On Friday, May 23, 2014 the University community gathered to celebrate 13 staff and faculty members as the inaugural recipients of Trent’s Student Support Certificate.

During the 2013-2014 academic year, these staff and faculty, representing a range of departments on campus, completed the requirements of the certificate program, which was initiated by the Office of Student Affairs in September 2013 to equip staff and faculty with the skills to support students in a variety of situations.

Certificates were presented at a small reception at Lady Eaton College (LEC), attended by the provost, Dr. Gary Boire, and associate vice-president of Students, Dr. Nona Robinson. Dr. Robinson thanked the staff for making students a priority and for taking time from their workday to commit to student success at Trent. Dr. Boire echoed her thanks, highlighting the willingness of staff to continue to develop their skills, and referencing his own experiences assisting students as a faculty member and hockey coach.

During the reception, staff reflected on their workshop experiences noting how applicable these workshops were to their professional and personal lives. Both new and seasoned employees expressed the importance of empathizing with students and the opportunity to network and share experiences with other staff and faculty at the University.

The student support workshops are available for all Trent faculty and staff to attend. Workshop topics include: resolving conflict, diversity, communication, referring students, mental health, and more. For more about the student support certificate and the workshops offered this spring, visit: http://www.trentu.ca/studentaffairs/certificate.php