions to the association’s Perspectives journal. His contributions to the association’s conferences have also been noted. He received the McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2015 Distinguished Scholar Award at a recent conference where he also presented his research on universal design in teaching and learning.
Fine Arts professor Dr. Martin Kutnowski has been awarded the Association of Atlantic Universities Distinguished Teaching Award. Kutnowski is an accomplished composer, renowned performer, and a distinguished teacher. His emphasis on collective classroom learning, coupled with his warm demeanour and passion for music, make him an influential contributor to our student experience. This is the second consecutive year a STU professor has received this award.
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Where are our students from? Enrolment Based by Province 2014/2015 Other Cdn 3.6%
ON 3.4%
Scholarships and Bursaries Disbursed 2014/2015
Number Value
Scholarship - Entrance (first-year)
Inter 6.9%
PE 4.0%
NS 8.9%
NB 73.3%
363
$ 680,743.64
Scholarship - In Course
33
$ 36,450.00
Scholarship - Renewals
281
$ 656,500.00
Total Scholarship
677
$ 1,373,693.64
Bursary - Entrance (Undergrad)
124
$ 155,828.22
Bursary - In Course
105
$ 78,583.32
Bursary - Post-Bacc
20
$ 18,150.00
Bursary - Renewals
11
$ 10,000.00
Total Bursary
260
$ 262,561.54
Other Awards
55
$ 205,247.25
Total Other Awards
55
$ 205,247.25
TOTAL
Attracting Students and Professors from Far and Wide • International students represent 10% of our first year class • 8% of overall student population • 42 countries are represented on campus (students and professors)
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Notes: Excludes B143 International Bursary figures (processed as a tuition waiver)
992 $ 1,841,502.43
Giving at STU
Where is your money going?
Student Experience 11%
Who is giving to STU?
Academic 11%
Athletics 9%
Organizations 12%
Friends 49%
Greatest Need 13%
Capital Projects 15% Student Awards 41%
Alumni 39%
The Shared Aspirations of Our Community
Canadian University Survey Consortium - Survey of Graduating Students, 2015 • 91% were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of education at STU • 91% would recommend St. Thomas University to others • 95% of STU graduates were satisfied with the quality of teaching they received • 96% reported professors are accessible outside of class
St. Thomas University Strategic Plan 2013-2018 Our Strategic Plan is the result of an extensive consultation with our community. During that process, clear and positive themes emerged about the future of St. Thomas University. • Strategic Priority 1: Excellence in Undergraduate Liberal Arts Education • Strategic Priority 2: A Meaningful and Memorable Student Experience • Strategic Priority 3: A Commitment to Research and Societal Engagement • Strategic Priority 4: A Welcoming, Diverse and Inclusive Community • Strategic Priority 5: Financial Sustainability
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STU Budget at a Glance 2015-2016 Budgeted Revenues (Total $27,814,900) Other $1.2M 4%
Tuition and Fees $12.5M 45%
Operating Grant $14.1M 51%
Economic Contribution of STU Attracted 105 full-time faculty to the city Employs 110 part-time faculty Employs 90 staff members Educates 2,000 students every year (75% from NB) Granted 7,250 academic credentials since 2004
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2015-16 Budgeted Expenses (Total $28,871,700)
Student Services $1.7M Computing 6% Services $0.9M Fiscal 3% Physical Transfer Plant to UNB $2.1M $1.9M 7% 7% Administration and General $4.7M 16%
Academic $17.5M 61%
Beyond 2015: STU Shapes Tomorrow’s Leaders “The small classes at St. Thomas gave me the attention I needed, empowered me to think for myself and conditioned me to be a leader.” – Jason Cassidy, BA ’11, Marketing’s Top 30 Under 30
“St. Thomas taught me to ask those tough questions and not accept what is put in front of me. It taught me critical analysis and to understand a broader scope of issues. In law, we often don’t get to choose our clients, so you need to be able to look at all perspectives.” – Michael Connors, BA ’98, Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
“In my years at STU, I had some of the best teachers that I ever had in my life. I was very inspired. I hope to have that effect on people someday as well.” – Megan Young-Jones, BA ’07, BEd ’08, First Nations literacy teacher at George Street Middle School, who inspired her students to publish their Maliseet book Weyossisok which earned national recognition
“I’ve always dreamed of being a journalist and STU gave me the tools to get there. The campus paper, The Aquinian, gave me a chance to test what I was learning in class, and my professors gave up their own time to give me advice and one-on-one help with my writing.” – Karissa Donkin, BA ’12, Winner of the Atlantic Journalism Award’s Jim MacNeill New Journalist Award for 2015
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Leadership St. Thomas University Board of Governors Ex officio Most Rev. Robert Harris, BA, LTh, JCL, Chancellor Dawn Russell, BA, LLB, LLM, President and Vice-Chancellor Barry Craig, BA, MA, PhD, Vice-President (Academic & Research) Appointed Tanya Chapman, BA, BEd Don Fitzgerald, BComm, Chair Stuart Kinney, BA, LLB Noël A. Kinsella, BA, LPh, PhD, STL, STD Claire Morris, BA, MSW Rev. Douglas R. McNeill, BA, BTh, MDiv Vaughn Sturgeon, BA, CPA, CMA Marie-Paule Theriault, BEd Dianne Wilkins, BT, BA, MEd Susanne Willett, CA, BComm, MBA Peter Forestell, QC, BA, LLB Carolyn MacKay, BN, MBA Graydon Nicholas, BSc, LLB, MSW Faculty Sue McKenzie-Mohr, BA, MSW, PhD Christine Cornell, BA, MA, PhD Martin Kutnowski, MA, PhD
Students Nicholas Decarie Alumni Phillippe Ouellette, BA, MA Cyndi Jenkins, BA, JD Observers Lily Fraser, BSc, MHA, CPA, CGA (Vice-President, Finance & Administration) Jeff Wright, BA (Vice-President, Advancement) Megan Thomson (President, Students’ Union)
Administration
Dawn Russell, President and Vice-Chancellor Barry Craig, Vice-President (Academic & Research) Lily Fraser, Vice-President (Finance & Administration) Jeff Wright, Vice-President (Advancement & Alumni Relations) Michael Dawson, Associate Vice-President (Research) Scott Duguay, Associate Vice-President (Enrolment Management) Michael Boudreau, Dean of Humanities Kim Fenwick, Dean of Social Sciences
51 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5G3 www.stu.ca