2005
The King's
University College Launches Molecular Research Centre
Grad Wins Essay
Contest
Minister
Hancock & Zwozdesky Tour Campus
North Academic
Wing Dedication Celebration
Inauguration of
Dr. Harry Fernhout as President of King's
King's Students
Receive Tuition Rebate
The King's University College Launches Molecular Research Centre
Honourable Victor P. Doerksen, Minister, Alberta Innovation and Science, congratulates Dr. Henk Van Andel
In response to outstanding support of its scientific research programmes The King’s University College officially opened The King’s Centre for Molecular Structure (KCMS), March 26, 2003. The Centre, made possible by awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Alberta Science and Research Authority, Bruker Canada and Varian Canada Inc., will serve Albertans by providing scientific expertise and instrumentation to support basic and applied research in chemistry and biochemistry.
The Centre will support faculty and undergraduate student research, meeting real needs both in Alberta and around the world. KCMS-supported research includes projects such as:
- developing catalysts to assist in the design of pharmaceutical products
- understanding basic metabolism processes in plants, so we can learn more about how plants respond to stresses like drought and climate change
- eliminating impurities that have environmental impact from industrial processes in the pulp and paper and fertilizer industries
- characterizing medicinal plants in East Africa, thus making both instrument time and scientific expertise available to meet basic human needs in other parts of the world.
King’s faculty members collaborate extensively with undergraduate students in their research, equipping students with the scientific and problem-solving tools they need to be of effective service in their communities. Collaborative research by faculty and students is in keeping with the King’s mission to be an agent of positive social transformation.
King’s Research Fills Niche
The establishment of the KCMS is further acknowledgement that research problems can be addressed at undergraduate research institutions. The King’s University College Natural Sciences Division has an excellent track record of filling research niches, meaningfully involving undergraduate collaborators, and responding quickly and effectively to projects that cross disciplinary boundaries and traditional sectors. The 2001 AUCC publication, Building Research Capacity in Canadian Universities, indicates that Canadian efforts to build research excellence have often focused on big science, carried out at large institutions with post-graduate programs. Also suggested is that smaller institutions can easily be pushed out of the research enterprise. Yet small universities, including The King's University College, have demonstrated strong performance in tackling important problems and training highly qualified graduates, who have had the opportunity to work on all aspects of research problems under the mentorship of a faculty member.
Grad Wins Essay Contest
James Witzke (BSc Environmental Studies, 2005) has won the Parkland Institute’s 2005 Annual Student Essay Contest in the Undergraduate Category.
The Parkland Institute is an Alberta-wide, non-partisan research centre situated within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. Parkland Institute studies economic, social, cultural and political issues facing Albertans and Canadians, using the perspective of political economy.
The intent of the essay contest is to engage students in public policy issues that affect their lives. The topic for the 2005 contest was "What does the Alberta you want to live in look like?" based on the Alberta government's declaration of a 'debt free' Alberta.
James wrote the essay as part of his course work in Sociology and the Environment. He receives a monetary prize and the essay will be reprinted in Alberta Views Magazine. Read James' winning essay.
Minister Hancock & Zwozdesky Tour Campus
Minister of Advanced Education David Hancock and Minister of Education Gene Zwozdesky along with MLA Ray Prins toured King's campus December 16, 2005. The two cabinet ministers were introduced firsthand to King's facilities, and faculty and student research. A question and answer discussion with faculty, student and board representatives followed the tour.
North Academic Wing Dedication Celebration
The North Academic wing, housing academic offices and classrooms, was dedicated November 18, 2005 as part of the annual meeting and Alberta Centennial awards celebration. Approximately 200 people gathered to witness president Harry Fernhout and past president Henk Van Andel cut the ceremonial ribbon. The building opened for classes in January 2006.
Inauguration of President J. Harry Fernhout
Proclaiming that The King’s University College is "out to change the world!", J. Harry Fernhout, Ph.D. was inaugurated September 24, 2005 as third president of The King’s University College. The ceremony highlighted a week of activities that focused on The King’s mission of global responsibility.
In his inaugural address, Restless Delight: Educating for Shalom, Fernhout asserted that "Christians are agents of transformation". Shalom is more than the Hebrew word for peace, Fernhout emphasized. It is at once a vision of a society where "every creature [is] in community with every other, living in harmony and security toward the joy and wellbeing of all", and a charge "to do what we can to contribute to the healing of our communities, our society, our world". The King’s University College, he stressed, has a key role to play in realizing the vision and carrying the responsibility.
Before an audience of approximately 400 dignitaries and guests, the presidential chain of office was ceremonially passed from Henk Van Andel, president 1985-2005, to Harry Fernhout. Fernhout removed his academic robes from the University of Toronto where he earned his Ph.D., donned the presidential robes bearing the colours of The King’s and received the presidential medallion from Van Andel.
Numerous dignitaries and representatives from higher education institutions from throughout Canada and the United States, as well as representatives from The King’s University College, the Edmonton community, and the province of Alberta, were on hand for the inauguration. In addition, hundreds of higher education institutions throughout North America sent greetings and congratulations to Fernhout.
Following the ceremony, Harry Fernhout and his wife Hilda greeted inauguration attendees at a reception in the University College Atrium.
Read President Fernhout's Inaugural Address
King's Students Receive Tuition Rebate
We are pleased to announce that King's students will benefit directly from Government of Alberta Tuition Rebate for the 2006-07 academic year. Full-time student's net tuition will be $7029 instead of $7595.