a
rts co-op program nnual report
2011 / 2012
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Earlier this year I spoke at a conference of Deans of Arts and Sciences, titled “Strategies for promoting and advocating for the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences,” in Salt Lake City. My point was a simple one: an Arts degree is the degree for the 21st century. An article in the Globe and Mail op-ed section from October 2011 encouraged universities to “spell out what an undergraduate education is good for. Here’s one definition: It ought to produce critical thinkers, scientifically and culturally literate people who can assess evidence, connect the dots and communicate with clarity – the key skills that, in a fast-changing economy, prepare people for the jobs that haven’t been invented yet.” Not bad, but I think we would add that the same training should help to produce people who will be curious throughout their lives and for whom learning doesn’t stop at graduation. In our Faculty, we’re refocusing on undergraduate education, enhancing the method of delivery, incorporating educational outcomes and renewing the curriculum on an ongoing basis. And we want our students to experience transformational learning outside the classroom during their degrees, like the kind of experience provided by the Arts Co-op Program, to ensure our graduates are ready to engage with the world, or, as I often put it, that they are “life ready.” These pages are full of stories about productive, successful arts co-op students and graduates now serving as leaders and living rich, full lives. I’m excited by the way the successes of Arts Co-op students – enabled because of our incredible, diverse co-op employers here and abroad – demonstrate the power of an arts degree for the 21st century and its capacity to stimulate creativity, change, citizenship, and innovation. Congratulations to the Arts Co-op Program for a record-breaking year, a year in which our Co-op placements climbed by 19% and in which our students earned more than $3 million dollars for taking part in the program. I look forward to hearing of the life- and career-enriching experiences that our students will encounter in their 2012-13 Co-op placements. Gage Averill Dean, Faculty of Arts
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UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR I’m pleased to present the UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report for 2011/12, which was a record-breaking year for our program with 329 placements, a remarkable 19% increase from last year. In a time of shrinking resources we are grateful to our over 300 employers who demonstrated commitment to our students and the co-operative education model by hiring from us – our success is because of your continued support. We were pleased to contribute to the continued success of UBC’s 6 co-op programs. During 2011/12, UBC students completed 3492 co-op terms, making us the largest co-op university in Western Canada for the 6th year in a row. Notable accomplishments this year include: • Our undergraduate Arts co-op student Sophia Kim was recognized by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education for her outstanding work with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. • We launched a new conference-based format for our pre-employment training called “Illuminate.” Thank you to the over 40 alumni, employers, and senior students who participated as speakers and facilitators at these popular conferences! • In response to student feedback, we made substantial revisions to the professional development assignments that students write while on work terms, making them more practical and the learning outcomes and evaluation criteria clearer. • Valuing continuous improvement, we recently undertook substantial surveys of our graduate and undergraduate students and look forward to making adjustments based on student feedback in the year ahead. UBC Arts Co-op staff were also actively engaged in this year’s biannual conference of the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education, presenting a total of 5 workshops throughout the conference on topics ranging from our pre-employment conferences, to safety planning for international work terms, to using technology to improve efficiency for our key partners. We were also proud of the successes of our Alumni Network, which was very engaged this year in growing its network through a variety of events, and supported our continued efforts to encourage more alumni to donate to the program through our first-ever alumni appeal. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, you can contact me at 604.827.5194 or julie.walchli@ubc.ca. Julie Walchli Director
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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a
rts co-op program mission statement The UBC Arts Co-op Program offers students enriched educational experiences for personal and professional growth by working with diverse community partners and sectors to provide transformative workplace learning. The UBC Arts Co-op Program aims to: • Provide students with the support and opportunities for career exploration, and diversification of experience and skill sets • Develop skilled professionals who can strengthen the workforce in new and innovative ways • Enable students to be engaged citizens who contribute positively to a global society • Build student capacity for leadership • Foster student and alumni connections to UBC and the local and international communities
Our Roots The UBC Arts Co-op Program started as a pilot program in 1997 for students in the Department of English. As a result of our growth and success, the program is thriving and includes students across all undergraduate disciplines within Arts (26 different undergraduate programs in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Creative and Performing Arts) and graduate programs in the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies. We are now the third largest co-op program at UBC with about 472 active students in the program.
