March 2010 - John Abbott College

Jing Wu, Ran Ran Hong, Katherine Kasirer, Cynthia Culley, and Olga DanilovaNFB LIBRARIAN VISITS JOHN ABBOTT COLLEGEby Nan Siegner - ILT studentFormerJohn Abbott College’sprofessor Katherine Kasirerspoke to Information and LibraryTechnologies students abouther job at the National FilmBoard’s Stockshots Library as anindexing/cataloguing/imaging/referencelibrarian onNovember 11.“the films that aremade now are madefor the Canadiansabout the Canadians.”Katherine discussed the historyof the Film Board, which iscelebrating its seventiethanniversary. “Back in 1939, thefilms that were created weremostly war propaganda andtourist advertising for theAmericans,” she said. All ofthose old films are now in theirarchives and they are actualfootage of the war front.“World War II footage is veryprecious to us.”She continued with what ishappening with the NationalFilm Board now. She stated“the films that are made noware made for the Canadiansabout the Canadians.” Shementioned that one of her jobswas slicing old footage that isnot otherwise usable. “I couldhave fifteen hours of a chair,throw out fourteen hours of thePhoto courtesy of JAC ILTbad footage of the chair andthen I would slice out differentimages of the chair and if otherartists like musicians want thatfootage for their video, theyusually come to us.”Finally she proudly said that“the National Film Board ofCanada has won 15 AcademyAwards.” ■Photo courtesy of JAC ILTSTUDENTSLISTEN UPABOUT LITERACYby Amanda Tweedie - ILT studentMarion Daigle, a long-timemember of the QuebecFederation of Home & SchoolAssociations (QFHSA), spokeon Nov. 20 about literacy andthe Born to Read program toInformation and LibraryTechnologies (ILT) students.Giovanna Spadafora, a QFHSAdirector who will be takingover the Literacy Committee ofthe QFHSA, was also present.Marion explained how shecame to be involved with theliteracy movement. After givinga definition of literacy, she proceededto present the classwith many facts and fallaciesabout literacy. She invited thestudents to guess about levelsof literacy in Canada andQuebec, leading many to questionwhat they really knewabout those rates. Once shehad established the need toaddress literacy, she explainedthe history of the Born to Readprogram, a grass-roots movementto provide newbornbabies and their families with abag of books to promote earlystorytelling and literacy. Born toRead has been successful inmany communities and haseven moved to other provinces.Having a speaker that isenthusiastic about her topicallowed the students toengage in conversation withher and Giovanna after thepresentation. Angela Cameron,a second-year student, presentedMarion with a cheque to beused to buy reading materialsfor a Montreal school library.This money was raised by thestudents earlier in the year duringa Public Relations classbake sale. ■Literacy advocates Marion Daigle and Giovanna SpadaforaAbbott Update 4 March 2010

BOARD OF GOVERNORS • FEBRUARY 9, 2010GUEST SPEAKER DR. GEORGE KUHOn January 13, the College welcomedpreeminent researcher Dr. George Kuh,Chancellor’s Professor of Higher Educationat Indiana University and Director of theCenter for Postsecondary Research, tospeak to staff members comprised of faculty,professionals, support staff andadministrators. Over 400 attended.Dr. Kuh spoke of student success at thecollege level, enlightening his audiencewith tangible examples extracted from hisrecent publication regarding creating optimalconditions that promote a thoroughlyengaged and supportive campus culture.The event marked the first professionaldevelopment initiative that addressed theentire staffing community, highlighting theimpact that we ALL have on student successas a shared responsibility.LEARNING CENTRE LAUNCHESTUTOR TRAINING PROJECTOn Friday, January 15, the Learning Centrelaunched its Tutor Training Project. Theproject was sponsored by the Centre collégialde développement de matériel didactique(CCDMD) whose main objective is todevelop educational materials for Collegesand Universities in the Montreal Region.Joining the Learning Centre’s team in thelaunch celebration were representativesfrom Marianopolis, Centennial, Champlain,Dawson, Vanier and Concordia University.Also in attendance were teachers and otherStudent Services staff members from JohnAbbott.Dean Eric Schmedt and Bernard Dionne,Interim Director of CCDMD, welcomedeveryone and commented on the project’simportance and expressed their pleasureat seeing such a positive response from somany educational institutions.Veronica Gill from CCDMD and BrendaRowe, both project managers, along withSusan Daningburg, a project contributor,shared with the audience the rational forthe Tutorial Training Program and the initialstages of its development. JeannineRyser, author of the Tutorial TrainingProgram, gave an overview of its