Today was my 19th and last time that I attended "Niagara Day" at Niagara College. This day is always organized in late August to start the new academic year and originally it was called the "Welcome Back Day". Increasingly many of us (especially in the international department) worked all throughout the summer months with special summer ESL groups, and we suggested a name change. "Niagara Day" is always a fun half day kicked off by college President Dan Patterson:
His message was positive but always with a few cautions of challenges on the road. Colleges in Ontario went from 70 % to now 40 % funding from the provincial government and that will probably become even less. Students therefore pay higher tuition fees and for NC the almost 25 % of overall revenues through international student tuition fees and special international contracts has become a very important part of the financial health of the organization. I am very proud to leave such a well run team at Niagara International behind now that I will focus soon on my new job at Seneca.
The morning has a variety of award ceremonies for health & safety, best support staff, best professor and best administrator of the year. Updates are given on the sustainability plan of the college (the "greening" of the college's operation with respect to reducing electricity and water use, reducing the carbon footprint and slowly but surely becoming close to "paperless"). This is followed by a speaker and this time it was all about "work & life balance".
A very dynamic presentation with good food for thought about the pillars of exercise, nutrition, stress management and enough quality sleep. She was thanked by the President of the SAC (Student Administrative Council) who this year is an international student from Jamaica.
I still have to pinch myself that this is almost it after 19 years at Niagara College. One more week here and then a two week work trip to Brazil, and then it will be September 22 and my Seneca work adventure starts. I am ready....