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UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
FACTS & FIGURES The Arts Co-op Program placed 329 students during 2011/12 including 265 undergraduate (UG) students from Humanities, Social Science, and Creative and Performing Arts majors, and 64 graduate (G) students from the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies. This is the highest placement success in the program’s history and a 19% increase over last year’s numbers.
Employment by Sector & Region The public sector remains the largest employer of Arts Co-op students in 2011/12 with 48% of placements, down 5% from last year. The non-profit sector had 25% of placements (a decrease of 2% from last year), with the remaining 27% working in the private sector (an increase of 7% from last year). In 2011/12, 71% or our placements were in the Lower Mainland area, 3% on Vancouver Island, 3% in other BC locations, 14% in other Canadian provinces and territories, and 9% in foreign countries.
Placement History Year
UG
G
Total
99/00
112
-
112
00/01
119
-
119
01/02
144
-
144
02/03
134
15
149
03/04
189
25
214
04/05
182
20
202
05/06
212
28
240
06/07
220
46
266
07/08
264
54
318
08/09
223
39
262
09/10
201
37
238
10/11
215
61
276
11/12
265
64
329
Total
2485
389
2874
International Placements
Educating Global Citizens: International Placements This year 29 students completed co-op terms in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Korea, Australia, Switzerland, and Germany – a 1% increase from last year. Since the Program’s inception in 2000, Arts Co-op students have worked in over 26 different countries. We know that living and working abroad is one of the most powerful educational experiences students can have, and want to ensure all students who want international co-op experience have access to challenging opportunities.
Year
Placements
% of Total
99/00
10
9%
00/01
10
8%
01/02
10
7%
02/03
15
10%
03/04
18
8%
04/05
19
9%
05/06
35
15%
06/07
25
10%
07/08
43
14%
08/09
29
11%
09/10
16
7%
10/11
23
8%
11/12
29
9%
Total
256
10%
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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STUDENT INTAKE & SELECTION During our annual intake in Fall 2011, we received 367 applications from undergraduate students and admitted 188, increases of 32% and 22% respectively. For the graduate program, we received 61 applications from SLAIS students and admitted 55.
“
People would be surprised at the caliber of students [they] see through the program…It’s a wonderful experience to help teach another person.
- BC Lung Association
”
High Caliber Students Potential undergraduate Arts Co-op students go through a rigorous and competitive application process, as we strive to admit outstanding students who will meet the needs of our employers. We assess students’ suitability for the Program by reviewing their academic achievements, previous work and volunteer experiences, interpersonal skills, writing abilities, and career motivation. After reviewing applications, we select the strongest students to participate in group interviews, where students are asked both behavioural and standard interview questions, followed by delivering a brief presentation and completing an independent writing assignment. We invest in this rigorous selection process to ensure that we consistently deliver the highest caliber students for our employers. 6
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
STUDENT SALARY AVERAGES Since the Program’s launch in January 2000, Arts Co-op student wages have totalled over $23 million! The following salary data shows co-op salary averages by employment sector. Undergraduate students earn an average of $2,155 per month while on Arts Co-op work terms, while graduate students earn an average of $3124 per month. In total, undergraduate Arts Co-op students earned $2,284,061 in salaries during 2011/12, and graduate Arts Co-op students earned $762,279 in salaries, for a total of $3,046,340 earned in 2011/12. An undergraduate student will earn on average a total of $24,884 over 3 work terms. Students who choose to do an optional fourth co-op work term before graduation will earn an average of $34,214 and students who choose to do an optional fifth co-op work term will earn an average of $40,714.
