Faculty of Education
Office of the Dean
Niagara Region
1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way
St. Catharines, ON
L2S 3A1 Canada
T 905 688 5550 x3712
F 905 685 4131
brocku.ca/education
Administrative Staff Restructuring in the Faculty of Education
August 2016
Effective August 2016, a number of changes will be made in the duties,
responsibilities, and reporting relationships of staff in the Faculty of Education. The
changes that are being made at this point are independent of whatever might happen
in terms of the restructuring of departments and centres. However, some additional
changes in staff assignments might occur depending on decisions about academic
structures.
The purpose of the changes is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the
operation of the Faculty by removing some administrative responsibilities that have
historically been handled by chairs and directors so that they can function better as
academic leaders. These responsibilities will be shifted to administrators. However,
there will continue to be strong ties between the academic leaders of departments
and centres and administrators within the Faculty.
The broad effect of these changes is that chairs and directors of academic units will
have fewer administrative staff members reporting directly to them because
responsibility for student services, including advising, will be consolidated under the
direction of the Associate Dean, Professional and Undergraduate Student Services and
the Associate Dean, Graduate Student Services, International, and Research.
The changes described below require no additional FTEs. This is a reorganization of
administrative staff members who are already in the Faculty. Some positions will
have new job descriptions which could result in a reclassification of the position
which would require a small increase in compensation. However, this proposal
requires no significant infusion of resources.
The target date for implementing these changes is August 29, 2016. However, this is
a soft target. There are still some details to be worked out. Where there are changes
in reporting relationships, this will be the effective date of those changes. Some
duties will be moved from one unit or person to another; those involved in these
changes should begin discussion of these changes as soon as possible, but it is
understood that some time will be needed for an orderly transition. There is no
immediate need for any changes in office locations, but this might occur over time.
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Student Services for Professional and Undergraduate Students Will Be
Consolidated Under the New Associate Dean, Professional and Undergraduate
Students Services
The purpose of this change is to create one unit that will have the main responsibility
for ensuring that the Faculty of Education provides a high quality student experience.
The new Associate Dean of Professional and Undergraduate Student Services, Sheila
Bennett, will be responsible for recruitment and retention, advising, field
placements, professional development, and other administrative functions dealing
with all teacher candidates and undergraduate students in the Faculty, with the
exception of students enrolled in Tecumseh Centre programs. This includes students
in the consecutive, concurrent, early childhood education, and adult education
programs.
Sandra Regier will be the Administrative Director, Student Services and will have
responsibility for student advising and field placements. Ethna Bernat will be the
Associate Administrative Director.
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The group that currently advises concurrent students will be joined by the advisors
currently associated with the Centre for Adult Education and Community Outreach.
The titles of these positions will be changed to Student Services Specialist in
recognition of the fact that their relationship with students extends far beyond
simply advising.
The unit currently responsible for field placements (Michelle Smythe, Natalie
Reynolds) will also join this group reporting to Ms. Regier.
This unit will establish a single window to which any professional or undergraduate
student in the Faculty could go for assistance. This will ensure that students do not
become lost or confused within the system.
The current Partnership Coordinator, Dorothy Buchanan, will see the title of her
position changed to Coordinator, Professional Development for Students, Recruitment
and Retention. This title reflects her present duties better, but it also recognizes
that her duties will be expanded to cover recruitment and retention. This position
will have additional administrative assistance as discussed below.
This group will be supported by an administrative assistant working directly for the
Associate Dean and an additional administrative assistant who will have responsibility
for assisting others in this unit.
A Similar Shift Will Occur in the Responsibilities of the Associate Dean, Graduate
Student Services, International, and Research
The Associate Dean, Graduate Student Services, International, and Research,
Michelle McGinn, will take on additional responsibilities for providing advising and
related services to graduate students. The position of graduate assistant currently
being staffed by TES is being restored to the Faculty complement. This position will
be responsible for student advising and generally ensuring the high quality of the
student experience.
The former position of Research Officer will be changed to Manager, Research
Matters. Dr. Ratkovic’s responsibilities will be extended to include professional
development for graduate students, development of external partnerships, advancing
a culture of research, scholarship, and knowledge mobilization. The focus is on
supporting and advancing student and faculty work within the Faculty.
International Activities will remain the responsibility of this Associate Dean. No
changes in this area are planned at this point.
The Associate Dean will continue to be supported by an administrative assistant.
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Reporting Relationships to the Dean Will Change Somewhat
The positions that currently report to the Dean will maintain that same relationship.
Those positions are Budget Officer; Manager, Communications; and Manager,
Instructional Resource Centre. The Manager, Computer Services, who formerly
reported to the Associate Dean, will now report directly to the Dean.
One change of some significance will be made. The position of Educational
Technologist, held by Nick Contant, which was previously lodged in the Centre for
Adult Education and Community Outreach, will be re-titled On-line Instructional
Technology Specialist and will now report to the Dean. The change in title and
reporting relationship reflects the fact that this position will now provide support to
departments and centres developing on-line courses.
The Dean will continue to be supported by his Executive Assistant, Sharon Spiece.
Departments and Centres
At this point, no changes other than those mentioned above will be made in the
existing departments and centres. These changes continue to be under discussion but
until changes in these academic units have been finalized by Senate, there will be no
further changes in staff assignments.
August 9, 2016
Questions about this should be directed to:
David Siegel
Interim Dean
Faculty of Education
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