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Small Changes, Big Impact

Small Changes, Big Impact. Transforming Orientation at Seneca College Presented by: Amy Gaukel, Manager: First Year Student Experience NODA Region 7 Conference March 23-25, 2007. Session Agenda. Overview of Higher Ed in Ontario Ontario College System Seneca College Orientation at Seneca

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Small Changes, Big Impact

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  1. Small Changes, Big Impact Transforming Orientation at Seneca College Presented by: Amy Gaukel, Manager: First Year Student Experience NODA Region 7 Conference March 23-25, 2007

  2. Session Agenda • Overview of Higher Ed in Ontario • Ontario College System • Seneca College • Orientation at Seneca • The Process of Change • Change Can Happen • Where We Go From Here • Sources & Acknowledgements

  3. Higher Ed in Ontario • 19 universities, 24 colleges of applied arts and technology, agricultural colleges, colleges of health sciences and of art, a military college, privately funded degree-granting institutions, registered private career colleges, and apprenticeships • Post-secondary education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities

  4. The Ontario College System • 24 Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology • Ontario college system was created 40 years ago by the provincial government • They receive public funding from the Ontario government • The College Compensation and Appointments Council appoints the external members to college boards of governors and acts as the bargaining agent for college management in collective bargaining • Most have multiple campuses (over 100 campuses in ON) and have 2-3 intakes/year

  5. The Ontario College System:End Products Colleges in Ontario Offer: • 1 year certificates • 2 or 3 year diplomas • Apprenticeships & certification programs for skilled trades • 4 year applied degrees • Unique partner programs with universities that lead to a degree and may result in both a degree and a diploma • Province-wide, there are over 1000 program offerings

  6. The Ontario College System:Learner Demographics • In 2004-05 academic year: • 158,418 distinct applicants • 182,682 funded full-time equivalent enrollment • F/T college enrollment increased by 67% from 1989-2004 • Average age of applicant: 22.7 • 25% of surveyed applicants (in 2005) had household income of less than $29,999 (15% under $20,000); the Ontario population (in 2001) had only 16% of households earning less than $30,000 • Parents of applicants and attendees are more likely to have graduated high school and less likely to have attained a post-secondary credential when compared to a comparative age group in Ontario

  7. The Ontario College System:Learner Demographics • 36% of college students have had previous post-secondary education, 16% of whom previously attained a college or university credential • 18% of surveyed applicants (in 2005) were not born in Canada and 11% were 1st generation Canadians • 26% of students (in 2005) did not speak English or French as their first language • 41% of high school students pursuing PSE went directly to college (in 2005)

  8. Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology • Mission: To contribute to Canadian society by being a transformational leader in providing students with career-related education and training • 8 campuses located throughout the GTA • Canada’s largest college with over 100,000 students (over 17, 000 f/t and 90,000 p/t) • Canada’s largest enrollment of international students with over 75 countries represented in our student population • Students can choose from more than 260 careers

  9. Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology • More than 70 transfer agreements with universities throughout the world (including Australia, Canada, England, South Africa, USA) • The Seneca community embodies the cultural mosaic of Toronto

  10. Orientation@Seneca...(up to Fall 2006) • 1 day of Orientation per program held the week prior to the start of class, with variety of workshops, academic session, campus tours, etc • Varied from campus-to-campus • Invitation to Orientation looked like a corporate memo • No real social element to the program • Lack of ‘important people’ in attendance • “Academic Orientation” takes place with specific faculty areas • Email to register for the day • No cohesive planning group involving all campuses • “Frosh Week” is run by the SSF the first week of class, separate from Residence Orientation and from “Welcome Week” run by Student Services

  11. The Process of Change • Step 1: observe Orientation events on a variety of campuses • Step 2: think critically about what we’re offering • Step 3: Get feedback from students and from the staff involved in organizing the program • Step 4: Write a report detailing observations & recommendations for future program development • Step 5: Review budget and how you’re spending your money • Step 6: Begin the process of change

  12. The Process of Change:Review & Meet with Team • Don’t just have boring meetings… feed them (to thank them for all their hard work) and make them think and have fun while doing it! • Get creative with how you ask them to think about Orientation: • Mind mapping • Ask thought-provoking questions • Get them to write down their answers • Create a philosophy and goal statement together • Provide a meeting challenge

  13. The Process of Change:Ask and Ye Shall Receive (or sometimes, just change it!) • Free Hot Chocolate! • President, VPs, Deans & Chairs helping serve hot chocolate and pizza! • Orientation Volunteer position created (job description, application, day of training, t-shirts, certificates) • Website (with online registration!) • New Invitations (that show happy students)

  14. Change Can Happen! • By adding small elements of change to different areas of the program, we noticed big changes in the Winter Orientation • Theme! • OVs (more student involvement) • Lanyards • Ice Breakers • Welcome Sessions were fun! • Visible presence of “important people” • New content: “How to Support the Student in Your Life” workshop • Hot Chocolate! • More consistency across campuses

  15. Please Join UsORIENTATION 2007G.O.A.L.S.Get Oriented In Academics and Life At SenecaApril 28, 2007

  16. There are still challenges… • Attendance: there are many barriers in getting students here and keeping them for the day • Budget • Spreading resources thinly across campuses over a short period of time • Line-ups! • How do we create social opportunities that students will attend? How do we meet the needs of very different groups of students (i.e. traditional entry from high school, mature, single parent, international, etc.)

  17. Lessons to keep in mind • Never stop thinking critically about what you’re doing and who you’re (not) reaching • Make meetings meaningful and timely • Communication is key (among organizers & partners) • Ask! You never know what can happen unless you go for it! • Keep Orientation fresh by adding new elements to your program and keep it student-friendly • Talk with colleagues at other institutions on a regular basis

  18. Acknowledgements & Sources • “Overviews of Education in Ontario.” EducationCanada: http://www.educationcanada.cmec.ca/EN/Prov/ON.php • “Post-Secondary Education in Ontario.” Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials: http://www.cicic.ca/en/page.aspx?sortcode=2.20.24.27.31.32 • “About Ontario Colleges.” Ministry of Training Colleges & Universities: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/postsec/college.html • 2006 Environmental Scan. Association of Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology of Ontario, Toronto, ON. May 2006. www.acaato.on.ca • “Seneca College: An Overview. A World of Opportunity” http://www.senecac.on.ca/cms/about/overview.jsp • People who have helped me immensely with this project & event: • Student Life Coordinators: Paul Cadoo, Iscenty Benjamin, Shanna MacInnes, Sheryl Minnett, Glenna Thomas • Frank Summers-Young, Web designer • Monisa Cheung, Manager, Enrolment Planning, Statistics & Convocation

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