Academic News

The idea of Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) is not new, it’s been around for quite some time. It may not be a real position in a firm or educational institute. Matter of fact, there are few variations to the function of this “position” depending on the firm or the institute. Here, I will focus on our implementation which is still in the experimental phase, never the less it produced so far an excellent results. The Accounting and Computer Education (ACE) department at Red River College (RRC) requires that students do an industry project as part of their education. The projects are typically provided by industry partners (usually well established organizations). They are real projects with specific outcomes. The students and faculty work on the projects and deliver the results by the end of the term. This year ACE wanted to open the door to young organizations in their early stages of development. An entrepreneur with a sound idea can qualify to be the Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) who will work directly with faculty and students to further develop the idea and change it to a real product. The investment to create this “position” is just a desk and safe environment where the Students, Faculty, and the EIR can brainstorm to transform the idea into something that is of benefit for everyone. The results were phenomenal, we can judge by the response of the students who took just a bare idea and in a short time transformed it into a product that can be displayed and demonstrated to the world. The interaction between the EIR and students was something of great interest, first this direct interaction taught the students how to be innovators themselves. Second, the EIR demonstrated first hand to the students how to pursue the path of being independent and how exciting to have a dream. There are other accomplishments achieved beside the academic goals that must be achieved as part of the students development in this term.

The overall experience was wonderful, we can say that in a short period of time with the help of an EIR we created more entrepreneurs with more ideas.

Date of Publication: October 2015

Author: Haider Al-Saidi

Andrea graduated in 2015 and here she shares her experience working as a RN in a rural setting:

I am currently working in rural nursing at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach on the Surgery and Obstetrics Unit. I am absolutely loving every moment of rural nursing as the skills that you get to use are immense! I was hired out of my Senior Practicum at the end of May 2015. I was fortunate to successfully write my NCLEX the first time in July.

Andrea also offers some words of encouragement for our current BN students:

Don’t be so hard on yourself! You can and you will make it through nursing school, even if it may not feel like it sometimes! Just look back at where you’ve came from and how far you’ve made it. Your hard work will pay off in the end, I promise! Ask questions if you are unsure about something; there are no dumb questions. Always remember to really get to know your patient as a person and not for the disease that they have; it will definitely pay off in the long run when building that therapeutic relationship that we all learned so much about in nursing school! Good luck in your studies and I look forward to having you all as my colleagues in the near future!

Well said, Andrea!

Karen graduated with the 2015 class and is preparing to write the NCLEX. Here she shares a bit about her journey through senior practicum and into the role of employed Nurse!:

I completed my senior practicum on WRS3 (postpartum unit at Women’s Hospital) and I got a position following its completion. I am currently working as a grad nurse right out of school making great money at last!

Karen also offers some insight for current BN students about the transition from student to actively employed Grad Nurse:

I’m so glad I picked a senior placement in a hospital setting that hires their new grads. I have many friends that did their practicum in public health or the OR and it is incredibly tough to get jobs in those areas as new grads. I just wanted to start working right away.

The RRC Nursing Public Relations committee thanks Karen for her submission and wishes her all the best in her journey as a professional nurse!

Red River College Nursing Program Awards Presentation 2015

Congratulations To This Year’s Award Winners

Jean Burrows Scholarship  – Allison Hay : Jean Burrows was the Nursing Dept. Chair from 1974 to 1998 and upon her retirement this scholarship was created for a 1st year student recognizing their outstanding academic achievement.

Nursing Students Endowment Scholarship – Emily Lapp, Ashley Jahns, Candice Plett, Kari Feilberg : This award was established from students who, in 1997 as part of their tuition fees, contributed to this endowment fund.  In 2001, a portion of this money was dedicated to the creation of these awards.  The class of 2002 also made a sizable contribution from their own fundraising efforts.

Bernice Parrot Award – Emily Taylor, Kaitlin Nakonechny : This award was established to provide financial assistance to a deserving student after term six in the BN program to recognize their hard work and efforts.

Nursing Legacy Award- Jackie McAuley, Miranda Martens, Shannon Gray, Erin Dahl, Victoria Cammarata, Candice Plett, LaDawn Dyck, Melissa Walker, Starr Wiebe:

This award recognizes outstanding clinical performance of students.

