AECAA NewsMay 2005
A Year in the Life of AECAA
As you will see in other parts of this newsletter, the AECAA executive members have all been busy on behalf of our members. What you will not see is what a cooperative and congenial group they are. I have never had the chance to work with a more pleasant executive. We saved a bit of money by holding regular meetings via conference calls ably set up by Trina. Major activities included the professional development day at Red Deer College, which is described elsewhere, and the development of a Student Project Award that we plan to award next year with your help in identifying deserving recipients. Please encourage those eligible to apply! Information regarding the award is available on the AECAA website and from the handouts that will be made available at a number of venues, including the ASSC at Mount Royal College.
It is our hope that AECAA becomes a more useful and involving part of your professional life. As our technology continues to improve, I hope that both the challenges we all face and the value we all add can be beneficially shared. We can collectively learn from the trials and triumphs of each other.
Please do avail yourself of the continually improving website for updates and useful information.
Any individual on the executive will always welcome feedback and suggestions regarding issues, concerns or activities you think may be appropriate for AECAA.
Wishing you the very best of the bestest,
Lee Handy, Current Chair AECAA
Senior Counsellor, Assoc. Director
Counselling Centre U of Calgary
New Counselling Web site at NAIT
Did you know there are many exciting things happening at the Post-Secondary Counselling Centres around Alberta? Some of these exciting innovations were mentioned at the PD Day held at Red Deer College on February 25, 2005. One of the ‘hottest’ topics is technology.
It can be difficult keeping up with the ‘information age’, and a struggle to keep on-line information current and relevant. As technology changes and learners become increasingly technologically savvy, the expectation to provide on-line resources increases. What better way to keep ourselves modern than to share resources?
NAIT Student Counselling Centre has developed and launched a brand new website. In looking more closely at the website some of the features I see that differ from others, are the interactive pages and the direct links to information. The NAIT Student Counselling Centre webpage provides interactive self-assessments including the Coping with Stress Index and the Rate Your Study Skills tool. As well, this website provides direct information and resources for students on topics such as perfectionism, procrastination, self esteem, relationship issues, to name a few. Jerry Cossitt, from NAIT Student Counselling Centre, is interested in receiving feedback on the webpage. According to Jerry, students at NAIT are utilizing and benefiting from the new website. Check it out at
You can contact Jerry Cossitt for more details at itted by Trina Roll, RDC
Now that the smoke has cleared
In 2004 Olds College was the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) to implement the Young Adult Tobacco Reduction Strategy (YTRS). Implementation of this grant for the 2004-05 term was the responsibility of Project Leader, Erin Hildebrandt.
Since receiving this grant in January 2004, the Tobacco Reduction Team at Olds College has made significant strides in the awareness and education of students at Olds College in relation to all issues pertaining to tobacco. Recently, the Tobacco Reduction Team has seen evidence that the work of the past year has had a significant impact on the attitudes of both students and employees at Olds College. Since the implementation of smoke-free entrances at Olds College, there has been little opposition or disregard of these areas as a smoke-free part of campus. Observation of these areas continued to be excellent by both students and employees throughout the winter season. As well, there has been significant movement by the Olds College Students Association (OCSA) towards smoke-free events. Such events included the Corb Lund concert and the student's Christmas Formal that have always been smoking events in the past. These decisions were reached by a democratic vote of the OCSA Executive.
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AECAA NewsMay 2005
These decisions were viewed as positive as not one complaint was received by the Executive for the events being smoke-free. The Tobacco Reduction Program at Olds College offers ongoing programming such as: individual cessation programs and student smoke-free event sponsorship; as well as special events such as our Speaker Series, The Drop Dead Event and Wellness Week activities. In addition, the Tobacco Reduction Team has launched several awareness campaigns including anti-tobacco cinnamon gum use, social norms stickers and the Opportunity Cost of Tobacco Use. As well, because a significant portion of our student population uses "chew" tobacco, Olds College initiated the Smoky Mountain Snuff Campaign (no tobacco or nicotine) featuring 8-time world chuck wagon and 10-time Calgary Stampede chuck wagon champion, Kelly Sutherland.
Recently, a survey was distributed to a representative cross-section sample of Olds College students with some interesting results. The majority of students surveyed at Olds College believe that all buildings including campus residences and all class activities including those outdoors should be smoke-free. The only exception is the Campus Pub; students are split equally on the issue of a smoke-free pub. It is interesting to note that the OCSA Executive decided not to sell any tobacco related products in the Pub regardless of the survey results. Further analysis of the data is underway but it is believed the initial smoke-free direction will be reflected in additional results.
In conclusion, these significant events, in addition to all of the positive comments on the work and the support that the Tobacco Reduction Team at Olds College has received, exemplifies our commitment to education and awareness of our students about all issues pertaining to tobacco and its use. The Tobacco Reduction Team looks forward to continuing this important and exciting work in the hopes that Olds College will become a smoke-free campus with positive and effective programs for students and employees to learn about tobacco issues and quit tobacco use for the long-term. Submitted by Russ Guthrie, Olds
Membership Chocolate Challenge!
Many thanks to those individuals who renewed their institutional membership. Currently, we have 19 paid institutional members including: Alberta College of Art & Design, Athabasca University, Augustana University College, Bow Valley College, Grant MacEwan Community College, Keyano College, Lakeland College, Lethbridge Community College, Mount Royal College, NAIT, Northern Lakes College, Norquest College, Olds College, Portage College, Red Deer College, S.A.I.T., University of Alberta, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge.
There is currently one institution that has not sent in their membership renewal. Can you identify the missing institution? When you do, please send them a friendly reminder to forward their membership renewal to me. If we are successful in getting all 20 institutions renewed before our AGM at Mount Royal College on May 17, there will be chocolate treats for you to enjoy at the meeting. Thanks for your commitment in helping AECAA to be a viable and important professional organization!! Submitted by Ann Laverty
Dollars for Diversity initiatives
As counsellors at our institutions, we are likely to be some of the first staff members to notice that our student populations are becoming more diverse. What kind of work are you doing within your institution to promote awareness of diversity? The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, the Human Rights and Citizenship Branch of Alberta Community Development, and the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Education Fund share the function of promoting human rights and diversity education. The Education Fund provides financial support to Alberta community organizations, including post secondary institutions, undertaking human rights and diversity initiatives that lead to change, as well as supporting the educational work of the Commission. Check out their web site and consider applying for some funding. Paul Roberge 403 284-7666 at ACAD has applied for and received four grants over the last six years. Call him for ideas you might want to consider for your institution.
AECAA Executive 2004/2005
President Lee Handy U of C
Vice-President/Treasurer Ann Laverty U of C
Secretary: Janet Miller MRC
Web Liaison: Paul Roberge ACAD
Central Representative: Trina Roll RDC
Northern Representative: Brenda Barrett GMC
Past President: Wayne Lovely Portage
AECAA is your organization. There are plenty of opportunities to be involved and benefit more from networking with your colleagues across the province. Contact Lee at for more information.
Newsletter – compiled by Paul Roberge, ACAD
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