Conference Sketch

By John Harnett

The 2004 CACUSS (Canadian Association of College and University Student Services) Conference

The University of Manitoba certainly arranged a wonderful professional development and networking opportunity to members and other conference delegates at CACUSS 2004, held in Winnipeg from June 14 – 17, 2004.

Some may not be aware that CACUSS consists of five divisions each of which focuses on a specific area within Student Services.

1. CADSSPE – Canadian Association of Disability Services Service Providers in Post Secondary Education, professionals who assist university and college students who have a disability.
2. COUCH – Canadian Organization of University and College Health, persons who work in health services in Canadian post-secondary educational institutions.
3. CUCCA – Canadian University and College Counselling Association, counsellors and counselling psychologists in post-secondary institutions, counselling educators and graduate students in counselling-related programs.
4. NASSA – National Aboriginal Student Services Association, whose mission is to empower colleges and universities to become welcoming environments where Aboriginal Peoples can successfully pursue educational goals while maintaining their cultural identities.
5. SASA – Student Affairs and Services Association, whose members come from a broad range of student services professions within the university and college environment.

Each of the divisions attempts to ensure, along with the conference planning committee from the hosting institution, that the conference includes sessions that focus on the divisional areas.

Most divisions began with a pre-conference workshop designed to give members some specific, more in-depth skills, knowledge and information which will enable them to possibly enhance programs they are currently offering, or to offer new programs or further fine tune skills that they feel would be valuable to students who utilize their service.

The conference days all began with a powerful plenary session which focused participants on a theme for each day’s concurrent sessions. This year’s plenary speakers over the three days were Dr. Don Gehring, Mr. Justice Murray Sinclair, and Dr. Philip Berger. As with most conferences, the remainder of each day consisted of concurrent sessions which further allowed members to learn of new initiatives or to hear about the effectiveness of existing programs occurring across the country.

The other highlight at any conference is the opportunity for delegates to network with fellow professionals and discuss comparable issues with others from across the country. Delegates had the chance to meet socially with a host of other professionals either from their own or other divisions; new professionals had opportunities to meet with other new professionals or with more seasoned people; directors often met with like-minds to discuss issues at their level and; groups with specific interests had an opportunity to find out what colleagues were doing as well. Many delegates find this part of the conference to be very helpful in fine tuning what they do in their day-to-day responsibilities.

CACUSS conference 2004 was an outstanding opportunity to learn of new programs and initiatives occurring across the country and in the United States. Delegates left Winnipeg re-energized and revitalized with a host of new ideas to enhance the exceptional service they are giving to their students.

Written by John Harnett, President of CACUSS. John is a Counsellor at the College of the North Atlantic Engineering Career Centre in St. John’s Newfoundland. He can be reached atJohn.Harnett@cna.nl.ca