Enriched University Experience
Since the winter 2008, the University of Ottawa has set up two funds in its effort to improve the quality of the student experience: the first in the amount of $600,000 annually is available to faculties; the second in the amount of $150,000 annually is available to professors and students, teams, or academic units. Proposed projects should target those five identified areas which represent important aspects of the university experience: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning in the classroom, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experiences and the supportive campus environment. The projects that receive funding will be presented during an annual forum aimed at promoting best practices and sharing successful strategies.
Furthermore, in its continued effort to facilitate access to university studies, to better and enrich the university experience, the University of Ottawa has increased the number of initiatives undertaken over the last few years. Here are a few examples of initiatives which aim to:
- Raise youth interest in university studies
- Ensure academic success
- Offer an international experience
- Offer innovative teaching methods
- Offer a greater diversity in terms of extracurricular learning experiences
1. Access to University Studies
Career Orientation Program in Ontario High Schools
Given the importance students place on career choice, the Student Academic Success Service (SASS) began working in 2000 with students even before they have decided whether not university studies are right for them. The key objectives of this program are to provide students with objective, research-based information regarding their professional options and to increase the likelihood of students choosing the most suitable field of study for them – also facilitating student transition to postsecondary studies.
Enrichment Mini-Courses Program
Every year since 1981, the Enrichment Mini-Courses Program is offered to talented and high-performing grade 8 to 12 and Secondary II to V students from 245 public and private schools in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. It provides students with an opportunity to explore a discipline of study or subject of personal interest and gain an enriching experience that promotes their academic success and stimulates their interest in postsecondary studies. These mini-courses involve a wide range of disciplines and combine short presentations, practical exercises, labs, discussion groups and field visits, designed to provide students with an exceptional learning experience.
A Celebration of Science
The Celebration of Science event is held one day in French and one day in English each spring since 2001. It draws more than 900 Eastern Ontario grade-11 and Western Quebec secondaire 4 students who can choose from various workshops in several science disciplines: biology, physics, chemistry, Earth sciences, biochemistry and mathematics. These activities are offered by Faculty of Science professors, teaching assistants and technicians. The key objectives are to give these students an opportunity to participate in activities that complement ongoing high school curriculum and to enhance students’ practical skills and develop new skills in order to increase student interest in studying sciences while demystifying university expectations.
Holiday Science Lectures
Each year, during the Christmas break, the Faculty of Science offers public lectures aimed at a young audience (grades 9 and 10). These very popular lectures have been offered for over fifty years. In 2005, they featured a presentation by Jean-Marie de Koninck, the well-known mathematics professor from Université Laval and sports commentator for Radio-Canada. In 2006, professor Michel Labrosse’s lecture introduced students on how the human heart works and how engineers and doctors work together to help people with heart problems; professor Gabriel Blouin-Demers made a presentation on the fascinating work of reptiles. In 2007, professor Chris Willot made a presentation on black holes and their popularity in sci-fi stories and shows; professor William Hallett demonstrated combustion processes in his presentation titled “Playing with Fire – Engineering Combusion.” The key objective of these is to interest secondary and high school students in pursuing science studies.
Summer School for Francophones from outside Quebec – now “Destination Clic”
Since 2000, the University of Ottawa’s Summer School, now known as “Destination Clic”, provides Francophones from outside Quebec having completed Grade 11 with an intensive five-week program allowing them to expand their knowledge of the French language and explore the many facets of Francophone culture. Apart from two university-level French courses offered with credits by the Département de français, students attend workshops in visual arts, literary creation, theatre, music and sports, and have the opportunity to partake in numerous socio-cultural activities such as concerts, visits to the capital’s attractions, nature trips, participation in festivals, etc. This program aims at reinforcing student linguistic competencies and consequently preparing them for continued studies in French.
“Introduction to Medicine” Mini-Course
This activity takes place at Montfort Hospital as well as in Northern Ontario, in the Greater Toronto Area, and in Southern Ontario. Since 1997, it gives francophone high school participants the opportunity to spend two days as medical students by attending a problem-based learning session, workshops on suturing, casting, eye exam, ear exam, auscultation, reflexes, among others. The key objectives are to introduce students from Ontario francophone high schools to the possibility of pursuing a career in medicine and to introduce participants to the francophone section of the Medicine program, thus supporting the University of Ottawa in its mandate to promote la Francophonie.
