'Jodeling" with Jennifer & Alaina - the re-emergence of anonymous posting

Presented by: Jennifer Mitchell & Alaina Mejia

On a small campus, in a small community, the anonymous social media app called Jodel is having a big impact. Jodel is a hyperlocal social media app that allows individuals to post anonymously. Over the last few years, with COVID-19 and the lack of students on campus, the app was starting to fade. However, with the increase of students on campus, and the pandemic behind us, Jodel has become increasingly popular on our campus and particularly with students living on campus. Students are posting their uncensored thoughts and feelings and are posting anything and everything from inaccurate information, threats of violence, relationship advice, how they feel about Student Housing, their professors, etc. - without fear of being held accountable for their actions. This has caused many challenges and we have had to adjust to the impacts that this app has had on our operations. We hope by starting a conversation about this app, we may be able to better respond to this online community.

Reducing barriers to post-secondary education among former youth in care: The Atlantic Canadian experience

Presented by: Wanda McDonald, Nova Scotia Community College, Jacqueline Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University, Dale Kirby, Memorial University &  Steven Smith, Saint Mary’s University

While Canada has made progress in reducing barriers to post-secondary education, former youth in care remain left behind. Current available data indicate that approximately 50% of former youth in care do not complete high school and even fewer attend or complete post-secondary education. This lack of access to post-secondary education has life-long social, health, economic, and other implications for former youth in care which need to be addressed.

The purpose of this panel is to share lessons learned from the Atlantic Canadian context in how tuition waiver (post-care) programs are meeting the needs of former youth in care who access them as well as those who support these programs. This panel will highlight the research currently taking place internationally (based on our recent scoping review findings) and provide an overview of the findings from research conducted in Canada, and the Atlantic Region specifically.

 

Job Search Anxiety: Career Talks- Storytelling and Instilling Hope in Students

Presented by: Kristen White, Memorial University

According to a Pew Research Center poll, over half of US individuals who are looking for work reported a pessimistic perspective about their future job prospects. During the job search, 53% said they felt like they’d lost a piece of themselves. Because of their unemployment, 56% admitted that they’ve had greater emotional or mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression. Many students often develop a sense of anxiety from the uncertainty of what job or career they will have upon graduation- storytelling from alumni who are working in the industry can provide a sense of direction or hope. Knowledge is power. The more students know about the industry, the more confident an empowered they feel to take on career planning and job searching tasks. Searching for a job can feel like an isolating and stressful experience but it doesn’t have to be that way. Job searching clubs can be a supportive network for students to meet with people in a safe environment to discuss their job search process and potentially increase their likelihood of securing meaningful employment. Students are often not aware of their innate talents and strengths and how they can be applied to their personal, academic and career lives. An awareness of your strengths can help you better navigate your career journey.

Leading in a Post Pandemic and Virtual Student Affairs and Services (SAAS) World

Presented by: Tom Brophy, Saint Mary’s University, Donna Hardy Cox, Memorial University, Anne Bartlett, University of Prince Edward Island & Sheldon MacLeod, University of New Brunswick

The recent pandemic was the most impactful global event on post-secondary education since World War 2.  As a result, the students that are coming to us have been significantly impacted which requires some pause to think what this means for SAAS professionals, especially those who are in, or aspire to be, in leadership roles.  Further, the move to virtual services during the pandemic and the emergence of the option of virtual work coupled with staff turnovers as part of the ‘great resignation’ and budget cuts experienced since the pandemic have all changed clearly how we do business. 

This panel presentation engages senior SAAS leaders who will reflect on what impact the pandemic and the ever-evolving workforce environment has had on what we are seeing as leaders within SAAS and how we best supervise, support and reward employees.