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Brian G.

Tamblyn
Volume 11 Issue 5 December 21, 2009

A great deal has occurred (and has been reported elsewhere) since my last newsletter in October, so this
edition will touch on selected events only.

At the outset, I must sadly acknowledge the November 16 passing of Georgian’s greatest ambassador, Arch
Brown. Arch was last at Georgian in early July when Premier Dalton McGuinty was here to announce capital
funding of instructional equipment for the college system. I took great pleasure in introducing Arch to the
Premier, and explaining that Arch was an Order of Ontario and Order of Canada recipient. Premier McGuinty
thanked Arch for his contributions to the province of Ontario and, specifically, to Georgian College.

There are many things I could say about Arch’s 42 years of involvement with Georgian, but much has already
been written in College publications and elsewhere. Suffice it to say that Arch greatly valued post-secondary
education, that Georgian was one of his greatest passions, and that he loved our students and staff. He was
certainly one of the first community leaders to recognize the powerful impact on our society of post-secondary
education, employers and communities working together for the greater good. Few people realize that Arch
intentionally set a standard for volunteerism and philanthropy at Georgian, hoping that others would follow
his lead (which they have).

Arch’s wife Helen was with him every step of the way in terms of advancing Georgian’s profile and growth. Our
collective condolences go out to Helen and her daughter, Jane, as they adapt to Arch’s absence. We, in time, will
adapt in our own way, but I take comfort in knowing that Arch and Helen’s legacy will live on at Georgian for
many, many years to come. I was pleased that the Brown family asked if the service to celebrate Arch’s life could
be held at Georgian. I was extremely proud of how staff reacted quickly and professionally as we hosted a large
community crowd in the gym, with a service that was both profound and at times humorous – so appropriately
fitting for Arch. Special thanks go to Patty Bradley, Mick Kingston, Hank Thibideau, Michele McConney, Ron
Howden, Bob Carter and the many other volunteers who made the service so memorable for everyone in
attendance.

It seems as though major events have become a rite of fall over the past few years at Georgian. Since the end
of August, Georgian hosted the grand opening of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, the 24th annual
Georgian College Auto Show and, most recently, the official groundbreaking for the new Centre for Health and
Wellness which recently began construction.

We naively thought that this would be the end of special events for a while, but we then received an unexpected
call from the Office of the Premier requesting that we hold a media event at the Barrie Campus on November
16. As most of you are aware, Premier McGuinty – along with the Honourable Deb Mathews, Minister of Health
and Long-term Care, and the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture and Barrie MPP – visited the Barrie
Campus to announce approval of a new Nurse Practioner-led clinic. The Barrie Campus clinic is one of 25 that
will open across the province over the next three years. The clinics are part of the government’s plan to expand
access to health care for all Ontarians.

Nurse Practitioners are able to treat common illnesses and injuries, and order lab tests, X-rays and other
diagnostic tests. They can also refer patients to specialists. In our clinic, they will work with doctors, nurses and
continued over...

Office of the President Georgian College One Georgian Drive Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 Tel: (705) 728-1968 ext. 1248 Fax: (705) 722-1559 E-mail: btamblyn@georgianc.on.ca
other health care providers. Nurse Practitioner-led clinics also help patients navigate the health care system
and connect them, if needed, with other service providers and community-based programs and services.

We are honoured that the Georgian clinic was the first to be announced in this round. Georgian’s Nurse
Practitioner-led clinic would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of staff who played an essential
role in our application. I want to acknowledge and thank Judith Bergen, Julie Pope, Kelly Duggan, Liz Erwin,
Chris Gunnell, Betty Rainey, Cheryl Simpson, Michele Beaudoin and Cassandra Thompson for their work on
this initiative. Also, appreciation must be extended to Kathryn Peet for her research and proposal-writing skills,
and to Elizabeth Beamish for networking with our community partners to obtain letters of support. The clinic
will be one of the main pillars of our new Centre for Health and Wellness, offering health services to students,
staff and the community. The event marked the second time in five months that the Premier has visited Georgian
to make an important announcement. This speaks to the very high regard in which he holds our College and
the efforts we have made, and continue to make, to reach out to our communities.

