The Scoop!
Morisset Library opens 24/7 during exam period!
October 9, 2009
In response to students’ needs, by request of the SFUO and GSAÉD as well as the Good Ideas Contest 2009, we are pleased to announce that Morisset Library will be open 24/7 during exam period, starting December 7, 2009 as well as during the April 2010 exam period. The following library services will be available during the extended hours of 2 am to 7 am:
- Access to the library collection and every floor of the building
- Access to groups study spaces
- Public computers (some interruptions are foreseen to assure IT maintenance)
- Electronic information resources
- Photocopiers and printers
- Access to borrow (auto-loan machine)
Security personnel will be on-site for protection services and, from 10:30 pm to 7 am, a student or employee ID card from the University of Ottawa will be required to enter the building.
SFUO Elections: Be a candidate!
What's your passion? Finances? Student activism? Social and academic activities? Student representation within the university governance?
Then perhaps one of the executive positions is right for you! Or maybe you would like be a director on the Board of Administration, contributing in the direction that the SFUO will be taking throughout the year. Think about it now, 2010 Elections are coming soon!
Nominations open: January 06, 2010
Nominations close: January 18, 2010
Campaign starts: January 31, 2010
Polling days: February 9, 10, 11
Student Politics are not for everyone, but you are still part of the student movement! So most importantly, do not forget to get informed about all candidates in February and vote in large numbers!
See more about elections on elections.sfuo.ca!
Fall Reading Week in 2010!
A fall reading week is now a reality at the University of Ottawa! Following a student referendum in 2006 indicating strong support for the initiative, the SFUO began to work towards establishing a fall reading week, building on periodic efforts of the last ten years. At the time, VP Academic Julien de Bellefeuille made progress in outlining how such a week would work in the academic calendar, but it was not adopted by the uOttawa administration.
In the summer of 2009, current VP University Affairs, Ted Horton, presented Vice-Rector Academic, Francois Houle, with a proposal for the creation of a fall reading week. It is from this proposal that the Senate of the University is now preparing to vote on the adoption of this important issue. The proposal outlined how the academic year could be re-aligned to allow for the creation of the new week, as well as highlighted the host of benefits that would accrue from adopting this idea.
Benefits of the proposal are numerous: high rates of anxiety and depression among postsecondary students indicate the need for accommodation measures, while a desire to increase student retention rates requires measures to allow student sufficient time to prepare for finals. A fall reading week would allow students to return home and enjoy family time, reduce student stress, allow academic preparation time, and increase the overall quality of the student experience at uOttawa.
The reading week passed in the University of Ottawa Senate on Dec. 7th. Said VP University Affairs Ted Horton, “I’m very proud of the work on this proposal – it will directly improve the lives of our students. From more academic preparation time for exams and final assignments, to less student stress, it’s a terrific improvement and I’m pleased to be able to bring this change for students.”
The first fall reading week will occur during the 8th week of the 2010 fall semester. This week will not affect the start date of the semester nor lengthen the December exam period. All exams will be completed no later than the 23rd. According to Horton “one of the most frequent suggestions we receive is the lateness of the December exam period – this would help to solve that”.
The SFUO would thank the offices of the Vice-Rector Academic and the Registrar for their ongoing assistance with the proposal.
