New Secretariat Structure

On April 1, 1999, the ACCC secretariat adopted a new structure to better serve the Association’s members and carry out its mandate of advocacy, forum, marketing and partnerships.

Under the previous structure, the secretariat was divided into two areas: the International Services Bureau and the National Services Bureau. The new structure is based on areas of responsibility rather than geographical location, and organizes secretariat personnel into three interactive divisions: Member Services and Public Policy; Marketing and Development; and, Partnership Programs. The Corporate Services department and the Office of the President provide financial management and direction to these divisions.

Headed by Terry-Anne Boyles, Vice-President, the Member Services and Public Policy Division has the primary responsibility for Association-wide advocacy, public policy, representation, forum and information services. The Division includes the Information Services Unit (responsible for publications, documentation centre, communications, media and public relations and the college contacts network) and the Conference Services Unit.

The Marketing and Development Division is headed by Nejat Gorica, Vice-President, and is responsible for marketing of college and institute capacities nationally and internationally as well as developing new partnership opportunities for the ACCC membership. Once programs and partnerships are secured, they are transferred to the Partnership Programs Division for implementation and management.

Led by Vice-President Jean-Robert Vaillancourt, the Partnerships Programs Division is responsible for all international and domestic implementation of programs and contracts. The four teams within the Division ensure that effective, efficient and collaborative relationships are maintained with member institutions, partners and funders. Programs such as the Canadian College Partnership Program (CCPP), Partnership for Tomorrow Program (PTP) and the Industry Canada Student Connection Program, along with international development programs throughout the world, are managed by the Partnership Programs Division.

Financial, administrative and human resources management for the secretariat fall under the Corporate Services Unit, led by Director Ramon Lashley. The ISO policies and procedures governing the operations of the secretariat are also monitored by the Corporate Services Unit. The Office of the President is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the secretariat and serves as the link to the Association’s Board of Directors.

New Chair of the ACCC Board of Directors for 1999-2000

Jean-Denis Asselin, Director General of Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, was elected as Chair of the ACCC Board of Directors for 1999-2000. Mr. Asselin replaces Mr. Leslie O’Reilly, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Institute in Newfoundland, who served as Chair from 1997-1999.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Montréal and a Masters in Administration from the University of Sherbrooke, Mr. Asselin began his career in education as Professor of Administrative Techniques at Cégep de Jonquière, where he paved the way for individualized learning. In 1980, he became Advisor of Adult Education and Business Services at Cégep Lionel-Groulx in Sainte-Thérèse and was promoted to Coordinator a few years later. Mr. Asselin contributed to the launch of the Québec Institute of Computer Science, one of the first college technology transfer centres ever created.

Mr. Asselin became involved with ACCC in 1992 as Director, Member Services. During his tenure, Mr. Asselin contributed to the development of several national projects. He became Director General of Cégep de Saint-Jérôme in 1994, and has continued to participate in ACCC activities as a member of several committees. Notably, Mr. Asselin was a member of the working group which led to the creation of a fund by the Canada Foundation for Innovation aimed at colleges and technical institutes.

New Board Members

The following new members of the ACCC Board of Directors were elected during the First World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics: Jennifer Brause, Red Deer College; Jacques Désilets, Cégep de Sainte-Foy; Pat French, NorQuest College; Vincent Guay, Cégep François-Xavier-Garneau; Paddy Joe Hudson, New Brunswick Community College - Miramichi; Michael Kelly, Nova Scotia Community College - Marconi Campus; Lori Lalonde, University College of the Cariboo; Doug MacRae, Keyano College; and, Erika Wintersinger, St. Lawrence College - Kingston Campus.

NELI ‘99

The second National Executive Leadership Institute (NELI) was held July 16-22, 1999 at the Lady Eaton Estate of Seneca College in Toronto. NELI was created in 1997 by the College Presidents’ Network to respond to the ongoing need for professional development for college presidents and to encourage current administrators to consider a presidency in their future careers. This summer’s Institute was a great success and learning experience for the 15 participants. The third NELI is scheduled for July, 2001.

First World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics

ACCC, and host colleges Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Champlain Regional College, Collège François-Xavier-Garneau and Collège de Limoilou, successfully hosted the First World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics in Quebec City from May 30-June 2, 1999. Opened by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Congress included network sessions, workshops, keynote addresses and expert panels. Over 2,000 participants from more than 70 countries came together to learn from each other and discuss relevant issues. Recommendations dealing with accessibility, finance, partnership and human resource development were drafted by the participants. The Congress also saw the establishment of an Interim Steering Committee, tasked with developing a World Council of Colleges and Polytechnics and organizing future world congresses. The text of selected keynote speeches as well as the congress recommendations are available on the ACCC website at: worldcongress.accc.ca.