The common denominator among all the noteworthy events this fall was the excitement and enthusiasm
evident among the hundreds of VIPs, community leaders and guests who attended. Georgian’s growth and
success has come as welcome news against the backdrop of a global recession that has been devastating for
many industries and sectors in this country. The reality is, however, that Georgian, like a growing number of
colleges and universities, is not without its own financial challenges. Nonetheless, it is reassuring to know that
our communities place a high value on Georgian as an engine of economic and social change, and that they
appreciate that a knowledgeable and skilled workforce is our province’s best bet to achieve sustained economic
growth.

Georgian’s importance to its communities is further borne out in an economic impact study completed last
month for the Orillia Campus, coinciding with its 40th anniversary. The independent study, conducted by Prof.
Chris Sarlo of Nipissing University, conservatively considered key variables, including student, staff and College
spending in Orillia and environs. His research concluded that the Orillia Campus contributes approximately
$22 million a year to the area economy, based on the 2008/09 fiscal year. This statistic reaffirms what we have
known for some time, that Georgian is a major economic force in Orillia and North Simcoe, where the
manufacturing sector has been hard hit in recent years.

In April, Georgian’s Board of Governors approved a budget with a deficit of approximately $4.7 million for the
2009/10 fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010). With year-end funding received in 2008/09, Georgian has an
adequate reserve to cover a deficit of this size. However, it is always the hope of the Board to avoid increasing
the deficit and to find ways to reduce it. The College has been able to reduce or eliminate approved deficits in
the past several years, largely due to the provincial government’s year-end support related to Georgian’s rapidly
growing enrolment. The concern now is that with the government facing a record-level deficit for this year, the
province may not be able to repeat the flow of year-end funds to the college system, leaving Georgian and many
other colleges with year-end operating deficits.

Unfortunately, the financial health of the province is not expected to improve significantly in the fiscal year
2010/11. As the province’s financial health suffers, so does the entire college system. This is exceptionally
problematic during an economic slowdown, when a tight job market and the need for retraining pushes more
individuals to enhance their employability by seeking a college education. We accordingly witness a record
level of enrolment growth, matched by the government’s difficulty in funding this growth. Aside from its
enrolment growth, Georgian’s operating expenses continue to increase each year. Rising costs for such items
as salaries, benefits and pensions, and heat and hydro, add several million dollars to our operating expenses
each year. The preliminary direction from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, is for colleges to
anticipate a 0% increase in grant funding for next year, but Colleges Ontario and Georgian are pushing hard
for funding to cover, at least, the system’s enrolment growth.

The concern around funding uncertainty is magnified when we see the growing number of students expressing
interest in Georgian’s programs. The November 1 full-time enrolment audit count has been released, and total

Office of the President Georgian College One Georgian Drive Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 Tel: (705) 728-1968 ext. 1248 Fax: (705) 722-1559 E-mail: btamblyn@georgianc.on.ca
domestic enrolment for all College campuses is 8,560, an increase of 12.68% from the November 1, 2008, total
of 7,597. The increase in enrolment for Laurentian at Georgian is 5.95%, with a total enrolment of 872 full-time
students. The outlook for winter registrations is every bit as dramatic, as enrolment for January intake programs
continues to rise. Compared to last year at this time, paid confirmations are up to 1,015 students, a 57% increase
over last year. As a result, we can expect record numbers of new students at our campuses this winter, as we
help many mature students, in particular, find new careers and educational pathways.

These statistics do not include international numbers, but I am pleased to report that International Education
and Training is having a very successful year. Total international enrolment is 489 when combining post-
secondary, post-graduate, English for Academic Purposes, and transfers from the Canadian Institute for
International Studies in India. Students from 38 different countries including Vatican City, Madagascar and El
Salvador are currently represented at Georgian. Recruitment staff have been on the road since September,
actively attending education fairs, meeting with agents of the College around the world, and recruiting students
for 2010. Over the past few months, the International Centre has hosted several groups of high school students
from Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico as part of a study tour exchange program. The students attended English
classes and participated in various activities across the province designed to introduce them to life in Canada
and the Canadian education system. All students involved had positive experiences and hope to study at
Georgian one day. The International Centre is also involved in several offshore projects, with others being
explored in India, China and Malaysia.

