Employees as Students

When you were younger, if someone had asked you if you’d like to spend two weeks of your summer vacation time in school, you probably would have responded with an emphatic “no”.

But what if you could take most of your coursework online throughout the year, and then spend those two weeks in class with a group of people with similar interests—people you know and like…and maybe even people with whom you work every day...

Might you consider it then?

“An increasing number of UCalgary employees are taking graduate degrees in the Werklund School of Education’s Master of Education (M Ed) Specialist and Interdisciplinary programs," says Michele Jacobsen, associate dean of graduate programs. 

“And when you think about it,” she asks, “it makes good sense that someone working at a post-secondary institution would take advantage of the diverse topic offerings and the benefits of doing so.”

Tuition support, flexibility keys to success

Deb Cummings is the Publications Editor for UCalgary’s Alumni office (she’s responsible for UCalgary Magazine, as well as weekly alumni news emails, among other things).    A former print journalist, she’s enrolled in the Adult, Community and Higher Education (ACHE) MEd specialization, with plans to teach post-secondary English or journalism overseas.  

“The tuition support that UCalgary employees receive makes this graduate program wonderfully affordable, “ she says, “and living in Calgary makes the two summer block courses cheap and easy to attend.”

“Online courses translate to a higher degree of flexibility and freedom that allows you to work when it best suits you.” 

Grad student Mary Grant agrees.  “Tuition support is a very positive incentive for taking advantage of academic programs on campus,” she says, “and the MEd Interdisciplinary program fits with a full time university work schedule.” 

“And,” Grant, who is the Operations Manager of the Health Sciences Library at the Foothills Campus continues, “taking a program at the university has helped me build a broad network with others across campus.   I have also been able to gain a deeper understanding of our university and have had the opportunity to apply knowledge within my workplace.”

Another student, Alix Westgard, is the Graduate Coordinator in the Faculty of Kinesiology.  She says that while the tuition support was key to her decision to take a graduate degree with the Werklund School, it was the accessibility and flexibility of the program that were the main selling points for her.

“I wanted the benefit of some on-campus courses but also knew that my work schedule would not permit a fully on-campus program.”

“Not having to travel for the on-campus portion has been beneficial – it is wonderful to be able to go to your own home at the end of a long day of classes.  It has also been immensely helpful to be a member of the University of Calgary community when taking online courses – I can set up an in-person meeting with a faculty member or instructor during regular business hours.”

Graduate degree opens up new possibilities

For people thinking about continuing their post-secondary education but wondering if it was possible, any one of the many UCalgary employees who are doing just that will tell you it’s certainly achievable.

“It had been a personal goal for me for decades,” says Deb Cummings, “but other jobs and raising kids were the excuses I used not to pursue a masters degree.

“Plus, I was very happy working as a journalist for a long, long time. However, that world has been flipped around so much and I enjoy teaching, so I thought I’d see if this program opened any new doors.”

And Alix Westgard sums up the ultimate benefit.  “This program has already helped me career-wise,” she says.  “I started my current position in Kinesiology in March of this year, and my program came up several times in the interview. I hope to use the skills and knowledge I’ve obtained in my graduate program within the Faculty of Kinesiology for many years.”

“When the time is right I hope to continue growing at the University of Calgary and I know that my MEd will continue to serve me then as now.”

For Mary Grant, who’s enrolled in the MEd Interdisciplinary program on Leading in Post-Secondary contexts, using what she’s learned in her graduate studies—and from being an employee of UCalgary—is a perfect fit. “I have witnessed the positive impact that strong, visionary and collaborative leadership can create within the university environment in times of change,” she says. 

“This has inspired me to strive for a higher level of knowledge and understanding about the foundations and future of leadership in the post-secondary context.”