Thorey Johnson Nursing Award – Helene Kreker : In honor of their mother, Mrs. Johnson’s daughters have established this scholarship for a nursing student who has expressed a special interest in rural nursing practice.

Nursing Leadership Award – Laurie Chan, Jennifer Russell :
This award is for deserving students who have gone above and beyond in support and leadership of their peers. This award was established by the awards committee, with nominations from faculty and peers.

Discipline of Professional Nursing Award – Alexa Fraser, Emily Lapp, Darlene Mary Jackson : These awards are presented to students for their outstanding achievement in the courses of Discipline of Professional Nursing 1-5.

Mary Langham Nursing Award – Starr Wiebe : This award is  presented to a 3rd year student who has demonstrated a high level of skill in the clinical setting and has expressed a special interest in obstetrics and gynecology.

Community Service Award – Tricia Tyerman, Meagan McRae :
This award is presented to second and third year students who have volunteered for a community agency while maintaining sound academic achievement.

Karen Wall Aboriginal Nursing Student Award – Jennifer Russell :This award is presented to a 3rd year student of Canadian Aboriginal heritage who has achieved academic success in the BN program, and has demonstrated leadership within the Aboriginal community.

Dean of Business and Applied Arts, Graham Thomson trying the Google Cardboard

On October 6th, 2015, the President and CEO of Red River College, Mr. Paul Vogt visited the BIT/BTM Project Space. He was given a tour of the project space as well as an introduction to the various projects being developed there under the guidance of BIT Space Development.

The chair of the Accounting and Computer Education department, Haider Al-Saidi, presented his vision for the future of the project space and his hopes that the project space will continue and grow and be the host for more innovative ideas and a way for Red River College students to learn valuable skills in a real world project environment.

Haider Al-Saidi presenting his vision for the BIT/BTM Project Space

Thursday, December 3, 2015  |  5 – 8 pm
Exchange District Campus, 160 Princess St.
William Building, Main floor, A104 Lecture Hall

Graphic Design is holding an information night for students, parents and high school staff who would like more information about admission to our program. No need to register. Presentations will be run at 5 pm and 6 pm. After the presentation we invite you to:
• tour the facilities,
• meet with instructors, enrollment staff and current students,
• ask questions about the entrance portfolio and see samples of work.

Download a pdf of the invitation RRC_GDinvite2015

For more information contact:
Diane Livingston, Program Coordinator
at dlivingston@rrc.ca

Student Life App

Team Members: Jie Chen, Fiona Grant, Samara Hoffmann, Skye Valde

Goal: Support students’ decisions when coming to Red River College by presenting pertinent information and leading them through a process of LIFE (Living, I [as in me], Finances, and Employment) self-assessment so they can consider how ready they are for college life.
Read More →

Team Members: Aaron Bao, Cole Denslow, Samara Hoffman (shared)

Goal: Allow anyone to easily upload static digital images (either flat, two-dimensional images or fully spherical 360-degree panoramas) and overlay clickable “hotspots” to create interactive augmented reality “panos” that can be published and shared over the Web.
Read More →

Food & Farm Discovery Centre

Team Members: Parminder Singh, Skye Valde (shared), Chris Xuan

Goal: Staff of the Farm & Food Discovery Centre (FFDC) will be able to easily create and maintain a wide variety of digital content (text, images, video, interactive augmented reality, virtual reality, simulations) that can be delivered via the Web (to any computer or mobile device) or on-site displays and installations. Read More →

Elizabeth graduated with the 2015 class. Here she shares a bit about her journey through senior practicum and into the role of Registered Nurse!

I was fortunate to have successfully written the NCLEX exam on September 3rd. I now hold a casual position on the Antepartum & Gyne/Gyne Oncology unit where I completed my senior practicum – WRS5 in Women’s Hospital. I am hoping to obtain a permanent position there in the near future.

Elizabeth also offers some advice for students currently enrolled in the BN program:

Don’t compare yourself to your peers and take the time you need to relax. Do you 🙂

The RRC Nursing Public Relations committee thanks Elizabeth for her submission and would like to reinforce her message. Focus on your personal journey as a student and take time to care for yourselves. Soon you will have your own success story to share!

Congratulations Elizabeth!