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President's Distinguished Service Awards 2006
by Beth Haysom
Four individuals and a four-member team have won the fifth annual President’s Distinguished Service Awards, which were announced at the president’s holiday reception in December.
The awards were created in 2002 to honour the achievements of UVic’s 4,000 staff members.
“Each of these UVic employees demonstrates exceptional dedication to their work resulting in an enriched university experience for us all,” said UVic President David Turpin. “Their contributions make UVic a great place to learn, live and work and generate benefits for the campus community and beyond.”
Employees are nominated in two categories. The Award for Distinguished Service honours employees for their contributions to the university’s learning and working environment. The Team Award for Innovation goes to a team or group for innovations that improve an educational, administrative or organizational process.
This year, the selection committee received 22 nominations for the Award for Distinguished Service and six nominations for the Team Award for Innovation. Each recipient received a framed certificate.
Left to right: Doner, Chan, Webster and Bhathella (seated).
Distance Education Services Online Help Desk team members Manesh Bhathella, Katy Chan, Susan Doner and Keith Webster are “the invisible people” who help to bridge the technological gap between instructors and students whether they are on campus or thousands of miles away.
The Online Help Desk, established in September 1996, supports thousands of distance students in three undergraduate degree programs, three graduate degree programs, eight certificate programs and ad hoc online distance courses developed by individual departments or faculties.
Dozens of grateful messages are testimony to how much the team’s calm, highly-professional and expert assistance is appreciated, especially at crucial times, such as the day they helped to troubleshoot a technological glitch in an online exam program.
“Most of us wouldn’t know if we were standing beside a member of this team while we wait in line at the cafeteria to buy our cup of coffee,” says Dean of Human and Social Development Mary Ellen Purkis.
“Because of their work, they permit all of us engaged in teaching students to do our work so well; to engage in the exchange of interesting and important knowledge with students and colleagues right here on our doorstep—or living half a continent away.”
Labossiere
From his earliest days in the UVic army huts to planning the new science building, Albert Labossiere has been the behind-the-scenes planner and designer who makes things work no matter what.
“Labo,” as he is affectionately known after more than 30 years with the university, is little short of “a magician,” say colleagues in the biochemistry and microbiology department where he works as technical services manager.
Labossiere is someone who goes way beyond his electronics technician role, helping researchers or laboratory instructors needing a new instrument to achieve a research or teaching goal. “He always goes the extra mile, quickly and effectively expanding his expertise to meet new needs,” says John Hall, the department’s administrative officer.
During his lengthy service, Labossiere has kept everything on track, often working well past regular hours to maintain or repair vital scientific equipment. A survey during the ‘90s estimated that Labossiere and his staff saved the department over $350,000 in equipment repairs, service calls and service contracts annually.
A talented planner, Labossiere is credited with contributing to the successful construction of the Petch Building, the UVic aquatic facility and the future new science building.
Motek
For 29 years Michael Motek has been Mr. Technology at UVic where, as software development officer, he has assisted the university to navigate technology as it evolves from its earliest systems to the latest Nova installations.
During this technological revolution, Motek has contributed imaginative and well-constructed systems solutions to address a myriad of UVic business process challenges.
Among “Michael’s modules” are: Tel Reg, the phone-in registration system (the precursor to online registration); AutoReg, a sophisticated process for moving students from a class waitlist and automatically registering them when spaces become available; and Convroll and CermRoll, systems that allow graduating students to organize all their convocation needs online.
More than just a technological marvel, Motek has proven to be an inspirational leader and a calm voice in a crisis. Taking charge when a hidden bug in the system threatened to ruin convocation for hundreds of students and their families, he solved the problem in the nick of time.
“We could not have done it without him,” says Alison Ducharme, director of university ceremonies and events.
Garrett
As a co-op coordinator in the Engineering, and Computer Science/Math Co-op Program, Toni Garrett has touched the lives of thousands of students, many of whom believe she was pivotal in their successful careers.
“Everyone has a good Toni story to tell,” says student Kevin Garwood, who credits Garrett with saving him from the potentially harmful behaviour of obsessive studying.
Passionate about her role, Garrett has made a point of visiting each student in the program under her care at their worksite, whether in Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary or beyond. She even took to a snowmobile to reach students working in the Northwest Territories.
“By her devotion to the university and the students, Toni Garrett has provided the university with a human face and that has greatly benefited students as they adjust to their academic challenges,” says David Goodenough, senior research scientist at the Pacific Forestry Centre, which regularly employs UVic co-op students.
Recently, Garrett has been focusing her talents on helping international students and has developed a personable and creative technique for helping foreign students improve their language and written skills through regular “pen-pal” correspondence.
Parsons
Manager of counselling services Joe Parsons has never been too busy to lend an ear to students, staff and colleagues.
Since arriving at UVic in 1980, Parsons has supported the mental well-being of students through initiatives such as the Peer Helping Program and the BC Campus Project, addressing mental health issues and the impact of substance abuse on campus.
As part of his demanding portfolio, Parsons has also helped to develop and co-
ordinate UVic’s Learning Skills Course that helps students become better learners while coping with the challenges of the university environment.
“ThinkFast,” a software program developed by Parsons, has helped countless students to develop fluency with basic facts and terms in their courses and has been adopted in a variety of courses around the world.
But it’s not just what he does but how he does it, say Parsons colleagues. His ability to “stand beside, rather than teach in front of the learner,” has impacted the lives of thousands of students and many staff and faculty members.
However busy, Parsons is always willing to stop and talk to a student, says David Polson, a faculty member in the psychology department. “Joe has never forgotten what it’s like to be a student. He’s sympathetic to their concerns. He’s been on a mission to improve their lives, and he has.”
All photos by UVic Photo Services
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