<> A Thanks for the questionnaires You couldn’t help but notice the number of unit review surveys landing on your desk this past spring. "We had eight unit review committees start their work this semester, which is more than we've ever had before - and more than we hope to have again," says Bob Cowin, Director of Institutional Research and Development. "They all started their data collection at much the same time, so we want to thank the many people who responded. Anybody who has ever sat on a review committee knows how carefully those numbers are exam- ined." The units doing their reviews are: Student Finance and Placement, Public Information Office, Library, Reading and Study Skills, Health Information Services Program, Athletics and Intramurals, Criminology, Community Resource Devel- opment Office (Foundation and Alumni Association). "Once every five years, each department does a self-study, looking at its strengths and weaknesses. It’s a way of strengthen- ing the service that the unit provides and it’s intended to be helpful," says Cowin. "It’s a chance to step away from the day- to-day issues and look at the big picture. It lets people see how each unit fits into and contributes to the College, and helps knit us together." Meanwhile... Unit Review results for the Student Finance and Placement Office were inter- esting. Most respondents were familiar with awards and placement programs, and most know where the office is. Com- ments indicated awareness of a heavy workload and recognition of the impor- tance of financial aid and planning. Some responses, however, were a little surprising. When asked how much money is adminis- tered to students annually, 83% said less than $2 million, while the correct re- sponse is more than $10 million. When asked how many students are served an- nually, 72% said between 100 and 2500 students; more than 2500 are served. Ninety percent of respondents said they think that between 10 and 120 students are placed in jobs on campus; more than 130 were placed in the winter semester alone. A Psych Nursing program receives praise from the top Even though you know you're doing a good job, sometimes it’s nice to hear it from the top people in your field. Faculty in the Psychiatric Nursing Depart- ment got feedback on their Advanced Diploma program from leading re- searcher Betty Neuman at a symposium April 22-24 in Rochester, New York. The Neuman model is a framework for the program here at Douglas College, and for psychiatric nursing programs across North America. "We were able to show her some of our materials and ask her questions, and we got positive feedback on our Distance Learning program," says Jeannette Mossing, instructor and advisor in the Advanced Diploma program. "She was pleased with our work. She said we’ve done more with the use of her model than other schools." Attended by teachers and researchers from around the world, the symposium featured innovative research, practice and education presentations using the Neuman Systems Model. The model is a holistic systematic perspective of human behaviour and nursing’s role in promot- ing optimal wellness in individuals, groups and families. Acting Psychiatric Nursing Director John Crawford and instructor Mike Tarko also attended, and helped carry out a poster presentation (developed with help from Instructional Media Services) which Mossing says was well received. "We were asked by people from Holland if they could look at our material specifi- 9 cally so that they could adopt it for use i their country," says Mossing. The Psychiatric Nursing program at Douglas College recently linked up with the Open Learning Agency for the Col- lege’s first collaborative degree-granting program. a Psych Nursing received a pat on the back at an April sympo- sium. Seen here are (I to r) John Crawford, Betty Neuman, Jeanette Mossing and Mike Tarko.