Undergraduate Salary by Work Term Work Term
Average Salary
1
$9,639
2
$7,488
3
$7,757
Total
$24,884
4
$9,330
5
$6,500
Total
$40,714
Undergraduate & Graduate Salaries by Sector Average Monthly Salary Sector
Undergraduate
Graduate
Public
$2,045
$3,245
Non-profit
$1,980
$2,558
Private
$2,474
$3,402
Overall
$2,155
$3,124
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
2011 UBC Arts Co-op Students of the Year The Arts Co-op Program recognized each of the three winners for outstanding achievement in all aspects of student performance, including academics, the workplace, and professional and/or community involvement. Undergraduate Arts Co-op Student of the Year Sophia Kim Bachelor of Arts, Economics and International Relations Work term: Junior Analyst, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
SLAIS MLIS Co-op Student of the Year Naomi Schemm Master of Library and Information Studies Work term: Records Management Co-op Student, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
SLAIS MAS Co-op Student of the Year Dan Gillean Dual Master of Archival & Master of Library and Information Studies Work term: Archivist, BC Government’s Records Management Operations
UBC Arts Co-op Student Wins National Recognition In addition to being named UBC Arts Co-op’s Undergraduate Student of the Year, Sophia Kim was also recognized as one of the nation’s best co-op students by CAFCE (Canadian Association For Co-operative Education). Sophia was awarded an honourable mention for her work term at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, where she undertook what her supervisor described as “an ambitious research project examining the economic impact of treaties on First Nations in British Columbia.” Pictured: Sophia Kim receives certificate of national co-op recognition from Julie Walchli, Director of the UBC Arts Co-op Program 8
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT The Arts Co-op Students’ Association (ACSA) strives to create a community for students and alumni to connect with their peers, and to share their co-op experiences and career aspirations. As the first co-op student association at UBC, ACSA organizes events to enhance students’ professional skills and provide them with an opportunity to get to know others in the program so they can learn from one another, have fun and stay connected. ACSA’s 7 teams are led by students and elected by Arts Co-op students: · Publishing Team · Finance & Promotions Team · Mentorship Team · Professional Development Team
· Social Team · Web Team · Alumni Relations Team
In addition to regular professional development workshops, mentoring, and a range of social events, ACSA also contributes a portion of each students’ membership fees to the UBC United Way campaign, helping to raise awareness of the needs and services within our local community. To learn more about ACSA and their accomplishments, and to read their online blog, visit http://ubcacsa.wordpress.com.
Pictured: Superman, Arts Co-op staff & ACSA leaders following their presentation at a provincial co-op educators conference in May 2011.
Engaging Student Leadership For the past few years, the Arts Co-op Program has engaged leaders from ACSA to help deliver portions of the workshops new co-op students are required to attend as part of their pre-employment training. Most notably, ACSA leaders have developed a presentation entitled “Holy Accomplishments Batman” – a hands-on tutorial on how to write effective resumes using accomplishment statements. For two years in a row, Arts Co-op staff and ACSA’s student leaders (past and present) have shared this unique approach at provincial and national conferences for co-op educators from across BC and Canada. These presentations have opened many educators’ eyes to the power of a peer-to-peer communication and mentoring model. UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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SOCIAL SCIENCES MAJORS Types of Knowledge • Archaeological methods and principles • Data collection and analysis • Economic modeling • Environmental assessment • Environmental economics • Finance • Fundraising • Geographic Information Systems • International development • International peace & security • Policy analysis • Quantitative & qualitative research • Statistical analysis • Survey design & implementation • Technical & research report writing
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Majors • • • • • • •
Anthropology Cognitive Systems Economics First Nations Languages Geography International Relations Linguistics
• • • • • • •
Mathematics Political Science Psychology Social Work Sociology Speech Sciences Women’s & Gender Studies
Victor Ngo, Human Geography According to Victor, “Co-op can provide you relevant experience, a strong set of transferable skills and fantastic networking opportunities.” His diverse placements with the Arts Club Theatre Company, the UBC Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, and the City of Vancouver demonstrate exactly that. Victor was surprised to discover how applicable his studies could be even at the Arts Club, where he analyzed their subscription market using GIS skills he gained from class. He also furthered his research skills as Water Conservation Program Assistant with the City, and plans to continue following his passion for built environments in his career.