ACCC Awards Video

ACCC gratefully acknowledges the contribution of Michel Barrette, Coordinator of the Broadcasting Television Department at Algonquin College, to the 1999 ACCC Awards Program. Mr. Barrette, assisted by student Sean Rombough, produced the video depicting the achievements of this year’s awards winners. Shown at the Closing Banquet of the First World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics, the video was very well received by those in attendance.

Pan-Canadian Protocol for the Transferability of Learning

The ACCC Transferability and Mobility Task Group was formed in June, 1997 to examine the issues surrounding the transferability of learning. In the spring of 1999, the Task Group unveiled the Pan-Canadian Protocol for the Transferability of Learning which has since been endorsed by over 50 ACCC member institutions. Signatories agree to maximize the recognition and transfer of learning acquired through formal education, workplace training and work and life experience. Greater mobility and accessibility gives students the ability to move easily from work to school and vice versa, increases college participation and creates a more active, knowledgeable and skilled work force. For more information on the Protocol, please contact Michèle Clarke, Manager of Human Resources and Administration at tel.: (613) 746-2222 ext. 3150, fax: (613) 746-6721 or e-mail: mclarke@accc.ca.

New ACCC Members Information Hotline

On October 18, ACCC launched a new telephone hotline designed to respond to membership requests for information. Members simply call (613) 746-5656.

Public Policy Update

The Association appeared before the House of Commons Finance Committee on November 18, 1999 as part of the consultation process for the 2000 federal budget. The supporting Brief focussed on the government’s need to increase transfer payments in support of post-secondary education; establish a fund for applied research, product and process development in colleges; create a national educational technology professional development program for college and institute staff; and, support the creation of an international learning strategy for Canada.

In May, 1999, ACCC appeared before the Federal Standing Committee on Finance studying the issue of productivity. The Association focussed on the need for investment in life-long learning as a national project, with expanded access to learning and training. ACCC also called for the government to respond to the innovation needs of small- and medium-sized enterprises by creating a funding program to enhance the development of the applied research and product development capacity at Canada’s colleges and institutes.

With post-secondary education and transfer payments on the agenda of the 40th Annual Premiers’ Conference, held August 9-11, 1999, the Association sent an advance Brief to all provincial and territorial premiers and ministers of education. The Association urged that significant priority be placed on the restoration of the funds removed from the support of post-secondary education within the Canadian Health and Social Transfer payments and to work with the federal government to increase future support for post-secondary education. The Brief also outlined the preliminary findings of the student debt task group, which found that vast numbers of middle income families who are either ineligible for government loans or do not have the necessary non-encumbered collateral for bank loans, are selling or re-mortgaging homes, cashing in Registered Retirement Savings Plans or using credit cards to finance their own, or their children’s education. This last point received media attention, with Gerald Brown, President of the Association, quoted in both print and radio reports.

The text of each of these Briefs can be found on the ACCC web site at www.accc.ca. For further information regarding ACCC’s advocacy efforts, please contact Terry Anne Boyles, Vice-President, Member Services and Public Policy at tel.: (613) 746-2222 ext. 3144, fax: (613) 746-6721 or e-mail: taboyles@accc.ca.

Research Symposium

The Second College and Institute Research Symposium was held November 30 in Ottawa, immediately prior to the Innovation Canada: Alliances for the New Millennium Conference. The Symposium was designed to: enhance the roles and competencies of ACCC member institutions in basic and applied research, product development and technology diffusion; increase access to funding sources; and, maximize college and institute participation in the Innovation Canada event. The agenda included a keynote presentation by the President and Vice-President of the Canada Foundation for Innovation research fund, presentations on why research is important to institutions and a showcase of college and institute research initiatives. For more information, contact Terry Anne Boyles, Vice-President, Member Services and Public Policy at tel.: (613) 746-2222 ext. 3144, fax: (613) 746-6721 or e-mail: taboyles@accc.ca.

VIIIth Francophonie Summit

Delegations from the 50 member countries of La Francophonie came together September 1-5, 1999 in Moncton and Dieppe, New Brunswick to exchange views on youth, the global economy and new technologies. In the final declaration of the Summit, the heads of state affirmed that, "[They] will ensure that young people have access to proper training, vocational and technical training in particular, and are able to find a job, express their creativity, live in freedom and security, and grow and develop in their own cultures, at the same time opening their minds to others." The recommendations presented are available on the web at: www.sommet99.org/english/medias.cfm.

