The Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies is accepting applications for Exploratory Workshop Grants until Sept. 15.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available to help prepare large-scale, interdisciplinary research proposals capable of competing for funding such as the Peter Wall Institute's Major Thematic Grant.

The main applicant for the grant should be a UBC faculty member, and all activities should involve basic research that otherwise would not be undertaken. Items available for funding include workshop costs, travel, stipends for distinguished visiting experts, and salaries for support staff.

For more information see the Web site at www.pwias.ubc.ca or call 604-822-4782.

A cross-campus university committee has decided that UBC's Food Services operations will continue to be provided by UBC Food Services management and employees. The committee emphasized that this was contingent upon signficant improvements in customer service and satisfaction, said Frank Eastham, acting vice-president, Administration and Finance.

The committee included student, faculty, and staff representatives and an external food services consultant hired through Ernst and Young.

"There's no question we have to maintain and continue to reinvigorate food services on campus," Eastham said.

"The operation has shown improvement and the alternatives--private food contractors whose proposals the committee reviewed--did not demonstrate sufficient economic advantage to the university."

Judy Vaz, acting director of Food Services, said the committee recognized the positive changes made in campus food operations and the hard work that has gone into beginning to turn operations around.

"We intend to continue to work closely and cooperatively with our employees and their union, CUPE Local 116, to provide improvements in customer service and satisfaction," Vaz said.

Trekkers will return to full service in September, and Pacific Spirit Place cafeteria in the Student Union Building will continue operations as before.

UBC's Certificate in Internet Publishing program has received the 1997 Program Award of Excellence presented by the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE).

Launched in January 1996 by UBC Continuing Studies, the program now has more than 80 participants.

Targeted to communication professionals with diverse backgrounds, the curriculum teaches all aspects of Internet publishing including design, authoring, programming, project management and online marketing. The UBC program was one of seven Award of Excellence recipients out of 22 submissions from universities across Canada.