Third town hall on re-envisioning LA&PS colleges planned for March 6

Vari Hall in the winter
Vari Hall in the winter

The third town hall devoted to re-envisioning the colleges affiliated with academic departments, schools and programs in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) will take place on Wednesday, March 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Renaissance Room, 001 Vanier College, Keele Campus.

The town hall will explore topics such as initiating and promoting research; providing opportunities for students to connect with college Fellows and alumni to broaden their personal network of contacts; a series of stimulating activities that include annual lectures, lunchtime talks, workshops, and conferences that help to promote the intellectual development and growth of students, as well as research; and publication and dissemination opportunities for students and faculty alike through both print and online media. These are all important elements in the relationship between the Faculty’s programs and the colleges’ core activities throughout the academic year.

“Developing a strong collaborative working relationship between our colleges and their affiliated programs helps to ensure that there is a creative synergy that benefits our students in helping them accelerate their intellectual growth and development throughout their studies at the University,” said Roberta Innacito-Provenzano, LA&PS associate dean, programs. “Our third town hall will provide the opportunity for all of us to explore a number of vital elements in this important relationship that will help to continue to build a vibrant and stimulating learning environment for all our students. We welcome everyone’s participation in our Vanier College town hall this Wednesday.”

This third town hall follows two others. The first addressed issues and concerns regarding more effective, efficient and economical use of college exterior and interior space. The second focused on the use of modern communications, especially social media, in helping to ensure consistent connection with the wider college communities, especially students.

LA&PS is Canada’s largest liberal arts Faculty. It has more than 90 degree and certificate programs and over 1,300 courses that are taught by more than 650 full-time faculty members who are members of 21 academic departments and schools and four affiliated colleges: Founders, McLaughlin, Vanier and New. All of LA&PS’ more than 25,000 students are members of one of the four disciplinary- and interdisciplinary-based colleges. Many LA&PS programs are ranked amongst the best in the country as well as the world. The relationship between the colleges and their academic departments and schools and their respective degree and certificate programs is a close and abiding one that is integral to how LA&PS functions.

There will be one more college town hall meeting that will consider the provision of a wide array of student services at the colleges. It will be held at New College on Wednesday, April 3 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Harry Crowe Room, 109 Atkinson Building, Keele Campus.