Canadian Heraldic
In 2004, a Heraldic Kit prepared by the Department of History, in collaboration with the Canadian Heraldic Authority, was sent out to primary schools and distributed in 4th grade classes. While stimulating interest for the study of the Middle Ages, it initiates students and teachers to heraldic notions and promotes a better understanding of self-identity: students become aware of themselves (origin, family history) and of their group in society (class, family and community) through a medieval grammar of forms and colours, thus promoting a greater appreciation of the importance of history and the need for society to remember historical events. It is meant to supplement the new curriculum in social studies now in use in Québec and Ontario primary schools.
Place à la jeunesse
The Place à la jeunesse academic competition is organized in cooperation with the Telfer School of Management and Fonds jeunesse of the Fondation franco-ontarienne (FFO). Since 2005, all francophone school boards in Eastern Ontario are invited to send four 3-student teams (from four different schools) to each of the two competitions, based on their particular interest in either entrepreneurship or marketing (for a total of eight teams per school board). This program aims to offer high school students with an opportunity to solve hypothetical, but realistic cases. The activity takes place in a healthy competition setting and is supervised by university students who have a passion for business and concrete experience in problem-solving. The key objectives are to increase student interest in studying management and to ease student transition from secondary school to university.
Concours provincial de français de l’Ontario
Created in 1982 by the Département de français as a successor to the competition launched in 1938 by Robert Gauthier, first Director of French Education in Ontario, this competition is now a shared venture with both Laurentian University and Glendon College, who take turns organizing this annual event. The key objective is to promote the interest of young Franco-Ontarians for French language and university-level education, and to increase awareness of the need for quality in language.
School Community Franco-Ontarian Theatre Festival – Festival Théâtre Action
Since 1997, the Festival franco-Ontarien de théâtre en milieu scolaire, which garners participation from 20 to 25 schools, puts together 15 to 20 plays and organizes a series of training workshops for students and teachers over a 3-day period. The Department of Theatre hosts this Festival Théâtre Action every two years and actively participates the alternate year by presenting a play and a workshop at Laurentian University. The Department also assists schools in the region by lending costumes and props, and offering them complementary tickets for the various shows presented by the Comédie des Deux Rives. After the shows, students are given the opportunity to meet and exchange with the artists.
Early Identification of At-Risk Students
In 2004-2005, the Student Academic Success Service (SASS) put in place an Early Identification of At-Risk Students program that allows for an increased ability to identify students at risk of academic failure. By proactively monitoring students’ academic performance immediately following the first series of mid-term results, it becomes possible to provide these students with personalized support services as required (mentoring, academic advisors, counselling, etc.) to improve their success. SASS also identifies courses that have abnormally elevated failure rates and collaborates with faculties and professors to implement remedial support structures that improve learning and success rates, such as discussion groups, study groups and help centres.
Centre for Academic Success in Science
Since 2000, Charles Wolfe, a retired secondary school science teacher, provides individual support to first-year undergraduate students who are having academic problems (students are identified based on test results early in the first session). With the help of a group of third- and fourth-year students (called Your Buddies in Science), he offers students assistance. As a result, students are better prepared to study efficiently, to manage stress during exam periods, to manage their workload and their time, to search for summer employment, etc.
Virtual Mentorship for First-Year Students in Engineering
The Faculty of Engineering offers first-year students with a virtual mentorship service since September 2005. A fourth-year Engineering student acts as an anonymous virtual mentor. On this site, students can discuss various topics in a discussion forum, send confidential messages to the mentor, consult useful links, check important dates in the calendar and consult a FAQ list. This program thus offers an anonymous and discrete service to students who would otherwise hesitate to ask for help in person and assists in redirecting them to those appropriate resources and answer their questions, with a goal to ensure a successful first year.
International Development Courses Abroad
The Faculty of Social Sciences offers courses in Senegal, Argentina, Kenya, South Africa and French Polynesia within the context of its International Development and Globalization program since 2006. Students attend a week of courses in Canada before travelling to the country of study. Once there, they receive training from the professor travelling with them and attend presentations by speakers from the region, visit agencies and meet with workers. During their stay, students become familiar with international development issues and the impact of globalization on the population; they then draw up an individual research project on the subject. Students expand their knowledge of the local culture by living with a family, the beginning of dialogues. The program also offers international exchanges and internships.