Finally, on the topic of enrolment, if the turnout at campus Open House events is any indication, all signs point
to another successful fall next year. The Open House events were held at the Barrie, Orillia, Owen Sound and
Midland campuses on November 14. More than 1,800 guests participated in the Barrie event to learn more
about their programs of interest from faculty, co-ordinators, deans, alumni and current students. Guests travelled
from Cobourg, Wiarton, Parry Sound, Burlington, Belleville, North Bay, Dundas and St. Thomas. Based on
numbers tracked by program areas, it is estimated that nearly 250 people attended the Open House in Owen
Sound – more than double the turnout at the 2008 event. Power Engineering, a program that starts next fall,
had more than 100 visitors alone. Guests were also given a tour of the $8.5-million marine training centre. More
than 400 visitors attended the Orillia Open House, compared to 302 last year. Families travelled from as far
away as Windsor to the southwest, and Kirkland Lake to the north. The Midland Campus estimates that
approximately 100 people attended its event, including visitors from Windsor, Kingston and North Bay. Typical
of all of our Open House events, many in attendance commented on the friendliness, knowledge and helpfulness
of our staff. Congratulations go to all staff, students and volunteers who assisted at each of the Open House
events. The combined estimated attendance of 2,600 people (or more) was another milestone for Georgian.

On the provincial academic bargaining front, discussions by both bargaining teams on December 14 and 15
did not result in a new agreement. At this point, a provincial strike vote by OPSEU is scheduled for January 13.
The College community will be kept abreast of the results of this critical vote. I know that everyone in the
Ontario college system is hoping for a negotiated settlement.

As I announced in a voice mail broadcast to campuses last month, the Program Quality Assurance Process
Audit review at the Barrie and Orillia campuses from October 19 to 21 was an unqualified success. The provincial
Audit Review Team interviewed curriculum coaches, members of Academic Council, the Academic Leadership
Team, students, faculty, librarians, co-op and field placement staff, deans and associate deans, and Program
Advisory Committee members from the Business and Child and Youth Worker programs. At the debriefing
session, Audit Review Team members were very supportive of the quality assurance processes in place at
Georgian College. They commended us for our well-written self-study, our consistent commitment to quality
programs, our investment in the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the dedication of our curriculum coaches,
our exceptional partnerships with industry and employers and our commitment to co-operative education
and to general education. They also praised our collaborative approach to student and labour relations and
the senior management team for its visible support. Special thanks go to Janice Priest and her team of Bob
MacMillan, Monique Vaillancourt, Alan McGee and Marie-Nöelle Bonicalzi of the Business area, and Kathleen
Cameron, Karen MacDonald and Mary O’Farrell-Bowers of the Child and Youth Worker program, along with

Office of the President Georgian College One Georgian Drive Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 Tel: (705) 728-1968 ext. 1248 Fax: (705) 722-1559 E-mail: btamblyn@georgianc.on.ca
the faculty, students and staff of those programs for their extra work with the audit team during a busy time
of the semester. While these two programs were the ones sampled by the Audit Review Team, all program areas
in the College were ready. This reflects the real goal of such an audit. I anticipate receiving the final report any
day now, and Janice Priest will respond on behalf of the College to the Quality Assurance Services Management
Board with a report on any actions taken as a result of the audit. I will comment further on the audit in my next
newsletter.

