College leaders make the grade in response to the pandemic
St. Clair College students were off enjoying March break 2020 when the Ontario and federal governments suddenly sounded the COVID -19 alarm, urging everyone to return home and stay there. Clearly, the need for competent, reliable leadership was critical in all sectors, including education.
The college had to make swift and solid decisions to keep its students, faculty and staff safe.
As weeks of uncertainty extended into another year of unprecedented action, the college, the community and the local healthcare system have had cause to be thankful that the right women were on the job.
On International Women’s Day, the college commends Nancy Jammu-taylor, chair of its Board of Governors, for her guidance during a difficult time. “Nancy is a great leader,” St. Clair President Patti France says.
Jammu-taylor juggles her work as a partner of the Mctague Law Firm with frequent problem-solving sessions with France and the board. “I give tremendous credit to Patti and her senior team,” Jammu-taylor says.
“Twelve months ago, everyone’s reality changed very quickly ,” france adds. “It was all hands on deck” as faculty, staff and students pivoted to virtual learning and meetings. “We accomplished our goal that everyone would complete their semester s and could graduate.”
Turning its attention outward,
the leadership team sought ways to support those fighting COVID -19 on the frontline. “The community piece in being a community college is important to us. Nancy and the board expect our college to act in a community manner,” says France.
Heeding cries for help from local healthcare systems, st. clair college was Ontario’s first college to donate personal protective equipment and loan hospital equipment from the school’s health science labs.
“Patti has a very rational and compassionate approach,” Jammu-taylor observes.
When hospitals were crunched for space, France pointed out to the board there were campus facilities sitting empty during lockdown. The governors backed her strategy to
turn over the Sportsplex on the Windsor campus and the Healthplex on the Chatham campus to serve as temporary field hospitals. The move was groundbreaking among the province’s colleges.
St. Clair College’s facilities team, electricians and other staff helped move beds and did countless other tasks to assist with setup. Once the field hospitals were no longer required, the plexes were repurposed as COVID -19 testing centres and are now vaccination centres.
Collaborating with Windsor Regional Hospital’s pandemic response, “we leveraged some work study money to give our nursing and office administration students part-time jobs here,” France says.
Planning for the worst while
hoping for the best, France, Jammu-taylor, the Board of Governors, and College administration remained focused on delivering uninterrupted learning and support to St. Clair College students. Some learners and faculty are more comfortable with technology than others. Determined to help everyone do their best under the circumstances, the college tweaks operations based on feedback.
Teachers working from home are offered professional development opportunities and mentors. Tech bursaries are granted to students in need.
When a group of students had to be physically onsite to finish their course, “Patti led the way in the college system to find means to get them into the classroom,” Jammu-taylor says. “She assures everyone we have the resources and we’re going to get there together.”
That includes international students, whose numbers have increased from a couple hundred in 2015 to more than 4,000 today. While most live in their own countries and learn online, the college has 568 individual students and/or their families on campus.
“There is enough disruption in everybody’s lives right now, so we’re going to keep our current course schedules till the end of April,” France says. “Hopefully, this fall, things will be better as vaccinations are rolled out.”
To keep everyone’s spirits up, college committees organize staff trivia nights and other virtual engagements. Students can also interact safely online.
“In the face of adversity, everyone has stepped up. The faculty does a fantastic job, amending their mode of delivery to make online classes informative and enjoyable for learners,” Jammu-taylor notes. “The fact students are succeeding and thriving is incredible.”
Witnessing sisters at the helm is empowering for all females, whether they are high school students at career day events or women hearing France give her keynote address at the International Women’s Days Virtual Gala and Journey Towards Success Awards hosted on March 8 by the Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc.
“It’s pretty exciting to be the chair of the board with the first female president of St. Clair College,” says Jammu-taylor.
“I’ve heard students, male and female, say they think it’s great a woman is leading their college. For many of them, gender is not an issue. I remain hopeful we’ll finally see gender-based stereotypes end.”
Nancy is a great leader. - PATTI FRANCE