Ambassador Lecture Series
The Ambassador Lecture Series was launched in January 2002 as an initiative of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. The Ambassadors have complete freedom on topics addressed. Some have given overtly political lectures, others have offered a historical, social, economic or cultural overview of their countries; still a third group decided to speak about international relations between their countries and Canada or another country. Lectures are followed by a reception where the Ambassador and members of the Embassy have the opportunity to speak informally with guests. As a result of this collaboration with embassies, the Department has also been able to host lectures by two Nobel Prize winners (from Hungary and Portugal) and some famous writers (Antonio Skarmeta, author of Il Postino and Nancy Morejón, from Cuba), to mention just a few.
Techno-Rico Intensive Three-Week Seminar
Building Better Humans? Ethical and Legal Dimensions of the Human-Machine Merger, or “Techno-Rico,” is an intensive three-week seminar in technology law offered during the January Term since 2004 at the Common Law Section, University of Ottawa, and at the Faculty of Law, University of Puerto Rico. The course brings together 12 Canadian and 12 Puerto Rican students, two very different student bodies from two very distinct jurisdictions, to investigate the challenges that arise in the areas such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics and neuroscience as used to enhance and perhaps redesign the human condition. The first week of class is held at the University of Ottawa, and the following two are held at the University of Puerto Rico.
Joint LL.B.-JD program with two U.S. schools
Since September 2003, the Common Law Section offers a four-year combined program that allows participants to obtain both Canadian and American law degrees. Participants spend two years at the University of Ottawa and two years at one of two U.S. law schools: Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing or American University (Washington College of Law) in Washington, DC. Students obtain a law degree from each school, which opens the door to the practice of law in the U.S. and Canada. This increasingly reflects the economic and social effects of international integration, globalization and the unique bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Canada. This is the only program in Canada that allows students to obtain a U.S. law degree while paying tuition at regular Canadian student rates.
Partnership with Benin
The first component of this partnership between the Faculty of Medicine at the Abomey-Calavi University in Cotonou, Benin, and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa began in November 2003 with a one-month clinical placement in Benin, in which two medical students, two family medicine residents and three supervisors represented Canada. Since then, all placements target the needs of the community and use a problem-solving approach while focusing on the student. They are also an opportunity for Beninese students to experience new teaching and learning methods. The second component focuses on reforming the medical program in Benin with the Office of Francophone Affairs from the University of Ottawa offering long-term support to implement a new curriculum.
Partnership with Kenya
In May 2005 the Faculty of Health Sciences entered into an interdisciplinary partnership agreement with the Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development (TICH), located in Kenya. The partnership includes opportunities for project development, curriculum development, student and faculty exchange, as well as research. This partnership aims at increasing student awareness of international health, including ethical and public health issues in developing countries, and at increasing student understanding of how the culture, value system, socio-economic development and political reality of a country influence health. The long-term objective is to increase the ability of graduates to provide culturally sensitive care.
4. Innovative Teaching Methods
French Immersion Studies
Since September 2006, the French immersion program allows Francophile students to pursue their undergraduate university education in French immersion in more than 50 programs. During the first two years of university studies, students are able to take up to eight courses (24 credits) for which the final mark will be “S” (satisfactory) or “NS” (non-satisfactory), thus reassuring those concerned with possible negative impact on their academic average. Students also benefit from the support provided by immersion courses, i.e. an additional 1.5 hours per week during which a language professor assists students in their “comprehension of the course.” Students receive three credits for the regular course as well as an additional 3 credits for language support. An Immersion Mentoring Centre as well as the “Club immersion” have also been created.
Improving Classroom Technology
In 2007, an accelerated plan for the conversion of classrooms into multimedia classrooms was adopted by the University. It includes the conversion of all classrooms on campus by 2011 to the highest technological standards as defined by the Ontario University Educational Technology Director Association. Since its adoption, the university has gone from 115 multimedia classrooms to 185 in 2008; at the end of the plan, 205 classrooms will be available.
CEO and Executives in Residence
The CEO and Executives in Residence program at the Telfer School of Management exemplifies its Linked with Leadership brand. These individuals provide our students with access to valuable insight into current affairs and expose them to their real life business experiences in various fields of business. Since 2004, CEOs have included Roger Greenberg (Minto), Pierre-Paul Allard (Cisco), Lynda Partner (GotMarketing) and Dr. Jack Kitts (The Ottawa Hospital). In terms of the Executives in Residence program, established professionals dedicate their time either for a session or a year to students; in some cases, their time is shared between their careers and the Telfer School of Management. Amongst these professionals are Denis Desautels (former Auditor General), Penny Collenette (lawyer, political advisor, commentator and expert on governance and ethical issues), and Peter Cleveland (Ernst & Young).
