Get to know the College of Continuing Eduction

Dal News

Get to know the College of Continuing Eduction

Pop-up lecture

Insider information from Academically Dismissed Students: What Goes Wrong and How to Help

For some students, mid-term results will provide an unpleasant wake-up call. Poor marks signal the need to 鈥減ull up one鈥檚 socks.鈥� However, many students are unable to identify which habits are leading to their poor performance, and they are even less capable of generating and following through on more productive learning strategies.

What might faculty, parents, and caring individuals do to assist students in the struggles that surface at this time of year?

This interactive presentation drew upon insights from over 300 AV俱乐部 students who have taken 鈥淩efining Your Learning Skills for Academically Dismissed Students鈥� over the past five summers.

What do you think are the top three challenges reported by students?

Participants discussed the main challenges that Refining students report as leading to their dismissal, which may assist in our understanding of the poor performance of other students.

Presenter: Professor Susan Holmes
Susan鈥檚 25 year stint at AV俱乐部 has provided her with the opportunity to lead or be a part of many interesting projects. Of all the opportunities she has engaged in, none have been more challenging or rewarding than the role of Program Director of Refining Your Learning Skills for Academically Dismissed Students. Join her as she shares her passion for a program that provides a second chance for highly capable and seriously distracted students.

Date: Tuesday October 13, 2015

Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Mona Campbell - Room 3207

Storify

With a unique set of programs for three very different groups of students, AV俱乐部's College of Continuing Education might be one of the most diverse academic units on campus. See what Continuing Education faculty, students and staff have been up to in this week's Storify.

Dean's video

College of Continuing Education Dean聽Andy Cochrane answers our questions in this video interview.

Feature story

Five things you didn't know about the College of Continuing Education

The College of Continuing Education is easily one of the most diverse academic units on campus. That鈥檚 because the College develops and delivers educational programs for three very different groups: individuals looking for a path to undergraduate studies, individuals looking to prepare for and succeed in their careers, and organizations looking to invest in their staff to expand capacities.

Here are five things you might not know about the College of Continuing Education:

We assist hundreds of students to access credit programs at Dal each and every year
We鈥檙e a 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� to AV俱乐部鈥檚 hundreds of International ESL Students
Our dean, Andy Cochrane has been known (on more than one occasion) to say, 鈥淪hift happens!"
We鈥檙e steeped in tradition and success
We host 250+ leading practitioners, professionals and academics among our instructors

Read the full story on Dal News

Photo gallery

Get to know some of the faces at the College of Continuing Education.

"I love when students or potential students come into my office and often don鈥檛 know what they are looking for鈥� A young man came to my office who owned his own business. He was charismatic, very confident and said he wanted to register for a University Preparation Physics class. During the course of the conversation he told me that he had a learning disability and had been told all of his life that he was stupid by educators and peers alike. Now, with the help of our instructor, he actually achieved one of the highest marks in the class. Knowing I had a role to play, however small, in an experience like that reinforces why I enjoy doing what I do and how the work we do here at the College makes a difference in the lives of our students."

Kim Stewart (University Pathways Navigator)

"I have the privilege of working with many University Pathways students who are studying hard to achieve prerequisites in order to enter or re-enter into degree programs here at Dal. The College is an incredible place to be. The diversity and determination of students is abundant and very motivating! Our staff and faculty at the College are passionate and thoroughly invested in ensuring that each student feels that they belong here and that their lives will be richer for having studied here. My life is richer because of my connection to AV俱乐部 and it is a family affair: my husband, Darryl teaches in both the Faculty of Management and the Department of Political Science. Our son, Aidan (9 years old), plans to come to AV俱乐部 too. He enjoys visits to the campus, attending family alumni events and summer Super Nova camps. After 25 years on campus, each day still feels 鈥淣EW鈥濃€� new students, new learning, new goals, new challenges, and new solutions. It NEVER gets old for me!"

Jennifer Hann (Director, University Pathways Programs, Mature Student Advisor)

"I learn something new every day. My work provides me with the opportunity to meet students when they are struggling, and at the end of our short time together I witness renewed commitment and optimism. It is such a pleasure to engage with our students and see the potential. They keep me on my toes!"

Susan Holmes (Professor and Director, Refining Your Learning Skills Program)

"The struggle for social justice and equity are passions that are central to my life. Working at AV俱乐部 has given me the opportunity to both pursue my academic interests and also to challenge the marginalization of the Mi'kmaq nation and the historical Black community. AV俱乐部's Transition Year Program has made an important contribution to promoting diversity and social justice within the academy, which are integral to a dynamic and healthy university. A university that promotes the understanding of the history of the First Nations and the African Nova Scotian community plays a crucial role in building a better and more equal and inclusive society."

Isaac Saney (Professor and Director, Transition Year Program)

"I was the only member of my family not to study at Dal. But after living and working in a variety of countries and contexts I moved back and took a job here and ended up joining the Dal community in that way. I am proud to be part of the team supporting Dal students, staff and faculty as the university opens its arms to the international community and becomes a more diverse and multilingual environment."

Jennifer MacDonald (Head Teacher, ESL Programs)

"I have been working as an instructor for students learning English as a second language for almost 10 years now. My experience ranges from children to adult learners and includes a variety of contexts, from casual speaking to university writing. Through all of this, the one constant for me has been the ever rewarding feeling I get when a student finally achieves their goal, be that understanding a certain vocabulary word or writing their first academic essay. It is all about helping to make the extremely difficult task of learning a second language a little easier in any way I know how. Working at AV俱乐部 has allowed me to do just that, and it is my hope that this year at AV俱乐部 will be the first of many more to come!"

