The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018

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The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
SPRING 2018 49.2

The Deans of Trent
University join a
slate of experts
The role of universities
in 2018
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
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The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
TRENT is published three times a year
            in June, November and February
  by the Trent University Alumni Association. Unsigned
    comments reflect the opinion of the editor only.

          Trent University Alumni Association
          Alumni House, Champlain College
                    Trent University
           Peterborough, Ontario, K9L 0G2
   705.748.1573 or 1.800.267.5774, Fax: 705.748.1785
                Email: alumni@trentu.ca

               trentu.ca/alumni
             EDITOR • MANAGING EDITOR
                  Donald Fraser ’91
                     COPY EDITOR
                      Megan Ward
                        DESIGN
           Beeline Design & Communications
                   CONTRIBUTORS
 Ayesha Barmania ’11, Mark Betteridge ’70, Julie Davis
    Donald Fraser ’91, Jess Grover ’02, Lee Hays ’91
Melissa Moroney, Kathryn Norlock, Ellanne Thomson ’16
 Kathryn Verhulst-Rogers, Megan Ward, Kate Weersink
                  EDITORIAL BOARD
      Marilyn Burns ’00, Sebastian Cosgrove ’06,
    Donald Fraser ’91, Lee Hays ’91, Melissa Moroney,
                    Ian Proudfoot ’73
                                                                                                                                       11
               PRINTING and BINDING
                Maracle Press, Oshawa
       TUAA COUNCIL HONORARY PRESIDENT
                T.H.B. Symons                                                                        4 | Editorial
                     PRESIDENT
                    Jess Grover ’02                                                                  5 | TUAA President’s Message
              VP CAMPUS COMMUNITIES
                                                                                                     6 | What’s New at Trent
               Karen McQuade Smith ’06
             VP COUNCIL ORGANIZATION                                                                 8 | Spotlight on Research
                 Steve Robertson ‘93
       VP COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBERSHIP                                                               11 | Universities Tomorrow, Today...
             Sebastian Cosgrove ’06
                                                                                                    18 | The Deans’ List
       VP ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPY
             Maile Loweth Reeves ’79
                     COUNCILLORS
                                                                                         34         21 | Alumni Benefits & Services
  Wei Lynn Eng ’99, Athena Flak ’99, Tawny Flude ’07,                                               22 | Universities: Class Notes
 Karen Foster ‘05, James Forrester ’14, Rae Gibeault ’93,
Dorcas Mensah ’13, Danen Oberon ’07, Herb O’Heron ’75                                              24 | Unleash the Potenial Campaign
        Steven Robertson ’93, Jessica Rogers ’12
                                                                                                  			 Final Report
                CHAPTER PRESIDENTS                                                                  28 | Building Communities and
        Maile Loweth Reeves ’79 (York Region)
           Caleb Smith ’93 (Niagara Region)
                                                                                                  			 Driving Discovery
      Laura Suchan ’84 (Oshawa/Durham Region)
                                                                                                    30 | Freedom of Speech at Universities
           Lorraine Bennett ’72 (Vancouver)
        David Wallbridge ’96 (Halifax/Dartmouth)
              Steve Cavan ’77 (Saskatoon)
                                                                                         36         33 | Giving Back: Gordon Knapp ’79
             Gordon Copp ’76 (British Isles)                                                        34 | Alumni Day of Service
              Patrick Lam ’86 (Hong Kong)
            COUNCIL-COLLEGES LIAISON                        Follow us @trentalumni on Twitter,      36 | Convocation Award Winners
                Jessica Rogers ’12                          @trent_alumni on Instagram,
                                                                                                    38 | Homecoming and HoTT
          SENATE ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE                      The Trent University Alumni
                 Danen Oberon ’07                           Association page on Facebook,           42 | Looking Back
                GSA REPRESENTATIVE                          and The Official Trent University
                  Danielle Harris ’06
                                                            Alumni Association group on
            DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS
                                                            LinkedIN.
                   Lee Hays ’91
          ALUMNI SERVICES COORDINATOR
                   Sue Robinson
                                                            On the Cover: Deans Kirsten
                                                            Woodend, Moira Howes, Craig
      ALUMNI & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
                    Julie Ellis                             Brunetti, Cathy Bruce, David Ellis.
  MANAGER OF ALUMNI AFFAIRS & CONVOCATION                   Photo: Michael Hurcomb
              Joanne Sokolowski

                                                                                                                      TRENT Magazine 49.2    3
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
EDITOR’S NOTES

                                                        POOLS SWUM AND TICKETS PUNCHED:
                                                        FINDING THE PURPOSE OF THE UNIVERSITY

    I
        believe I’m one of those rare few who ended up being                   As I ping-ponged through academic streams, I was
        almost precisely what he wanted to be when he was a              given creative inspiration by writers that ranged from the
        kid.                                                             Romantic to the comedic; I gained a sense of political
          Indeed, if you had asked me in Grade 8, I would have           awareness in Native Studies (now Indigenous Studies) and
    said I’d grow up to be a writer. Not a novelist (although I          Women’s Studies; I learned more about my place in the
    have a drawer-full of unfinished books). Not of short stories        world through Canadian Studies. In the process, I managed

                                                                                                                                              Photo courtesy of CHEX Television
    (please see the drawer in the previous sentence).                    to put into focus exactly what
          But someone who could somehow use words as a                   kind of writer I wanted to be.
    means of informing people and making change. If pressed,             I just didn’t know how to get
    I would have said “journalist,” but, even then, I knew that          there.
    wasn’t really the right word.                                              Which is where the ticket-
          In high school, I called myself a writer—looking back,         punching came in. A couple
    I did so with a cringe-worthy air of pretention—and vowed            years after graduating, I was
    to go to university to hone my craft. With Robertson Davies          picked up while hitch-hiking
    as my hero, I set off to attend Trent University to become           from campus to downtown—
    “a man of letters.”                                                  people still did that in the ’90s.      The editor hosting a CHEX
          At the time, I figured the purpose of the university was       Behind the wheel was Professor          Newswatch segment in 2001.
    to supply me with a vast pool of knowledge and experience            Ray Dart. After brief introductions,
    to draw upon as a scribe, and to punch my ticket for landing         we chatted about writing and about the environment, and
    a career-starting job that would open the door to a lifetime         then he pointed me towards a non-profit organization that
    of success. I also imagined following Davies into a gig with         needed help writing communications materials.
    the Peterborough Examiner.                                                 It became my first paid gig. And has led to a lifetime
                                                                         specializing in writing for advocacy groups and non-profit
                                                                         organizations. Yes, Professor Davies, it also led to a gig
                                                                         writing for The Examiner for a number of years.
                                                                         Those notions I had of what a university should be? I still
                                                                         hold them today. They remain institutions that should lead
                                                                         you to eventual employment, but also ones that provide a
                                                                         vast array of valued knowledge and experience to help you
                                                                         navigate your career. They should help you find what it is
                                                                         you want to do and who you want to be. And they should
                                                                         give you the tools to fulfil your dreams.
                                                                               No matter when you first had them.

