Update from December 8 Management Forum

Hi Everyone

Here are brief notes from the Management Forum last Monday. Several things from this meeting will impact out department for the next year.

The following are the 4 strategic goals we've discussed previously. Here you'll find more specific objectives for each goal. As you read through them, think about the many ways the work our department does fits within these goals:

1. Grow and maintain enrollment levels
- Grow on-campus enrolments to 4000 by 2013
- By 2013, grow international off-campus enrolments by 350 (this specifically refers to the China project we are currently working on)

2. Develop strategic partnerships
- provide laddering opportunities (articulation agreements) for 100% of applicable programs by 2012.
- Be a leading College in Applied Research

• Stakeholder focus:# of faculty and students engaged, # of community partners
• Sustainability Focus: # of projects, dollars invested or spent)

- Launch a major fund raising campaign to run over the next five years (target TBD)

3. Enhance the student experience
- Enhance and implement a robust program review process (This will likely fit within our Curriculum Development area. We're currently waiting for more specific information on expectations around a "robust" program review, how this is different than the current reviews, and who will take the lead.)
- Includes two other initiatives: new student residences and the campus development plan.

4. Achieve operational excellence
- implement a student satisfaction survey with an initial target of 80% satisfied / very satisfied.
(It's quite likely our Curriculum Development are will be involved with this initiative as well - waiting on more specific information).
- Review and revise the decision making framework to create appropriate responsibility and accountability.

In addition, we learned that department and / or centre initiatives must work within the following framework when we are putting forward requests for addition resources and / or capital:

1. What are the Institutional Goals and Objectives you are supporting?
2. What will you achieve and in what timeframe? (initiative)
3. How are you going to achieve it?
4. How will you know if you are successful?
– Define performance indicators (measurements and targets)
5. What support or resources (RFD) will you need and in what timeframe ?
– from others (departments) , the institution (financial), or outside parties

We'll be talking about this very briefly at our EET meeting on Friday morning. If you have questions about any of this, please let me know.

Karen

Update from Multi-Faceted Delivery (MFD) Meeting - Dec 1

Here are a few things discussed at today's MFD meeting.

1. The keynote for the MFD conference in the spring will be Louis Schmier, a History prof from Georgia. His passion is about connecting with students, teaching from the heart . . . . should be a great keynote.

2. IT is working on virtualization with the Professional Golf Program (PGM). Students would be encouraged to use their own laptops and would be able to access virtual desktops. One barrier would be software licenses.

3. Dwayne mentioned the Polleverywhere software. We need to try this . . . as soon as someone has time.

4. Dean - still working on the learning object repository.

5. Dwayne's Ed Tech survey - He is compiling data. The same survey will be delivered to other institutions in AB, and possibly nationally.

6. Yuuguu - With this tool we can hold online meetings, share our screens and work together on the same documents in real time. Dwayne's website has a link to a table with many different web conferencing tools. It sounds like Tyler and a few others have been working with Dwayne on this. Perhaps at the next EET meeting you could do a demo . . .

Karen

Update from Management Forum on Thursday

Here are a few updates from the Management Forum lunch on Thursday.

1. Tuesday, November 25 from 10 to 11 join the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) for cake and coffee in the brown bag area by the Garden Court.

2. The Solutions Task Team will be holding a contest to encourage people to submit ideas for improvement / solutions to problems on campus. If something has been bugging you (and maybe you have a solution), consider submitting it.

3. Rick Buis reported that although the economic situation globally is not good, the College is "ok" financially at this point.

4. The College will soon be hiring an architect to design new student residences (located over by the Barn). If you haven't looked at the proposed campus plan, I think the display boards are still up in the library. It's very interesting!

5. The big rocks at the north end of the Cousins Building are part of a xeriscaping project, another example of the greening of our campus. More work will happen on this next spring.

6. Student services recently conducted a survey of 400 students who left the College last year before completing their programs in an attempt to find out why they left. Initial results of 160 students show that most of them left to pursue other post secondary education.

7. The College has hired a new manager in charge of First nations, Metis, and inuit (FNMI) initiative: Robin Little Bear, and a new HR administrator: Nicki Scott

8. Dean Stetson has agreed to stay on as Director of Student Services for longer than her originally planned so he can help facilitate the budget process and help to hire a permanent replacement.

9. Enmax has announced a full-ride $15,000 scholarship for an FNMI student in the wind turbine program.

We have another Management Forum on December 15, so I'll provide another update then!

