Connecting Pathways: A Cross Division Collaboration Among
Academic and Student Affairs
Tracey Rollins, Student Development Christine Lee, Alumni Relations
Sheila Ashwell, Arts Co-op ProgramIrene Chan, Career Services
University of British Columbia
• 43,000 students (36,000 UG)
• mostly commuter population
• average commute time 40 – 60 min. each way – longest commute time in Canada
• 12 faculties (colleges)
• Highly decentralized units
Faculty of ArtsCollege of humanities, social sciences,
and creative/performing arts
• Over 35 programs and departments
• 12,000 undergraduate students
• Students enter into Faculty of Arts and select their major in year 2 or 3
Institutional SilosKeeling study
**Keeling, R.P., Underhile, E. & Wall, A. F. Horizontal and Vertical Structures: The Dynamics of Organization in Higher Education. Liberal Education, 93(4): 24.
Centre for Arts Student Services
What is CASS
Leadership Team
Role of Assistant Dean
Career Services
Student Devlpmt
Arts Advising
Arts Coop
Educ Prg
Arts Alumni
Arts CSL
Communications
VP Students
VP Academic
VP Devlp & Alumni
VP Ext & Community
Relations
Faculty of Arts
Relevance to Students
• Targeted programming for complete student experience
• CASS email alerts for timely updates on events, programs, and deadlines
• Website acts as a portal for students to all necessary resources
• http://www.arts.ubc.ca/students/
Benefits
• Knowledge sharing between units
• Collaboration and resource sharing
• Funding support
• Sense of belonging to a larger purpose
Benefits• Strategic Leadership
• Representation at Deans Table for “central units”
• Cross promotion of events & programs
• Communications to students
Collaborations
• Arts Career Expo
• Internship Program
• Student Leadership & Training
Barriers and Challenges
• Risk of getting lost in larger umbrella of services• Control• Autonomy• Individuality• Ownership
• Time Commitment – collaboration takes longer
• Communication funnel with Academic Departments
• No physical space
Key Messages
• Increased Student Opportunities
• Visibility • Collaboration • Strategic goals • Department
Outreach
Message from Assistant Dean Students, Arts
Message from Assistant Dean Students, Arts
• “I think the entire concept of CASS is designed to bring together all the units which have something to do with Advising, SD, Career Services, Alumni Relations and a variety of other units.”
• “The key theme is integration. We want all these units to be as integrated as possible to work together so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
How to StartDiscussion:
• Consider a new relationship you would like to cultivate when you return to your institution
• Consider an informal relationship you currently have and how you could move it into a formal one