New rhallenaes for
Douglas College Dean

Sixteen years after joining Douglas College, Al Atkinson is still facing new
challenges--and the recent one has left him "with some sense of excitement and a
litle sense of trepidation."

Atkinson, 39, was recently appointed interim Dean of Educational and Student
Services of the New Westminster college. This is a two-year appointment.

A resident of North Vancouver, Atkinson is stepping in for Gerry Della Mattia,
who will be working in the Middle East over the next two years. Della Mattia is
helping to set up a college system in the United Arab Emirates.

The new position places Atkinson as the senior administrator responsible for all
educational and student services in the College. This includes library and learning
resources, counselling and advising, financial aid, student placement, adult special
education, Women’s Centre, development education programming, registrar’s
office, public information office, and athletics and intramurals.

As well, Atkinson will play key roles in strategic planning for the college and in
faculty professional development programs.

His excitement about the job, he explains, is largely due to this first-time
opportunity for him to be involved in strategic planning. "And the college is now
moving into a phase that it (strategic planning) will be required,” he adds.

Atkinson explains that the New Westminster building has reached capacity. As
the College also serves other communities outside of New Westminster -- including
* Maple Ridge, Burnaby and Coquitlam -- new locations must be searched out and
programs developed to meet increasing demands.

In his new position, "I'll feel more closely involved in the mission or mandate of
the college," he says.

Adding a personal note, Atkinson says, "I’m looking forward to growing as a
person and even more so as a professional." He says the new position will "round
off my professional interests." As a senior manager, he will gain new perspectives
and perceptions about the role of an administrator, he says.

The new interim dean joined Douglas College in 1972. From 1972 to 1980,
Atkinson worked in the Student Services division and was a faculty member in the
arca of leaming assistance and upgrading skills. He then became Acting Director of
Student Services for a one-year term.

Since 1981, Atkinson was Director of Student Services and Developmental
Education,

Atkinson, who earned a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Education from
UBC, maintains an active life outside the college and has many interests. An avid
sailor, he also enjoys gardening, skiing, swimming, travelling and collecting
antiques. His travels have taken him through most of North America, Europe and
South East Asia.

He is also involved in the performance arts in Vancouver and was a former board
member for the Vancouver-based Judith Marcuse dance company.

 

 

 

 

 

MAD. HATTER

 

 

 

BUILDING AIR
CIRCULATION -
CLASSROOMS

 

In order to obtain the most effective
use of the air circulation system in
CLASSROOMS we would like to
remind faculty members of the
following conditions.

1.The air circulation system was
designed to function best WITH
CLASSROOM DOORS CLOSED.
Open doors are counter-productive to
the system.

2.The switch with decal "Switch On
for Air Conditioning" must be on to
activate the air circulation system.

When film and overhead projectors
are being used, it would be desirable to
leave on the special bank of lights.

TERRY LEONARD

A MESSAGE TO FACULTY
REGARDING COURSE
ASSIGNMENTS AND
READING LISTS

 

It would be of great help to both
students and librarians to have copies of
current course assignments and reading
lists available at the Library Information
Desk, so that we can verify the
availability of resources in the Library. I
would be most appreciative if you could
send me copies of your course
assignments and reading lists at your
earliest convenience, so that we can be
prepared to assist students to obtain the
materials they need.

Thank you.

Susan Ashcroft, Librarian

 

L Mad Hatter 3