I feel lucky to be able to say I have an interesting job with lots of variety. This week did not disappoint. It began with meeting a delegation from a University in France, with whom the College has a partnership agreement (I got to practice my rusty French), and ended with meeting another delegation from Kenya. There are many exciting projects going on connecting institutions across the Island, and I’m sure, across Canada and beyond.

It struck me this morning in the meeting with representatives of two institutions in Kenya and also from a local University on the Island, how important these connections are. We’re not only learning and exchanging discipline content and pedagogical expertise, we’re learning different world views and ways of interacting across cultural differences. I do not think it an exaggeration to say that we are at a point in history where these experiences are critical for everyone. I feel fortunate to be at an institution where such collaborations are valued and encouraged.

Most of the rest of this week has been focused on Program Review. It’s a fascinating experience being an ‘internal’ ‘external’ on the Review Team, particularly given my previous involvement with PR processes. I’ve enjoyed finding out more about the ‘nuts and bolts’ of another area of the College. I know I’m guilty of believing that as a small institution, it’s easy to keep up with what’s going on in other areas; in reality, it isn’t. What’s interesting is the diverse perspectives of various stakeholders, which made me think of the analogy of how as humans, we frequently only see one part of the ‘elephant.’ Not to mention the avoidance of the ‘elephant in the room.’ As a review team, we did not avoid the elephant in the room and did our best to ensure we explored all sides of ‘said elephant.’

There’s a reason why we undergo these reviews. At this level of the functioning of a College (i.e., not at the senior leadership level), on a day to day basis, few of us have the opportunity to have these richer and more formal conversations that lead to reflection on ‘what is,’ with the specific goal of considering ‘what could be;’ and the possibility of leading to actual action and positive change. Program Reviews are opportunities for evidence-based action.

I’m looking forward to seeing what recommendations we identify as a Review Team and the new horizons for this area. I am grateful for the time, energy, and thought that colleagues within the College have given to this process.