                                                                         Donald Fraser ’91
                                                                         donaldgfraser@trentu.ca

                                                                         Don’t forget to follow us
                                                                             @TrentAlumni
                                                                             @Trent_Alumni
                                                                             Trent University Alumni Association page
                                                                             The Official Trent University Alumni Association

    Photo: Walter Curtin/Library and Archives Canada.

4   TRENT Magazine 49.2
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
A MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
IN 2018?
I
    spend a lot of time pondering that
    question, and I’m not alone. There
    are books, podcasts, videocasts,
and blogs that observe, theorize, and
strategize on these changes. Every
year the group of Ontario alumni
association presidents have meetings
to discuss this very idea. Where do we
find ourselves in a changing world,
with a changing alumni demographic?
Are alumni associations even relevant
anymore?
      By nature, I’m a creator. I take
one material—yarn, string, wire,
cloth—and turn it into other things—
blankets, sweaters, wall-hangings,
jewelry. I’ve often used that metaphor
                                         From left: PSB Wilson, Jess Grover ’02, Caleb Smith ’93, and Alumni Affairs director,
for volunteer work as well, holding
                                         Lee Hays ’91, celebrate Mr. Smith receiving the Spirit of Trent Award.
that my ultimate goal is weaving
together a tighter community where
fewer people can fall through the        the student alumni association that                 Finding ways to help alumni
cracks. And, at first, that was how I    works to connect students to the               create the communities and
understood the Alumni Association’s      TUAA before they graduate from                 opportunities that they want to be
Council and my role within it. I took    Trent. The Alumni Association Awards           a part of is far more rewarding than
on the responsibilities of a weaver,     are now presented at multiple                  trying to create them myself ever was.
knowing that what I created today        events and community gatherings                When dozens of people signed up
would need to serve the alumni family    that are meaningful to individual              to volunteer as part of our first Trent
in the years to come.                    recipients rather than as a stand-alone        University Alumni Day of Service in
      In the decade since I made         celebration. As these changes have             their own communities—outside of
that commitment to Council, I have       happened, they have strengthened               our committee-organized sites—I was
watched a transformation happen          our alumni networks and made the               overjoyed. Seeing the alumni family
within alumni relations. The way in      TUAA better. But these changes have            creating something beautiful with the
which schools connect with alumni        also challenged my self-declared role          tools we set out affirmed that this new
has changed industry-wide and            as a weaver of community. So like              outlook better suits what we need to
Trent is part of that evolution. Drop-   any good Trent student, I took that            be today.
in alumni pub nights have been           challenge as a chance to re-evaluate                The active creation and
enhanced with guest speakers, TRENT      everything I thought I knew about this         involvement of alumni makes the
Magazine deals more in ideas and less    work. And, as part of that journey, I          TUAA what it is. The role of an alumni
in baby announcements, and we track      retired my weaving metaphor for the            association today is as a conduit for
engagement partially through social      Alumni Association. It simply doesn’t          our creativity and passion. We are a
media clicks and views. Who we’re        work now.                                      community of dreamers, achievers,
connecting with and how we are                 Instead, we are quilters. Every          and trailblazers. Together, we are
doing so is in constant flux.            single one of us—alumni, staff, faculty,       creating TUAA every day. Thanks for
      In just the last few years, the    retirees, donors, friends—is creating an       building this kaleidoscope quilt
TUAA has undergone significant           elaborate patch in the TUAA quilt. Our         with us.
changes. We’ve introduced Shared         role as an Association, and my task
Interest Groups (SIGs) that bring        within that, is to ensure that each alum       Jess Grover ’02
together alumni in new ways, such        has the tools and materials needed             jessalynngrover@gmail.com
as the Community for Trent Women.        to create something personally
Last year we saw the birth of ACE:       meaningful.
Association Connecting Excalibur,

                                                                                                             TRENT Magazine 49.2   5
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
WHAT’S NEW
      AT TRENT UNIVERSITY

    Wenjack & Downie Families Join Trent to Celebrate
    Milestone School Announcement
    “The people in Peterborough and            Wenjack School for Indigenous               with both Chanie Wenjack and Gord
    at Trent have always had a spot in         Studies, where she joined her sisters to    Downie’s families as well as Trent
    my heart. Trent took the initiative to     celebrate the School naming and help        students, staff, faculty and local
    honour Chanie back in 1973. I would        unveil an installation that will honour     community members.
    like to thank Trent for continuing to      her late brother.
    honour Chanie, and for their leadership         The School announcement                Above: Families of both Gord Downie and
    in Indigenous education.”                  was a milestone development in the          Chanie Wenjack attended the naming of
          These words were spoken by Pearl     University’s longstanding leadership        the Chanie Wenjack school. From left:
                                                                                           Patrick Downie, Pearl Achneepineskum,
    Achneepineskum, Chanie Wenjack’s           in Indigenous education and
                                                                                           Daisy Munroe, Mike Downie.
    sister, at the celebration of the Chanie   reconciliation. It was celebrated

    Five More Years for President Groarke
                                               Five more years of Dr. Leo Groarke’s leadership: news that the Trent community
                                               was happy to hear this spring. Dr. Groarke’s reappointment as president and vice-
                                               chancellor by the Trent Board of Governors will begin July 1, 2019 and run through
                                               to June 30, 2024.
                                                     “I am delighted to be renewed for another term at Trent, where I work with
                                               an exceptional team of administrators, faculty and staff. I consider myself lucky to
                                               have joined the University at the beginning of its 50th anniversary celebrations, and
                                               to have the opportunity to help prepare it for another 50 exceptional years under
                                               the guidance of the Board, and in partnership with students, alumni, and our local
                                               communities. Together, we are building an institution with a storied history that
                                               promises to be even stronger in the future,” said President Groarke.
                                                     Under President Groarke’s leadership, Trent has marked many highlights and
                                               milestones including: record-breaking strides in enrolment success; the expansion
                                               of facilities on the Symons Campus in Peterborough; and a new master plan that
                                               will accommodate growth at Trent’s Durham campus in the Greater Toronto Area.
                                               Dr. Groarke’s next term will see him emphasize sustainability, stewardship and
                                               innovation as key themes.

