Undergraduate Arts Co-op Student of the Year Winner:

Sophia Kim, for her work term with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Read Sophia’s profile here.

SLAIS Master of Archival Studies Co-op Student of the Year Winner:

Dan Gillean, for his work term with the BC Government’s Records Management Operations. Read Dan’s profile here.

SLAIS Master of Library and Information Studies Co-op Student of the Year Winner:

Naomi Schemm, for her work term with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Read Naomi’s profile here.

Each year, the Arts Co-op Program recognizes two SLAIS co-op students for outstanding achievement in all aspects of student performance, including academics, the workplace, and professional and/or community involvement.

This year’s Master of Archival Studies winner is Dual Master of Archival & Master of Library and Information Studies candidate Dan Gillean. In his work as an Archivist with the BC Government’s Records Management Operations (RMO), Dan designed innovative communication tools that accomplished “far more” than what his employer had counted on; this work earned him an outstanding reference letter from his supervisor, Susan Hart, and her “highest possible recommendation” for this year’s award.

Outside of Co-op, Dan’s many accomplishments also include several student scholarships, publication in Archivi, and active executive member positions in the Association of Canadian Archivists student chapter at UBC (ACA@UBC) and the Library and Archival Studies Student Association (LASSA).

Excellence in the Workplace

Dan’s stellar performance in RMO surpassed all his employers could have hoped for, says Susan, and quickly won him a valued position as “a fully contributing member of this team.”

During his work term, Dan was responsible not only for appraising and selecting provincial government records for retention in the archives, but also for developing a new series of guides for use by all BC Government employees. His supervisor commends him highly for his “outstanding” work in synthesizing, analyzing and writing these guides. Describing his communication tool designs as “innovative” and “unlike anything we had produced thus far in our branch,” Susan praises Dan for far exceeding expectations.

In addition, Dan was part of the team of archival professionals responsible for developing and advising upon government records management policy, with an emphasis on digital records management. To succeed in this role, it is imperative for team members to actively participate, shift priorities and yield to group consensus when needed, and to balance the capacity to work independently with consulting team members. His supervisor points out that while not every individual is capable of working in this fashion, Dan “leapt into our team … with energy, thoughtfulness, grace, agility, and tremendous goodwill.” It is a testament to Dan’s extraordinary qualifications and personality that his whole team expresses hopes for his continued work in the information management field after he graduates.

These qualities also manifest themselves in the manner in which Dan successfully bridges his co-op experiences with his academics. In 2011, he wrote an essay based on his co-op experience with RMO and submitted it to the ARMA International Education Foundation; this won him a substantial scholarship in August. Dan also speaks to how co-op deepens his understanding of SLAIS classes: drawing on his experiences with Enterprise Document Records Management Systems and Microsoft’s SharePoint 2010, he is able to participate and contribute more in class than he used to, thereby benefitting his fellow students.

Each year, the Arts Co-op Program recognizes two SLAIS co-op students for outstanding achievement in all aspects of student performance, including academics, the workplace, and professional and/or community involvement.

Naomi Schemm is this year’s Master of Library and Information Studies winner. As a Records Management Co-op Student with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), Naomi’s performance and contributions towards improving her unit’s information file management “exceeded expectations,” her manager Heather Leong says.

In addition to her workplace achievements, Naomi continued to take part-time MLIS classes while on her work term, and developed herself professionally in activities such as co-founding the SLAIS chapter of the American Library Association (ALA), volunteering for two years as a member of the BC Library Association (BCLA) at their annual conference, and acting as the SLAIS student representative for the BLCA interest group Academic Librarians in Public Service.

Excellence in the Workplace

Following an introductory SLAIS course to the field of records management, Naomi was keen to gain work experience in the area; her eight-month co-op term with the Community Infrastructure Directorate of AANDC gave her exactly that.

In her position as the Records Management Co-op Student, Naomi was responsible for analyzing existing gaps in the Directorate’s information file management, and developing strategies and procedures for electronic file management. She gained significant hands-on experience through this position, implementing skills such as gathering information on an organization’s records, interviewing employees to understand workflows and information needs, and researching and consulting with other professionals to familiarize herself with current practices and recommended standards.

As the sole records manager in her unit, Naomi’s contributions created more efficient processes and improved the Directorate’s consistency of file management. Naomi’s colleagues also particularly commend her interpersonal skills, as demonstrated through the instructional workshops she developed and delivered to colleagues on best practices and procedures, and which garnered very positive feedback. To excel in her co-op job, Naomi built strong working relationships with fellow employees in order to successfully interview and understand their information needs. Her early and continual efforts to build these positive connections impressed her work supervisor.

