Yhey were all designed on the basis
of an assumption that seems to be
coming true - that this field of
education would grow in significance;
that gradually, occupational fields
would emerge related to these areas
of expertise; that there waS a
community need for non-formal and
volunteer groups interested in the
arts to have an educational
institution to whom they could relate
on an ongoing cooperative basis.
Jointly, we can do the job. The
Foundation will be the means. of
getting some of the resources.

Fi. FACULTY RENEWAL

I have made previous reference to
a concern for, and a desire for,
faculty renewal.

It is important to recognize that
I am not talking about a stereotypical
hack who has to be rejuvenated in
some mysterious way in order to
become viable as a professional.

This kind of person, if he/she exists
at all in Douglas College, certainly
exists in small numbers. In any
case, a person who has reached such
a terminal state of inadequacy is
not likely to be helped by any
opportunities or self development.

On the other hand, many of us have
served within Douglas College in
substantially the same role for
extended periods of time, under
conditions of considerable stress
in many cases, and with steadily
increasing workloads - especially
during the past few years.

The latter condition is not likely
to change. We are all having to
work harder, smarter, and in _ some
cases longer than we have been used
to in the past-

On the other hand, we all know that

 

 

 

the College makes substantial provisions
in time, and money for opportunities
for regeneration and rejuvenation.
These opportunities are described
in both the faculty and staff agreement,
and represent a real opportunity for
creativity, if we can work cooperatively
to ensure that these provisions address
personal needs and institutional needs,
and are backed by enthusiastic support
from the administration.

I am aware of increasing concern for
quality and excellence of performance

throughout the organization - from
students, faculty, staff, and
administration, - and I am convinced

that the attainment of high quality
performance is in itself an energizing

activity. Therefore, I wish at this
time to commit myself and the
administration to work actively with

the Faculty Association and the
B.C.G.E.U. in ensuring that present
resources are used to better advantage
for individual development, and _ that
we also focus on the means by which
we can assist faculty and staff to
cooperate to do a better job. TI think
for example of the efforts of Bob
Shebib and the faculty of the community
service worker program. They have
carried out an excellent analysis
of their program configuration = and
student performance. The
extraordinarily detailed and methodical
work carried out by our nursing faculty
is a model that we might all emulate.
Resources will be made available to
initiatives within the college involving
faculty, staff, and administration.
I hope that these initiatives will
come from the groups themselves, who
know best the nature and = problems

of their work, in order that the
administration can act in a supportive,
rather than in a directive role. We

will be pursuing these matters directly
and separately with the unions in
order to ensure that there is an
appropriately supportive environment