Open Learning acknowledged the most recent winner’s of its Outstanding Achievement Awards on August 16. Winners included:

Edie Wan, OL Faculty Member - OL Faculty Member Award

Iain Pardoe, OL Faculty Member - Executive Award

Tony Kuczma, (Supervisor) Program Advisor - Peer-to-Peer Award

Dr. Murray Young, Dean, School of Business and Economics - Non-OL Award

Dr. Alan Shaver, TRU’s new President and Vice-Chancellor (designate) who is slated to take office on December 1, 2010, visited TRU’s Kamloops campus in commemoration of the University’s 40th Anniversary. Staff and faculty welcomed Dr. Shaver at a meet and greet held September 9 in the Horticulture Gardens.

Local Kamloops band Westran, featuring frontman and Open Learning’s very own Brant Westran, is set to release its second album Canadian Made late October or early November. Westran, Delivery Support Associate, Program Delivery, is not only the band’s lead singer, he is also the founder. In 2006, upon returning from a stint teaching English in Japan, Westran began producing his first album along with guitarist Adam Robinson under his own label. New members Aaron Shufletoski, bass, and Len Seefried, drums, will be adding to the melody of Westran’s second album.

Naomi Cloutier took on the role of Acting Director, Business Intelligence and Operations as of September 27, 2010. Cloutier will fill this role until the interview and selection process for the vacant position is complete. Prior to filling the role of Acting Director, Cloutier served as Project Administrator, Curriculum Services. She has worked within Open Learning since it relocated to Kamloops in 2007 in positions including Course Editor. In addition to this change, please note that the portfolio of the Director, Business Intelligence and Operations, has been amended. The Intellectual Property Office will move under the leadership of Irwin DeVries, Director, Instructional Design. OL’s Business Analysts will move under the leadership of Sean Templeton, Project Manager, Business Intelligence and Operations, and the Budget Office will move under the leadership of Lauren Jenson, Manager, Business Metrics, Business Intelligence and Operations.

As a result of an agreement made late August of this year between the British Columbia Open Faculty Association and Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning "Tutors" are now referred to as "Open Learning Faculty Members" verbally and in all materials. In addition, the verb "tutor" and its variations are being replaced with the verb "deliver."

Admissions and Enrolment Services would like to welcome Cathy Morris who has returned to TRU as an Auxiliary working in various capacities. In addition, the department welcomes Nicole Borhaven who is working in an Auxiliary capacity in the Enrolment Services Advisor role. Borhaven has worked within several departments at TRU, including her most recent position with Disability Services. Other changes include the one year leave of Enrolment Services and Advising Assistant Linda Huntington, whose position will be temporarily filled by Ann Scott.

The Intellectual Property team welcomes Bonnie Headley and Brenda Shandro. Both Headley and Shandro have taken the positions of Intellectual Property Officers.

The Program Advising team welcomes Gerry Fink who is filling in for Margaret West until the end of March 2011. West has taken leave from her Program Advisor position to fill a temporary role as OL Audit and Articulation Audit Officer. In addition, Marianne Dietrich has taken a permanent role as Program Advisor, Arts and Science.

Open Learning recently launched a number of new business programs including the Certificate in First Nations Applied Economics, the Certificate in First Nation Tax Administration as well as the Accounting Technician Diploma. The First Nations Applied Economics program provides key foundational skills and knowledge to assist in the development of a First Nations economic infrastructure and support long term benefits in the development of residential and commercial enterprises on First Nation lands. The Certificate in First Nation Tax Administration program helps First Nations build legal and administrative systems that will reduce business costs on First Nation lands and support competitive market development. The program also helps First Nations implement the new powers and develop the skill set for First Nation tax administration using the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act. The primary goal of the Accounting Technician Diploma is to train accounting technicians, who generally work as supervisors in accounting departments or as para-professionals in public accounting firms. Open Learning welcomes Dale Anne Wagner to her new position as Program Coordinator, Nursing. Wagner, who will continue to work as a faculty member in TRU’s School of Nursing, has worked throughout Alberta and BC in a wide range of nursing and educational capacities including both academic and clinical settings. Most recently, she was the year three and four Coordinator for the Bachelor of Nursing Program as well as Co-Chair of the School of Nursing Curriculum Committee. Wagner was one of the course developers for the OL Return to Registered Nursing Practice Certificate.

The Curriculum Service and Business Information Group welcomes Andrea Crane to the position of Project Support Officer. Crane joins OL from her past position as Community Coordinator with the TRU Community office in Ashcroft/ Cache Creek. An alumni of TRU, Crane holds a Tourism Management Degree with a major in Entrepreneurship and Management, as well as a Sports Event Management Diploma.

Open Learning bids a fond farewell to Ethel Enstrom who, after serving for several years in the Instructional Design department, is now retiring. A retirement party was held on August 25, Enstrom’s last day.