6   TRENT Magazine 49.2
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
Teaching Excellence Takes Centre Stage
at Trent
                                                                                            From left: Deborah Bright-Brundle, Dayton
The annual Celebration of Teaching          Sociology, CUPE 3908-1 Award for                Kelly, PSB Wilson, and Abigail Adair.
Excellence saw faculty, staff and           Excellence in Teaching; and Paula
students gather to honour the               Sherman, Indigenous Studies, Award
following 2018 teaching award               for Excellence in Online Teaching.
                                                                                            Trent Athletics in
recipients: Kelly Egan, Cultural                 Trent Durham GTA Child and                 the Spotlight
Studies, Symons Award for Excellence        Youth Studies professor Dr. Alba
in Teaching; Robyne Hanley-Dafoe,           Agostino was also recognized in                 Whether racing down the Otonabee,
Centre for Teaching and Learning/           a separate ceremony. She was                    pushing for a win on the field at
Education/Psychology, Award                 honoured with a 2018 Ontario                    Justin Chiu Stadium or battling it out
for Educational Leadership and              Undergraduate Student Alliance                  on the court in the Athletics Centre,
Innovation; Malinda Gray, Indigenous        Teaching Excellence Award for her               Trent’s varsity athletes work hard for
Studies, Award for Excellence in            engaging classroom discussions.                 their achievements. Trent University’s
Teaching Assistance; Troy Bordun,                                                           department of Athletics and Recreation
                                                                                            celebrated this student achievement
                                                                                            at the 49th annual Athletics Awards
                                                                                            Ceremony.
                                                                                                  The most prestigious award of
                                                                                            the evening—the Arthur Cup—went
                                                                                            to varsity rowing athletes Abigail
                                                                                            Adair and Dayton Kelly. The Arthur
                                                                                            Cup recognizes graduating students
                                                                                            who have demonstrated outstanding
                                                                                            contributions, sportsmanship,
                                                                                            participation and leadership in athletic
                                                                                            programs. By the end of the evening
                                                                                            more than 40 outstanding student
                                                                                            athletes were recognized for their
                                                                                            achievements in sport at Trent over
From left: Prof. Kelly Egan, Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, Malinda Gray, Prof. Paula Sherman.         the past year.

At a Theatre Near You: Trent Prof Makes Film
Debut in Critically-Acclaimed Movie
A producer who saw the film Indian           separated from his family at a young
Horse told Edna Manitowabi that              age and placed in a residential school,
she was “the heart and soul of the           finding his escape through the sport
movie.” The professor emerita in Trent       of hockey while there. Ms. Manitowabi
University’s Chanie Wenjack School for       plays the role of Naomi, Saul’s
Indigenous Studies recently co-starred       grandmother, who plays an influential
in the film based on the award-winning       role in teaching the main character
book by Richard Wagamese, which is           his language (Anishinaabemowin), the           of story to teach others of the impact
receiving critical acclaim from many         stories of his culture, and survival skills.   of residential schools on Indigenous
after its world premiere at the 2017               As a survivor of residential schools,    people in Canada.
Toronto International Film Festival.         Ms. Manitowabi was passionate about
     The film tells the story of Saul        being part of a film that used the power
Indian Horse, a northern Ojibway child

                                                                                                                TRENT Magazine 49.2     7
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
SPOTLIGHT ON                               As home to many leading researchers, Trent University has countless
                                                                            stories to tell when it comes to research success. Through our outstanding

                                 RESEARCH
                                                                            faculty, exceptional facilities, and prestigious schools of study, Trent is a place
                                                                            where ideas and creativity connect and intersect with industry, non-profits,
                                                                            communities and real-world solutions. Read more about some of the top
                                                                            faculty, student, and alumni researchers who are making headlines.

                                 FACULTY RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
                                 Examining Procrastination: Trent Durham GTA Researcher Takes a Deep Dive into Stress
                                                                            After years working in academia,             GTA. “In order to be productive,
                                                                            Dr. Brenda Smith-Chant discovered a          people need ‘just the right amount’ of
                                                                            common theme among her                       stress to motivate them to move
                                                                            students and their experiences:                 forward, but not so much that
                                                                            procrastination. Her curiosity                     they shut down.”
                                                                            was piqued. Procrastination                             The team of researchers set
                                                                                                                  FACULTY
                                                                            is an issue that impacts the                        out to test the idea that
                                                                            majority of university students                     students are using
                                                                            (over 80%). Working with a                       procrastination as a tool to
                                                                            team of researchers, including current       get their stress level to the place
                                                                            Trent students, Professor Smith-Chant        where they will be most efficient and
                                                                            set her sights on learning more.             produce good results. Her discovery
                                                                                  “Our work was based on a very          so far? Procrastination, especially
Shutterstock © Dean Drobot

                                                                            famous observation: people with              when deadlines are looming, can be
                                                                            very little stress are unproductive, as      a good tool for people to get their
                                                                            are people with too much stress,”            stress level to a place where they can
                                                                            said Prof. Smith-Chant, a Psychology         do their best work.
                                                                            professor at Trent University Durham

                                 STUDENT RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
                                 Warmer, Wetter & Wilder: Students Weigh in on the Future of Weather in Durham Region
                                 Ever considered what happens to             “I think that this type of cooperative           “I am no longer worried about being
                                 rainwater that ends up in the sewer         environment, and shifting deadlines              inexperienced or having difficulties
                                 systems of our communities? It’s a          and projects, really reflected a lot             applying my skills outside a classroom;
                                 topic that a group of students in the       of what happens in professional                  I know that I can be successful, even if I
                                 Communications and Critical Thinking        environments, and being able to                  am doing something I have never tried
                                 program know inside out after a             experience that was extremely useful,”           before, and I learned that because of
                                 semester of research, and hard work.        said Trent Durham GTA student Billie             this capstone course.”
                                      As part of the inaugural               Clark about the experience.
                                 Communications capstone course,
                                 led by Dr. Joel Baetz, students
                                 were tasked with a project from the
                                 Region of Durham to determine, as a
                                 research team, the best storm water
                                 management fee and credit program
                                 for the municipalities in the Durham
                                 region, as well as an accompanying
                                 communications strategy. An exercise
                                 in research, knowledge translation,
                                 and communication, the final plan was
                                 presented to the “clients” at the Region         STUDENT
                                 of Durham at the end of the semester.
                                                                                                Students in the capstone course of the Communications and Critical
                                                                                                Thinking program present their work to the Region of Durham.

