Today’s post comes from a guest: Barb Elich, Associate Registrar at the University of Regina, and is a slightly revised version of her presentation at the ARUCC conference this week. I enjoyed her comments and thought they deserved to be preserved. Here is the first half of her presentation, lightly edited to fit this context. Next week, I will post the second half.

Lessons I have learned from shifting to online/remote work.

Communication – the “why” we are communicating, the “what” we are communicating, by “whom”, “where” – which medias, and the “when” and the “how” was a critical lesson. This included several drafts reviewed by several sets of eyes prior to most communications being shared.

Collaboration – from gathering and packing up to head out to working remotely was a lot of effort involving adaptations, adjustments, agility, and an approach of hopeful, realistic positivity. It was great to see those who were early adopters and thrived in the online forum and how they collaborated with others who needed the additional support. For the Registrar’s Office we adjusted the class schedule; provided appropriate physical distancing, especially as the few in person options could be made available; supported remote learning technologies; changed grades when students chose the new grade options for Winter 2020; responded with our colleagues to the IRCC changes; adapted technologies to allow for services to be online; and participated on numerous committees (shout out to our Registrars) that made the past months viable.

Creativity – one process that was 11 years in the making came to reality in a matter of months because we had to. Additionally there were utilities built to afford course delivery modes to be changed en masse because we could and it was so beneficial to the scheduling team. We created SEP action plans for an ongoing SEP review; we launched MyCreds; we delivered Convocation virtually.

Caution and care – early on in the pandemic an Elder shared, and I paraphrase, “we need to learn to live with the virus and to respect the virus.” Those wise words have stayed with me. To be cautious and careful, while being caring. We learned we could maintain a minimal crew in the office and from home (20% of the team-and this crew remained healthy and safe while working in the office), while the majority of the team work fully remotely (80% of the team); we could deliver gifts and blizzards (of the DQ variety) in April for Administrative Professional Day; we could really enjoy “two truths and a lie” coffee times and laugh hard with our teams; and what would we do without our Zoom/Slack/Teams banter in the chat! Our team experienced a wide variety of realities during these months from a parent passing, to homeschooling children, to team members being added, moving to other positions, or retiring, to significant health concerns not COVID related.

Coaching – in the midst of the pandemic I had the opportunity to engage in professional coaching for four months. It seemed like the most unlikely time to invest in this way, but retrospectively these dedicated sessions provided clarity, focus, and buoyed me in incredible ways. It also energized me to come along side team members and coach in times when these individuals needed support and encouragement in new ways.

I would also like to thank Melissa, Norma and Julie for the ARUCC Community Check-In sessions that have been offered as these also played a role in Professional Development, gathering, and being present together.