As the Directorate’s first UBC SLAIS Co-op student, Naomi exemplified the high quality of the Co-op Program’s students through her workplace achievements and professional conduct. In turn, this position gave Naomi great insight into the challenges and rewards of records management, allowing her to put into practice theories she had only heard about in the classroom. Co-op was, Naomi asserts, “one of the best decisions I made while at SLAIS.”

Each year, the Arts Co-op Program recognizes an undergraduate co-op student for outstanding achievement in all aspects of student performance, including academic achievement, workplace achievement, and contribution to co-operative education and extra-curricular activities.

This year’s winner, Sophia Kim, fulfils all of the above and more. In a glowing evaluation from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), her supervisor Chiara Taylor writes, “Sophia surpassed all our expectations… We have hosted several co-op students in the past and while all have been welcome additions to the team, Sophia certainly stands out amongst them.” Outside of the workplace, Sophia currently serves as a Publishing Co-Executive for the UBC Arts Co-op Students’ Association.

Excellence in the Workplace

Sophia is a student who continually goes above and beyond her colleagues’ expectations.

During her first co-op term with the Financial Arrangements and Cost Sharing (FACS) group at AANDC, Sophia was given what her supervisor describes as “an ambitious research project examining the economic impact of treaties on First Nations in British Columbia.” She was responsible for reviewing existing literature, collecting data through the form of interviews with individuals from First Nations, the private sector and the government, and formulating preliminary conclusions on the subject.

Her research culminated in a formal presentation to employees of Treaties and Aboriginal Government-Negotiations West, and a written paper of what her supervisor deemed “graduate-level quality” that thoroughly impressed her work team, with many requests to share the paper with AANDC’s policy colleagues in Ottawa. Sophia’s findings also impressed a member of a First Nations government, who commented that she had made “some very important findings that will be instructive for AANDC and the Treaty Process.”

While much of her project was not initially well-defined, Sophia took its ever-evolving nature in her stride, adapting easily even to major changes in the project’s scope. Sophia’s supervisor commends her not only for her remarkable resourcefulness in overcoming obstacles, but also her consistently respectful and professional demeanor both towards her colleagues and towards contacts outside the workplace.

During her time at AANDC, Sophia gained valuable insight into the sometimes unintended effects of government policies. Her co-op experience added to the knowledge she’d gained from academics, giving her a “real life” understanding of how and why certain problems emerge. Through the skills and experience gained from this term, Sophia was able to land her “dream job” as a Junior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco/Silicon Valley for her second co-op term.

The program subsidizes up to 2,780 opportunities for summer jobs and internships offered to Canadian students and graduates.

Young Canada Works sponsors 3 summer job programs for students: YCW for Aboriginal Urban Youth, YCW in Heritage Organizations, and YCW in Both Official Languages.

The deadline to apply is February 1, 2012, so visit the YCW website to get started today.

Canada Summer Jobs, another annual source for wage subsidies, provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create high-quality summer job opportunities for students.

The application period will take place from February 1-29, 2012 and the applicant guide will be available online starting February 1st. In the meantime, visit Canada Summer Jobs to make sure you’re ready by understanding what the program offers and how you may be eligible.

The Need: Hiring from UBC Arts Co-op

Developmental Neuroscience and Child Health (DNCH) at UBC is a diverse organization within the Child and Family Research Institute (CFRI) that promotes collaborative and interdisciplinary research in order to improve the well-being of children, youth and families. In a study taking place at UBC, tasks range from day-to-day operations to managing large research databases over time. Students not only free up time for other staff, but also bring fresh ideas to the table and provide insights for improving the way the organization conducts research.

The Solution: Working with a UBC Arts Co-op Student

In addition to general administrative duties, Student Research Assistants enter, track and analyze data, as well as generate reports. The Student Research Assistant also plays a vital role with updating the website and keeping up with social media such as Twitter and Facebook. In addition, students help create newsletters by writing articles, as well as doing the layout and design twice per year.

One student who worked with Gail Andrews, a Clinical Research Coordinator at DNCH, created a useful, colourful data management manual that will serve as “the foundation of [their] research data management system for years in the future.” Gail goes on to say, “her enthusiasm for improving our old system was contagious!”

The Result: Benefits of Working with UBC Arts Co-op

Through working with UBC Arts Co-op students, Gail has observed that “[they] engage their work with fresh energy for new projects. Students also bring original perspectives to improve on routine tasks.” They are “creative, good communicators and willing to learn,” qualities which are essential for success in the role of a Research Assistant.

September 28, 2011 – We’ve just published our Annual Report, which includes highlights from our program for the 2010/2011 year, such as:

• Facts & Figures – Did you know nearly 300 community partners invested a total of over $2.7 million to employ UBC Arts Co-op students?
• Student Successes – A UBC Arts Co-op student was named the top university co-op student in BC.
• Lasting Legacies – UBC Arts Co-op alumni can now contribute to an endowment fund to support our Student of the Year awards and student travel bursaries.

