By Mike Foster
What are we doing here? It’s not such a heavy existential question.
University of Ottawa staff are pretty woke to the higher purpose beyond their paycheques: Help support students so that they can receive their degrees, achieve their lifelong dreams and make the world a better place.
The University’s Student Academic Success and Teaching and Learning Support services are conducting a root-and-branch rethink of what student success and teaching excellence look like. The goal: To build a consensus vision that the University community can rally behind.
Students and professors have shared their views on what should be included in a new Framework on Academic Success and Teaching Excellence. Now it’s the turn of support staff to have their say on the factors leading to student success and teaching excellence by completing a five-question survey.
“A high percentage of support staff on campus play an important role in regards to student success,” says Sylvie Tremblay, SASS director. “Having a deep understanding of why we’re here helps bring purpose to the work that we do.”
Although some staff may have a more direct role in ensuring that students persevere in their studies and get a degree, Tremblay says all support staff should have their say.
“Many speak to students on a regular basis and hear about their concerns. We want this vision to come from the grassroots.”
Tremblay says the exercise aims to amass evidence on the factors that encourage academic perseverance and student retention.
Aline Germain-Rutherford, associate vice-president, teaching and learning, says it is equally important to hear staff experiences of supporting TAs and faculty members in achieving teaching excellence.
The TLSS is working hand-in-hand with SASS to build this framework because teaching excellence and student academic success are inextricably linked, says Germain-Rutherford.
“Studies have shown that teaching quality and courses that are well-designed and run smoothly are the biggest indicators of student satisfaction,” says Germain-Rutherford. “We want to nurture an environment where faculty feel that teaching excellence is valued and a goal.”
The University’s Leadership, Learning and Organizational Development Office at the Human Resources Service is a key partner in the project. It is developing, implementing and managing the data collection exercise.
Aline Germain-Rutherford, associate vice-president, teaching and learning, and Sylvie Tremblay, SASS director, want staff to answer a five-question survey. Photo: Mike Foster.