N ’ S ‘ e November 2003 The Douglas College Newsletter m= New Westminster Campus and David Lam Campus IN Douglas College Honouring our own at Douglas College On October 24, Douglas College held its annual Recognition Reception to honour retirees, present the Awards of Excellence (see page 2 and 3) and recognize employees for their years of service. Left photo: A Retirement Dinner was held in honour of new retirees and to welcome back past retirees. Right photo: Big smiles from a group of 2003 retirees. College forges bond with community leaders What are the community's needs and expectations for Douglas College in the coming decade? What programs and services should we consider developing? What new partnerships can be forged to better serve our students and the community? To help answer these questions as we plan for the future, the Douglas College Board hosted the Community Leaders Forum on October 16 at Coquitlam’s Executive Plaza Hotel, an event that attracted over 60 College- region community, business and political leaders. Asked for their input in table-sized working groups, the community guests responded with feedback that ranged from big- picture affirmations of Douglas College’s regional importance to specific invitations for new student co-op and educational partnerships. The tables were comprised of guests from College-linked sectors such as health, fitness and sport, business and community services, as well as public and private educators. Political Former Douglas College student Trevor Evancic, the Royal Bank's Vice-President for Business Markets (Greater Vancouver), delivers the keynote speech at the Community Leaders Forum. attendees included Education Minister Christy Clark, MLAs Richard Lee (Burnaby North), John Nuraney (Burnaby-Willingdon), Harry Bloy (Burquitlam), Richard Stewart (Coquitlam-Maillardville), Coquitlam Mayor Jon Kingsbury and New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright. What kind of issues were discussed? Health Sciences Dean Joy Holmwood hosted the health-sector group that suggested ideas including the development of Continuing Education courses in infection control (SARS), strengthening partnerships with the Health Authorities by undertaking joint educational activities in the agencies and by providing increased clinical supervision of students, and a request for more forums to enrich communications between College departments and their respective career- destination employers. A group that included Education Minister Clark highlighted the need to better inform students of non-university options for training and jobs. Some of the other discussions examined the challenges of student debt, the need for rapid training responses to changing career sectors, and the theme of providing more multi- disciplinary studies for university transfer students. “We had a very lively exchange of ideas and information. It enabled key community leaders to learn more about Douglas College, it reaffirmed the importance of some issues, and it raised some new ones for us to evaluate. As a bonus, the networking has sparked opportunities for new partnerships that will help our students and programs,” said College President Susan Witter. Setting the stage for discussions, the event opened with a keynote presentation on training and educational partnerships by Trevor Evancic, the Royal Bank’s Vice-President for Business Markets (Greater Vancouver) and a former Douglas College student. Guests also learned about issues facing Douglas College in a presentation by Board Chair Diana Miles and President Susan Witter (see accompanying story), before hearing a student’s viewpoint on the impact of education by Janice Bennett of the Print Futures: Professional Writing Program. Congratulations to 2003 retirees Mordecai Briemberg, English as a Second Language (1976-2003) Patricia Brown, Early Childhood Education (1987- 2003) Mary Carlisle, Developmental Studies (1983-2003) Mia Gordon, VP College Development (1985-2002) Marion Greenwood, General Nursing (1983-2003) Chris Johnson, Continuing Education (Sports) (1974- 2003) Firoz Kassam, Business Law (1974-2003) Alan Lawson, Mathematics (1970-2003) Patrick Mulvihill, Finance (1998 - 2003) Nancy Oike, Office Administration (1987-2003) Sheila Paige, Office Administration (1987-2003) Marsh Price, Systems and Computing (1980-2003) Susan Rathborne, Office Administration (1990-2003) Wendie Reinhardt, English as a Second Language (1996-2003) Jim Sator, Dean, Commerce and Business Administration (1978-2003) Sharon Smith, Continuing Education (CFCS) (2000- 2003) Juliet Takahashi, General Nursing (1980-2002) Paul Taylor, Chemistry (1971-2003) Mary Thompson, General Nursing (1988-2003) Sherry Walker, Thomas Haney Campus (1980- 2003) Surging demand a challenge Meeting the challenge of building facilities and developing new programs to serve Douglas College's rapidly growing region was the major theme of the College presentation by Board Chair Diana Miles and President Susan Witter at the Community Leaders Forum (see accompanying story). “BC government figures show that the population of the Douglas College region is expected to grow by over 20 percent from 2001 to 2011. This is the highest projected growth for any college in the Lower Mainland,” Miles said. “This means that the population we serve, from Burnaby to Maple Ridge, is increasing by 60,000 people every five years. This is the equivalent of adding the population of New Westminster to our area. And ifwe think about a similar population growth rate across the river in Surrey and consider that many Surrey residents choose Douglas, we will have a huge challenge ahead.” Miles and Witter also reviewed other initiatives, such as work towards new degree programs in Nursing and Psychiatric Nursing, development of our new Quick Response Training Programs, plans for a second-phase expansion at the David Lam Campus, as well as the fifth- and sixth-floor expansion at the New Westminster Campus. “Just as quickly as the construction is completed,” noted Miles, “our New Westminster facilities will be completely full again.” Quote of the Month I try to do it in a Way that invites thought and discussion.” Psychology Instructor Jay McGilvery, winner of a 2003 Faculty Excellence Award “T don’t want to be an expert at the front just giving the students all this information.