Click here to see the full publication.

MAS 2010

Where did Susanne work?

Work term 1 (4 months)
Contract Researcher, Athabasca University

Work term 2 (4 months)
Student Archivist, Library and Archives Canada

What did Susanne accomplish?

Athabasca University
As a Contract Researcher, Susanne was involved in a research project whose goal was “to determine the viability of Athabasca University Archives to become the repository choice for records of Canadian non-profit environmental organizations.”  In order to achieve this goal, Susanne created a questionnaire to determine the extent of the records of these non-profit organizations, where they stored their records, and whether the organization would consider storing their records at Athabasca University.  She also created a comprehensive spreadsheet where she inputted the information. Through this experience, Susanne gained an insight into the process of conducting research and acquiring records in the private sector and how to create effective questionnaires.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC)
With the Government Records Branch of Library and Archives Canada, Susanne screened records for each department according to their respective records disposition authorities and created an accession level description and finding-aid for architectural drawings for a Public Works accession.  Susanne was trained in ATIP review and learned how to server documents that were released to the public. In addition, she had the opportunity to accompany archivists on visits to government departments in order to assess the kinds of records created and their specific record keeping systems. The insight she gained through this work term altered her career path and Susanne says, “because of my work with LAC I gained an appreciation for the complexity and volume of government records and that government records can be an interesting and rewarding area of work.” Susanne continued to work part-time with LAC after completing her co-op work term and was bridged into a full-time position upon graduation from the MLIS Program.

What would Susanne tell others about Co-op?

To students considering the co-op program Susanne says, “definitely take advantage of this fantastic opportunity. The experience of preparing a resume, going on interviews, and working in the area of your choice is an invaluable experience.  It really does prepare you for what lies ahead in the real world after school.”

Where is she now?

Upon graduation Susanne was bridged into a full-time position with Library and Archives Canada where she is working as an ATIP Analyst and assists with reference archivist work.

Benefits of Co-op

The co-op program gave Susanne an opportunity to put the theoretical knowledge she gained in her studies into practice in both the private sector and in government, leading to a full time job upon graduation. Susanne believes that “it is important to be able to make the connection between theory and practice before you finish a school program as it prepares you for the reality of working in your chosen field and shortens the learning curve when you are hired.”

BA 2005: International Relations

Where did Oliver work?

Work term 1 (8 months)
Community Development Assistant,  Muscular Dystrophy Canada

Work term 2 (4 months)
Customer Service Representative, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

Work term 3 (4 months)
Research Assistant, UBC Enrolment Services

What did Oliver accomplish?

Muscular Dystrophy Canada
In his position as a Community Development Assistant, Oliver supported the Vancouver office with its fundraising and community development projects. He assisted in both marketing the events through creating promotional material and in event coordination.  He had the opportunity to work on 3 special events: The 100 year anniversary of Harley Davidson, a Hockey Day hosted by Electronic Arts and taking a team to the BC Disability Games where he was responsible for the personal care and well being of the team members. This eye-opening experience was also his most memorable one, and Oliver was able to make a connection between the job and its impact on others.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
Oliver worked as a Customer Service Representative, where he answered phone calls on both the GST tax and child tax benefit lines. He learned how to check through large amounts of information quickly in order to effectively solve complex situations. Speaking with a wide range of individuals with various issues over the phone taught Oliver how to really listen and when to ask more questions. This is a skill he has found extremely valuable throughout his career and is a skill he uses today.

UBC Enrolment Services
During his final work term, Oliver was involved in 3 projects at UBC. He updated the UBC Askme website, participated in an e-portfolio pilot and worked with the UPass program. For the first project, he tracked student questions on the website in order to find trends to customize questions and answers on the website, making it more helpful for students.  Oliver was introduced to e-portfolios through the second project he worked on, where he explored this technology and created a report online about it. Finally, Oliver had the opportunity to work on UPass exemptions and interacted with students to answer their questions. It was important for Oliver to apply the skills he developed in his previous work terms including assessing situations and really listening to each individual case in order to successfully evaluate students’ requests. After taking some time off to travel, Oliver obtained a full-time position with Enrolment Services before pursuing a career in the private sector.

What would Oliver tell others about Co-op?

According to Oliver, “there is no substitute for experience.” He says, “during university you develop a base of knowledge which you may or may not apply [to your job], but will gain writing and critical thinking skills. Through co-op you will get real experience which you will take to a work environment after graduation.”

Where is he now?

