Next Steps Success

About 400 Okanagan College staff gathered on Aug. 23 and 24 to participate in the second version of Next Steps, which brought together people from all campuses and all units and departments. They heard an update from President Jim Hamilton about what the College has accomplished over the past year, and what's ahead (click here to view a movie of the President's speech, if you were unable to attend). The plenary session also featured a 6.5-minute video that highlighted some events of the past year, blended with student testimonials about the education they received and their experiences at Okanagan College (click here to view the video). "We have been, and always will be, about people: the people we serve and the people we work with," Hamilton said. "We're building from a position of strength."
As part of a breakout session, many of the attendees addressed the question of how they could improve their interactions with students and colleagues. Many made personal commitments and presented ideas that they were willing to share . . . a series of index cards with those commitments can be viewed as a slide show

CS into Banner, Registration online

IT Services and Continuing Studies recently completed a very significant project by converting the CS data to Banner.  For the first time since Okanagan College adopted computerized systems more than 25 years ago we now have 99.9% of our student enrolment data in one central database (and within the next few months we’ll have the other 0.1%).

Another very significant achievement was the launch of web registration for non-certificate or general interest CS courses on Monday, August 20.  CS customers can search through the catalogue, sign up and pay right away – making it much more convenient to get into classes. 


 

Okanagan College's ahead-of-the-curve efforts at recycling fluorescent bulbs was featured in a front page article in the Kelowna Daily Courier on Aug.28.
Continuing Studies' news release on Kyleen Myrah's public speaking course earned editorial space in the Daily Courier and in the Capital News.

The Okanagan School of Business had good play in the Penticton Business and Lifestyle Magazine in early August with a feature article. The editor of the magazine, Dan Albas, went further and talked about Okanagan College's contribution to the region in an editorial that appeared in the same issue.

Continuing Studies' Lorrie Forde scored a media hat trick with three articles in a single edition of the Summerland Review - all appearing on one page! The stories were about a pharmacy course being launched, the College offering numerous new courses, and online registration being available for Continuing Studies.

Jane Muskens' columns in the Capital News continue to focus on the ins and outs of higher education. Her Aug. 17 column gave would-be students an understanding of how skipping out on school now to make easy money would cost them in the long run. On August 24, Jane offered insights to those who want to become teachers.

Stan Chung's column in the Okanagan Sunday of August 26 drove home the message that you're never too old to go to school.

Cathy Shultz and the Home Support/Resident Care Attendant Program earned the interest of the Vernon Morning Star on August 15.


When it comes to skinny dipping, who do you think of? If you're a fan of CBC's Daybreak show, the name that would have to come to mind is North Okanagan Regional Dean John Lent, who was given the topic and asked to prepare a poem on it as part of the show's summer poetry series, which featured all Okanagan College faculty. John's poem was a remarkable exploration of the subject. Listen to the interview with John and his poem.

Still in the English department, Matt Kavanagh saw his review of well-known author William Gibson's latest book published in the Globe and Mail on August 18.

Okanagan College's Michael Patterson - also Jamaica's Honourary Consul to the Okanagan - appeared on CBC Radio on Aug. 21 to talk about Hurricane Dean and its effects on the island nation - this after he was forced to change his holiday plans when the storm closed Jamaica's airports.

Our alumni keep showing up in the news. Proof that they are up to good things comes this time in the form of news about a company that one of our students and an alumna are forming . . .

Alumna Kelly Scott's world-championship curling rink has been nominated and is a finalist for the “2007 Sportswoman Of The Year” award by the Woman’s Sports Foundation. While she's a finalist, there's a vote going that will determine the winner - the voting ends today though! You can find out more and vote for Kelly (if you want) at the foundation's website.

Several new hires in the IT department to report . . .
Kurtis Lawson - Desktop Resource Co-ordinator
Sean Douglas -  Network Services Co-ordinator
Ben Kendel - Programmer/Analyst
Mike Kline - Desktop Technician
Joel Todd -  Desktop Technician
Perry Jones - Co-op Student (Desktop and Help Desk) 

There are lots of Okanagan College and OUC connections to be found in that group, too: Joel graduated from the CIS program, Ben is a graduate of the Bachelor of Computing Information Science Degree and Mike and Perry are enrolled in our Networks and Telecommunications program.

Still talking about connections, Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie, a BuAd '75 alum, is seeking re-election as Chief of the Band. The vote is being held today.

Business Professor Derek Cook has a new designation to add to his business card: CFP (Certified Financial Planner). That's in addition to his Global MBA from the University of Toronto, his CGA (Certified General Accountant) and his CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professional). Congratulations!

