News Article

College partnering with university on national conference


6/17/2008 9:50:57 AM


College of the North Atlantic (CNA) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) are partnering to provide student services professionals the opportunity to network and explore integrated elements of student development during the 2008 Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) conference, taking place from June 22-25 in St. John’s.

This is the first time in decades that the national conference is being held in this province and Paul Forward, co-chair of the conference logistics committee, says it’s a great opportunity for public post-secondary institutions to share best practices in student services.

“We get to link up with a lot of other colleges and universities who are all dealing with issues similar to our own,” says Forward, who is also a CNA campus administrator in St. John’s. “It gives us a chance to share best practices, and examine new and innovative ways to deliver services to students with ever-changing needs.”

Forward says issues facing colleges and universities today are much different than they were the last time the CACUSS conference was held in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“There is a much stronger emphasis on inclusion and providing services to students with disabilities,” he says. “Because of the changing demographic and the increase of older learners, we also have to focus on the whole student, not just on the 9-5 period when they are with us, but their family dynamic, their economic or work situation, and things like that.”

Shirley Woodward, the college’s manager of Student Recruitment and Enrollment Services, says the college is sending over 30 delegates to this conference, indicating the institution’s commitment to enhancing services for students. She sees the conference as a great way to showcase some of the leading edge initiatives undertaken by the college in the last number of years.

“We have implemented some really great student services initiatives at College of the North Atlantic and this conference gives us a chance to share those with other colleges and universities across the country,” she says. “It also allows us to network with other student services professionals and see what they may be doing in this regard.”

Woodward says there are dozens of sessions and presentations taking place during the CACUSS conference, three of which are being delivered by faculty and staff from CNA.

On Monday, the college will present on its Access For Success (AFS) initiative. This international award winning process is used by the college to assist students with choosing the right career path, even before they are enrolled in a program of study. With the aid of academic advisors, the students build Personal Career Plans and their progress is monitored. If a student’s grades begin to slip, it is noticed early and intervention can take place, ensuring learner success.

Another presentation being delivered by college staff that day will outline a training program available for faculty and administrators on how to accommodate students with disabilities in higher education. The program is delivered by Utah State University and is available free of charge. Topics include accommodations, legal rights, and universal design for learning, among other things. The presenters will also outline how employees at the college and MUN are incorporating the accommodation of students with disabilities training into their professional development plans.

On Tuesday, the college will present on its recently introduced fully-inclusive model of service delivery for students with disabilities. The college’s model compliments the one used in the K-12 system, allowing students to easily transition from the secondary to post-secondary system. This model supports the diverse learning styles and capabilities of all learners and provides far greater access to post-secondary education by allowing appropriate program accommodations.

But the conference will not be all work and no play. Woodward says CACUSS 2008 is also an opportunity to showcase the province and its people.

Many of the expected 600-plus delegates have never been to Newfoundland and Labrador and social events are planned for most evenings to give people a chance to experience our beautiful province and our unique culture.


-30-

For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7721
stephen.lee@cna.nl.ca