Plan now to attend the OURA 2006 Conference, February 20-21, 2006 at the Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre!

NEW for 2006: We’re offering the same number of informative, educational sessions as in previous conferences but in a condensed two-day program. So, you still get the same number of information-sharing sessions and networking opportunities with your Ontario university colleagues but in a shorter, more focused format. See the PROGRAM outline below.

Post Conference Workshops
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

NEW for 2006 are Post-Conference Workshops offered in the areas of Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Studies and Liaison. While Managers are welcome to attend, we encourage support staff who may not typically attend the OURA Conference to take part in these Workshops to share ideas and information with their colleagues who do similar work at other universities.

Note, while some workshops are focused on either Graduate Studies Admissions or Undergrad Admissions, registrants are free to choose whichever workshops are of interest to them, regardless of the area of focus indicated as there will be information of common interest to both undergrad and graduate admissions in most sessions.

Note that the post-conference workshop for Liaison staff is limited to those involved in Liaison work.

Click here for the latest information on the Post Conference Workshops.

2006 OURA PROGRAM OUTLINE

(Click on the session title for a copy of the abstract).

For a printable version of the Program (including Post-Conference Workshops) click here.
(Adobe PDF format) Requires Acrobat Reader - Click here to download Adobe Acrobat

Monday, February 20, 2006
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Lower Level (base of escalators)	Registration Desk Open
8:00 - 10:15am Salon AB	Arrival and Check-in Coffee and light refreshments available 8:00 am - 10:15 am
10:30 - 12:00 noon	Breakout Sessions
	G1	Graduate Studies Roundtable Moderator: Alison Samson, University of Windsor
	A1	Zapping Your Team - Benefits of a Work-Related Retreat Presenter: Michèle Dextras, Manager of Admissions and Evaluation, University of Ottawa Moderator: Lynn Giordano, Associate Registrar, Admissions, McMaster University
	R1	Education Verification Automation Presenters:  Lisa Mackie, Vice-President, AuraData Tom Percy, President, AuraData Moderator: Denis Perron, Nipissing University
	S1 view paper	Providing Financial Assistance to Students - Financial and Web Services at Western Presenters: Carac Allison, Team Leader, Network Projects, Karen Pypstra, Team Leader, Student Financial Services and Michelle Devito, Team Leader, Student Financial Aid Programs, University of Western Ontario Moderator: Krys Chelchowski, Manager, Business Operations, University of Western Ontario
	L1	Team Building Exercises Moderator: Christine Lamothe, University of Ottawa
12:00 - 1:00 pm Salon AB	Lunch (followed by Plenary I)
1:00 - 2:00pm Salon AB	view paper	Plenary I: COMMUNICATING FOR COMMITMENT – HOW TO GET BUY-IN TO CHANGE AND NEW INITIATIVES Presenter: Bob Harris, President, Robert Harris Resources Inc. Moderator: Nancy Weiner, OURA President
2:10 - 3:25 pm	G2	<NOTE SESSION CHANGE> Part 1 - Online International Admissions Placement Guide Panel Participants: Peter Self, McMaster University, Jeanette Nugent, University of Waterloo, Tammy Chan, University of Toronto, Shari Hodges, Ryerson University Moderator (and Panelist): Chris Goody, Graduate Admissions Officer, University of Guelph
	A2 R2 view paper	Fundamentals of Business Continuity Planning Presenter: Paul Wright MBCP, President, P. E. Wright & Associates Inc. Moderator: Pauline Belanger, University of Ottawa
	S2	Standing Committee on Scholarships and Awards Annual Meeting Moderator: Tracey Marks, Undergraduate Scholarships/Awards Officer, Financial Aid, Lakehead University. Scholarships and Awards Roundtable Moderator: Aase Houser, Director, Student Awards and Financial Aid, University of Windsor
