The Lancer Holiday Clothing Drive will kick off this weekend, accepting donations of winter coats and other clothing items for families in need.

The drive supports four local programs:

1. Coats for Kids
2. Provision of winter gear through schools
3. Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society’s Adopt-a-Family
4. Windsor Youth Centre

Organizers will accept all clothing items in good condition, as well as contributions of cash. Children’s coats, hats and mittens are especially needed. Donations may be dropped off in the athletic department offices, at the service desk in the St. Denis Centre, or at Lancer home games on the weekends of November 21 or 28.

Anyone making a donation will receive a ballot for a chance to win a Lancer Holiday Prize Pack. Winner will be announced at the Lancer basketball doubleheader on November 29.

This weekend’s home games include:

• Men’s volleyball against the York Lions, Friday, November 21, at 7 p.m. in the St. Denis Centre.
• Women’s hockey against the Guelph Gryphons, Friday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m. at South Windsor Arena.
• Men’s volleyball against the Nipissing Lakers, Saturday, November 22, at 3 p.m. in the St. Denis Centre.
• Women’s hockey against the Brock Badgers, Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at South Windsor Arena.

In other varsity action, men’s hockey will play the Ridgebacks of UOIT in Oshawa on Friday and Saturday; men’s and women’s basketball teams travel to Thunder Bay to play the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Saturday.

Economists have long sought how to license a patent for a process innovation that lowers production cost, says Zheng Wang. She explores innovations that specifically lower transport cost in her free public lecture, “How to License a Transport Innovation,” at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 21, in room 1163, Chrysler Hall North.

This event is part of the Economics Seminar Series.

Now a professor at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, China, Dr. Wang earned a master of arts degree in economics from the University of Windsor in 2009.

Her career is exemplary of the many paths open to graduates of the program, says professor Marcelo Arbex, which has grown substantially in recent years and now has 60 students enrolled.

“Graduates of our masters program are now working in government agencies, in the private sector and have been accepted to PhD programs in Canada and in the U.S.,” he says. “It provides a number of opportunities for their professional advancement.”

The department is in the final stages of approving a new master’s program: Master of Applied Economics and Policy. It could begin admitting students as early as fall 2015.

Senate approved a policy at its November 14 meeting that will allow the University to grant a degree posthumously or to a terminally ill student, provided that the student has completed almost all substantive requirements.

Under the new policy, undergraduate students must have completed all but the last semester of courses; graduate students must have completed all course work as well as a majority of their theses or major papers.

The change serves to demonstrate the human heart of the University, says Rick Caron, chair of the Academic Policy Committee.

CTL releases annual report

Since 2010, the Centre for Teaching and Learning has attracted a record number of instructors to its workshops and courses—more than 1,200 participants including well over half of full-time faculty members, Senate heard during a presentation of the centre’s annual report. Read the full report, which covers the period to June 30, 2014.

FAHSS upgrades honour roll requirements

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences has raised the cumulative average required to qualify for its Dean’s Honour Roll. The change of the grading system from a 13-point scale to percentage resulted in more than double the number of honourees. The new cut-off is 86 percent, expected to maintain the integrity of the award.

Katzman Lounge in Vanier Hall is the setting for two events this week featuring violinist Jeanne Lamon, chief artistic director of the Toronto-based baroque orchestra Tafelmusik.

Music director of Tafelmusik from 1981 until her retirement earlier this year, Lamon has been praised by critics in Europe and North America for her strong musical leadership. In addition to her work with Tafelmusik, she regularly guest directs symphony orchestras in North America and abroad.

The Humanities Research Group is hosting her for:

• a presentation entitled “Leadership and Creativity: An Evening with Jeanne Lamon,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 20, with a reception to follow; and
• a demonstration on baroque music and styles at 10 a.m. Friday, November 21. Attendees will also enjoy a continental breakfast.

Admission to both events is free.

As venture start director, Wen Teoh will lead the strategic development and management of business incubators for the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre). It’s a role the UWindsor business grad (MBA 2012) relishes.

“I am excited to join EPICentre, and be part of a team that will directly contribute to the success of young entrepreneurs in the region,” she says, after taking up the position November 17.

EPICentre is a joint initiative of the Odette School of Business and the Office of Research and Innovation Services to support the education, awareness and development of entrepreneurial activities on campus.

Its incubator projects include EPIC Innovation in the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre, the Industrial Courtyard in the Centre for Engineering Innovation, and Bio-Tech Courtyard.

Teoh will also be the main point of contact for student venture start-ups and industry interested in renting space within EPICentre, government funding agencies, and other stakeholders supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the Windsor-Essex region.

Teoh’s education, experience and knowledge of international entrepreneurship will be instrumental to the success of youth entrepreneurs in our region, says Heather Pratt, the executive director research and innovation from the Office of Research and Innovation Services.

During her career, Teoh has co-founded an international gas distribution company in Malaysia and started up and sold a cylinder distribution company in the United States. Since completing her MBA, she has since received certifications in the Lean Start-up Method and incubator management from the National Business Incubation Association.

“We are very excited to have Wen leading the EPICentre incubation space development, she will be instrumental in working with our youth ventures to attract them to the EPIC Innovation incubation space that is located on the second floor of the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre,” Pratt says. “We look forward to having the space occupied with bright young entrepreneurs. Wen’s role is key to enabling their success.”

More information about EPICentre is available at www.epicentreuwindsor.ca.

A panel discussion Thursday will focus on strategies for women’s advancement in the workplace.

Sponsored by the Odette School of Business and Friends of Women’s Studies as part of its 2014 distinguished visitors series, “Taking Care of Business” will feature:

• Ida Goodreau, director of the Centre for Healthcare Management at the University of British Columbia;
• Melanie Knight, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Ryerson University;
• Maureen Lucas, president of LucasWorks! Recruitment and Human Resource Specialists; and
• moderator Martha Reavley, associate professor, Odette School of Business.

The event is free and open to the public and will run 4 to 6 p.m. November 20 in room 123, Odette Building.

Marketplace patrons have a new pasta dish to try: chicken parmesan.

The Marche Pasta station in the CAW Student Centre’s food court has added the dish—a cheese-topped breaded chicken cutlet served with pasta and sauce—for the remainder of the school year. It will be available at lunch and dinner at a cost of $9.99.