content:1. Management and Administrative Tools2. Tips for Effective Tutoring3. How to Work with the Learning Disabled4. Cultural Sensitivity and Learning Styles5. Multiple Intelligence and itsApplications6. Flexibility built into the use of theProject (ability to use one or all 5 modulesand the ability to select from over77 documents).Thanks and appreciation was given toJason Howell, Pierre Dussol and students(all from John Abbott Theatre department)for their contributions to the filming andacting in the video clips. Recognition andthanks were also given to the LearningCentre’s Elizabeth Clarke for spearheadingthe planning of a very successful event.FUNDRAISING FOR HAITIIn response to the major earthquake inHaiti, Bill Mahon from Student Activitiesspearheaded a number of fundraisingactivities. Buckets were put out and studentswere asked to donate as they hadtheir ID cards updated. Donations werealso solicited in the Bookstore, studentvolunteers collected money from studentsat various College entrances and a bakesale was held. In total $3,225 was collectedand a cheque was sent to the RedCross in time for it to be matched by theFederal Government.There is still a collection bucket in StudentActivities. Students are organizing a varietyshow and students from the student governmentand clubs will be raising moneyduring their SUJAC/Club Day. Anothercheque will be sent off when all thefundraising activities have been completed.NEW CHAIRS & TABLES INSTEWART HALL CAFETERIAIn January 2010, new tables for the cafeteriadining room arrived to replace the old tablesand to complement the new chairs whicharrived in August 2009. The funding toreplace these tables and chairs was madepossible through investment money setaside as part of the contract with our foodservices provider Sodexo intended for therenovation and improvement to the serviceand dining areas. The addition of these newtables and chairs has given the dining area amore modern look and provided a comfortablelocation for both students and staff toenjoy their meals and socialize.JOHN ABBOTT SPORTS CENTRECELEBRATING 30TH ANNIVERSARYJohn Abbott College’s Thérèse CasgrainSports Centre is celebrating 30 years ofservice to the John Abbott community.While John Abbott opened its doors forthe first students in the fall of 1971, theCollege was only given funds to constructits own athletic facilities in the late 1970s.The first official activity held in the SportsCentre was a basketball game on January24, 1980. With the primary goal of providingtopnotch facilities for compulsoryphysical education courses and the Sportsand Recreation department, the SportsCentre has evolved into much more. Withover 25,000 visits yearly, the Centre welcomesthe public to use the pool, squashcourts, weight room and gymnasiums afterthe academic day is over. Plus, theCasgrain pool’s extensive children swimlesson program now sees many of its graduatesenrolled at John Abbott.It continues to be the meeting facility forlarge college activities as witnessed by therecent Dr. George Kuh conference onCreating Conditions That Matter as well ascommunity events such as the Lester B.Pearson School Board Elementary School3 -day volleyball tournament.The Casgrain Theatre opened with a TerryFox charity concert and has since presentedmore than 150 shows by the JohnAbbott Theatre department. We have welcomedsuch companies as Les GrandsBallets Canadiens, Théâtre Jean-Duceppe,Montréal Symphony Orchestra and havesupported many local productions throughthe City of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.The Sports Centre welcomes one and all tocome by the Sports Centre, enjoy a workout,maybe just a sauna or cheer on our Islandersteams in action in the gyms or pool.ORIENTATIONThirteen new employees were welcomedto the College during an orientation sessionheld on January 15, 2010. Attendeesincluded: 1 cadre; 2 professionals; 7 facultyand 3 support staff members.The orientation session covered administrativematters, the academic environment,information technology services aswell as student affairs and services.Since its inception, John Abbott Collegeregularly evaluates its Orientation Programso that it responds to employees’ expectationswhile fulfilling the College’s strategicobjectives.Abbott Update 10 March 2010