Kris Mitchell (Instructor, ESL Programs)

"I have been an ESL instructor for just over eight years in total. I first started teaching English because it allowed me to travel abroad; I have a reputation for always being 鈥渙n the move鈥� but have found a home at AV俱乐部 for the past two and a half years鈥nd counting! I am lucky to be surrounded by a teaching team of highly educated, experienced and motivated individuals who share my interest in the big wide world and in language itself. My favorite thing about this position, though, is the multicultural nature of my classroom. I love witnessing a group of students who, despite huge outward differences, create unexpected friendships, enjoy their time together and support one another wholeheartedly."

Sophie Paish, M.Ed. (Instructor, ESL Programs)

"I started working at AV俱乐部 in 1984 as a term employee for the Dean of Student Services. From there, I started my full-time career at the Advanced Management Centre, Institute of Public Affairs as the secretary to the director. I am currently working as a program manager for a number of certificate programs at the College of Continuing Education. I embrace new challenges and enjoy being the resident learning management system expert at the College. Like many of my colleagues, I have witnessed many major milestones while working at AV俱乐部: marriage, the birth of my daughter Lynsay and receiving my 25-year pin for dedicated service to AV俱乐部. I love variety. Every day provides an opportunity to work with adult learners, which means I am always learning."

Dawne Walker (Program Manager)

"I have been working at the College of Continuing Education since 1998. The majority of that time has been dedicated to the Police Leadership Program. I thoroughly enjoy meeting students from all over the country who are participating in our online program. It gives me a great sense of pride to see how many of my students have been promoted into senior leadership positions within their police organizations since taking courses with us!"

Sherry Carmont (Program Manager, Police Leadership Program)

"I have been writing, teaching and researching policing and security issues in Canada for many years. As an academic whose work focuses primarily on 鈥減olicing and security鈥� research, my long association with the AV俱乐部 Police Leadership Certificate Program has allowed me to have an ongoing relationship with Canadian policing and the pedagogical challenge of relating policing theory and research to actual police policy and practice. As policing everywhere is becoming more complex and challenging, this certificate program provides Canadian police with a unique educational opportunity to be exposed to a variety of policing experts and the latest in policing theory and research. I personally find it exciting to communicate the rapidly developing body of policing knowledge and critical thinking to police officers in ways that they find relevant and useful. I am currently looking forward to assisting the Police Leadership Program explore and develop new courses and programs in response to the rapidly changing world of domestic and international policing and security."

Dr. Christopher Murphy (Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology)

"I have been here in Halifax for 11 months. The first day that I arrived at the College of Continuing Education, Denise Sullivan welcomed me with a big smile and a wonderful welcome to the city. My first objective was to improve my English language skills, and I did it! On my first day, I received tons of information that, during the night, I digested slowly鈥� The professionalism and the graciousness of the teachers influence your performance a lot because, as international students, you feel a warmth to study that encourages you to pursue your goals. After that adventure, I finally started my second objective, a Masters in Electronic Commerce, which I love more every day. Feeling part of a big student family is what I love most about AV俱乐部鈥� being able to integrate, look for solutions, get support when you need it and receive care every day."

Carlos Ureta Mori (Masters in E-Commerce student)

"I earned my Masters in Adult Education from AV俱乐部 in 1991 and it seems that I never left! I have been an instructor at the College of Continuing Education for over 20 years; I love when participants contact me to tell me about their successes in applying what they have learned. Participants are attracted by the credibility of a AV俱乐部 professional development certificate. They arrive ready to learn and leave with best practices and tools they can implement in the workplace on Monday morning. In the Lean Six Sigma program, I love the 鈥渓ight bulb moment鈥� when practical solutions to complex challenges are realized. Outside of work, I am a hockey mom, musician, Pilates instructor, and a voracious reader."

Angela Scammell (President, Scammell & Associates Organization Development Consulting)

"Being involved in AV俱乐部 Continuing Education for the last 20 years has provided the opportunity to share combustible dust explosion prevention engineering lessons learned to Engineers in Canada and the United States. From these training sessions we have had attendees from notable engineering universities such as MIT, North Carolina State, Clemson and several European countries. It is always rewarding to witness first hand our AV俱乐部 graduates working with the international community and making significant contributions in solving global engineering problems."

John E. Bachynski, BSc. (P.Eng. President, EPM Consulting Ltd.)

"I came to AV俱乐部 25 years ago as an Arts student and I鈥檝e been here ever since. I was lucky enough to graduate from Dal twice. My husband and I met as Psychology students, and we held our wedding reception in the University Club, with our pictures taken outside in the quad. My first work experience at AV俱乐部 was as a student employee in the Dean鈥檚 Office of the Faculty of Health Professions. In these early work experiences, I laid the foundation for much of my present work in budgeting and administration. I am very proud of my work as the administrator for the College of Continuing Education, especially in the hiring and supervising numerous student employees, as I am often reminded of my early days on campus. I鈥檝e called the College of Continuing Education my work home since 1996. Last week my 8-year old son included 鈥淢ama鈥檚 office鈥� on a list of his favourite places for a homework assignment. I think that sums up what the College and AV俱乐部 mean to me and to my family."

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