Villeneuve's duties cover a lot of ground
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Nov 17/00) - Jackie Villeneuve thrives on hectic days.
"I work better when it's extremely busy," she said. "If it's a slow day, I think there's something wrong."
Villeneuve has many busy days as director of student services at the Inuvik campus of Aurora College.
Her duties include seeing to the safety and well being of the students in residence at the campus, as well as those housed in family units off campus.
Villeneuve is also involved in renovations and tendering at the campus.
It all adds up to a lot of work.
"Anything can happen in a day. I can't keep a schedule because emergencies come up all the time."
With a laugh, Villeneuve said, "If it's cold in this building, they come see me."
She said students are her priority. She deals with concerns ranging from financial to personal, and works closely with the student counsellor and the instructors.
"If I can't answer a question, I'll find somebody who can," Villeneuve said.
Born and raised in Inuvik, she knows many of the students' families.
"I am not very formal here. My door is always open," she said. "I'm on call two weeks out of the month, 24 hours."
Villeneuve said she often spends time in residence, and she'll often give a ride to a student around town.
"I get a lot of rewards. Through e-mail I get a lot of thank yous," Villeneuve said. "Students send me little poems when they leave. I think I have a good relationship with all the students."
The director recalled a particularly rewarding experience.
"A student wasn't doing too well because of personal problems. They almost, almost left campus."
The student decided to give it one more try, and things worked out.
Villeneuve confessed the tomato plants growing in the hallway near her office are her release. She said she goes there whenever her job gets a little too hectic.
