Prepare to start your UBC experience with Jump Start

It probably feels like ages before you arrive at UBC, but the summer will fly by and you’ll be here before you know it! Before you dive into summer mode, ensure that you start your UBC experience the right way by registering for Jump Start by July 1.

Jump Start is the only way for international and Aboriginal students to start life at UBC. It starts with a two-week immersion program on August 15th running through to August 28th and will continue to support you throughout your first year at UBC.

Whether you’re coming to UBC from the other side of the world or closer by, adjusting to a new academic system along with moving to a new place is challenging. Jump Start is very carefully designed to support you through those unique challenges and, most importantly, set you up for academic success in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems.

Jump Start has been developed in partnership with the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, so attending the two-week immersion program in August will give you a head start in learning about the Faculty’s expectations of you, getting the tools and training you’ll need to be successful in our unique learning environment, and meeting key Faculty members – all before school even starts. From peers to Faculty members, you will form invaluable relationships that will support your learning and growth at UBC.

The Faculty of Land and Food Systems is committed to your success at UBC, which is why we urge you to start your university experience with Jump Start.

For more information and to register, please visit jumpstart.ubc.ca. Don’t forget, registration closes on July 1, so don’t delay!

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New Applied Animal Biology courses for 2013 Winter!

There are 3 new courses for the Winter 2013 Session! Check them out:

APBI 316 (3) Equine Biology, Health and Nutrition. Physiology, growth and reproduction of the horse; nutrition, diet formulation and feeding practices; common diseases, their prevention and treatment. [3-0]
Prerequisite: 3rd year standing, Permission of instructor.  Winter 2013 Term 2 *Will appear on the Course Schedule on June 11*

APBI 414 (3) Animals and Global Issues (previously APBI 490 sec 002) Research seminar integrating diverse information to address global animal issues including: animal-source foods and human health, environmental impact of livestock production, trade in exotic animals. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of APBI 314, APBI 315. Winter 2013 Term 1

APBI 415 (3) Applied Animal Behaviour Application of principles and research methods of animal behaviour to practical problems in the care of farm, companion, wild and research animals, and in animal training, and human-wildlife conflict. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: Introductory course in animal biology or animal behaviour, e.g. BIOL 310, PSYC 306). Winter 2013 Term 1

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Seeking Volunteers for Joy of Feeding at UBC Farm

On Sunday, June 30th, 2013, sixteen home cooks of different ethnic backgrounds offer you tastes of their family comfort foods at this 3rd annual international food fair and UBC Farm fundraiser. In the past 2 years, we have raised over $50,000 for UBC Farm with this event that raises awareness for sustainable, local food systems and the importance of cooking at home.   Visit  joyoffeeding.com

We need your help! To make this event a success, we need committed volunteers who love being outdoors on a beautiful farm and who love food. By signing up for one volunteer shift, you get the opportunity to enjoy the event and sample the foods all while supporting a great cause. You also get to take home the Joy of Feeding recipe booklet with all of the cooks’ stories and recipes of the foods at the event.

Visit http://joyoffeeding.com/volunteer-call-out/ to learn more.

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Invitation – Quality Assurance Designation Framework Discussions

The Ministry of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology is pleased to invite you to participate in a discussion table on British Columbia’s post-secondary Quality Assurance Designation Framework outlined in the recently released Green Paper. We suggest that participants review the Green Paper to establish a common knowledge base for discussion.

Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 

Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: Conference Room 240

                  Vancouver Community College

                  250 West Pender St

                   Vancouver BC

Please note that all costs (e.g., travel) associated with participation in this event are the responsibility of the participant(s). Refreshments and lunch will be provided at the session.

Please RSVP to Sandra Wyllie, Manager, Divisional Operations

(Sandra.Wyllie@gov.bc.ca) by Friday, July 5, 2013

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Don’t forget to accept your UBC Student Housing offer

Many of you may have recently received offers to live in residence, and it is very important that you accept your offer and pay the first installment of residence fees to secure your space before the offer’s expiry date.

From the date we email your residence offer you have seven (7) days to respond. If you fail to accept your time-limited offer of residence before the expiry date, the offer will be withdrawn and your residence application will be cancelled. Additionally, any priority access benefits, including the first-year residence guarantee (if applicable) will be terminated.

Read more at http://blog.students.ubc.ca/ubcfyi/2013/06/04/dont-forget-to-accept-your-ubc-student-housing-offer/

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Westside Community Food Market – Call for Volunteers

The market is back this summer in Kitsilano! Once a week, a stretch of sidewalk will be transformed into a community food market, in coordination with the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House (KNH) and the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation (SPEC). 

The Market will happen every Thursday from 3PM – 6PM starting June 27th and running until September 19th. It will be busy and they need your help! If you would like to volunteer, please email Oliver or give him a call (604-736-7732) by June 20th. There will be an Orientation meeting on June 25. For more details about tasks & responsibilities, dates/times of the Westside Community Food Market, click here

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LFS Brown Bag Talk: Social and ecological systems as related to community resilience

Please join us for a brown bag luncheon and lecture by Dr. Ruth Beilin, Associate Professor and Landscape Sociologist from the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne.

Date: June 6th, 2013
Time: 12:00om
Location: FNH 300

Dr. Beilin’s research focuses on issues including: social and ecological systems as related to community resilience, issues of scale and production of local food networks, contested landscapes in urban and peri-urban areas, and environmental impacts and biodiversity loss associated with urban development. Dr. Beilin will detail her specific research in the University’s VEIL (Victorian Eco Innovation Lab) project, and its work in food consumption networks (just one of its projects) and the modelling of alternative distribution scenarios for food supply; and VCCCAR (the Climate Change and Adaption Research network between the state government and institutions). Dr. Beilin is especially interested in meeting with UBC students and faculty involved in research in these areas, and discussing opportunities for collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the Faculty of Land & Food Systems.

If you have any questions, please contact Joshua Edward at: jbedward@alumni.ubc.ca

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The Lower Mainland Green Team is looking for volunteers this weekend to help remove invasive plants

The Lower Mainland Green Team is going to remove invasive plants at Cedar Grove Park in Surrey THIS Sunday June 2nd from 9.45am-1pm. Tools and gloves provided, no experience necessary. To sign up and for more info please click –> HERE. If you’re not available on June 2nd, we’ll be back to this same park on July 21, to sign up for that event click –> HERE

Great opportunity for volunteers to:

  • Learn about environmental issues faced by parks
  • Build stewardship and habitat restoration skills
  • Conserve, restore and enhance a local park
  • Have fun!
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International Association of students in Agricultural and related Sciences (IAAS)

IAAS is a worldwide network of students in Agricultural and related Sciences that aims to promote the exchange of experience, knowledge and ideas, and to improve the mutual understanding between students in the fields of agricultural and related sciences all over the world. For more information about this group, please visit their website.

As well, there will be a 3-week world congress held in Chile from July 17 – August 6. For more information about this event, check out their Facebook Event page

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UBC Farm – Market Crew Volunteers needed!

The UBC Farm Market is back for another season, starting Saturday, June 22nd. This weekly event is made possible by a diverse and dedicated group of volunteers. If you are passionate about local, organic food and want to help us share our harvest with the community, then join the Market Crew! Orientations are happening now, so sign up on our volunteer site today. Have any questions? Then email ubcfarm.market@ubc.ca. We look forward to welcoming a new crop of volunteers soon!

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