Susan Hickman
The Academic Secretariat of the Faculty of Education interacts annually with more than 1,300 education students, who teach tens of thousands of young people across Ontario. The secretariat is, in fact, these students’ first point of contact with the University of Ottawa and remains in touch with them until they receive their diplomas.
This year, the secretariat’s work is being recognized through a nomination for the President’s Award for Service Excellence team award. Created last year, the President’s Awards for Service Excellence honour the contributions and accomplishments of one individual and one team for their outstanding client service.
The Education faculty’s secretariat manages the students’ files, keeps the faculty’s programs functioning smoothly and, according to Timothy Stanley, vice-dean of academic programs, “shapes the impression of the University of Ottawa for students and, indirectly, for many thousands of others.”
The secretariat not only helps process 6,500 undergraduate education applicants, but also arranges for the evaluation of their statements of experience and for language competency exams. It ensures students have had police records checked before engaging in practicums and that graduates meet the criteria of the Ontario College of Teachers.
In addition, it processes more than 2,000 candidacies annually at the graduate and professional development level.
Stanley praises the secretariat’s innovative management of applications “that allowed us to significantly improve our turnaround time for handling files, even as the number of files increases.”
Lorna McLean, director of graduate studies, anglophone sector, is impressed with the “depth of knowledge and sincere commitment” of the members of the secretariat, with whom she meets on a weekly basis, while director of teacher education Ruth Kane notes that academic administrator Joanne Chartrand is “a strong and positive advocate for her team.”
Meanwhile, the staff in the practicum office “work under enormous pressure to secure placements in an increasingly competitive environment,” worthy of commendation “for their commitment and professionalism in their interactions with students, school boards and teachers,” says Kane, who also commends the Infodesk staff for their “welcoming smiles and readiness to respond.”
Speaking on behalf of the nomination, faculty director Claire Maltais says the Faculty of Education’s Academic Secretariat is “formidable,” and its staff members “professional” and “dynamic.”
Members of the Academic Secretariat:
Joanne Chartrand, Madeleine Fortier, Denise Raymond, Johanne Leblanc, Benoit Parenteau, Marie Beaulieu, Reine-Marie Tremblay, Constant Bernard, Nicole Lanthier, Anick Larose, Carmella Wilson, Valerie Laframboise, Isabelle Juteau, Kristen Rading, Cosimo Cinanni, Margaret Dempsey, Carole Lalonde,Tara Taylor, Roger Gauthier, Michelle Birdjandi