Karen

Pictures from Estar University in China

Alan Andron just returned from a trip to China. He took over another 5 courses that EET staff has helped to developed. When he was there, he took a variety of pictures of the classrooms and the university, so have a look. These pictures helped make the project real for many of us who have worked very hard on it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kgharker/ChinaPictures?authkey=qUPk4fkK298&pli=1&gsessionid=gY58J_Dez3VfUJQTZRXKUw#

Karen

Use of Technology in Obama's Election

Interesting article on Obama's use of technology in his election win . . .

Observers have credited Obama's success in no small part to his campaign's innovative use of technology--including blogging, text messaging, and online social networks--to connect with younger voters and get them excited about politics and the election.

To read the article .. .
http://www.eschoolnews.com/emails/esntoday/esntoday111408.htm

Karen

Furniture Update

Oh, I'm really catching up on updates this morning. It's nice to have some time to just think!

Last spring we submitted an RFD for furniture for TE3203 (where Amber and Marina currently are), TE3215, and the four offices. The amount we requested was approved last week, so we've moving ahead with planning. The amount we had approved won't cover the cost of everything we need, so Karen O'Dwyer is helping us with some capital funds available for CTLI.

Bryan from Physical Facilities is currently working on a plan, and we can expect to see it next week. When we're approved it, we'll be ordering the furniture. We should have it by late January if all goes according to plan.

I've also submitted all the names of the formatters and media specialists for chairs. Linda Davidson will be in touch soon for some presentations related to this.

One possible hurdle is that Mike, Jonathan, and Ron don't have a place to move to quite yet. We're going to order the furniture anyway in hopes that a solution will be found.

And once we've done this, we'll be moving TE3213 around so it's a more useful collaborative / presentation space for all the work we do! Yahoo!!!

Karen

Claus Cause!

Would you like to come for a walk or run to support a good cause? The Runners Soul Claus Cause (in support of the Food Bank) is on Saturday, November 22 at 9 am in Indian Battle Park. It's a 5 or 10 km run / walk. Entry fee is $15 plus a food bank item - and get this - you will get a new pair of Christmas socks!

It sounds like we have at least one runner (Go Marina!) and several walkers already planning to do this.

http://runnersoul.com/clauscause/

Thanks to Marina and Connie for getting this going. We'll talk about this at our EET meeting on Friday am as well.

Karen

Innovation Fund Update

On Friday many of you listened to Leanne's presentation on the Mobile Learning Conference she attended in London, England, and then to Dwayne's information on the Innovation Fund.

Yesterday, the LC Steering Committee (Dwayne, Karen O'Dwyer, Frank Whidden, and Peter Leclaire) met with a similar committee from the U of L. This included Trevor Woods (CIO), Dave Hinger (Director of their Curriculum Redevelopment Centre (CRDC)), Kris Magnassun (Associate Academic VP), and Ted (Web Services Manager).

Highlights:
- The proposal is for sure going forward for a mobile learning initiative.
- There was quite a bit of discussion around the device and whether students would be given a new device or would be able to use their own current cellphone. U of L wants to go with the iPhone or iTouch. Advantages include consistency in use for all students and it's a cool tool, etc.; the main disadvantages are that students currently have a device, so this may mean they have two to carry around, and the iPhones / iTouches don't currently have video (iTouch doesn't have a camera either). Perhaps we could do research at LC with one program using the ITouch / iPhone option, and another using existing devices.
- Trevor Woods commented that video apps are available for the iPhone.
- There will be some flexibility for LC and U of L to take different approaches; for example, it sounds like the U of L wants to do a complete first year initiative where all first year students would get an iTouch or iPhone (pay their own data plans). At LC we're discussing the possibility of starting with one or two programs where students would immediately benefit from using a movile device. This would allow us to better support faculty.
- We would need to come up with a support plan for instructors. This could (should in my humble opinion :)) include budget for release time for instructors involved in the project.
- The question of "What would be considered success in this project?" lead to some interesting discussion but no real answers yet. Would we be successful if every first year student could connect with the institution for administrative type information, or would it be successful if students in most courses in a specific program were using the devide to enhance learning on a daily basis?
- This will become a research project as we evaluate the effectiveness of the initiative.

Dwayne is currently working on the next draft with Cathy King, a proposal writer from the U of L; this next draft is supposed to be ready to review by Wednesday, November 12.

I would really appreciate our thoughts on this initiative. It impacts us in many ways, and I'm sure in ways that we can't even imagine at this point.

Karen

LMS Update

Happy Remembrance Day!


A couple things have happened in the last few days re the new Learning Management System. Last week Frank Whidden (new CIO) was conversing with Embanet re hosting Angel. He is currently in negoatiations with them, and we're not sure how long this process will take.