Corey Arbour, International Relations with Asian Studies Minor Initially an Asian Studies major, Corey’s term with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada helped him to clarify his long-term professional aspirations. As a Junior Analyst, Corey conducted research and analysis for treaty negotiations with First Nations, attended negotiations in remote communities, and composed official correspondence for department officials. As a result of his co-op placement with AANDC, Corey has now switched into International Relations and intends to use this new program of study and his federal experience to pursue his goal of working for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
HUMANITIES MAJORS
Majors • • • • • • •
Asian Area Studies Asian Languages and Culture Canadian Studies Classical Studies Classics English French
• • • • • • •
German Spanish History Near Eastern Studies Philosophy Religious Studies Romance Studies
Joyce Wan, English Literature with Human Geography Minor “Having the opportunity to work in a field that interests me has been a great learning experience,” says Joyce. Working with Harbour Publishing allowed her to discover how the writing and analytical skills she developed as part of her degree can transfer into a potential career. In addition to gaining professional editing and design experience, Joyce now has a stronger understanding of the publishing industry and of office culture. She credits co-op for helping students to transition more smoothly from school to work, and is sure that her own co-op experiences will guide her as she builds her career.
Paul Liu, History with Asian Studies Minor
Types of Knowledge • Communications • Fundraising • Intercultural communication • Language abilities: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, South Asian Languages, Spanish • Museum collections • Policy development & analysis • Program administration • Research & analysis • Technical & business writing • Translation
Looking back on his co-op journey, Paul expresses pleasant surprise at the number of jobs he discovered available to a History student. Beginning with the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site, he went on to work for the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden Society, and finished as an Intern at HSBC. Even in positions unrelated to History, Paul found that skills he obtained in the classroom – attention to detail, an eagerness to learn, and analytical ability – are transferable to and valued in the workplace. He says, “Thanks to the leadership opportunities co-op gave me, I’m confident my experiences will help me long after graduation.”
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS MAJORS Types of Knowledge • Arts administration • Creative writing • Digital arts • Film production • Fundraising • Music education • Music composition & performance • Painting, photography, print media, sculpture • Theatre design, directing & acting
Majors • • • • •
Acting Art History Creative Writing Film Production Film Studies
• • • •
Music Theatre Theatre: Design & Production Visual Arts
Joy Kwa, Music Through her work terms, Joy increased her knowledge of the Vancouver art scene, expanding beyond her musical background to incorporate art, dance, and drama. Her placements with the UBC English Language Institute, the Vancouver International Dance Festival, and Place des Arts allowed her to acquire extensive experience in arts administration, event planning, and web and graphic design. Co-op gave Joy the chance to apply the organizational and creative knowledge she gained from her Arts degree to a professional setting. She says, “I’ve discovered so much about myself and because of co-op, the possibilities for my future career ideas are that much greater.”
Rie Namba, Visual Arts with Economics Minor Before joining co-op, Rie was considering a career in web development and design. Co-op helped her discover if this was the right path for her by allowing her to explore different fields in a short period of time. Rie utilized the strong visual analysis skills she developed in school to create effective marketing materials and user-friendly website interfaces while on co-op with the UBC Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the UBC Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology. After her placement with CTLT, Rie now intends to become a user experience and interface designer.
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UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
SLAIS: THE iSCHOOL@UBC For over five decades, the iSchool at UBC – more formally known as the School of Library, Archival & Information Studies – has been a leader in educating information professionals in Canada, equipping them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to obtain and manage information in an increasingly complex world. SLAIS students are trained in today’s best professional practices, and they will be tomorrow’s leaders in planning, implementing, and promoting the preservation, organization, and effective use of society’s recorded information and ideas. Naomi Schemm, MLIS Following an introductory SLAIS course to the field of records management, Naomi was keen to obtain relevant work experience in the area. Her co-op term with the Community Infrastructure Directorate at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada gave her exactly that. As the first Records Management Student with the Directorate, Naomi analyzed existing gaps in the file management system and developed procedures for electronic file management. Her accomplishments exceeded her employer’s expectations, demonstrating the excellent caliber of SLAIS co-op students. Naomi’s achievements were acknowledged with the 2011 Student of the Year (MLIS) award.
Dan Gillean, Dual MAS/MLIS Dan’s stellar performance with the BC Government’s Records Management Operations surpassed all that his employers could have hoped for, earning him an outstanding reference letter from his supervisor and her highest possible recommendation and the eventual award for 2011 Student of the Year (MAS). In his work as an Archivist, Dan appraised and selected provincial government records for retention and developed a new guide series for use by all BC government employees. He was also part of a team responsible for developing and advising on government records management policy, with emphasis on digital records management.
