Jean Watters - 2015-04-08 - Richmond

Hiring at TechBC -- TechBC struggled from the beginning -- Innovative approaches to higher education / Working in temporary spaces -- Politics and TechBC’s space -- Workplace culture -- Lobbying to keep TechBC open -- Workplace socializing builds trust -- TechBC town halls / ICBC contact -- TechBC closure announced -- Impact of TechBC’s uncertain future -- SFU takeover of TechBC -- Lobbying and lessons learned -- Professional life after TechBC -- TechBC's innovations / Diversity in British Columbia -- Legacy of TechBC / Conclusions -- ; Jean Watters reflects on his time as the President of TechBC. Having been warned that the University may be facing closure even before he began his term as President, Watters recalls a time of uncertainty and political challenges during his appointment. Despite the eventual closure of TechBC, and the “inevitable” takeover by SFU, Watters speaks with pride and fondness of TechBC’s innovative approach to instruction. He describes the lobbying and communication strategies used in efforts to keep TechBC open, and the town hall meetings and staff parties that he facilitated in order to inform students, faculty, and staff, and keep morale high. He talks about the emotional fallout of the closure of TechBC on students, faculty, and staff, describing how each group’s needs were differently (and perhaps inadequately) addressed. Though he officially retired after TechBC closed, Watters has been active; he discusses his work with Le Bureau des Affaires Francophones et Francophiles, and the French school board. Ultimately, he reflects on the positive legacy of TechBC, and how happy he is that people are still talking about it today.