Email: Computing Flexible Learning
As Program Assistant for Computing Flexible Learning, I work with a Flexible Learning Coordinator and Program Head to support 65+ Instructors. My COMP portfolio includes; all programming languages and networking courses plus their related Associate Certificates and the CSC.
My other duties include general department administration. I am also a part-time student, and have recently completed the Applied Computer Information Systems, ACIS – Associate Certificate, I am currently working toward the Applied Software Development, ASD – Associate Certificate, on route to the Computer Systems Certificate, CSC and CST/PTS Diploma.
I work with thousands of students in 70+ different COMP course sections every term to manage priority registrations. Due to limited available seats, student priority is based on two main factors; prerequisite completion and program declaration.
My main goal is student success and to help students find answers or point them in the right direction. Every term when registration opens we are very busy, please contact me by email and allow 2-3 business days for a reply in some cases.
As the Flexible Learning Coordinator for Computing my role includes leading 2 Program Assistants and collaborating with the Program Head. I work directly with 65+ instructors to organize and manage scheduling to set up over 150 COMP part-time course sections every term.
Computing Flexible Learning is the largest single department area in the School of Computing and Academic Studies, SoCAS. We deliver COMP courses into 15 different computing programs including laddered credentials to the CST/PTS Diploma.
For more than 16 years it has been a privilege to be a part of the BCIT Computing Flexible Learning team. As well as helping to grow our department I have grown personally and have been able to earn credentials in business management and education.
I am a Flexible Learning instructor for Advanced MS Excel and I have volunteered for several committees including the BCIT Education Council. My focus is on year-round planning, sustainable operations, academic integrity and the success of over 3,000 individual students every year.
As Program Assistant for Computing Flexible Learning, I work with a Flexible Learning Coordinator and Program Head to support 65+ Instructors. My portfolio includes; MS Office, Computer Applications, Dental Reception, IT Skills and Web Technologies.
I work with thousands of students over 70 different COMP course sections every term to manage priority registrations. Due to limited available seats, student priority is based on two main factors; prerequisite completion and program declaration.
My goal is to help students find answers or point them in the right direction. Every term when registration opens we are very busy, please contact me via email and allow 3 business days for a reply.
At the start of my business career, I focused on operations for sustainable revenue generation, with new product development, and marketing. A significant amount of this time included recruiting, onboarding and training as regional supervisor with 85 employees. After several years of managing multi-unit technology businesses, I moved into the Computing and IT field.
My initial focus was marketing a new product, the personal computer to business and education when mainframes and minicomputers dominated those sectors. I had been an early adopter of the PC for business use, and later I provided integrated PC solutions (hardware, software, and training) as turn-key accounting and desktop publishing systems.
I was promoted to branch manager of the Vancouver Computer Centre in 1988 after delivering the first networked Windows-based PC’s, with education software into the BC school system. My responsibilities included top-line growth with an outbound team, a monthly P&L and personally delivering classroom training for operating systems, spreadsheets and databases.
In 1991, I moved into a more technical role as the systems integrator for BC, and later the lead for Computer Support Representative for Western Canada. After I completed several certification courses, I transitioned to the IT Distribution Channel to provide memory, storage to VARs and IT vendor specific training for SCO UNIX, Novell, and later MCSE.
After a decade in the computer business, I began my post-secondary career at BCIT as Operations Coordinator for Computer Systems Technology, CST Part-time Studies. My job description included increasing student satisfaction and doubling registrations. I actually achieved that goal by 1999 by listening to students and the IT industry to develop new courses and programs.
I became program head in 2002 and grew Computing to the single largest part-time program area at BCIT. In 2007, I created the “BCIT School of Computing” brand for the department, with a landing page for all 30 computing programs. I lead the re-brand for the entire department as “BCIT Computing” which now includes all programs, full-time, fast-track and Computing Flexible Learning.
As program head, I lead 65+ instructors with a Flexible Learning Coordinator and 2 Program Assistants. I have created a series of Applied Associate Certificates as sub-sets of the CST Diploma laddered credentials. In the process, I have produced over 100 new industry-driven COMP courses with above average student satisfaction ratings for BCIT.
To increase student success and to help new students understand program requirements and expectations, I created the Computing Flexible Learning Student Guide in 2007. Every year we offer 500 COMP course sections in 15 different Computing Flexible Learning programs. I work with BCIT SMEs and local IT industry experts to keep our courses and programs relevant.
Since the 90’s I have participated on several BCIT councils and many selection committees. My methods were documented as best practices for Coordinators and Program Heads in 2011. I have represented the department as our Tech Rep for 15 years and in 2019, I was elected to the FSA Board of Directors.
My tagline, “Start with just one course” has guided people to explore and learn new IT skills, one course at a time. Over the last 25 years at BCIT, I have helped more than 65,000 individuals to learn new skills and earn post-secondary credentials, course by course. It has been my goal to enable the public to explore information technology and to advance their careers with Lifelong learning.
Not sure where to begin?
- COMP 1002 – Applied Computer Concepts
COMP 1002 is the foundation for all Computing Flexible Learning courses.
Each of the following core courses is an introduction and designed to determine your interest in different aspects of Computing and IT.
- COMP 1516 – Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python)
- COMP 1630 – Relational Database Design and SQL
- COMP 1850 – Introduction to Web Development