Masters Degrees • Library & Information Studies (MLIS) • Archival Studies (MAS) • Joint Archival & Library Studies (MASLIS) Types of Knowledge • Electronic information retrieval • Internet research • Knowledge management • Management principles • Organization of information • Records management • Research and analysis • Web site design and content development
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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ALUMNI PROFILES Philip Wong | BA, Political Science, 2006 Enforcement Assistant, Canada Border Services Agency Philip can trace his career in public service from co-op beginnings, when he worked with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. This experience with federal and provincial government gave him firsthand insight into the workplace culture of the public service; he discovered he enjoys making a difference in the lives of Canadians, and has chosen to continue along this path. Reflecting on co-op, Philip notes, “Prior to applying, I knew I wanted to balance my academic learning with hands-on practice in the real world, so that I would emerge well-rounded and highly marketable to employers. Co-op provided me this platform, which I have leveraged to become a young and enthusiastic leader in my workplace. It was the right decision then and I have never regretted it.” Jasmine Khungorey | BA, Political Science and Sociology, 2008 Student Development Coordinator, UBC Student Development During her term with the Arts Co-op Program, Jasmine uncovered a passion for student programming that shaped the rest of her university and the early stages of her professional career. In collaboration with four other students, Jasmine redesigned and co-presented a resume and cover letter workshop for new co-op students – a workshop still given at UBC Arts Co-op pre-employment training conferences today. Inspired by her success, Jasmine continued to use her co-op terms with the Program and Service Canada Centres for Youth as stepping-stones to build her skills in student development. She also became heavily involved in the Arts Co-op Students’ Association, Arts Tri-Mentoring, and Career Services, eventually landing a dream position as a Student Development Coordinator at her alma mater after graduation. Jericho Bundac | BA, Psychology, 2008 Volunteer & Community Outreach Facilitator, Immigrant Services Society of BC Every one of Jericho’s co-op terms presented him with fresh challenges and opportunities to push himself beyond his comfort zone. From teaching English in Mexico to supervising youth golf clinics across BC, Jericho went on to complete his co-op program as a research assistant for the Canadian Space Agency. During his co-op placements, Jericho acquired a range of cross-cultural skills and experiences that shaped his growth as a young professional. Flexibility, the ability to adapt to different situations, event coordination, marketing and communications are only some of the transferable skills he identifies developing through his work terms, and are skills he brings to his current work with the Immigrant Services Society of BC.
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UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
ALUMNI PROFILES Simon Cheng | BA, Sociology, 2010 Cluster Mobilisation Coordinator, London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Being a co-op student during the height of the economic recession in 2008 and 2009 taught Simon an invaluable lesson in tenacity. After months of applications – five times the number he had written for previous placements with BC Hydro and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans – and contacting previous interviewers, he finally received a last-minute offer with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. The skills Simon accumulated as a result of his co-op experiences led to him seek employment in London after graduation. He emphasizes that co-op broadened his perspective on possibility, saying, “Had I not been so open to changing career paths, I don’t think I would have chosen to move abroad or pursue opportunities with the Olympics.” Cobi Falconer | Dual MAS/MLIS, 2008 Records Manager and Privacy Officer, Transportation Investment Corporation (TIM) Through co-op, Cobi gained a significant amount of relevant work experience that led directly into a contract job with the Vancouver Police Department immediately after graduation. This employment came about as a result of the experience she acquired over work terms with the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the International Federation for the Red Cross, and the RCMP. According to Cobi, “Co-op trained me to grasp as many different opportunities as possible and be open to tasks and challenges that are sometimes outside of the original scope of my job, skill set, and/or comfort level.” These qualities meant that when her supervisor left TIM, Cobi was ready and qualified to step into the “incredible” position of leading the Records Management program. Cynthia Ng | MLIS, 2012 Innovative Technologies Librarian, Ryerson University Library & Archives One of the principal reasons Cynthia believes she was hired into her current position at Ryerson ULA is because of the web development work she did as a co-op student. As the Library Website Migration Co-op Student for the UBC Library, Cynthia redeveloped significant portions of the library’s website and provided wiki support, including training and management. At the end of her co-op terms with both UBC Library and Natural Resources Canada, Cynthia put together a portfolio showcasing the projects she worked on during her placements. This gave the hiring committee for Ryerson ULA a very clear understanding of what she would bring to the organization. As Cynthia sums up, “It was the experience I garnered as a co-op student that got me where I am today.”
