Leading the Way
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Cacuss-Qrtrs.jpg” caption=”Conference delegates from three different groups attended receptions at Quarters Restaurant on Sunday evening, which provided an opportunity for colleagues to ‘meet and greet’. Photo credit: Andrew Ho”]If you're wondering why there seem to be so many folks walking around with name badges on lanyards this week, you might like to know a bit more about the dedicated student services professionals who have traveled across our grand country to converge, share and celebrate at McMaster.
Our beautiful campus will play host to an abundance of activities over the next few days as it welcomes over 550 delegates from 110 colleges and universities across Canada to the 2006 CACUSS: Leading the Way conference. In collaboration with Mohawk College, McMaster's planning committee of over 30 core members worked with almost 100 volunteers to bring this annual Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) event to fruition.
The conference theme, “Leading the Way”, was designed to celebrate the work that student service professionals in Canada have done to pave the path of success for our students. The theme not only expresses McMaster's proud tradition of innovation and excellence, it also challenges the post-secondary community to demonstrate compassion, accountability and to continue 'leading the way'. Sixteen McMaster experts are presenting at the conference.
Early Monday morning, McMaster President Peter George greeted an enthusiastic audience at the opening session with an assertion that it is of critical importance that students have access to the excellence in student services. “During my 11 years as McMaster's President, I have had the privileged opportunity of engaging our country's future leaders every day, and that experience has only strengthened my belief that the twenty-first century will be the 'century of students.' It is a time where students are active participants in the learning and research missions of our institutions – where students help define, discover, and translate knowledge.
“You are the people of first contact,” said George. “The people who facilitate and inspire an enormous amount of what is now essential to university and college learning.”
With keynote speakers such as McMaster graduate Dr. Richard Heinzl, the founder of Doctor's without Borders and son of McMaster's former dean of students, Rudy Heinzl, Sheila Copps, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Paul Huschilt, a professional storyteller who will focus on “Seven Humour Habits for Workplace Wellness”, the week promises to be rich in diverse topics.
Conference chair, McMaster's associate vice-president, Student Affairs and dean of students, Phil Wood believes the role of the student affairs professional is changing. “Previously student services primarily focused on providing support to students,” says Wood. “However, now we feel our business is actually student development. Students come to University for more than a degree and we want to support the whole student in terms of life success skills.”
Life success skills could include intellectual, physical, personal and mental development derived from participation in a whole range of activities, groups and services available on campuses today. Wood wants to see students graduate with a sense of accomplishment, confidence and an attitude of community contribution.
“Student engagement is the key,” says Wood. “And we are here to help facilitate that.”
So, if you find a few people with name badges wandering around campus looking a little lost, you may want to demonstrate some McMaster hospitality and offer a helping hand. After all, that is at the heart of student services.
