Associate dean of Arts Neil Guppy has been appointed associate vice-president, Academic Programs.

Guppy, a professor of Anthropology and Sociology, will work with Barry McBride, vice-president, Academic and Provost, to develop and implement the academic plan, one of the strategies set out in Trek 2000, UBC's vision document.

New educational programs, a learner-centred curriculum and interdisciplinary and international opportunities are some of the goals of the plan.

Guppy joined UBC in 1979 and has helped develop various initiatives such as Imagine UBC, an orientation program for undergraduates, and a new co-operative education program for students in the Faculty of Arts.

Guppy's appointment is subject to approval by UBC's Board of Governors.

The 1998 President's Environmental Award was presented recently to Joanne Hirshfield, safety officer at UBC's 5000-hectare Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge.

The award is given annually to a UBC employee for exceptional contributions towards environmental awareness and protection.

Hirshfield's accomplishments include addressing issues related to fuel storage tanks in the forest and assessing and identifying the potential environmental impacts of various forest activities.

Brian Evans and George McLaughlin have been elected to four-year terms on the UBC Staff Pension Plan Board.

Evans is electronic services manager at TRIUMF. McLaughlin is acting superintendent of facilities services in Plant Operations.

Their terms began Jan. 1.