Undergraduate Research Scholarship
Since 1998, the Faculty of Science’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship gives students the opportunity to live a very unique experience. Recipients work with world renowned scientists and take part in important scientific discoveries. This $10,000 award gives students the opportunity to work with one of the University of Ottawa’s world-class research groups for two consecutive summers. They begin as a research assistant to a professor during the summer prior to their first year of study. They can also expand their research experience and contribution the following summer if they do well in their first year. Assistantships are available in various areas of medicine and science. Sixteen scholarships are available annually to exceptional students from across the country.
First-Year Seminar
Since 2006, this project offers Faculty of Social Sciences’ first-year students with small group seminars (25 students per class) in their respective disciplines, small groups being conducive to developing oral and written skills. Through these classes, students are also exposed to contemporary issues in their chosen discipline and acquire university-level study skills (doing research, writing long research papers, analyzing academic texts and statistics, giving oral presentations, etc.) This seminar aims to recognize and deal with any feeling of isolation by developing a sense of belonging among students in the same discipline and in the same cohort, thus providing better and more individualized student mentoring right from the start and promoting student integration into university life.
Nursing Clinical Simulation
In the fall of 2004, the Ontario government announced a Nursing Clinical Simulation Initiative to help nursing schools better prepare nursing students by purchasing simulation equipment. High-fidelity patient simulators, maternal and neonatal birthing simulators, child simulators and virtual IV training systems were purchased and integrated into the three existing nursing laboratories over the spring and summer of 2005. Students in the generic program are particularly enthusiastic about the opportunities for learning clinical skills and practicing in a safe environment thanks to the use of these computerized manikins and training systems. These provide students with the opportunity to be exposed to more complex care situations requiring critical thinking skills which can later be transferred to real clinical situations that will help bridge the gap and transition period for them at the start of placements.
January Term
In 2004, the Faculty’s Common Law Section created a three-week intensive teaching term held in January during which all students take one course and one course only. This is followed by a one-week break and then a ten-week term where students take their remaining credit hours. Intensive learning is energizing and more consistent with experiences that students will experience after graduation. This three-week intensive teaching term attracts high-quality visiting professors who could not otherwise participate. Beginning in January 2009, second and third year students of the Licence in Law program of the Faculty’s Civil Law Section will benefit from this same initiative.
Summer Schools on Cree and Innu Territories
The Civil Law Section organized a summer school consisting of two three-credit courses on Cree and Innu legal tradition, offered during a three-week period on Cree and Innu territories, since July 2006 and June 2007 respectively. Preferably, the courses are delivered jointly by a University of Ottawa professor and someone from the community. Fifteen students (aboriginal students, University of Ottawa law students or law students from other universities) are chosen to participate in this unique experience in each school. The key objectives are to introduce students to the Cree and Innu legal system, and to make participants aware of cultural differences in Canada.
Second-Language Certification
Since the fall of 2003, the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) offers a second-language certification course in which students can have their knowledge of their second official language evaluated through diagnostic exercises and formal testing procedures. These procedures include reading and listening comprehension tests, as well as written and oral expression tests. At the end of the course, after successfully completing the Second Language Certification Test, students receive an official University of Ottawa certificate outlining their linguistic profile. The second-language certification gives students the opportunity to obtain evidence of their second-language proficiency, a definite asset when they enter the job market.
5. Diversity of Extracurricular Learning Experiences
The Community Service Learning Program
This innovative pedagogical model, initiated in September 2004, allows students to get involved in their community by participating in projects that are related to their program of study and that typically replace an assignment in a course. Students typically complete three hours of volunteer work per week over a 12-week period. After determining the structure of their Community Service Learning projects with their professor, students then relate their experiences in the community to course content. This program’s objectives are to provide students with additional opportunities to apply previously acquired theoretical knowledge, and to provide additional means of promoting and fostering the development of community engagement.