Georgian hosted a “Before Graduation” event October 28 at the Barrie Campus. The event attracted 220 Grade
11 students from Simcoe County and Muskoka. The objective of the event was to help students make career
path decisions before they graduate. Workshops with Georgian graduates, a campus tour, an employer panel
and apprenticeship information were available. According to Michelle Rao, Manager, School-College Partnerships,
the Before Graduation program garnered a very impressive 98% approval rating. Knowing that prior exposure
to the College has a significant influence on a prospective student’s choice of post-secondary institution, I was
particularly pleased to learn that 73% of the participants said they had been to Georgian previously.
Congratulations to Michelle, the Campus Connections staff who arranged the campus tours, and to a number
of other staff, graduates and guests who lent support. The mentoring of secondary school students, either
before or after secondary school graduation, is vitally important in helping them make informed post-secondary
decisions geared to their personal interests and success.

Focusing on individual student success is, in my opinion, Georgian’s greatest strength. This, of course, is achieved
only through our incredibly talented and caring staff (when I say “staff,” I refer to faculty, support staff and
administrative staff) who all play important roles in serving our students, employers and communities. In the
course of my travels, I speak with many students, and this recurring theme of interest in them as individuals
is mentioned time and time again. I recently received a message from an Engineering Technology student who
did a research paper on the “dynamic” partnership of Hydro One and Georgian College. In her own words: “I
am looking forward to the day that I graduate from Georgian College in a solid state of job readiness . . . the
teachers really do want you to succeed and I know that they have a genuine interest in every student’s success.”
I can’t say it any better – this focus on the individual learner is what makes Georgian special.

Someone who is incredibly learner-centred is Bruce Meyer, from the English department of Laurentian@Georgian,
Barrie Campus. Bruce teaches university and college courses that ignite a passion for learning in his students.
We should all be proud that Bruce has made the Top 20 list of TVO’s “Best Lecturer Competition” from among
all the colleges and universities in Ontario. A prolific author in his own right, Bruce is in the thick of this friendly
competition, representing both Georgian and Laurentian so well. Carrie Mashinter, of Georgian’s Health Sciences
department, must also be acknowledged for being nominated for this prestigious award. We all wish Bruce
well, no matter how the competition turns out. Recognizing how deep our faculty talent pool really is, I hope
that next year we will have even more nominations for this award.

As a follow-up to my last newsletter, I am pleased to confirm that the new Office of the President website has
been launched. You can browse the site at www.georgianc.on.ca/president. It will feature regular announcements,
photographs, videos, news items and an online form that community members can use to communicate directly
with me. Future editions of the President’s Report will be posted on the site in a new format. The site also
provides links to the Board of Governors and Strategic Renewal Process websites to make information easy to
find and share. I look forward to using the online technologies to increase timely communication with staff,
students, alumni, donors and the community at large. These technologies will complement existing
communication approaches, but I hope that they will be used by external and internal stakeholders alike.

Finally, I expect to release my next newsletter in January. I would like to update you at that time on where we
are at with our Strategic Plan renewal process; the significance of the Province’s upcoming March budget (which
will greatly influence our final Strategic Plan); an update on our capital projects; exciting recent developments
with our applied research activities; an update (hopefully positive!) on academic collective bargaining; some
post-audit observations; early comments on the Employee Engagement survey from this past fall (which has
some encouraging results). This lengthy list will no doubt be expanded as developments occur over the next
month.

Office of the President Georgian College One Georgian Drive Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 Tel: (705) 728-1968 ext. 1248 Fax: (705) 722-1559 E-mail: btamblyn@georgianc.on.ca
In closing, I want to thank all staff for an exceptionally hectic but rewarding fall semester. You have helped a
record number of students pursue their dreams at a time when the economy of Ontario and most of the world
has seldom been darker. As you are no doubt aware, our students are immensely appreciative of the care and
attention we give to their individual success. At the same time, employers and governments are looking to the
future and relying on our students and graduates to help ensure a prosperous future for all in Ontario. We have
never had a greater impact on our students and our communities as we have had this past fall. For this dedication
to helping to change the lives of others for the better, I thank each of you. On behalf of Lisa, Evan and myself,
best wishes over the Christmas season and holidays, safe travels and enjoy the special moments with your loved
ones

Office of the President Georgian College One Georgian Drive Barrie, ON L4M 3X9 Tel: (705) 728-1968 ext. 1248 Fax: (705) 722-1559 E-mail: btamblyn@georgianc.on.ca

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