Cornwall
A Day in the Life of Gillian Cornwall means helping people go to school. Cornwall has been an undergraduate admissions clerk in the Office of the Registrar and Enrolment Services for more than 10 years and has now taken up a new position as communications assistant with Student Recruitment. Her admissions areas have been fine arts, law, continuing studies diploma applicants and international exchange students. Most applications are submitted electronically. Her job includes processing paperwork, including all associated documents: transcripts, tests, TOEFL, and letters relating to specific student needs.
Although some may see Cornwall and her admissions colleagues as only dealing with paperwork, they are very student-focused. Sometimes they are the first point of contact for potential students, by email, phone or in person. “We are seeing the millennium generation now,” she says. “They want their families involved in making decisions. We are introducing a group of people to a community. We act as a hub from which we can direct them to all points of access for the whole process: advising, financial aid, housing….”
The most common question is: “What do I need to do?” With many long-term employees in the office, there is a wealth of knowledge to draw upon. “Our staff works as a team both in information sharing and support. It is more than just one person who makes it all happen. It takes front desk staff, recruitment staff, the person who screens the applications, technical people, academic advisors, staff in the particular academic department and more.”
Technically, her work is done once the admission process is complete, but she often invites applicants to come in if they have questions. “It’s important for them to have a contact,” she says. “We’re a community—it’s in the strategic plan—it’s important that we build community. It’s definitely important for me to put a personal face to the applicant. They are more than a piece of paper.”
She remembers one student, applying from the US, whose family had many questions. Cornwall was helping them with housing and other issues by phone but, as she was going to be in their city on vacation, she brought a Victoria map and met up with them there. At convocation, the student’s mother came over, hugged her and said, “You’re one of the reasons why we’re here on this day!”
While Cornwall’s academic background is in recreation leadership, she has worked professionally as a visual artist, as an extra in film, in stand-up comedy for two years, writes, and she works as a freelance editor. She has been active with gay and lesbian issues. Her goal is to live consciously. “I want to look back and know I lived a full life, have a good conscience and been as helpful as I could be. That’s a good footprint to leave.”
|
|