                             8   TRENT Magazine 49.2
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
                                                                     HONOURS
                                                                     Accolades abound for books and papers by
                                                                     Trent faculty and alumni. Read on for a few
                                                                     recent highlights:
                                                                     •   Unbuttoned: A History of Mackenzie King’s
                                                                         Secret Life penned by History professor
                                                                         Dr. Christopher Dummitt, is a finalist for the
                                                                         2018 Canada Prize and the Shaughnessy
                                                                         Cohen Prize for Political Writing.
                                                                     •   Craig Davidson’s ’94 Precious Cargo, which
                                                                         tells his experience driving a school bus with
                                                                         special-needs kids, earned him a coveted
                                                                         spot as a finalist in CBC’s popular Canada
                                                                         Reads competition.
                                                                     •   For her research paper examining employee
                                                                         engagement, School of Business professor
                                                                         Dr. Amina Malik won the Best Paper Award,
                                                                         HR Division of Administrative Sciences
Mubrouka Elharram in her lab                                             Association of Canada.
                                                                     •   Award-winning author, First World War
                                                                         historian, and Trent alumnus Dr. Tim Cook’s
ALUMNI RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT                                                ’90 newest book, Vimy: The Battle and the
Passion for Goat Genetics Fuels                                          Legend, took home the 2018 John Wesley
                                                                         Dafoe Book Prize.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
                                                    ALUMNI           •   A Block in Time, edited by Dirk Verhulst
Trent alumna Mubrouka Elharram ’03 is
                                                                         ’76 and Rita Granda, which examines the
turning her passion for genetics into a unique
                                                                         archaeology and history of one city block
business—one that’s set to evolve into a major
                                                                         in Peterborough, won the 2017 Ontario
new export economy for Canada: goat genetics,                            Archaeological Society Award for Excellence
a topic introduced to Ms. Elharram by Trent’s                            in Publishing.
Dr. Bradley White. She has turned what she learned at Trent as
both an undergraduate and master’s student into a budding            Follow @TrentUniversity #TrentUResearch on
business called GoatGEN. GoatGEN provides genomic-based              Twitter to read more research highlights and
predictions of novel multi-gene traits for breeding programs that    stories, and share your own #TrentU research
advance the genetic potential of goats.                              stories.
      “Goats provide more animal protein to the world food
supply than beef or dairy cattle; Canada has high quality goat
genetics desired by developing countries and there is an
increasing demand for Canadian goats,” says Ms. Elharram.
“At this time in Ontario there is limited goat semen and no goat
embryo production facilities dedicated to production, processing
or distribution of goat genetics to the international marketplace.        Did you receive our Trent
The long-term goal is to build our own production facility to             Breakthroughs newsletter in
evaluate Canadian and target market dairy goats, and build an             your inbox? If not, subscribe at
integrated and commercially sustainable supply and value chain            communications@trentu.ca to learn
for live animals, semen and embryos.”                                     more about the many research
                                                                          highlights coming out of Trent
                                                                          University.

                                                                                                        TRENT Magazine 48.3   9
The Deans of Trent University join a slate of experts - The role of universities in 2018
EXCALIBUR
                                                                                                   FOREVER
                                                                                                 #WE BLEED GREEN

        DID YOU KNOW?                     Donations to Trent through the Annual Fund help
                                          to support the Trent Excalibur.
                                          To help provide support to our student-athletes with
                                          scholarships and mental health services, please make a
                                          gift to athletics by visiting trentu.ca/give

                                                                      Do you ever wish you were still a student?
                                                                       Health coverage, no classes on Tuesdays,
                                                                                       and an endless metabolism...
                                                                       Well, some things don’t have to change!

                                                      Grad Perks offers supplemental Health & Dental Plans
                                                        that get you the coverage you need and then some!

                  Visit studentvip.ca/gradperks to find out how you can access your coverage along with prescription delivery
                                         service, virtual doctor and much more! We’ve got you covered.

                                                                                     & more

10   TRENT Magazine 49.2
UNIVERSITIES TOMORROW, today…

F
     or years, TRENT Magazine has covered issues that affect universities and the communities
     associated with them. Never before, however, have we delved into the nature of the
     university itself. Not until Trent President and Vice-chancellor Leo Groarke put a little
bug in our ear, that is. From his suggestion that we find a way to explore how people view
universities in 2018 came an ambitious project that saw us reaching out to senior Trent
administration, faculty, alumni working at other universities, and current/recent students.
After an exhaustive slate of interviews, are we any more sure of a definitive role for modern
universities? Not exactly. But we did find that, as diverse as the opinions were, almost
everyone involved found value in a liberal arts education—even when that education was
tailored to applied career-stream programs. Which is a perfect platform for us—and for you—
to dive into the role of universities, both today and in the future.

                                                                                                 TRENT Magazine 49.2   11
UNIVERSITIES TOMORROW, today

                                                              BUILDING FOR TOMORROW
                 Edited by Donald Fraser ’91

                  LEO GROARKE                                                                                                Let me illustrate this point with
                  President and vice-chancellor,                                                                        some examples from Trent. One
                  Trent University                                                                                      of the things that I have tried to
                                                                                                                        encourage during my first term is
                  TRENT Magazine (TM): In helping                                                                       what is starting to be called the “Traill
                  to shape new campuses, first with                                                                     College Renaissance.” This project has
                  University of Laurier Brantford Campus                                                                obvious—and important ties—to both
                  and then with Trent University Durham                                                                 Peterborough and the history of Trent.
                  GTA, you’ve been at the forefront of                                                                       At the same time, I have tried
                  the evolution of the modern university.                                                               to support the attempt to invigorate
                  At the same time, your area of study                                                                  what we do at Trent Durham—our
                  is philosophy, which is one of the                                                                    GTA campus. I think that traditionally,
                  founding areas of study of the ancient                                                                Trent has thought of itself as a
                  university. With those disparate                                                                      Peterborough university, which
                  viewpoints in mind, how do you see                                                                    happens to teach some courses and           to get to know the faculty; a personal
                  the purpose of universities now,                                                                      programs in Durham. I would say             education; and a grounding in the
                  in 2018?                                                                                              that it is important to build a Durham      liberal arts and sciences. But I think it’s
                                                                                                                        campus that does more than that—one         exciting that within that current phase
                  LEO GROARKE (LG): The purpose                                                                         that responds much more directly to         of our development we’re branching
                  of universities is multifaceted. That                                                                 the circumstances in Durham and the         out in a way that allows Durham to be
                  means that the purpose of a particular                                                                East GTA (the fastest growing urban         a full-fledged campus that has its own
                  university depends on its particular                                                                  centre in Canada, fueled by significant     personality and programs.
                  circumstances. My own interest is                                                                     immigration, a blue-collar work force,
                  a university that’s embedded within                                                                   etc.).                                      TM: Universities are putting new
                  its own communities—internal and                                                                           Both our campuses focus on Trent       emphasis on experiential learning
                  external—in a successful way. That                                                                    ideals: a commitment to a smaller           and on practical or applied degrees.
                  means that different universities should                                                              institution; an emphasis on providing       How much are areas of study, such as
                  have different goals and ideals.                                                                      students with plenty of opportunities       business admin, applied agriculture,
                                                                                                                                                                    and nursing, changing the role of
                                                                                                                                                                    universities?

