The Douglas College Newsletter i New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus

IN

Douglas College

September 2006

 

Office of New Students Mission: Engage Students

Kyle Baillie, Manager, Office of New Students

Browne wins lifetime
membership

From I-r, Bob Perkins, (Kwantlen), Bob Browne (Douglas), and
C3 President John Olson (U of Alberta) making the presentation.

Bob Browne was awarded an honorary lifetime membership

in College Chemistry Canada (C3) at the organization's annual
conference. The conference was held at Niagara College in
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario at the end of May. In accepting the
award, Bob suggested that it was being given for endurance, since
he is a charter member of C3, and has served on the executive for
almost twenty years. Bob currently edits the C3 web site.

 

 

With the hiring of Kyle Baillie,
the new manager of Douglas
College’s Office for New Students,
the College continues its mission
to fully engage student's in life at
Douglas College.

Baillie, comes to the College from
Centenary College in New Jersey,
where he was the Director of First
Year/Co-Curricular Transition
Programs. He has his Master’s
Degree in Leadership and Public
Administration.

“Baillie’s appointment is another
signal of the changing face of
Douglas College. Kyle's role

as Manager of the Office of

New Students is a major new
investment into putting our
students as our primary focus.
His experience in first year student
transitions, student retention and
creating a student ambassadors
club will assist Douglas College in
positioning itself as a first choice
college in BC,” said Blaine Jensen,
Vice-President - Educational
Services.

Baillie says a key ingredient in
helping students make a successful
transition is “engagement.”

“Students need to feel engaged in
their new college life. If they get
involved with their instructors
and with other students, if they

take advantage of college services
and activities, they are much more
likely to succeed and thrive,”
Baillie says.

“Recent studies on student
engagement indicated that
Canadian universities have
some work to do. Douglas
College has created the Office
for New Students to ensure that
students feel welcomed. They'll
be encouraged to get involved,
and take advantage of the great
support services as they meet the
challenges of higher learning.”

He says a good example of such
services is packaged in an event
for new students called FLOW.
Named by students, the Fully
Loaded Orientation Week aims to
get students started on the right
foot, giving them survival tips to
thrive in post-secondary education
and encouraging them to get
involved and ask questions.

“Laurie May, FLOW’s event
coordinator, has been working
with student volunteers to prepare
this year’s event. Students are
encouraged to participate in

short workshops such as career
planning, time management

and success tips as well as take
part in fun activities such as
barbeques and tuition draws.

But we also need to go out into
the community to meet students
where they are,” says Baillie.

And he has already begun. On
Sunday, August 2oth Royal City
7th Annual Show and Shine
Baillie and May, greeted members
of the community, Douglas
Alumni and future students from
a display table set up on site.

“There is great support in the
community for the College. We
received a lot of good feedback
from alumni, potential and new
students. Many people shared
warm and welcoming stories
about Douglas College and how it
fits, not just into their educational
goals, but also into the life of their
community,” reflect Baillie.

Over the next six months Baillie
will help Douglas College set up a
student recruitment plan, enhance
and improve our new student
orientation program. If you have
questions about the Office for
New Students or if you want to
talk to Kyle directly you contact
him at extension 5814 or email
him at baillick@douglas.bc.ca.

Bigger training centre offers
Surrey learners more options

Planning to upgrade your
business options or downsize
your personal space?

Surrey residents will have

more learning and training
opportunities as the Douglas
College Surrey Training Centre
moves from its Central City Mall
location into larger facilities on
September 5. The new 12,000
square-foot centre at 10060

King George Highway features
classrooms, resource room and a
computer lab where students can
take workshops and short-term
courses.

“We've been able to grow because
we do a lot of local research to
find out what people are interested
in, whether it is for fun or
professional development or career
change,” says Evelyn Hortobagyi,
the Centre’s Project Coordinator

of Community Education and
Part-Time Studies.

The wide range of learning
options explore subjects such as
digital photography, computer
programs in design and business
development, debt management
and how to write your own
personal history.

People can also select a major
program in Interior Decorating
with courses for professional
designers, domestic do-it-
yourselfers and homeowners
who want to enhance their space
to attract buyers. A course in
downsizing also attracts a lot of
interest.

“As people we are gatherers and
hoarders, and our stuff owns

us. The course addresses the
emotional impact of downsizing

to get rid of stuff of the stuff

we have accumulated,” says
Hortobagyi. “Also, students learn
what to do with the things they
no longer need. The intention is
to keep only that which we need
to make our homes beautiful
spaces to live in.”

‘The centre is a short walk from
the King George SkyTrain Station.
It offers day and evening classes
and operates Monday to Saturday.
For a full list of programs and
more information visit www.
douglascollege.ca/surrey or call
694-588-7772.

 

Quote of the Month

evoking orange-flowers, swallows, and regret.

September: it was the most beautiful of words, hed always felt,

— Alexander Theroux, 1981