By Daniel Oduro Sem

One of the challenges that students face in most tertiary institutions is how to secure funding in pursuing their academic programs, career advancement and professional development.

As a member of the Atkinson community, count yourself a fortunate person if you are registered as a full-time student, a member of a club or a member of an alumni group, for Atkinson is always there to support all those who will explore and take advantage of the resources available to enhance their professional development at the University.

Dr. Martha Rogers, one of our associate deans and former master of Atkinson College (recently replaced by Associate Dean Gervan Fearon), informs all new students that: he Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies maintains a strong tradition of supporting academic study and offers a full range of services to assist you throughout your degree program.?Dr. Rogers?remark is not just an empty promise. The Office of the Master is filled with competent and reliable staff members who are there to assist students achieve their academic aims. One of the services at Atkinson that I have benefited from is the ACORN fund, established by the faculty to support students?academic work and community involvement.

As a first-year, post-degree BSW student, the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies did not turn my application for financial support down when I received an invitation from the Minnesota State University (MSU), Mankato campus, to present a paper at an International and Interdisciplinary Conference organized by the Philosophy Department of MSU and the Society for Indian Philosophy & Religion.

The two day conference took place from April 13 to April 14, 2007. Highly renowned researchers and professionals met for this event. And I was privileged to have such intellectuals listen to my presentation and make comments on my paper.

It was such an exciting moment ?I will hardly forget. Indeed, it was quite stimulating sitting among professors and scholars who talked about their research projects and findings at the conference. Parts of the conference included games, entertainment and cultural dancing, which I could not fully enjoy due to my flight schedule.

It would have been very difficult for me to make it to such a big conference without the support of the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies. Through the ACORN fund, Atkinson fully supported me in paying my for my accommodation, meals, registration fees and other travel expenses.

Are you interested in getting involved in academic conferences in the years ahead? If yes, then I encourage you to read department notice boards regularly for important information.

Talk to your professors about your interests and have them link you to institutions and organizations researching in your area. Develop your term papers and short assignments for future research projects. And finally, explore the resources available to you in your individual school or department.

Good luck!

The Conservative government has appointed former Saskatchewan Party leader Elwin Hermanson to head the Canadian Grain Commission.

According to a cabinet order passed last week, the Beechy, Sask.-area farmer takes the job of chief commissioner at the Winnipeg-based agency on Jan. 21, 2008.

Elwin Hermanson was the leader of the Saskatchewan Party from 1998 to 2004.

Hermanson, 55, was the leader of the Saskatchewan Party from 1998 to 2004 and led the party in two general elections.

He was the MLA for Rosetown-Biggar, but didn't run in the 2007 election. Before provincial politics, he was a Reform party MP representing Kindersley-Lloydminster.

The grain commission licences grain elevators and sets guidelines for grading grains.

Hermanson is appointed to a five-year term, and, according to the cabinet order, his salary will be between $204,300 and $240,400.