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New faculty members tour Montreal by bike

A green way to "meet informally, instead of in the classical setting," says Vice-Provost Ollivier Dyens
August 30, 2010
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By Karen Herland

Source: Concordia Journal

Most professors don’t find themselves cycling across their new city with members of the administration as part of faculty orientation.

But a group of new hires gamely mounted their own bikes or Bixis and headed out to the Botanical Gardens on Aug. 24 with Vice-Provost Teaching and Learning Ollivier Dyens and John Bentley of the Centre of Teaching and Learning Services (CTLS), swinging by the Grand Bibliothèque and Parc Lafontaine along the way.

“We wanted to show new professors what we like about Montreal,” explained Dyens about how he and CTLS staff developed this year’s orientation program.

“We realized that although we push for more creativity in teaching, our orientation at Loyola last year just reproduced the classic conference type structure,” said Dyens. So, to bring practice more in line with theory, a series of tours and visits across the city were discussed.

New profs were also treated to a tour of St. Denis St. and the Jean-Talon market on Aug. 25 with the JMSB’s Associate Dean of Academic Relations, Dominic Peltier-Rivest. “Many profs who come from the outside are worried they won’t be understood because of the French,” said Dyens about the decision to demystify Montreal’s two solitudes.

In fact, many of the professors who participated on the bike tour were excited about Montreal’s multicultural, bilingual character. The weather was ideal as the faculty crossed town to the east-end.
Dyens pointed out the 185-acre facility's features.

“I love it, love it, love it,” said Louellyn White, who will be starting in the School of Community and Public Affairs new program in First People’s Studies this year. “Nobody does this, I told friends at other schools and they were really impressed.” Even the 45-minute ride didn’t daunt her. “I’m so inspired to get in shape, I hope they do this again next year.”

The tour also allowed professors from different departments and Faculties to get to know each other. Although their research interests ranged from the pure sciences to the social sciences to the arts,
they found common ground comparing notes on postings and research interests. “It was also a way for them to meet us informally, instead of in the classical setting,” said Dyens.

Of course, new faculty still need to know where to get their office keys and what resources exist on campus. New faculty will learn about those things, and meet other members of the administration in a more formal day-long session on Sept. 1 at the Bois de Liesse park.



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