	L2	Outstanding Viewbooks Presenter: Ken Steele, Vice President, Academica Group Moderator: Heather Brown, Nipissing University
3:25 - 3:45 pm Grand Foyer	Refreshment Break
3:45 - 5:00 pm	G3	<NOTE SESSION CHANGE> Part II - Online International Admissions Placement Guide' Scholarship Eligibility (Please note that Session G3 is now Part II of Session G2. Due to high interest in some of the other sessions in this G3 timeslot (3:45 - 5:00 pm), delegates who registered for G3 can attend any of the sessions in the G3 timeslot.
	A3	Key Strategies and Resources in Understanding Foreign Academic Credentials and Institutions Presenter: Arjun Vinodrai, Area Specialist, World Education Services Moderator: Brandi Borman, Team Leader, Admissions, University of Western Ontario
	R3	International Students and Fraudulent Admissions Documents: The Ongoing Investigations Presenters: Klaudios Mustakas, Manager of Enforcement Operations, Canada Border Services Agency and Sergeant Alan Binns, University of Waterloo Police Services Moderator: Ken Lavigne, Registrar, University of Waterloo
	S3 view paper	Financial Aid and Development Offices - Opportunities and Challenges Part I Presenter: Claudia Russell, Senior Development Officer, McMaster University. Part II Presenters: Geraldine Jones, Scholarships and Awards Officer, Christina Bosilo, Scholarships Assistant, Brock University Moderator: Elizabeth Seymour, Director, Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, McMaster University.
	L3	Best Practices Moderator: Christine Lamothe, University of Ottawa
6:00 - 6:30 pm Grand Foyer	Pre-Dinner Reception
6:30 pm - 11:30 pm Salon AB	Awards Dinner Entertainment and dancing to follow dinner.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
7:30 am - 5:00 pm	Registration Desk Open
7:45 am – 9:15 am Salon CD	Full Breakfast Buffet All registered delegates are invited to attend this full breakfast buffet
8:30 - 9:15 am Salon CD	Annual General Meeting Immediately following breakfast, the formal business of the Association will be discussed at the Annual General Meeting
8:00 am Grand Foyer	Exhibits Open Visit the Exhibit booths in the foyer for the latest products and service available from a variety of vendors.
9:15 am – 10:15 am Salon CD	view paper	Plenary II - Business, Balance and the Art of Juggling Presenter: Dr. Bob Woodburn
10:15am – 11:15 am Grand Foyer	Exhibits and Refreshment Break Visit the exhibits to learn about the latest products and services available.
11:15 - 12:30 pm	G4 view paper	Growth and Change Management in Graduate Studies Presenter: Maurice Yeates, Dean of Graduate Studies, Ryerson University Moderator: Cathy Faye, Assistant Registrar, Graduate Studies, Ryerson University.
	A4	Not for Novelty Purposes: Fake Degrees and Phony Transcripts Presenter: Louis Ariano, Registrar, McMaster University
	R4 view paper1 R4 view paper2	Survey Research Methods 'Dos and Don'ts Presenters: Jennie Piekos, Research Associate, Council of Ontario Universities John Mortimer, Student Services Branch, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Moderator: Ann MacKay, Ryerson University
	S4	"Funny Money" Written by: James Cunningham Presented by: Darren Frost
	L4 view paper1 view paper2	Managing for a Supportive Work Environment Presenter: Elaine Preston, University of Toronto Moderator: Elise Miller, University of Toronto
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm Salon CD 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Grand Foyer	Buffet Lunch (Concluding remarks from OURA President) Dessert/Exhibits Note that dessert and coffee will be available in the Exhibit area to allow you more time to visit with the vendors. Exhibits close at 3:00 pm.
2:15 - 3:30 pm	G5 view paper1 view paper2	Electronic Theses at Library and Archives Canada Speaker: Sharon Reeves, Library and Archives Canada Moderator: Lynn Judge, Director, Graduate Studies Academic Services, University of Waterloo
	A5 view paper	Gone “Ficheing”: Document Imaging in the Admissions Office Presenter: Brandi Borman, Admissions Office, University of Western Ontario Moderator: Gloria Gallagher, Brock University
