Feature Article
RDC Welcomes New Board Chair
When asked what motivated her to take on the position of Chair for the Red Deer College Board of Governors back in December, Janice Wing says that she and her family are deep-seated supporters. “The College has been in our blood for a long time. I’ve been on the Board for five and a half years so the Chair’s role seemed like a logical next step.” Her husband and two of her children are RDC alumni.
Diversity. That’s what Janice values most about her Board colleagues – their varied opinions, backgrounds and experience. “As a comprehensive institution serving a large region, every unique aspect the members bring to the discussion adds value in making the best possible decisions for our learners.”
Janice believes the Board does a great job in setting a strong direction for the College’s future. Much of what will happen during the three years she’s the Chair has been planned and set in motion already. The highly successful and ongoing Building Communities Through Learning (BCTL) growth initiative will continue to be a top priority for the Board.
“Part of our role is to add the next pieces to that planning puzzle,” she says. “Our job is to listen to what our stakeholders, the people of central Alberta, tell us they need and then balance everything with effective and efficient leadership of the College.”
The Board is working closely with new President Joel Ward, and Janice is excited about his energy and experience, eager to work with him in moving the College forward.
A changing landscape in a challenging economy
Janice says the greatest challenge for RDC is working within a tight economic environment – the reality in 2010 is different from what it was five years ago.
“We’re at capacity of enrolment in most of our programs and the challenge is how to continue educating the work force of the future in this current economic environment,” she says. Options for RDC include looking at existing space and figuring out ways to use it differently, to engage more learners and more faculty and to continue to expand our existing partnerships with other institutions, government, businesses and organizations.
The College has an ongoing process of evaluating the programs being delivered. “We need to continue that evaluation, so we’re always offering quality programs that are relevant and that prepare people for careers and successful lives.”
RDC has support from the provincial government, and Minister Doug Horner has provided a solid vision for post-secondary education across the province, ensuring that institutions work together and have strong regional initiatives.
The College must stay true to its commitment – that students graduate with skills, “so that we’re providing a well-trained quality work force for the community,” she says. “We’re accountable not only to students, but also to the region’s employers. We’ve had huge support from the business sector, and that wouldn’t happen if we weren’t doing a good job.”
Strong leadership, committed teambuilding
When Janice isn’t busy with RDC, she’s active as CEO for the Red Deer & District Community Foundation. She and her husband, Al, both avid sports fans, enjoy spending time with their family. A few years ago, she played on the same slo-pitch baseball team as two of her three adult children.
Traveling is another interest for this Innisfail resident. She’s found added opportunity through her work with the Transatlantic Community Foundation Network, which enables her to spend time in communities of Europe, Canada and the US.
Janice considers herself a team builder and welcomes many viewpoints, ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and that people are respectful of their colleague’s opinions.
“If we’re at the Board table or involved with an organization, it’s because we have to commit to doing the best job we can. My commitment is to build a strong team.”
Janice learned plenty from previous Chair Herb Der: “He came as the CEO of a large corporation, so his skill set and his experience were vastly different than mine. He was a fabulous chair and did a great job of facilitating the Board, bringing that same level of commitment to RDC as the rest of us.”
While the College has a history of strong leadership, at end of day Janice would like to think she left RDC in a better place. “It’s a pretty fine place now so I’m not sure how I’m going to accomplish that, but it’s my goal to leave my mark in a positive way.”