                                                                                                                                                                    LG: It’s certainly true that universities
                                                                                                        FT
                                                                                                                 NEW PARKING - 93 SPOTS

                                                                                                                                                                    have changed during my time as a

                                                                                                 R A                                                                professor and administrator. There
                                                                                               D                                                                    has been a growing emphasis on

                                                                     P               T
                            THORNTON ROAD SOUTH

                                                                                                                                                                    professional programs, and programs

                                                                 C E                                                                                                oriented toward careers. Inevitably,
                                                     N                                                                                                              as a philosophy professor, I think

                                                  CO
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TCH FOR DISCUSSION - TRENT UNIVERSITY, DURHAM CAMPUS, CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CEPTUAL SITE PLAN                                                                                                                     DATE: April 18, 2018

         12        TRENT Magazine 49.2
I tell students that are impatient with reflection that the speed at which
technology is developing means that the job they have 10 or 15 years from now will not
be the job that they prepare for now; it probably hasn’t been invented yet.

have been exaggerated. The key to           TM: Speaking of the purpose and
being successful in any career is to        future of universities, what do you see
have a broad-based education that           as next steps for Trent?
provides you with great thinking and
problem-solving skills that allow you       LG: I think we need to continue what
to understand things in a deeper way.       we’ve been doing, which responds to
These are provided by a liberal arts        changes in the world, but tries to do
and science education. For me, this         so in a way that makes the most of our
remains an essential component of a         past.
great university.                                When I started my term, there
     But it’s also true that universities   was plenty of debate about colleges.
must address the needs and desires          One of the things we’ve tried to do,
of their students. And these days they      after a review of Traill by Professor
want programs that they can see             Tindale, is to let Traill be a college
leading to particular careers. I think we   in the traditional sense—to make it        JOE MULDOON
need to respond to that. Because I’m        the kind of college that Trent was         Head, Trent University Durham GTA
very interested in the way that theory      composed of when it began. I think
intersects with practice, I don’t think     that’s going very well, but we’re not      TRENT Magazine: What is the purpose
that the demand for a more practical        there yet. In the end, I would like to     of the university, or universities, in
university, where students have lots        see Traill become a successful college     2018?
of experiential learning—whether it’s       from both a financial and an academic
placements, co-op, working in various       point of view. I want to see the other     Joe Muldoon (JM): It boils down
kinds of jobs, researching practical        colleges succeed too, though in a way      to the type of students we want to
problems—needs to detract from our          that allows them to evolve in their own    produce. We want each graduate to
commitment to theory and reflection.        direction.                                 be someone who can think clearly,
If we arrange things in the best way,            Of course there are other             critically, and communicate well. Also,
the result will be more sophisticated       projects. We have a wonderful              someone who can interpret data and
theorizing and reflection.                  Student Centre. I look forward to          think critically about the world. When I
     But we must always remember            the Bata renovations. I would like         hire people, which I occasionally do, I
that so called “soft skills” matter. They   to see further capital development,        look for all of those things—someone
include the ability to communicate,         certainly a building at Durham and, in     that is a hard worker, smart, and if they
to argue, to understand what people         a sensitive way, some development of       can write, that’s also great.
are saying and analyze it from many         the Trent Lands. This would include
different points of view. I tell students   the Cleantech Commons, to make             TM: So, the “soft” skills.
that are impatient with reflection that     Trent a national and international
the speed at which technology is            centre for environmental research,         JM: The soft skills that are in the social
developing means that the job they          and also a centre for the development      sciences, yes. I think universities now
have 10 or 15 years from now will           of environmentally-friendly business       are in a very difficult position because
not be the job that they prepare for        needs.                                     colleges have claimed a fair piece of
now; it probably hasn’t been invented                                                  real estate when it comes to applied
yet. So, while career preparation and       Professor Groarke also commented           degrees. It used to be that students
being exposed to the practical world        on the nature of political discourse in    would attend college to gain very
is important, it’s those basic skills of    universities. Please see his thoughts in   applied skills, such as culinary, or the
understanding and learning that are         the sidebar on page 28.                    trades. Those lines have now become
going to stand you in best stead,                                                      blurred. There’s pressure to have
even if what you want to focus on                                                      pathways for students—which I think
is a career.                                                                           is excellent. I spent a lot of my time
                                                                                       on articulations and helping students
                                                                                       get university credits for courses
                                                                                       they’ve done in, say, social service, or

                                                                                                            TRENT Magazine 49.2     13
business, at college. Or helping them                                                            Trent also transformed the
     go from a business or social work                                                           community. Before Trent, leaders in
     diploma in college to a Bachelor of                                                         the community were the educated
     Business Administration or Bachelor                                                         upper class. The playing field
     of Social Work here. So it’s more like a                                                    became more diverse and leveled
     continuum now in terms of education.                                                        out differently after Trent arrived,
     I would also say that, when parents                                                         so there is a whole different vibe to
     come to open houses, they want                                                              the community that came in at the
     their children to end up with jobs.                                                         beginning of Trent’s presence.
     So they ask if we offer nursing,
     education, engineering or medicine.                                                         TM: When considering the university
     We’ve responded in a number of                                                              in a wider context, what do you see as
     ways; we now have a law degree (a                                                           its role in the community in this day
     dual degree with Swansea University                                                         and age? Has it changed?
     College of Law). I’m working on a             TOM PHILLIPS ’74
     new degree for social development.            Interim directorship of Co-op,                TP: There are a couple of ways to
     When parents come, they want to feel          Careers, and Experiential Learning,           look at it. There seems to be a general
     like their educational dollars will lead      Trent University                              agreement that universities are under
     to jobs. Whether that’s true or not,                                                        attack; there is this question about
     whether the general university degree         TRENT Magazine: As a lifelong                 the value of knowledge and value
     in sociology, or English, or history          member of the Peterborough                    of education, and it threatens the
     will give you a better product than           community, you’ve had an up-close             populist view of the world. There is
     someone who’s in an applied course,           view of Trent University’s growth and         a role the university plays in trying to
     is up for debate.                             impact over time. What was it like in         maintain the credibility of academic
                                                   the beginning?                                pursuits. I did my Ph.D. in New York
     TM: What are the benefits of getting                                                        City at The New School for Social
     an applied degree at a university,            Tom Phillips: I was nine years old            Research, which was grounded in
     versus an applied diploma at a                when Trent opened and was acutely             maintaining the academic traditions
     college?                                      aware of what was going on before             of Europe through the Second World
                                                   it opened. There was a level of               War. The graduate faculty were all
     JM: That’s a great question. I think          excitement in the community about             Jewish academics who were pulled
     the quality of faculty at universities        opportunities for young people and            out of Germany by The New School.
     is different. Most of them have their         people looking to go to university in         My program was immersed in critical
     Ph.D.s. While some colleges are now           their own town. Working class families        perspectives, and in not accepting
     starting to hire individuals with Ph.D.s,     didn’t usually have their children go         the status quo or the conventional
     I would say the quality of instruction is     to university, and now there was this         wisdom. I still see that as the primary
     a bit different. The learning outcomes        great opportunity at home. For me,            role of the university.
     are different as well. I think there is       there was always this competition                  In terms of community, it’s a
     a place for applied degrees at both           between wanting to go away after              very different question. I don’t say the
     university and college, whereas I’m           grade 13 and staying. I ended up back         university is under attack because of
     not sure that there is a place yet for        here—I was away for two summers               the knowledge it produces in our own
     English and history strictly at the           and then came back and enrolled               community so much, although there
     college level.                                in 1975. I worked again after my              is a growing sentiment about the value
           I think that going from university to   undergrad, then went back and did my          of education (or the lack of value in
     college, or college to university, is more    master’s degree, worked again, and            education)—which is not found in
     acceptable now. After completing their        then did my Ph.D. Trent introduced me         the facts. But it’s still part of popular
     undergrad or arts degree, students            to the potential of what a university         conversation.
     now want to specialize in community           had to offer. I thrived in it and loved it.
     relations, or museum studies, or other
     applied programs.