	R5 view paper	Managing Your Procedures Effectively With the Lifecycle Process Mapping System Presenter: Glen Brauer, Owner, Impressive Software Solutions Inc. Moderator: Gloria Gallagher, Brock University
	S5 view paper	Encouraging Financial Literacy Presenters: Rico Natale, Director, Student Awards and Financial Aid, Brock University. Don DiMaulo, Ontario South West Regional Representative, EDULINX Canada Moderator: Ken McLellan, Manager, Financial Aid, Nipissing University
	L5 view paper1 view paper2	Managing for a Supportive Work Environment (continued) Presenter: Elaine Preston, University of Toronto Moderator: Elise Miller, University of Toronto
SPECIAL SESSIONS
3:30 - 4:15 pm Bay Room	Graduate Studies AGM and Roundtable Moderator: Charlotte Sheridan, Brock University
3:30 - 4:15 pm Trinity 2/3	Admissions Standing Committee AGM Moderator: Lynn Giordano, McMaster University
3:30 - 4:15 pm York AB	Records and Systems AGM and Roundtable Discussion Moderators: Pauline Belanger, University of Ottawa & Charlene Schumm, University of Waterloo
3:30 - 5:30 pm Trinity 5	Liaison AGM Moderator: Christine MacGregor-Lamothe, University of Ottawa
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Post Conference Workshops
7:30 am - 4:00 pm Base of escalators	Registration Desk Open
8:00 - 9:00am Foyer	Continental Breakfast Buffet Available for All Workshop Registrants
9:00 - 10:20 am Trinity 345	view paper	Session 1 - Fraudulent Documents and New Resources for International Admissions (Graduate Studies and Undergrad Admissions Focus) Presenter: Doug McBean, Senior Policy Advisor, Admissions and Awards, University of Toronto Moderator: Nancy Weiner, OURA President
10:20 - 10:40 am Foyer	Refreshment Break
10:40 - 12:00 noon Trinity 345	Session 2A - Roundtable Discussion (Graduate Studies Focus) Moderator: Jeanette Nugent, Assistant Director, Graduate Studies Recruitment & Admissions, University of Waterloo
10:40 - 12:00 noon York AB	Session 2B – Roundtable Discussion on Fraudulent Documents and International Admissions (follow-up to Session 1) (Undergrad Admissions Focus) Moderator: Michelle Lea, Director, Admissions and Recruitment, Brock University
12:00 - 1:15 pm Salon AB	Lunch (for all workshop registrants)
1:15 - 2:20 pm Trinity 345	Session 3A - Immigration Policies Affecting University Admissions (Graduate Studies Focus) Paul Dowden, Regional Program Advisor, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Toronto) Moderator: Jeanette Nugent, Assistant Director, Graduate Studies Recruitment & Admissions, University of Waterloo
1:15 - 2:20 pm York AB	Session 3B –Enriched/Advanced High School Programs (AP, GCE, IB & CEGEP) As They Relate to the Canadian High School System (Undergrad Admissions Focus) Presenter: Wendy Loat, Senior Admissions Policy Advisor and Manager, Comparative Education Service, Admissions and Awards, University of Toronto Moderator: Lynn Giordano, Associate Registrar, Admissions, McMaster University
2:20 - 2:40 pm Foyer	Refreshment Break
2:40 - 3:55 pm Trinity 345	view paper	Session 4A - Setting English-language Admission Standards for International Students (Graduate Studies Focus) Presenter: Doug Ronson, President, Educational Testing Service Canada Inc Moderator: Charlotte Sheridan, Assistant Director, Graduate Studies, Brock University
2:40 - 3:55 pm York AB	Session 4B – Roundtable Discussion on Enriched/Advanced High School Programs (follow-up to Session 3B) Moderators: Lynn Giordano, Associate Registrar, Admissions, McMaster University Janice O'Farrell, Director of Admissions Services, Carleton University.
3:55 pm Trinity 345	Closing Remarks Nancy Weiner, OURA President
4:00 pm	Workshops Conclude
Liaison Workshop - Wednesday, February 22, 2006
8:00 - 9:00 am	Continental Breakfast for all workshop registrants
9:00 - 12:00 noon (Refreshment Break at 10:20am approx.) Bay Room	Advanced SCSSL Discussions
12:00 - 1:15 pm Salon AB	Lunch
1:15 pm	SCSSL Workshop concludes

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