BOARD OF GOVERNORS • FEBRUARY 9, 2010PERSONNEL INFORMATIONNew / Changes – Staff MembersDarryl Climan, Conseiller à la vie étudiante,a permanent part-time position asCultural Diversity Animator in StudentServices (Learning Centre) effectiveJanuary 4, 2010.Kathryn Gehlsen, Agent de bureau Cl. 1, apermanent part-time position in HousingServices, effective November 30, 2009replacing Joanne Higgins.Elizabeth Kerton, Agent de bureau, Cl. 1,a permanent part-time position in StudentServices replacing Joanne Higgins effectiveNovember 30, 2009.Gary Kulovics, Technicien en informatique,temporary full-time position for a specificproject in Information Technology Serviceseffective December 14, 2009.Mathew Marshall, Technicien en informatique,permanent full-time position inInformation Technology Services effectiveNovember 30, 2009 replacing DarrinTremblay who had transferred to a newposition.Kelly Sudia, Aide pédagogique individual(Academic Advisor), a part-time replacementposition in Student Services effectiveJanuary 8, 2010 replacing Peter Thomsonwho is on progressive retirement.Barbara Zilber, Technicienne en travauxpratiques, a permanent full-time positionin the Learning Centre replacing SharonCasey effective January 11, 2010.New FacultyShanly Dixon – SociologyJulie Gagnon – SpanishLuba Serge – SociologyJana Simandl – ChemistryGordon Spicer – Business AdministrationSECURITY UPGRADECyberspace security is an ongoing concernin today’s fast-paced society and JohnAbbott College is taking steps to preventhackers from crashing the network andcausing extensive and expensive damage.That is why all users were asked to changetheir password using a combination of letters,numerals and symbols bringing oursecurity level closer to the Auditor Generalof Quebec’s guidelines. A new passwordwill be required every six months.INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMSOFFICESince last the Board report, StephanieHygate participated in the DFAIT - FOCUSEducation INDIA workgroup in Ottawa.Focus group members included governmentstakeholders and educational institutionswith the mandate to support thedevelopment of Canada – India educationalpartnerships. India has been identifiedas a priority country in Canada’s internationaleducation initiatives: Canada lagsbehind other industrialized countries in itsengagement with India.A graduation ceremony for German andMexican students enrolled at John AbbottCollege during the fall 2009 semester washeld on December 9.We recruited nine Business Administrationstudents for international stage opportunitiesorganized through the IUT Annecy,France.A delegation from the IndonesianEmbassy in Ottawa visited the College:Mr. Bambang Mulayanto, Vice-Ambassador; Mrs. Nancy Kusbayanti,Cultural Affairs Officer. The delegation discussedwith John Abbott representativesfollow-up plans based on the MOU oneducational cooperation signed inNovember 2006 between John AbbottCollege and the Embassy of Indonesia.Preparation for the Barbados MarineBiology Course (Science Option Course) isunderway; 17 students will participate.Professor J.P. Parkhill visited the BellairsResearch Institute in Barbados from Dec.29 to Jan. 10 to prepare for the course;accommodation and airfare were financedthrough a MELS teacher mobility grant.We prepared for the arrival and orientationof German and Mexican students enrolledfor the Winter 2010 semester(Total number of students this semester: 110)FOUNDATIONSince the beginning of this academic year,the Foundation has been hard at workorganizing fundraising events at theCollege, including the Loonie Line, theBenefit Breakfast, the Christmas Craft Fairand most recently an appeal to all employeesand friends of the College to donate tothe Student Assistance Fund. Thanks to thegenerosity and participation of our donorsand sponsors, these combined events haveraised $60,000 for the Student AssistanceFund. The Foundation would like to thankeveryone who generously gave their timeand money to these events; we could nothave done it without them! ■UPCOMINGAbbott Update 11 March 2010

OVER $60,000 RAISED FOR THE STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND!Over the past few months theFoundation has been hardat work organizing fundraisingevents at the College. You mayhave noticed them: a strip ofLoonies running though thehalls from Casgrain to StewartHall, a breakfast in theCafeteria for 400 guests, ca 2-day Craft Fair in the Agora,and most recently an appeal toall College employees todonate to the StudentAssistance Christmas Fund.Thanks to the generosity andparticipation of our manydonors and sponsors, combinedthese events have raisedover $60,000 for the StudentAssistance Fund. While thegoal of these events is to raisemoney for students in need,they also serve several otherimportant purposes. Foundationfundraisers strengthen the connectionsbetween the internalAbbott community and theexternal community, they cultivaterelationships with localbusinesses, create lastingbonds with alumni and retiredfaculty and staff, while raisingawareness about the plight ofmany of our students.The Foundation would like tothank everyone who generouslygave their time andmoney to these events; wecould not have done it withoutyou.Mark your calendars - ournext events include AlumniCasino Night on April 16, andthe Golf Tournament atSummerlea Golf & CountryClub on June 2. ■JOHN ABBOTT COLLEGE ALUMNI EVENT COMING SOONAbbott Update 12 March 2010