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2011/2012
Employer Representatives Shawn Crawford, Project Manager, Research Unit, Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada Andrew Fabro, Head, Library Services, Pacific & Yukon Region, Environment Canada Kathy Gibler, Executive Director, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden Pria Sandhu, Executive Director, Professional Association of Residents of BC
Faculty Member Representatives Judy Brown, Associate Head, Senior Instructor, Department of English Sally Hermansen, Associate Dean, Student Services Victoria Lemieux, Assistant Professor, SLAIS
Arts Co-op Alumni Representatives Christine Gergich, Supervisor and Appellate Court Records Officer, Superior Courts Judiciary Jocelyn Hallman, Librarian, BGC Engineering Timothy Hunt, EDMS Coordinator, RCMP Mike McGreer, Economic Development Analyst, City of Surrey Maryn Wallace, Resource Development Specialist, United Way of the Lower Mainland Oliver Zihlmann, Development Officer, UBC Faculty of Applied Science Pictured: UBC Arts Co-op Staff
Student Representatives Jeet Chatterjee, Economics/Political Science Undergrauate Student Dan Gillean, Dual MAS/MLIS Graduate Student Melany Rodgers, Political Science/English Undergraduate Student, Executive Coordinator of Arts Co-op Students’ Association
UBC Staff Sheila Ashwell, Associate Director Julie Walchli, Director (Committee Chair) Anna Jubilo, SLAIS Co-op Coordinator Michelle Mallette, SLAIS Student Services Coordinator
ALUMNI RELATIONS The UBC Arts Co-op Alumni Network started in 2010 and the Organizing Committee is currently made up of Bobby Huang (BA ‘09), Robyn Laughlin (BA ‘08), and Zack Lee (BA ‘08). They work closely with the Arts Co-op office and the Alumni Relations office to connect alumni, staff, current students and the university. The group holds networking events throughout the year, and shares professional advice with current students through pre-employment conferences and the ACSA mentorship program. Our alumni also play a critical role in supporting the growth of our program. In the fiscal 2011/12 year, UBC alumni posted 72 co-op positions with our program, accounting for 11% of total postings. 16
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
UBC ARTS CO-OP STAFF
Julie Walchli, Director Julie has worked in the field of co-operative education since 1997 when she founded the first co-op education program in Arts at UBC in the English Department. Since then she has helped to create an Arts-wide program that offers career training and opportunities to students through out all undergraduate programs and a graduate co-op program in the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies. During 2008/09 she completed a secondment as Senior Advisor, Strategic Initiatives with the UBC Go Global International Learning Programs Office, creating a Student Safety Abroad policy and resources for UBC, and a handbook for faculty members leading Group Study Programs Abroad. Julie has served in a number of leadership roles in the BC co-op community, and is currently Chair of the UBC Co-op Council and President of the Association for Co-operative Education BC. A graduate from UBC’s B.A. and M.A. programs in English, Julie taught in the English department from 1993-97 and co-edited Landmarks: A Process Reader for Canadian Writers. Recognitions include UBC’s President’s Service Award for Staff Excellence and the Association of Co-operative Education BC award for outstanding contributions. Undergraduate Degree: B.A., English (Honours) & Political Science (UBC) Graduate Degree: M.A., English (UBC)
Sheila Ashwell, Associate Director Sheila has been working in the career education and employment services field since 1995. Starting with youth in the secondary school system, she moved on to employment coaching and workshop delivery with Career Services at UBC, but has spent the last 10 years actively involved in the growth and development of UBC’s Arts Co-op Program. An alumna of UBC’s Psychology Program, Sheila understands the value of an arts degree. Sheila’s primary responsibilities are to oversee the under graduate Arts Co-op program, including the co-op student recruitment process, developing and delivering pre-employment workshops, advising students, and maintaining positive relationships with the varied employer groups. In 2007 she completed her M.Ed. in Counselling Psychology from UBC, in 2008/09 she served as Acting Director, and in 2009/2010 she took a personal leave to act as UBC’s Loaned Representative to the United Way of the Lower Mainland and to volunteer/travel in East Africa. Sheila is the recipient of the 2008 Dean of Arts Award for Staff Excellence. Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Psychology (UBC) Graduate Degree: M.Ed., Counseling Psychology (UBC)
