Academic Plan Updates

The sub-group on improving communication concluded a quick survey on how Langara faculty and staff communicate support services information to students and how we can better improve such communication. Conducted over the recent Faculty PD Days events, participants (total of 37 responses) told us that in-class, email and D2L are the most common avenues by which they communicate student services and events to their students.

When asked how the College can make it easier for participants to find out about what student events and services exist for communicating to students, email was the most frequently cited option. Other feedback generated from this question includes a centralized online site and a need to easily re-distribute the information to students online. One participant who self-identified as a new faculty member, indicated that he/she is unaware of what’s available. The sub-group is now working with other partners on campus to develop a campus wide online calendar and a student support survival Guide for faculty.

Langara recently bid farewell to APAG #2 Chair and Community Programs Division Chair Gayleen Wren as she joined the newly retired. A constant champion of Coop and the development of an on-campus career centre, Gayleen was recently recognized by the Association of Co-operative Education BC/Yukon chapter with their Outstanding Contribution Award. The award recognizes significant contributions or initiatives in promoting and developing the quality of Co-operative Education in practitioner’s institutions in BC. Visit the Langara News & Events page for more information on her recognition.

The group is also pleased to announce that Joyce Wong will take over the position of APAG #2 Chair.

One of the key themes identified by the Student Support APAG group is the range of support already available to students on campus but getting the word out to students’ remains a challenge. It is proven that referral by faculty at point of need is one of the most effective ways of promoting support services. For example, a student may not know about the one-on-one help offered by the Counselling Department but may confide to an instructor about emotional problems during office hours. To assist faculty with these kinds of situations, Melia Goertzen (Student Services), Erin Skinner (Psychology faculty) and Joyce Wong (Library) are working on a one page survival guide for faculty. The one pager will hopefully communicate to faculty, at a glance, the wide range of academic and personal support available to students.

Keep an eye out for the guide in your inbox coming soon in September!