14   TRENT Magazine 49.2
I think the purpose of the university today is…to prepare the next
generation of responsible citizens, leaders, thinkers, community builders.

     Certainly, the university should       community builders. So we get into
change the community measurably.            this whole question of, “Is a liberal arts
Trent has done so since before 1964.        education what it used to be?” And
It continues to do so, but I think          my answer is yes, definitely. From my
there was probably a leveling off of        experience as a liberal arts student, as a
the influence of the University in the      lecturer, and now as a president, I have
community, perhaps in the 1980s.            found that if you have a background in
There was a degree of detachment            liberal arts, you are eminently prepared
from the community. The students            to evolve and adapt over the course of
didn’t get exposed to the community         your career—be it technical or white
very much, and vice versa, to the           collar. The university helps mold the
detriment of both. There’s much             mind. It gives you a broad perspective
more potential for the students to          of what society should be about, and
get connected to the community, to          what the individual should be about.
provide the community with some             I would recommend it wherever                taking advantage of these things to
perspectives on the future and new          possible.                                    trampoline into other areas of science
ideas. Fostering those relationships                                                     studies.
would be beneficial to the community        TM: Universities are evolving to
and potentially keep talented people        incorporate more practical or applied        TM: How have you measured the
in the area after graduation. And on        degrees, with increasing opportunities       success of UCCI graduates?
the other side, the community gets          for experiential learning. Have you
to know the University better and can       focused on these issues as president?        RB: We abide by international
benefit from what it has to offer in a      How has University College of the            benchmarks so that our graduates
more general sense.                         Cayman Islands (UCCI) had to change          can perform and compete with
                                            to become what it is today?                  other graduates in their field, all
TM: You’ve recently taken on the                                                         over the world and irrespective of
interim directorship of Co-op, Careers,     RB: The university now meets the             which jurisdiction they come from.
and Experiential Learning at Trent          broader consensus of students. When I        Our education is not unique to the
University. What will this bring?           came here in 2009, the institution was       Cayman Islands; but one that fits into
                                            nothing more than a glorified business       an international perspective. So we
TP: The role I’m playing now gives me       college. The Cayman Islands is a             promote exchange programs to send
the opportunity to take the knowledge       premiere international financial center      our students to study abroad for a
I have of the community, and the            and the emphasis of the University,          semester or a year. These exchanges
knowledge I have of the University, and     at that time, was predominantly              see us entertaining students from
put them together in a way that would       business administration, accounting          other parts of the world as well. We
be beneficial to both.                      and finance. I wanted to change the          recognize that education cannot be
                                            culture—I had an idea and vision from        insular but must have international
ROY BODDEN ’73                              my years in politics, and I understood       flavour.
President, University College of the        the direction that the Cayman Islands             When our students walk down
Cayman Islands                              were headed. There was a log jam of          the aisle with a B.A., they are no less
                                            accountants, business managers and           marketable than any other student,
TRENT Magazine: How do you see the          finance managers at the top. I knew          whether they’re from the University of
purpose of universities today? Does         that hospitality workers were needed         Toronto or Harvard. One of the things
a liberal arts education still matter as    to support the big tourism industry,         that is unique at UCCI, and one of
much as it did when you were at Trent       nurses were needed, and people to do         the reasons why we focus so much
as an undergraduate student?                social work.                                 on international benchmarks, is that
                                                 We have a great science and             most of our students are first-time
Roy Bodden: I think the purpose             engineering program where we give a          university students. They are the first in
of the university today is, first of all,   solid foundation. We have one of the         their families and so they are making a
to prepare the next generation of           best observatories in the Caribbean          difference.
responsible citizens, leaders, thinkers,    for astronomy. Our students are

                                                                                                             TRENT Magazine 49.2      15
PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT:
                                                      UNIVERSITIES AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS
                             TRENT Magazine reached out to              students become future politicians,             TM: Economies are, more and more,
                             alumnus Allan O’Dette ’86, the chief       business executives, community                  becoming international in scope, and
                             investment officer for the Ontario         leaders, academics, and more—and                companies/industries/sectors around
                             Investment Office, for his thoughts        in developing critical thinking abilities       the world are increasingly having to
                             on the present and future purpose          that are modern skills. There will be           adapt to doing business in a global
                             of universities.                           a whole different world 10, 15, 20, 25          market. How do universities need to
                                                                        years from now, and teaching the next           adapt to these trends?
                             TRENT Magazine (TM): With a                generation to think laterally, and to
                             growing university emphasis on applied     problem solve creatively, are critical          AO: There is absolutely no question
                             areas of studies and degrees (such         twenty-first-century skills. And I think        that the world has become a smaller
                             as business administration, nursing,       in large measure, that is an important          place. When you read in the news
                             human resource management, etc.),          role for universities to play.                  about firms that are attracted to
                             alongside the more general and                  While it’s integral to both                Canada and attracted to Ontario,
                             traditional arts/sciences, what do you     training environments (colleges and             they are attracted here because of
                             see as the role of universities in 2018?   universities), the university, in particular,   our diversity and our skill. So, in many
                                                                        is there to foster a culture of research,       regards, Ontario universities would be
                             Allan O’Dette (AO): The twenty-first       innovation and thinking—real critical           considered global leaders in attracting
                             century is all about talent. Period.       thinking and lateral thinking. When             diversity from around the world. I
                             Talent, talent, talent. The focus today    you think about reading classics and            don’t know the percentage that might
                             on more applied types of skills is         understanding theory and concepts,              apply to Trent, but certainly in other
                             important.                                 those are foundational skills in the            settings I know that our universities are
                                 At the same time, the role of a        twenty-first century.                           attracting a good deal of talent from
                             university, and a place like Trent in                                                      around the world. It is up to us, then,
                             2018 and beyond, is in helping our
     Shutterstock © Kolett