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
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UBC ARTS CO-OP STAFF
Anna Jubilo, SLAIS Co-op Coordinator Anna has a wide-ranging background in librarianship, program coordination, communications, and administration; extensive experience working with and participating in international exchange programs; as well as several years of experience at UBC, working with various departments and programs in the Faculty of Arts. She first worked with Arts Co-op in 2001 during a work term as a shared Communications Assistant with the Dean of Arts Office. Her other co-op positions were as a Technical Communicator for TELUS Enterprise Solutions and as an Academic Office Assistant with the YMCA International College. While completing her M.L.I.S. degree at UBC, Anna completed her practicum and professional experience with the Vancouver Art Gallery Library, worked as a Coordinator for VPL’s Summer Readalong Program, and as a work-study student, managing the Department of Linguistics’ Reading Room. Undergraduate Degree: B.A., English & Linguistics (UBC) Graduate Degree: M.L.I.S. (UBC)
Heather Liau, Manager, Marketing and Industry Relations Heather’s main role at the Arts Co-op office is to expand the program through active marketing, industry outreach, and brand awareness, with the goal of significantly increasing the number of job opportunities for Arts Co-op students. In her previous experience, Heather’s marketing initiatives have brought international attention to British Columbia’s technology industry. In 2004, she launched BC’s first International Partnering Forum at the Vancouver International Digital Festival. Through personalized business matchmaking, Heather provided an avenue for local companies to pitch the likes of international producers and distributors such as Cartoon Network, BBC, Flickr, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Most recently, Heather led product launches and interactive and print marketing for Vision Critical, makers of the world’s most adopted online research platform. Undergraduate Degree: Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing (UBC)
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UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
UBC ARTS CO-OP STAFF
Merry Wang, Coordinator, Information Management Having graduated from the UBC Arts Co-op Program in May 2005, Merry has first-hand knowledge of the value of co-operative education. Through the Arts Co-op Program, Merry learned how to apply the skills she developed as an International Relations major in a variety of work environments. Merry completed her co-op work terms at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (as an Assistant Program Coordinator), Atira Women’s Resource Society (as a Human Resources Assistant), and TRIUMF (as a Technology Transfer Assistant). Merry hopes that through participation in the Arts Co-op Program, students, employers, and faculty members will realize that a Liberal Arts education prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities. Undergraduate Degree: B.A., International Relations (UBC)
Roger Ling, Program Assistant As a recent graduate of the Arts Co-op Program, Roger directly experienced the invaluable challenges and rewards offered by co-operative education. He successfully completed domestic and international co-op work terms as the Business Administrator of a locally-owned coffee enterprise and as a Native English Teacher for a well-respected language institute in Japan. Through these unique opportunities, Roger understands that co-op really does work for students (just as much as students work for co-op!). He is excited to be part of the Arts Co-op Program once again and will do his best to empower Arts students for dynamic and fulfilling careers. Undergraduate Degree:Â B.A., Sociology & Family Studies (UBC)
UBC Arts Co-op Annual Report 2011/2012
19
98
%
of employers recommend UBC Arts Co-op students
HIRE EDUCATION The UBC Arts Co-op Program has students available each January, May, and September for 4 or 8-month paid work placements. Undergraduate students study a wide range of courses in Social Sciences, Humanities and the Creative and Performing Arts. Graduate students from the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies are also available.
Arts Co-op Office Buchanan C121 - 1866 Main Mall 604.822.1529 arts.co-op@ubc.ca www.artscoop.ubc.ca