Oliver is a Senior Project Manager with Global Medical Services and works in health care and emergency preparedness. He manages some of the organization’s major health projects, internal strategy and longer term goals. He has spearheaded the hiring of UBC Arts Co-op students at Global Consulting, a branch of Global Medical Services and is actively involved with giving back to the program. To read more about Global Medical Services and Oliver’s hiring of Arts Co-op students, click here.   

Benefits of Co-op

The knowledge and skills he gained through co-op have provided Oliver with “a solid base from which to stand.” He was able to apply the critical thinking and analysis skills he developed through his education to the work place, where he learned how to interact and communicate with others in a professional manner. He gained 3 professional references and developed a network of contacts that enabled him to obtain a position more easily upon graduation. The listening, writing and interpersonal skills he developed have benefitted Oliver throughout his career. In addition, Oliver’s first work term with Muscular Dystrophy Canada is something he always looks back on, and still considers working for a non-profit organization in a management position as part of his career path.

Where did Sheena work?

Work term 1 (4 months)
Industrial Education Team Leader, Surrey Salmon Habitat Restoration Program (SHaRP), Dillon Consulting

Work term 2 (4 months)
Department of Audit and Evaluation, Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation

Work term 3 (4 months)
Career Initiatives Research Assistant, Arts Co-op Program

Work term 4 (4 months)
State of Forests Report Research Assistant, Ministry of Forests and Range, Forest Practices Branch

What did Sheena accomplish?

Dillon Consulting
During her time as an Industrial Education Team Leader for SHaRP, Sheena gained insight into the recruitment process and developed her leadership through hiring, training and leading a team of 4 high school students to manage and complete projects such as industrial education campaigns and intensive stream restoration projects. She also promoted SHaRP by writing press releases, providing interviews to local television stations and newspapers. In addition, she was asked to act as the Media/PR Team Leader for SHaRP’s largest restoration project.

Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation
Sheena took advantage of national co-op opportunities and moved to Ottawa to work in the Department of Audit and Evaluation. This position gave her an opportunity to work with SPSS Statistical software in order to create a five page survey for 5000 members which focused on the accessibility of the museum for visitors. She then collected the surveys, analyzed the data and compared these findings with accessible services in over 20 museums. Sheena also conducted over 20 interviews with museum visitors in order to evaluate a sensitive exhibit on eugenics and the Nazi government during World War II. Her experience early on gave her “an edge and niche [in statistical analysis] that [she] continued to develop throughout [her] educational career.”

Arts Co-op Program
Sheena was able to utilize her knowledge of SPSS when developing, conducting and analyzing the first UBC Arts Co-op employer satisfaction survey in order to determine ways to improve Arts Co-op services. She presented these findings in a 30 page final report. She also developed her knowledge of event planning when helping coordinate large UBC Career events such as the Arts Career Expo. In order to make the event a success, she had to liaise with numerous departments and create posters and brochures to market the event. Sheena also had the opportunity to develop and facilitate pre-employment training workshops for new students on effective resume and cover letter writing, interview skills and workplace communication.

Ministry of Forests and Range
For her final work term, Sheena moved to Victoria to research climate change, greenhouse gases and public involvement to develop new indicators for the State of British Columbia’s Forests report. She also developed a 50 page report on sustainable forest management monitoring and reporting overlaps and knowledge gaps for the Forest and Range Evaluation Program (FREP). Through this experience she developed advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel and learned how to create report documents – skills which she uses in her current position.

What would Sheena tell others about Co-op?

Sheena says, “Being in UBC Arts Co-op was one of the best decisions I made while an undergrad at UBC.” In addition to co-op, Sheena was able to take advantage of the different opportunities on campus including doing research for a Political Science professor, volunteering at campus events and going on exchange to Sciences Po, a university that specializes in the humanities and social sciences in Grenoble, France. Sheena decided to pursue a Masters degree, but says “it was my co-op experiences, and the skills I gained in them, combined with my academic background which helped me achieve my dream of working for the United Nations.”

Where is she now?
Sheena is currently a Research Assistant in the Education Indicators and Data Analysis section of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The information she analyzes on children in and out of school around the world enables policy-makers to understand the characteristics of out-of-school children populations and helps them target interventions to help them complete their education. Sheena has had the opportunity to represent the UIS in missions in Turkey and Brazil as part of the Global Initiative on Out-of-School Children, which is led by the UIS and UNICEF.

Benefits of Co-op
Through each of her diverse co-op work terms, Sheena developed skills and gained experiences that she uses in her current position with UNESCO; she realized her interest in leadership, team building and community development, learned how to work in a professional environment and gained an understanding of how the public sector works and how to write large analytical reports. “Finding work after the BA is a much less daunting task if the student is equipped with the resume, cover letter, portfolio and experience of a UBC Arts Co-op student.”