From Laurel’s Desk – December 2019 | Academic Newsletter | Seneca Polytechnic

in the December 2019 issue

As the fall semester draws to a close, I’d like to share a few thoughts about the importance of reflection and how it relates to program quality. Over the past month, I have been meeting with program review teams to discuss their summative program reviews. Summative reviews are completed every five to seven years and involve a great deal of time and effort on the part of faculty, administrators, and our Program Quality unit. It’s important to me that these reviews are meaningful and hold value for those who are charged with implementing the recommendation action plan: the chair and faculty. Without exception, faculty were excited to discuss their program and to share their plans. They expressed appreciation for the process and the support received, and for the opportunity to reflect on the program as a whole, to consider the perspectives of students, industry, and administration, and how the program fits within their school, faculty, and Seneca. We had robust discussion and exchanged ideas. I learned more about our programs and the aspirations faculty hold for their students. Many reports identified the trends in the industry or sector and the steps we will need to ensure the program remains relevant, particularly during these times of intense competition in the sector. Others identified areas for improvement in how we work with other departments, recognizing that everyone has an important role to play in the work we do to transform lives. Without exception, the reports indicated a high level of engagement which was validated during our in-person meetings.

I enjoy reading the reports. I look forward to the meetings (yes, all of them) each year. They are important. Students come to Seneca for our programs. The time we take to analyze program data, reflect on where we are, and consider where we need to be is not only time well spent, it is essential to the health of our programs and the quality of our students’ experience and graduate outcomes. We are doing incredible work. Yes, there is always room for improvement, but there is much to celebrate.

I wish you all the best for the holiday break. I hope you take time to relax, recharge and reflect on your important role and work and the impact it has on so many lives.

Thank you,

Laurel

P.S.: The Academic Newsletter has a new look.

I’d like to thank Editor Ashley Ribbel for her hard work on making it easier to navigate. Ashley has created the website that allows you to view full issues of the Academic Newsletter and browse individual articles by category. The About the Academic Newsletter page provides information on the purpose, submission guidelines, and deadlines.

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View the December 2019 issue of the Academic Newsletter.