16                           TRENT Magazine 49.2
With globalization,
                                                                                      talent can move around. So it is
                                                                                      really up to us to create a modern
                                                                                      civil society that will attract talent.

to keep that talent —for that talent is          The other place we can go here,         Nearly 70% of Ontarians have a post-
going to be critical in driving Ontario’s   parallel but independent, is partnering.     secondary education. The one great
future economy.                             It really is incumbent on university         equalizer in this modern twenty-first
     The students that come here from       leadership to understand what is truly       century is education. That is going to
abroad study, train, do graduate work       relevant in the world—and to create          be a critical differentiator as economies
and get Ph.D.s. They live and work          an environment to promote skills             and nations emerge. If you look around
here. That plays a critical role in who     and learning development that can            right now and see what is going on
we are in the future.                       help us be successful, both here and         in Russia, in China, in Southeast Asia
     Canada is a relatively small           around the world. Also, to create an         at large, the US, the emerging South
nation and, by subtraction, Ontario is      environment where thriving clusters          American continent, North Africa—it is
a relatively small component of the         of activity are encouraged to thrive.        really overwhelming. Smart economies,
world. With this in mind, it is majorly     I know that at Trent they’ve recently        and smart business and government
important that universities attract         invested in an innovation park. That is      leaders, will be investing as heavily
and retain key talent in order for          a tremendous opportunity to create           as they’re able to in education. The
Ontario to prosper in the twenty-first      environments where an entrepreneurial        direct contribution that makes is
century. With globalization, talent         class can truly emerge.                      overwhelming. And that contribution,
can move around. So it is really up              Our opportunity in the twenty-first     with the number of foreign students
to us to create a modern civil society      century is to dream up and build the         that are coming here and the
that will attract talent. We are leading    jobs of the future.                          economic activity that is generated
the way in AI (artificial intelligence);                                                 out of research and development in
we’re the second largest jurisdiction       TM: How do/should universities act as        our universities, punches well above its
in North America in ICT (information        economic drivers?                            weight.
and communication technology) per
capita, and STEM (Science, Technology,      AO: There were some interesting
Engineering and Mathematics) grads.         figures reported on in Partnering for a
It goes on and on and on. This fosters a    Better Future in Ontario (the Ontario
competitive environment to attract and      Universities summary report 2017)—
retain people.                              in particular, a section that speaks
                                            to the absolute economic impact of
                                            universities, direct and indirect:
                                            $48.7 billion in human capital. That’s
                                            the total extra income earned by
                                            university alumni.

                                                                                                            TRENT Magazine 49.2      17
THE DEANS’ LIST
     AYESHA BARMANIA ’11

     The university in 2018 has a diversity                                                  time, the health care system changes
     of programming. It should come as no                                                    all the time. If we educate nurses on
     surprise, then, that university leaders                                                 merely memorizing and knowing
     in different disciplines will have vastly                                               and not on developing curiosity and
     different opinions on the purpose                                                       understanding, then we’re producing
     of the institution. Alumna Ayesha                                                       nurses that are never going to give the
     Barmania reached out to academic                                                        best possible care. The world will have
     deans at Trent University to get their                                                  changed by the time they get into it.
     views.                                                                                        We talk about relational inquiry
                                                                                             underpinning our curriculum—about
                                                                                             understanding there are relationships
     KIRSTEN WOODEND
                                                                                             at numerous levels. Not just between
     Dean of Trent/Fleming School of
                                                                                             you, as a nurse, and the patient, but
     Nursing
                                                                                             with the health care system and
     For me, university is mainly about                                                      patients’ other health care issues
     people learning to recognize what it is       together, asking questions to better      and the family in which they’re
     that they don’t know—and then using           understand, and then bringing what        situated; always asking questions,
     this to question and learn as they go         you have learned into the situation. As   always seeking more information
     through life.                                 almost every situation is unique, you     and not thinking that you ever know
           I would argue that, in part, critical   can’t rely on patterns. You can’t teach   everything.
     thinking comes from critical inquiry—it       students to actually know everything.           These ideas about the purpose of
     comes from constantly trying to bring         In nursing, medications change all        the university are central to nursing.
     multiple pieces of information                the time, therapies change all the        This is reinforced by studies, with

18   TRENT Magazine 49.2
hundreds of thousands of patients,        enormously important. It is crucial
that show that care by baccalaureate-     that students get instant feedback on
prepared nurses results in better         their ideas and exposure to different
outcomes for patients in terms            perspectives. When you’re reading
of factors such as mortality and          history or philosophy on your own,
complications. I think what underpins     you encounter your own perspectives,
this is the capacity that a university    thoughts, and reflections—which is
education builds for critical inquiry     great—but it isn’t enough. We have
and thinking.                             to engage collaboratively with others
                                          to truly improve our thinking and
MOIRA HOWES                               feeling. A lot of empirical research
Dean of Arts & Science – Humanities       now supports the idea that you
                                          need a diversity of discussants and
Humanities students gain a much
                                          researchers to produce really high-
deeper appreciation of the kinds
                                          quality research that can withstand
of suffering that human beings
                                          critical tests and create genuinely      I think back to when I went to
experience and the reasons why we
                                          novel solutions to longstanding          school, most students would not
suffer. Importantly, they also develop
                                          problems.                                pursue graduate degrees—you
expertise in both traditional and
                                                Humanities students have           would graduate with your undergrad
innovative ideas for reducing suffering
                                          wonderful opportunities at Trent         degree and you’d be set for whatever
and benefitting humanity. With the
                                          to engage with others as they            type of career you were interested
study of world literatures, history,
                                          work to enhance their reasoning,         in. Students are realizing that grad
and philosophy, students also gain a
                                          communication, and research skills,      degrees have value in many different
lot of insight into human character.
                                          and we are very proud of this fact.      types of careers.
It’s important to have a pretty solid
                                          The study of the humanities gives              In many fields, the entry to
understanding of character to live a
                                          students a set of tools that they can    practice level has moved from an
flourishing life that benefits others.
                                          take into any occupation or discipline   undergraduate to a master’s level.
      At Trent, students have terrific
                                          and use to further a more ethical        Oftentimes, in graduate school, you get
opportunities to discuss course
                                          and constructive engagement with         very specialized skills. For example, you
material directly with faculty and
                                          others and the world. Seeing students    may do an undergraduate chemistry
other students, at length, in their
                                          cultivate these skills over the course   degree, which will have it’s own focus
seminars. A very high degree of faculty
                                          of their degrees is so exciting and      while remaining fairly broad, and then
engagement and peer engagement
                                          meaningful. I feel such gratitude        move on to the graduate level, where
is possible at Trent. In terms of
                                          that as a professor and dean I get to    you narrow that focus down to a
developing understanding, this is
                                          witness student transformations and      very small area that you have a lot of
                                          transform myself in response to their    knowledge and skill in.
                                          thoughtful perspectives and new                Certainly, we see more and more
                                          ideas.                                   students getting graduate credentials
                                                                                   to differentiate themselves from
                                          CRAIG BRUNETTI                           their colleagues or to better market
                                          Dean of Graduate Studies                 themselves for a job.
                                                                                                                               All Dean’s List photos: Micheal Hurcomb