The New Brunswick Community Colleges Network was a co-organizer of this prestigious event. The Association also participated in the summit, with booths at the Vocational and Technical Training Showcase and at the Francophonie Village. ACCC made three presentations, one during the official opening of the Showcase, one at a round table discussion concerning the youth recommendations and one at a virtual symposium organized by Collège Boréal. For more information, contact Paul Brennan, Manager, Constituency and External Relations at tel.: (613) 746-2222 ext. 3132, fax: (613) 746-6721 or e-mail: pbrennan@accc.ca.

New Electronic Network Groups

As a result of recommendations from the network sessions at the First World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics, where a number of affinity groups requested an electronic forum to support and continue their discussions, ACCC has created several electronic network groups. Those interested may subscribe at the appropriate web address.

The Senior Institutional Administrators Network Group can visit www.accc.ca/english/forum/networks/menu.asp?List=senioradmin;

Students Network Group can access www.accc.ca/english/forum/networks/menu.asp?List=learner;

Deans and Directors of Nursing and Health Services Programs may subscribe at www.accc.ca/english/forum/networks/menu.asp?List=hs-si;

and the discussion group for Deans and Directors of Student Services is located at www.accc.ca/english/forum/networks/menu.asp?List=st-services.

College Presidents’ Network Update

The College Presidents’ Network (CPN) Annual General Meeting was held in May, 1999 as part of the Association’s annual conference, which took place in Quebec City. A new CPN Executive was established which represents the various regions of Canada and is composed of the following members:

President:  Rob Turner, Olds College, Alberta
Vice-President:  Tim McTiernan, Canadore College, Ontario
Secretary:  Berry Calder, College of the Rockies, British Columbia
Treasurer:  Jackie Thachuk, Red River College, Manitoba
Members-at-Large: Ray Ivany, Nova Scotia Community College, Nova Scotia; Claude Chénier, Heritage College, Quebec
Past President:  John Cruickshank, formerly of Vancouver Community College, BC
Ex-Officio:  Brian Desbiens, Sir Sandford Fleming College, Ontario; Gerry Brown, ACCC

In addition to addressing the issues facing the presidency during the first Executive meeting in October, 1999 in Toronto, the CPN began work on a number of future events such as:

Two Energy Efficiency Student Competitions

The ACCC Energy Efficiency Program is pleased to announce a competition aimed at journalism, advertising and marketing students enrolled in a college or institute. To win a $1,000 prize, the student must develop a marketing strategy for promoting energy efficiency to students, staff and faculty in Canadian colleges and institutes. The strategy should include the usual elements contained in a marketing strategy, as well as tools and messages for each of the target audiences. Specific questions to be addressed include the following: Why is energy efficiency important to colleges and institutes? What are the barriers to implementing energy efficiency in colleges and institutes? What are the means to eliminating those barriers? The strategy will become one of the tools used by ACCC in promoting the energy efficiency program in the year 2000.

An Energy Efficiency design competition is also being held and is open to arts and design students, as well as other interested students, enrolled in a college or institute. The objective of the contest is to design an attractive sticker, with wide appeal, that promotes energy efficiency and can be used in the workplace and home, on computer equipment, faxes, printers, lights switches and home appliances etc. The sticker can be designed using recycled materials. Innovative designs other than a sticker will also be considered. Two winners will be selected for a cash prize of $500 each. The winning designs will become key promotional materials for the program, and the artist(s) will be footnoted on all future publications.

The selection committee for each competition will comprise experts in the field of journalism as well as representatives from ACCC, Natural Resources Canada and the Energy Efficiency Steering Committee. Please forward your entry no later than January 31, 2000 to: Gail Mulhall, Senior Program Officer/Coordinator, ACCC Energy Efficiency Program, 1223 Michael Street North, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario K1J 7T2. Tel.: (613) 746-5916, fax: (613) 746-6174 or email: gmulhall@accc.ca.

Sandrine’s Gift

In May, 1999, an eleven-year old girl, Sandrine Craig, was tragically killed in a school bus accident in Eastern Ontario. Her mother and teenage brother decided to donate Sandrine’s organs to six recipients. The wave of response to the accident and the death of Sandrine (over 90,000 organ donor cards were distributed in a three-week period) led to the creation of the national Sandrine’s Gift of Life Organ Donation Awareness Campaign. The co-Chairs of the campaign are broadcaster Don Cherry, the Honourable Gilbert Parent, Speaker of the House of Commons and Diane Craig, Sandrine’s mother.