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

January 2006

IN

Douglas College

New Veterinarian Office Assistant and Animal Care Certificate Program “most comprehensive"

Ziggy the dog’s near-death experience has given life to a

whole new animal care program.

In fact, you might call the Veterinarian Office Assistant and Animal Care Certificate Program Brenda Welock’s pet project.

“T saw a need that had to

be filled,” said Welock,

a Continuing Education Coordinator for Douglas College. “I knew we could fill that need.”

Welock found out what was lacking after Ziggy got hit by

a car. She rushed her pet to

the nearest animal clinic and while Ziggy got lots of love, she “didn’t get all the essentials” of good animal care. She emerged from the clinic completely

dehydrated.

Concerned that not all veterinarian staff had the skills needed to take care of both animals and office work, Welock started making inquiries, She kept getting the same message: more animal-handling training was needed. She discovered

there wasn't a single public

post-secondary institution in BC offering a full-time veterinarian assisting program. So Welock decided to fill this crucial

educational gap.

The result is the Veterinarian Office Assistant and Animal Care Certificate (VOAAC) Program, Starting in April, 2006, students will receive the comprehensive, hands-on training they need to handle both paperwork and pets.

“It’s priced extremely reasonably and builds on the Douglas College foundation of excellent instructors and small class sizes,” says Welock. “Our goal is to make it the best program in the province.”

During the 20-week program, students will learn from professionals about domestic animal handling, physiology and pre- and post-operative care. The office skills will be taught by instructors from the College’s Office Administration Department.

Offered at the New Westminster campus from April to September,

the 25-hour-a-week program will also feature a three-week practicum

plus a debriefing session.

Welock says the VOAAC Program not only fills a need in the community, it will help open doors

to new careers for students.

“There are lots of job opportunities in this field,” says Welock. “As well as veterinarian clinics, you can work in animal rescue shelters and elsewhere.”

The program has been designed with the help of animal care professionals like veterinarian Pauline Chow, who says it covers

all the bases.

“The VOAAC Program being offered by Douglas College is now the most comprehensive Veterinary Assistant Program available in the Lower Mainland,” says Chow.

Information sessions for the program are set for January 17, February 15 and March 9, 2006. For more information, please contact Welock at 604-527-5446 welockb@douglas.bc.ca) or check

out (www.douglas.bc.ca/ce/cba).

Douglas College, Luoyang University sign agreement

Douglas College President Susan Witter shakes hands with Zhao Jinzhao, President of Luoyang

University (LYU), China, during a December signing ceremony. The two institutions reached an

agreement to exchange professional development, as well as starting a scholarly exchange program to

promote teaching and research excellence. LYU will send about 10 ESL faculty members each year to

Douglas College for summer immersion programs. Both LYU and the College will exchange one or

two faculty members starting in June 2006 for professional development. There is also provision for some exchange of student learning in the three-year agreement. Guangwei Ouyang, DC Director of International Projects (left), and Vice President Don Chang-sho (right), were also present for

the signing.

Ziggy and Brenda Welock: Dog's misfortune led to a whole new

animal care program.

Students First! A New Vision to Support Learning and Services

After almost a year of development, the Learning Support Services Plan has been finalized and is now tabled

with the Douglas College Board for approval, The plan is called “Students First! A New Vision to Support Learning and Services.” It calls for attitudinal and cultural shifts which present an opportunity for a brighter future for students and employees alike.

The plan supports the implementation of the Academic Plan and informs the future academic and strategic planning of the College. Included in the plan is the proposal to establish the Office for New Students which will be part of our 2006/07 budget proposal.

“The Students First! plan signals a new direction for employees and students alike,” says

Blaine Jensen, Vice President, Educational Services. “The changes that are proposed will cause us to think differently, plan more strategically and then critically evaluate our work, Once approved by the College Board, we will engage the whole College community in creating a more student-friendly and welcoming environment.”

The Academic Plan, approved by the Board in January 2005, and the Learning Support Services Plan will be the primary documents as we move forward to finalize our new Strategic Plan that we will table with the Board in 2006, Jensen says.

Quote of the Month

The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should

have a new soul,

~G.K. Chesterton