                                                                                         In terms of the university
                                          I believe that university education,
                                                                                   ecosystem, having more graduate
                                          including professional graduate
                                                                                   students present is a good thing,
                                          programs, has become more
                                                                                   with the undergrads benefitting from
                                          accessible for students. Today, many
                                                                                   the presence of grad students. The
                                          students are looking for additional
                                                                                   teaching assistants for undergrad
                                          education after they finish their
                                                                                   courses are grad students. Many
                                          bachelor’s degree.
                                                                                   times, in fourth year, students will be

                                                                                                      TRENT Magazine 49.2      19
doing thesis projects mentored by grad    to do during placement. And it’s not
     students. As well, undergrads looking     always going to work.
     for summer job opportunities will often         But there’s something about the
     have grad students that supervise them    resilience and grit and persistence
     during their summer employment.           that’s needed in trying again and again
     These undergraduates see the grad         to tweak things, and to continually
     students as potential role models as      revise and reframe and redesign as
     well. When they ask, wondering about      they go. Teachers do that at every level.
     next career or academic steps, they’ll    You know a good teacher is going
     often talk to the graduate students       to take the time to really watch and
     because they’re only a year or two        listen to the students. Based on those
     removed from where the undergrads         observations, they’re going to make
     are.                                      decisions about what they do next
           So I think that the graduate        in their teaching. And that’s true for
     students help enrich undergraduate        our teacher candidates as well as our        timetabling nightmare to be able to
     life. They elevate the intellectual       faculty here.                                use such diversity and breadth in your
     experience that undergraduate                   Sometimes they will learn about        undergraduate education, but you
     students receive when they come to        a strategy or a way of thinking in           can major in Chemistry and do a joint
     university.                               classes at Trent and then apply it           major with English Literature here.
           Graduate education builds on        in the classroom—and it may not              We have the capabilities of allowing
     students’ undergraduate learning          be successful immediately, but we            students to explore academically as
     and teaches advanced skills in            encourage them to persist. It’s really       much as excites and entices them.
     areas such as critical thinking,          important to really press on through         This fosters a student that is well suited
     communication, problem-solving and        the challenges and take the lead from        for today’s job market—a market that
     leadership. Where an undergraduate        the students.                                is looking for individuals who have
     degree provides a broad disciplinary                                                   learned how to learn, which you do in
     experience, a graduate degree provides                                                 your undergraduate degree, but have
     students with more advanced learning                                                   also learned how to learn things that
     in a very specialized area.                                                            are outside of their one comfort area.
                                                                                                   Speaking from the experience of
     CATHY BRUCE                                                                            my own classes, having students that
     Dean of School of Education &                                                          exhibit diversity enriches the class
     Professional Learning                                                                  experience. Often questions from
                                                                                            people that are outside of the subject
     We have a belief in the School of
                                                                                            discipline lead to intriguing new ways to
     Education that the best teaching is
                                                                                            perceive the material. As an instructor,
     learning. That, when we are teaching,
                                                                                            these questions are often challenging
     we are learning; and when we’re
                                                                                            and thought provoking. The students’
     learning, we are learning to teach.
                                                                                            approach and their thoughts are, at
           Our teacher candidates are
                                                                                            times, unexpected, and it challenges
     teaching and learning here at Trent
                                               DAVID ELLIS                                  you to be able to describe your subject
     —and teaching and learning in the
                                               Acting Dean of Arts & Science –              in different ways, and to allow people
     classroom during their placements.
                                               Science                                      to learn from different backgrounds.
     It’s an immersive experience all the
                                                                                            It is good for both the instructor
     way through.                              Trent University has always prided itself,
                                                                                            and the students to see different
           The goal is for them to take some   and is well recognized in Ontario and
                                                                                            rationalizations of subject matter.
     of the theories and practices that        in Canada, as being a university that
     they’ve been learning and try them out    creates an academic environment
     themselves—which they get                 that allows students to have as much
                                               breadth as possible. It becomes a

20   TRENT Magazine 49.2
ALUMNI BENEFITS & SERVICES

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                                                                                TRENT Magazine 49.2    21
UNIVERSITIES: CLASS NOTES

     W
                 hen I began at Trent University, my objective was
                 very straightforward: to get a career at the end
                 of my degree. Nothing more specific than that. I
     simply wanted to ensure that I would have a job, any job in
     my field, and be able to financially support myself when I
     graduated. At the beginning of my education, I believed that
     was the purpose of university: to provide the skills needed to
     ensure employment.
           What I got out of my time at Trent, however, was so
     much more than that.
           When I began at Trent, I felt I had the applicable
     skills needed from a previous college diploma to find
     employment, but I also knew that I needed that piece of
     paper that said I had a degree to get anywhere in my field.
     I figured I’d just complete my degree and that would be
     that. What I didn’t anticipate was the number of things the
     Trent community would open my mind to—and not just
     the faculty, but the entire culture here. While I know I could
     have received a business degree anywhere, what made Trent
     so different was the inspiration I was able to draw from so
     many different people.
           At some point in my education, I realized that the
     conversations in the classrooms, the values promoted by
     the University, the community I had built for myself, and
     the experiences that I had shared had slowly but definitively
     inspired bigger and more distinct goals for myself.
           I now have a Bachelor of Business Administration
     degree from Trent in sustainability, ethical conduct, and
                                                                            To me, the purpose of Trent—and of all universities—is
     human rights—and while none of those are formal streams
                                                                      to open every student’s mind enough that they have the
     in Business Admin, they are definitely attributes that were
                                                                      ability to define their own purpose within society. It is to
     passed onto me during my time here. I now believe that
                                                                      ensure that students are thinking critically about the world
     each of these is also what the University stands for; and that
                                                                      and what they are going to do to better it.
     this has seeped into every inch of the institution.
           As a new graduate who secured a job two days after
     finishing exams, I can definitely say I was provided with the
                                                                      ELLANNE THOMSON ’16
     skills to begin my career. But what I am most proud of is
     that, with the help of what feels like an entire village, and    is a new graduate of Trent University with a B.B.A. degree
     institution, I now know what matters in the world to me and      and a Specialization in Marketing & Consumer Culture. She
     how I want to impact it.                                         is currently a digital marketing assistant at Trent.

22   TRENT Magazine 49.2
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