Janet Garland, who has been with Okanagan College and OUC for nearly a decade, is finished Sept. 21 and is leaving her role as Manager of Financial Information and Systems to take on a new challenge. She'll be missed and is to be congratulated for her contributions to our institution.

Okanagan College's international students added to the cultural flavour at the recent Lake Country annual community picnic (Aug. 25), which celebrated 100 years of Japanese-Canadian friendship. Click on the picture to go to a library of images from the event.

Another pending retirement is Lynda Rae, who is leaving the Penticton campus after 17 years with Okanagan College and OUC. Her last day is Sept. 28 but there's a celebration being held Sept. 19 - it's a potluck at Sharon Reems' home. There are reports that Donna Lomas is crying and in denial . . .

August 31, 2007, Vol. 1 Issue 11

Education Council is meeting Sept. 6

"What's Next . . ." is what's departed. Okanagan College is going to stop using the tagline "What's Next is What's Here" on ads and printed material - the print shop and the graphic designers have been notified and the logos with the tagline will be removed from the web library in the near future. "The tagline served us well through the launch, but with the brand well established now, it isn't necessary," explains Allan Coyle, Director of Public Affairs.

On Sale Now

In a previous edition of Inside Okanagan College we told you about Francis Greenslade's new book, By The Secret Ladder: A Mother’s Initiation. We listed places you could buy it, but failed to mention the most obvious (and the best source, in our humble opinion): Okanagan College's bookstores.

Kelowna campus parking and security update

Parking
To address some of the parking issues at the KLO campus, the following changes have been made in the parking areas of Campus Road East and the East side of the “C” building.
 
* The roadway along Campus Road East and the East side of the “C” building will now be designated Student Parking only, as marked by signage.
 
* All of Lot #4 will now be designated as staff parking only.
 
Security
To increase security on the KLO Campus yellow iron gates have been installed at either end of Campus Road West. One gate is between the cafeteria and facilities management building and the other is located at Lot 17 near the Skaha residence.  These gates will be closed nightly at 11 p.m. and will re-open again at 5 a.m.
 
Staff are requested to park in either lot #6 off Campus Road East or lot #16 along KLO Road if they attend campus after 11 p.m. or expect to remain on campus past 11 p.m. Should you find yourself inside the gates past closure, you may call security at 317-2435 to let you out.

50/50 winner announced

Congratulations to Michelle Nicholson from Business who won today's payday draw for $437.50. The Okanagan College Foundation 50/50 Staff Lottery is open to all employees of Okanagan College. If you wish to sign up for the lottery, registration forms are available from: Advancement & Alumni/Okanagan College Foundation office (P103, KLO Campus), Human Resources (Landmark V, Kelowna) or online.

Sept. 4

Fall semester begins at Okanagan College
And on that day, the schedule shapes up as:
Kelowna – Orientation Day 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Kelowna – BBQ hosted by Student Services – 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Vernon – Orientation Day 8 a.m.  – 2 p.m.
Penticton – Orientation Day 9a.m.  –  2 p.m.
Penticton – Fiesta Lunch - noon
Salmon Arm – Orientation Day 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Salmon Arm – Campus Café and BBQ – 12:40 – 2 p.m.

Sept 5

Kelowna – Courtyard entertainment – noon
Penticton – Karaoke at the Barley Mill Pub 8 p.m. – midnite

Sept 7

Kelowna – OC Services Expo – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Kelowna – First Week Fling – 4 – 8 p.m. – hosted by Athletics & Recreation and the Okanagan Aboriginal Students' Association, featuring the Goods and the Hip Replacements
Penticton – will offer bus service to Kelowna for First Week Fling if there is enough student interest – bus leaves at 3 p.m. and returns at 8 p.m.

Sept. 8

Practical Nursing students are holding a car wash, barbecue and bake sale at the Kelowna campus to support the Holding Hands for Hospice campaign, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can read about in the news release. . . .

Sept. 10

Poetry reading on the steps of the Library at the KLO campus

Sept. 11

Community Services Expo (10 a.m. - 2 p.m. KLO campus

Sept. 12

Penticton will host a Home Support Resident Care Attendant Information Session. Contact Cathy Shultz for more information.

Student Appreciation Day will take place at the Revelstoke centre with coffee for students from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Employment Expo (10:00am - 2:00pm), KLO campus

Sept. 13

BBQ & Beverage Garden – hosted by OCSU, Kelowna campus



Do you have comments, questions or a submission for INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE? Please email Public Affairs c/o Christine Ulmer.

The next edition of INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE will be issued on September 14, 2007.

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