INside .. IN Douglas College The Douglas College Newsletter | New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus, Surrey Training Centre Scholarly Activity dollars back environmental study Psychology instructor Jeremy Jackson says College instructors are well-positioned to support student-initiated studies. Douglas instructors can make a big difference in the futures of students by supporting research projects, says Psychology instructor Jeremy Jackson. Sports Science instructor Tim Frick, head coach of the Canadian Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team for 19 years, is pleased Paralympic coverage and amenities have improved. Sport Science instructor Tim Frick, head coach of the Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team, has mixed feelings on returning from the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Frick admits he is disappointed in the team’s fifth-place finish. It’s the “It all comes down to why you work at a college instead of a university. | chose college as a place where | can help students be successful,” says Jackson. Paralympics poor cousin first time in his 19-year career as head coach that the team has left the Games without hardware. However, he is pleased to see the advances made this year in promoting and supporting the Paralympics. “Tt was a heck of an experience from a social perspective. It’s the first time the Paralympics had the same organizing committee as the Olympics. The Paralympics are usually the poor cousin to the Olympic Games,” says Frick. This resulted in a different ambience all around, says Frick, with 12 TV channels offering closed-circuit TV coverage of events. Stands at the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube aquatic facilities were near capacity, with Paralympic Village amenities “pretty well identical” to Olympic facilities, says Frick. This year, his team also Jackson is currently helping BA Psychology student Chris Jennings put the finishing touches on a project examining people's attitudes towards environmental issues. In short, the study is comparing people's responses to two different types of surveys to see if they practice what they preach when it comes to the environment. Jennings plans to get his Master's at the University of Victoria. “If you're applying to grad school, it’s very advantageous to show you've done some research work,” says Jackson. When it comes to the college vs. university debate, college instructors are better-positioned to support student-initiated studies, says Jackson. “At university, as an undergrad, you don't have a great deal of access to research dollars because you're competing with graduate students. There’s no longer had its own bus along with a truck to transport their wheelchairs. Though proud to see this first in Paralympic history, Frick admits his team “underperformed” this time around. “Essentially, we had a whole pile of injuries and illnesses that were really flukey in nature, stuff you couldn't really predict. This meant we really didn’t get the full team together until the end of July,” says Frick. In the end, Canada found some redemption in its final game Sept. 15 where it trounced the Netherlands 61-32. Meanwhile, Frick’s prediction that the US and Germany would lead the Games was right on — the US came away with gold and Germany took silver. Australia beat Japan for the bronze. much greater access and opportunity to do your own work at college,” says Jackson. Accessibility to instructors and the ability of students to drive their own studies are also much better at the college level, he says. Jackson and fellow Psychology instructor Aliye Kurt introduced Jennings to the concepts and methodology used in his project. When Jennings pitched his study, they applied for and were awarded, a Scholarly Activity grant, which paid for software and survey materials. It also allowed them to pay Jennings for his work. Scholarly Activity Coordinator Tom Whalley is particularly enthusiastic about this project. “The College is really pleased to see research activities that involve students,” he says. Whalley would Frick will not be re-applying to remain as head coach of the team. “Tl stay involved in some capacity, but it’s time to let someone else take over,” says Frick. Whatever his role, Frick is confident the team will New faces on College Board like to see more faculty include students as research assistants when possible. “Creating more such research opportunities is an important College initiative,” says Whalley. Jennings is optimistic the study will help people better understand their attitudes towards the environment and how it affects their behaviour. Ultimately, he hopes the results will be used in creating strategies for environmental advocacy and education. ‘The next deadline for the Scholarly Activity Fund is October 15. Details on the application process are available from Tom Whalley at whalleyt@douglas.bc.ca or 604-527-5818. To view scholarly and creative projects at Douglas College visit douglascollege. ca/library/Douglas_College_ Employee_Publications. be back in winning form come the 2010 World Championships. “When you know what it takes to win, it doesn’t take a whole lot of soul searching to get back up there. We'll be back on the podium in 2010.” From left: President Susan Witter and College Board Chair Andrew __ Taylor welcomed student Board member Matthew Steinbach and Order In Council appointee Peter Kendrick to the College Board at a recent meeting.