Yesterday Dwayne told me that the requisition went in for Angel. This brings us one step closer to finally having a new LMS.

Timelines are still in question. Last week it sounded quite optimistic that we would be able to start piloting in January, but now this seems very optimistic. As soon as I know anything, I'll pass it on.

Karen

Four Strategic Goals for 2009

As we've discussed already, the College if focusing on four strategic goals over the next year. I thought it would be useful to review them again as it impacts our planning for next year.

1. Manage enrollments
- Our enrollment has declined 15% while provincially the decline was only 2%
- Goal is to grow from 3700 FLE’s to 4000 and to increase international enrollment to 350

2. Grow / Create Strategic partnerships
- More laddering opportunities to universities
- Be a leading college in Applied Research
- Fundraising campaign - $70 to $100 million

3. Achieve Operational Excellence
- Implement student satisfaction survey with initial target of 80% or higher satisfied or very satisfied
- Review / revise the decision making framework so responsibility and accountability is in the right place

4. Enhance the Student Experience
- Enhance and implement a robust program review process
- Establish new student support centres and systems

And one more time, the College vision . . . "To be recognized as one of Canada's finest comprehensive colleges providing world-class education and training through its commitment to excellence and innovation"

Based on both the goals and the vision, here's a question to ponder: What are the most important areas to focus on in the next year . . . in the next several years?

Karen

New York Pictures

Hi Everyone

Here's a link to the pictures I took in New York . . .

http://picasaweb.google.ca/kgharker/NewYork?authkey=teYW5vgAdHk#

Enjoy!

Karen

Update from New York and the Chair Academy

Hello from the Big Apple! This week has been amazing - a good mix between work and play, so I thought I'd tell you a bit about the Chair Academy, as well as our adventures in New York.

The Chair Academy is a 2 week commitment plus a practicum component that runs throughout the next year. We're finishing today with a list of objectives related to leadership within our positions that we have to report on throughout the coming year. Then next year the same group meets back here for the second follow up week. Some of the topics this week have included our complex roles, understanding self and others, leading and managing effective teams, managing conflict productively, etc. etc. It's been a week full of learning, sharing, and reflecting, which is always quite intense. We've been starting our days at 7 am, and twice we've gone into the evening for group suppers, etc. We've also had homework . . . but we've also found some time to play.

We visited the World Trade Centre site on Wednesday afternoon. The site itself looks like a big construction project, so it didn't have a lot of impact, although it does give a sense of the size of the buildings. It's very difficult to imagine what it would have been like to be a New Yorker that day. We also spent some time in St. Paul's chapel, which is where they took care of all the rescue workers. This was very emotional time for me. You could just feel the sadness here - and an overwhelming sense of loss.

On a happier note, we also hit a broadway show on Wednesday. Spamalot, with Clay Aiken from American Idol a couple years ago. It was very funny - with amazing talent. Manhatttan is quite overwhelming! Our course finished at lunch time today, and then we're planning to visit the Museum of Natural History, the Museam of Art (Met), Central Park etc. etc. It'll be a couple busy and fun days.

Hopefully you've all had a good week. I'll upload my pictures later this weekend - somehow they don't really capture New York, especially the sounds, smells, sights . . . but they'll be interesting. See you Monday.

EET Update October 17

Hi Everyone

This is a first of a weekly blog I am going to try to keep you updated on things happening in EET. Few things . . .

1. In preparation for our two hour planning sessions Donna is scheduling with you the last week of October, please read the two handouts you will be receiving at the EET meeting this morning. One is a copy of the College vision and goals, and the other explains the 4 focus areas for the coming year. Both documents come out of the 2008 to 2012 LC Business Plan. During our planning sessions, we'll be looking at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) for all areas within EET, so please think about all these things prior to our meetings.

2. We'll be starting work on the Inukshuk Grant early in November. This project is a continuation of the virtualization many of you worked on last spring. We're currently pulling a team together and the first meeting will be the last week of October.

3. There's been some discussion around a submission to the Innovation Fund in collaboration with the U of L. So far, most of the discussion has been around a mobile learning focus. Think we could ever do what Abilene Christian University in Texas has done?

4. PD Plans: It would be great to have everyone in EET participate in some kind of PD event this year. This might be a conference, workshop . . . . Think about how you can build 0n your strenghts over the next year or two and then look for opportunities.

And remember I'm gone next week to the Chair Academy. It seems to be the week for conferences: Connie, Clayton, Dwayne, Debbie, and Sue are off to conferences next week. Perhaps at our next EET meeting everyone can share some highlights. Happy travelling!