R From left, Associate Dean of Commerce ——— Be Ls and Business Administration Julie Crothers, Marketing instructor Christina Cawkell, Marketing Chair Gail Tibbo, Marketing instructor David Moulton and Hotel and Restaurant Management Chair Mark Elliott took their students to Royal Roads University in Victoria to learn more about their options upon graduating from Douglas. Making connections at Royal Roads Commerce and Business Administration faculty are continuing to build their relationship with Royal Roads University in Victoria. “Our goal is to help students figure out where they can go from here and help them with their career options,” says Marketing Management Chair Gail Tibbo. For the past several years, Marketing faculty and students have made an annual daytrip to Victoria to learn more about opportunities for Douglas graduates to continue their education at Royal Roads. This year, they were joined by Hotel and Restaurant Management (HORM) Chair Mark Elliott and students from the HORM and Business Diploma programs. In all, 31 students participated, along with Associate Dean of Commerce and Business Administration Julie Crothers and Marketing instructors Christina Cawkell and David Moulton. Royal Roads has several options for HORM graduates to continue their education, including two master’s programs and a bachelor’s program. “It’s a natural for Douglas students. We have five of our graduates there now, completing their BA in International Hotel Management,” says Elliott. The Douglas group was greeted by Royal Roads President Allan Cahoon, treated to a working luncheon, toured the campus and heard presentations. “It’s a great opportunity to give students a personal taste of what Royal Roads has to offer,” says Tibbo. She adds that it has also been beneficial for Douglas faculty to generate a rapport with their students and their peers at Royal Roads. Animal Health Technology instructor Dr. Pauline Chow says a new lecture series sponsored by Nestle Purina Petcare and taking place at the David Lam Campus is a win-win partnership. Creafing the Best Student Experience: service assessment At the College, we work hard to help students achieve their academic, professional and employment goals. An environment where students are treated as individuals, supported in their learning, challenged to be the best they can be, are respected colleagues in the learning community and, as a result, ignite their potential, is crucial. Currently, there is a campaign by the College to ensure students are getting the best experience possible. All Douglas service departments, including contracted services, such as food, security, parking and cleaning services, took part in a second forum on Creating the Best Student Experience (CBSE) on January 30. “Event evaluations indicate a high level of energy and commitment to this process,” says Vice President of Educational Services Blaine Jensen, who is leading the project. The largest success of the day was discussing how to improve lines of communications with students and colleagues, says Jensen. “In small groups, we discussed sharing communication strategies, creating a welcoming campus environment and getting to know other departments and Improving communications among employees and students is key to ensuring the College has a welcoming environment, says Vice President of Educational Services Blaine Jensen. individuals,” Jensen explains. The afternoon was dedicated to discussing how to effectively have students and employees assess the quality of services at the College. A College wiki — a webpage designed to enable employees to contribute to or modify its content — has been created to facilitate communications and develop assessment techniques. To see the CBSE wiki, go to myDouglas, click on the CBSE tab, then follow the links accordingly. The next CBSE Forum will be March 27 from 9-3:30 at the David Lam Campus. New vet lecture series at Douglas College The Douglas Animal Health Technology (AHT) Program is partnering with Nestle Purina Petcare to provide continuing education to the veterinary community. “As full-time faculty of the AHT Program and a practicing veterinarian, I greatly value accessible continuing education opportunities,” says instructor Dr. Pauline Chow. A series of lectures, at the David Lam Campus, starts on March 24 with a talk on animal dentistry. Each lecture is approved for 1 ¥2 hours of continuing education by the BC Veterinary Medical and Animal Health Technologists associations. Members of both professions are required to participate in continuing education in order to remain licensed. Admission to the lectures is free for veterinarians and animal health technologists. Offering opportunities for continuing education was part of the original vision for AHT, says Chow. She was already familiar with Purina through requesting support and sponsorship for AHT equipment and student awards. Purina had previously offered complimentary lectures on a smaller scale. Both Douglas and Purina are winners in this new partnership, notes Chow. “Tt allows Purina to expand a single annual lecture into a series, while promoting Douglas College and the AHT Program in particular. We are also offering tours of the AHT facilities prior to the lectures so that should draw even more attendees,” says Chow. Though the lecture series is open only to veterinarians and animal health technicians, a new series for the Douglas community and public may be offered in the future. For more information, please contact Pauline Chow at chowp@douglas.bc.ca.