Pro Bono Students Canada
Established in 1996, Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) is a network of law schools that encourages law students and legal professionals to volunteer in their communities and provide under-represented and disadvantaged individuals, groups, and organizations with pro bono legal services and access to justice. All student work is supervised by a volunteer lawyer. Due to the program's location in the national capital, students have access to placements with an interesting range of non-governmental and other not-for-profit organizations. Since 1998, PBSC provides law students with an opportunity to put their skills into practice and to assess viable career paths.
Legal Links & Bridges
The Faculty of Law offers students with one of the most developed mentoring programs in the country. Legal Links & Bridges provides students the opportunity to interact with members of the legal community through mentoring, a process that allows both the mentor and mentee to grow and develop. Students are afforded the opportunity to connect with lawyers and members of the legal profession in formal and informal environments and to learn from the valuable experience their mentors provide. Mentors are able to share their knowledge and expertise with students and provide them with guidance while enhancing their personal and professional development. Key objectives include providing law students with potential role models, with opportunities to network with lawyers and other professions, and with opportunities to interact in formal and informal professional environments.
Legal Aid Clinic
In 2006, the Civil Law Section opened a legal aid clinic. Under the supervision of a notary, students advise the public on matters such as estate planning and power of attorney in case of incapacity, and offer courses to people appointed liquidators of a succession. In cooperation with the Gerontology program, the clinic also helps caregivers better meet the legal needs of seniors.
Engineering Students’ Competition
Since 2003, the Engineering Endowment Fund has helped fund numerous extracurricular student-learning activities and initiatives. It offers funding to associations and student groups (Engineering Student’s Society, Engineers Without Borders, Oral Otis student journal, Mechanical Engineering Students Society, and student sections of various national and international scientific and technical associations); for community and pre-professional involvement (conference participation, Engineering Charity Ball; National Engineering Week); as well as for participation in national and international competitions (Concrete Canoe Competition, Steel Bridge Competition, robotics and autonomous vehicles).
Interprofessional Rehabilitation University Clinic
Since 2007, the Interprofessional Rehabilitation University Clinic offers services to school age children and adults aged 50 and over. Under the care of clinical supervisors (from six disciplines, namely audiology, occupational therapy, medicine, speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and nursing), students participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of these various disciplines and interprofessional clinical interventions. In addition to providing the francophone community with increased access to primary rehabilitation care, the clinic offers an increased number of placements offered in French for students registered in the Rehabilitation Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences programs in an interdisciplinary care context.
Ottawa Symphony Orchestra Linkage
Founded in 1965, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is a full-sized orchestra consisting of professional, student and amateur musicians. Gifted young students from the Department of Music and other regional conservatories who perform as regular members of the Orchestra as part of their pre-professional training are an essential component of the Orchestra. This partnership benefits the students, who receive invaluable experience from the Mentorship Program; and the Orchestra, which benefits from the talents and energy of highly-qualified students. The key objective is to provide students with training in preparation for their future careers as artists and musicians, and to create a stronger, long-lasting relationship with the OSO.
The Common Law Wall of Honour and the Tsampalieros Atrium
In 2003, to celebrate the history of the Common Law Section, to instil in its students a stronger sense of tradition and pride in their alma mater, the Common Law Honour Society was established to pay tribute to the men and women who have utilized their legal education as a foundation for achieving great success in their chosen professions. In an effort to pay proper tribute to the Honour Society inductees, a Wall of Honour was designed and constructed in Fauteux Hall, thanks to Gabriel Tsampalieros (LL.B. 1973). The generous donator also contributed to the complete renovation of the third-floor student space in Fauteux Hall. Fully open and functional as of May 2005, the new Tsampalieros Atrium meets those pressing demands identified by the donator: it was imperative that Common Law students have a suitable gathering place, one where they could engage in meaningful discussion, study, plug in their laptops, work online and, generally, socialize with their classmates.
A Wireless Campus
This initiative entails the installation of a pervasive ‘anytime, anywhere’ wireless network on campus covering all classrooms, student labs and public spaces. It allows every student to connect their wireless devices (laptop computers, PDAs) to the University network and the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The improved wireless network is more accessible, convenient, reliable and secure. As of June 2008, Desmarais and the University Centre have been equipped with complete wireless access with additional locations undergoing the process over the course of the next few months. The roll-out for these buildings has been prioritized by areas most populated by students. The University experience for our students will thus be improved through an increased connectivity to learning resources through the expanded wireless network.