I spent last week in Japan, leading the Canadian contingent at a meeting of an international research network that focuses on neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The University of Ottawa is a key member of the research network, which also includes outstanding scientists from the National Research Council, IBM Canada, and other high-tech companies in Canada and Germany. The principal researchers at the University of Ottawa are Dr. William Staines and Dr. Anthony Krantis of our Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology (CRBB).

We met last week with Japanese government ministries, industry leaders and our research partners. We visited Shiga University of Medical Science and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. At Shiga, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between our two universities that provides, among other things, student mobility through exchanges. For the moment, the agreement applies only to medical students, but it may be broadened in the future to include nursing and other health sciences.

I was enormously impressed by the world-class quality of the work being done by Dr. Krantis and his colleagues at the CRBB. They are truly creating hope in the urgent struggle to find better methods of diagnosis and treatment for diseases of the brain. Given Canada's current demographics (including your rapidly aging President…) it is projected that the burden of neurodegenerative disease in the coming years will be very substantial. It is all the more important that our scientists find better ways to detect and manage those diseases and eventually perhaps even to cure them.

Given the exciting contests coming this week, including the women's and men's hockey competitions, we are setting up large screens in the University Center so that those who want to watch can see them right on campus.

Date: Until February 28, 2010

Time: Daily from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Location: University Centre Student Lounge

I hope you can join me for a skate on the lawn facing Tabaret Hall on Thursday, February 25.  I’ll be out there at 2 p.m. and we will be serving hot apple cider. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and appreciate what winter has to offer. I’ll leave the speed skating to our fabulous athletes in Vancouver and assume a more leisurely pace. Hope to see you there!

I invite you to read the op-ed that appeared in the Ottawa Citizen last Saturday. I talk about the role Canadian universities, including the University of Ottawa, can play in helping Haitians rebuild their country.

Sincere thanks to all of the students who took the time to join me during my visits to the various residences. It was great to have a chance to sit and speak informally with students who live there. I got a lot of good ideas about how to improve life in the residences and on campus generally. The students also raised some questions with me that I wasn't able to answer on the spot. I promised to get back to them through my blog, so you can expect to see me posting the responses here in coming weeks as I gather the information.

Question 1

Why does the current academic calendar provide such a short break after the winter examination period (December 23, 2009 to January 4, 2010 – 11 days) – much shorter than other universities in the province?

Answer 1

The changes made to the fall semester — the addition of a study week and the standardization to 60 days of classes — mean that students will generally finish earlier. For example, in 2012 the examination period will end on December 19, in 2013 on December 17 and in 2014 on December 16.

Question 2

Would it be possible to extend the examination schedule to provide more time for the students to recharge between exams?

Answer 2

It’s difficult to prolong the examination period given such factors as the fall semester starting after Labour Day, the addition of a fall study week, and ending the term as early as possible in December. We cannot have less than 60 days of classes. Due to the changes made to the fall semester, the exam period will always be 14 days. Our exam period is one of the longest compared to other Ontario universities. Here are some examples from other universities:

Number of exam days

-    McMaster    13 days in the fall, 16 in the winter

-    Guelph        11 days

-    Toronto    10 days, exceptions at 5, 9, 12 and 14 (for certain faculties)

-    Carleton    13 days*

-    Western    12 days*

-    Queen’s    15 days*

-    Ryerson    11 days

*According to their university calendar. (subject to approval)

Question 3

There seems to be some confusion about the current model for admission scholarships, and requirements to maintain them throughout the academic career. What is the policy at uOttawa?

Answer 3

At the University of Ottawa, a student who loses his or her admission scholarship in any given year can get it back if they maintain a cumulative grade point average of 8.5 in the following year. Here’s a link to the information.

Question 4

Do civil law students get an autumn study break?

Answer 4

The official academic calendar is available on our website. Civil law students do indeed get an autumn study break.