Trent’s Colleges: A Discussion

Post Summary Report
March 26, 2007

Below is a summary of the discussions held at the Peterborough campus from February 6th to February 14th - and at the Oshawa Campus on March 6th and 9th. These discussions involved:

• two open sessions – February 6th in Otonabee College moderated by Professor Michael Berrill and February 8th in Lady Eaton College moderated by Professor Gordon Johnston;
• sessions in each of the residential colleges organized by the Heads of College and/or Cabinet;
• two open sessions in Oshawa and;
• an e-survey for students, faculty and staff to complete if they wished.

Approximately 115 people participated in the open sessions in Peterborough and a further 50 in Oshawa. In addition, the survey was completed by 169 students, 6 faculty and 3 staff. The survey asked each respondent to answer three questions about the colleges:

• What do you think are the most worthwhile features (of the colleges)?
• What are the improvements you would like to see?
• Other comments?

There were many common issues raised in the open sessions, at the colleges’ meetings and in the survey.

Students were by far the most engaged in the discussions. The suggestions and comments, therefore, speak predominantly to the students’ experiences and wishes, with the role of faculty in particular continuing to be quite marginal. Michael Berril summed up the comments at the OC open session by indicating that the students’ comments had four themes –

• colleges are primarily a first year residential experience;
• the colleges’ value is found in the interdisciplinary mix of students
• the colleges should be of relevance to more than first year students.
• a fourth theme was presented by a representative of the Education Students’ Association who argued that the consecutive education students need their own separate college in order that their particular requirements and interests can be addressed. This view was not endorsed by other students at the meeting but was recognized as an ongoing issue that required attention and further discussion as this approach would result in a very different college concept.

The first three themes reflect many of the comments and ideas heard in the other meetings and from the survey. It is evident from the views expressed by the students that they value the colleges very highly because each college is a smaller community within the larger Trent community. Students commented in particular on the important role colleges play in supporting students in their first year. This is accomplished through a sense of belonging to a specific college, through meeting a wider range of students with different interests, through ISW and other college activities, through knowing the staff and through the distinct buildings and space associated with each college – all features which help students adjust to their new circumstances as a university student. Upper year students who have lived in the colleges comment that this is where they made their friends and these are the people with whom they moved off-campus to share living accommodation. The upper year students participating in the discussions indicated that they generally had less involvement in their colleges after their first year. It was recognized, however, that some students continue to have a high level of involvement e.g. college cabinets, student dons, and that upper year and non-resident first year students do become involved in college life when events are well-organized and of interest to a broad range of students.

From the discussions in Oshawa, it is evident that the students do not identify with Julian Blackburn College which is the college in which they are currently members. Students identify themselves as Trent students in Oshawa rather than through the college affiliation. As such they would like to see their presence on campus at Durham College/UOIT more prominently acknowledged and have better opportunities to meet with other Trent in Oshawa students and faculty through dedicated space for social activities. The ability to travel easily to Peterborough to use the library or other resources would also reinforce the Trent connection as would a good and continuous flow of information about events and activities from the Peterborough campus. It was also noted that faculty and staff have a closer affiliation with JBC because of the services provided to them through the college. At both meetings, it was acknowledged that the sense of community in Oshawa comes from the commitment of the faculty and the links between faculty and students.

The improvements to the colleges suggested by students are wide-ranging. Ideas ranged from leaving well-alone as the colleges are fine to the need for new colleges to provide residential, social and academic space. In some instances students focussed on very specific items e.g. food, renovations, the needs of Education students, the need for more college events, a higher level of involvement by off-residence and by upper-year students. Because Traill is a major point of discussion this year there were also comments on the desirability of keeping Traill as an undergraduate residential college. In addition, some suggestions support the further development of student space in the colleges and see a centralized facility with common space as undesirable. Throughout many of the comments, there is a suggestion that the Trent community – administration, students, faculty and staff – needs to be supportive of the college system because it contributes to the university’s success. A number of participants in the discussions also suggested that it would be preferable to have specific ideas presented to College Cabinets, CASSC and other university bodies so that more focussed discussions could take place. Such an approach can be adopted for the future.

Where to from here? There are many suggestions which can be addressed through college cabinets, the college offices and various branches of the university community. The Colleges Subcommittee of CASSC will take up the suggestions under the purview of cabinets and college offices. Other suggestions will be referred to the appropriate offices at the university.

I should like to thank all of those who took the time to present their views and ideas. The colleges are a defining characteristic of Trent University and we must continue to keep them vibrant and relevant for students, in particular.

Susan Apostle-Clark
Vice President Academic & Provost