Hi Applied Arts,
Happy (soon-to-be) end of term everyone! The College’s hallways are growing increasingly quiet, so I’m assuming many of you are already on leave, getting out those kerchiefs and caps and settling down for long winter’s naps. And while we’re on the subject of rest, I wish all of you the very best for the holidays. I hope they’re full of family, friends, good food, recreation, and deep sleep. Now on to a few updates to round out the fall term and put 2017 in Applied Arts to bed.
Indigenous Governance Degree Site Visit
The CAQC site visit for the Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Governance degree happened late last month. The reviewers seemed very impressed by the College; its faculty, staff and students; and the degree program we’re building. One more gigantic thank you to all who were involved in the site visit, particularly Michael Kulachkosky, who kept everyone on track, on time and well fed. We are still waiting on the review panel’s report. It might be here later this week. Once we have it, a frantic month of reviewing recommendations and writing our response ensues. The degree should then be on the agenda of the February meeting of CAQC. Getting so, so close!
New Instructor in Health Care Assistant
I’m thrilled to say that we have found a new instructor for our HCA program. Samantha Piper will be joining the team in the New Year, taking up the position from which Pat McClelland retired this past summer.
2018-19 Budget
We’ve not heard back yet about our wish list items, and I’m anticipating we won’t hear anything until the New Year—but there are still a few days left this week for Christmas to come early. Come on, Santa, make it happen!
ASD Pranksters
Kudos to Erica Bourdon, Janna van Kessel, MaryAnn Ferguson and a crew of support players for last week’s masterclass in the Burn. They tried to sell ASD faculty on a slew of new, and rather silly, ideas for the Academic Support Centre, as segue to a more serious discussion. Just a warning, then: Be on your guard the next time you’re invited to a presentation by any of them.
New Issue of The Northern Review
The Northern Review’s latest issue, a special issue on Northern literature, has been released. The issue was guested edited by Maureen Long, Jamella Hagen, Eric Heyne (UAlaska Fairbanks), and yours truly, with managing editor Deanna McLeod overseeing it all. If you want to check it out online, here is the link: journals.sfu.ca/nr/index.php/nr.
SOVA Student Art Exhibition
By all accounts, the SOVA end-of-term student art exhibition was a huge success and well attended by the Dawson community. Congratulations to the students, and a big thank you to Eldo Enns, Kyla MacArthur, Jeremy Herndl, Nicole Rayburn, Jeffery Langille and John Steins for all their hard work in making the exhibition possible!
Senior Admin Searches
For those wondering when vacant senior admin positions will be filled, here is a quick summary:
- Giulia Lucchini will be joining the College as our new Director of Employee Relations and Organizational Development in the New Year; I’m told she and her partner are already here after a long move from Scotland
- The competition for the position of Registrar and Dean of Enrolment is on-going; I’m on that hiring committee along with our own Hiedi Cuppage and a cast of thousands; the search firm has found us three (possibly four) strong candidates who we will be interviewing in the New Year.
- The competition for Vice-President, Academic is just getting rolling and will begin in earnest in the New Year; the College will be using the same search firm as it’s using for the Registrar search; SEC would like to see one or two students on the hiring committee, which is admittedly a big commitment for a student to make; if you know a real firecracker or two who want to be involved, please let me know.
That’s all for now. See you in 2018!
Take care,
Andrew