New responsibilities for vice
presidents

As of April, 1997, the responsibilities
of three of Douglas College’s four vice
presidents have changed. While core job
descriptions remain the same, some
divisional responsibilities have been
shifted to rebalance workloads.

Al Atkinson, Vice President of
Educational Services, is now responsible
for Systems and Computing, while Vice
President of College Development Mia
Gordon will oversee Community and
Contract Services (Centre 2000). In a
third shift, the Douglas College
Foundation will now report to Vice
President of Finance and Administration
Peter Greenwood.

“Considerable input from the College
community indicated the need to focus on
educational support through the combined
services of the Centre for Educational
Technology and Systems and
Computing,” says President Lloyd Morin.

“It therefore made sense for Systems
and Computing to move into Al’s
division, but his workload had to be
adjusted accordingly. Community and
Contract Services are very much on the
developmental side of things, so they fit
nicely into Mia’s portfolio. With Mia’s
increased workload and Peter’s well-
developed relationships with key partners
in the College region, it also made sense
for the Foundation to move into Finance.”

Morin adds that all vice presidents will
continue to grapple with budget
reductions, working together to minimize
impacts on students and employees. All
four are also anticipating the arrival of the
new College president and the new
directions he or she will bring.

Here’s what each vice president will
focus on over the next year:

Al Atkinson, Vice President,
Educational Services

This fiscal year, Al Atkinson will work
with various departments, faculties and

divisions to produce an educational
technology plan to complement the
College’s strategic direction. “I want to
develop the concept of a Centre for
Educational Technology that includes
Systems and Computing, the current CET,
and elements of Learning Resources and
Douglas Development.”

Atkinson also plans to foster an
institution-wide enrolment management
system. “The entire College needs to work
together to become much more learner-
focused. We need to ease the transition
people make as they enter the College and
help them to meet their goals while
they’ re here.”

In addition to managing enrolments,
Atkinson wants to help students complete
their College experience successfully —
through better assessment procedures,
learning supports, and placement services.
He will also be looking at a regional plan
for developmental studies with school
districts, not-for-profit organizations and
accredited private schools, so that all
systems work in concert to benefit
learners.

Mia Gordon, Vice President, College
Development

Mia Gordon says her main concerns
for the next year will be to work through
the new faculty framework agreement, to
facilitate educational liaison and to
research the post-secondary education
needs of the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows
area.

“The Multi-Institutional Framework
Agreement is a system agreement
superimposed on our local agreement with
the Douglas College Faculty Association.
As a College, we didn’t have a chance to
work out what the framework will mean. I
want to work closely with the DCFA so
we can come to a common
understanding.”

Gordon says that educational liaison
will also present a big challenge. “I want

to work with the deans and faculty to
make sure connections are made —
especially with the K-12 system to ease
the way into college. If secondary
students build an early relationship with
us, they are more likely to enrol in
Douglas College programs.” She will also
be active in her role as community liaison
for the David Lam Campus. “I can see us
working closely with the high school and
community centre, and opening up the
campus to community events that are
educational in nature.”

She also plans to oversee a
community-based research project aimed
at clarifying the role of the Thomas Haney
Centre. “Area residents now have
increased post-secondary access through
our David Lam Campus and the
University College of the Fraser Valley
campus in Mission. I want to determine
what our educational role in the Maple
Ridge/Pitt Meadows community should
be.”

Peter Greenwood, Vice President,
Finance and Administration

Peter Greenwood says that his main
challenge, one shared by all post-
secondary institutions, will be how to deal
with continuing pressure on the College
budget.

Areas of special interest include
improving the College’s financial
information systems and increasing
community support. “Fundraising
activities and contract training services
have expanded our opportunities to bring
in additional revenue. The Foundation has
already raised $4 million in student
financial aid. I look forward to working
with the Foundation staff to see how we
might expand support for instructional
areas such as the Environmental Studies
initiative.”

Greenwood says he is also looking
forward to increasing programs, students
and employees at the David Lam Campus
to achieve economies of scale. “This will