Conestoga’s Meg Bauman has been honoured by the Canadian Association of College & University Student Services (CACUSS) with the CACUSS Excellence in Student Affairs award. Bauman was chosen from a field of 18 nominees from universities and one from another college to receive the recognition.
Conestoga’s Meg Bauman has been honoured with the CACUSS Excellence in Student Affairs award.
Bauman’s career has focused on student affairs in post-secondary institutions for nearly two decades. Her career at Conestoga started in 2017, and she has served in her current role as manager of Learning Services since 2020.
CACUSS is a national professional association that represents and serves individuals working in student affairs and services across Canadian post-secondary institutions. The Excellence in Student Affairs award is presented to a leader who has contributed significantly to the student affairs field for 10-plus years, developing and supporting department and institution-wide initiatives, and making distinguished contributions to their campuses, departments, and practice-specific communities.
Bauman received the award at a virtual ceremony on April 25.
Julie Mandal, Bauman’s direct manager at Conestoga, pointed to Bauman’s work to support a particularly vulnerable group of students during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the difference she’s made at the college.
“The COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated wait times for psychoeducational assessments in Ontario and made it almost impossible for struggling students to gain insight into their executive functioning, cognitive ability, memory skills, attention, and behaviour,” said Mandal, director, Library and Learning Services.
“Meg provided structure and project management support to Heads of Student Affairs (HOSA) in the development of tools and a best practice guide for advisors and counsellors to implement temporary or or immediate accommodations for students without formal documentation or permanent disability.”
HOSA is an operating committee of Colleges Ontario’s Coordinating Committee of Vice Presidents Students that includes student affairs representatives from each college in the province.
Bauman’s impact at Conestoga is also noticed by her peers and colleagues for the leadership and management skills she brings to the role everyday. Katie Krauss is one Conestoga employee who has valued the opportunity to report to Bauman.
“I have been fortunate to have my role report into Meg’s leadership. As a new student affairs professional, Meg has not only been an effective manager but also an influential mentor. Meg leads her team with a balance of strategic thinking, effective communication, and confident decision-making while also being open to new and different ideas and perspectives,” said Krauss, assistant manager, Learning and Peer Services, Conestoga.
Bauman’s time and commitment spread beyond Conestoga on various initiatives, committees and groups where her contributions have made a meaningful impact on other colleges and institutions throughout the province.
Kathryn McMillan, manager of Learning Centres at Seneca College, values Bauman’s pivotal role as a co-chair with her on the Ontario College Learning Centres Administrators sub-committee.
“Meg has been instrumental in fostering engagement and support amongst this group, allowing them to share information and best practices to enhance evidence-based decision-making in student learning support services,” said McMillan.
“She does what needs to happen to get the job done provincially despite other obligations that may occur within her regular role at Conestoga College.”
Virginia Roy, executive director of the Ontario Colleges Library Service, commented on Bauman’s dedication and contribution to the launch of an after-hours math tutoring pilot at colleges throughout Ontario.
“Meg and a group of college learning centres leaders identified a gap in the support options for students - after hours,” said Roy.
“Under Meg’s leadership and vision, a distinctive cross-college partnership was cultivated, laying the groundwork for the launch of a collaborative math tutoring pilot service by eight colleges in a newly formed Ontario College Learning Centre Consortium. The pilot is just past its mid-point. An additional college has requested the opportunity to join, and the pilot operating committee is currently reviewing how to extend the pilot and add additional functionality,” added Roy.
Upon receiving the award, Bauman took time to reflect on her career and the colleagues she has worked with at Conestoga.
“I was surprised and honoured to have been nominated, let alone selected for the CACUSS Excellence in Student Affairs award. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been extended throughout my career and for the amazing, student-focused colleagues I have the privilege to work with at Conestoga,” said Bauman.
“We’re thrilled that Meg has won this award,” said Trish Weigel Green, Conestoga’s vice president, Students.
“Not only is it a fitting recognition of her dedication to student needs and her ability to engage and lead her colleagues, it’s also a testament to the supportive environment we have created at Conestoga for students, which fosters incredible programs and innovative employees like Meg, who are recognized nationally for their impact and commitment.”
Conestoga’s Student Success is comprised of wellness and learning supports to help students develop skills and gain success. Services include tutoring and academic support, accessible learning, career advising, mental health support and medical care.