Student success continued to be a major priority this year. In addition to the implementation of the annual student success plan, the College completed the evaluation of its first three-year plan and the development of the second three-year plan. In its evaluation report, the Commission d'évaluation de l'enseignement collégial has recognized the value and the quality of the first plan and its positive impacts on the indicators used in the context of student success. The evaluation of the measures put in place to support students remains strategic for future development. In that context and based on the acquired experience, the second three-year student success plan has been developed with keeping students in focus. From the outset targeted student populations have been identified, then obstacles these students face have been listed, and finally actions have been designed to help them overcome the obstacles they face. In line with the Commission's remarks, evaluation methods have been clearly identified for each action.

This new student success plan was incorporated as a major issue in the College's first Strategic Plan, which has also been developed during the year. The other major strategic issue related to academic affairs focuses on the development and improvement of academic programs for Regular Day and Continuing Education sectors. The main objectives in this case are to provide programs that respond to current and emergent community needs and interests, and to ensure that program delivery maximizes student learning.

Program evaluation has always been a means to improve teaching and learning at Champlain. Four programs have been evaluated this year: Languages and Literature and Fine Arts at Lennoxville, Sciences at St-Lambert, and, Creative Arts, Languages and Literature at St. Lawrence. An action plan has been developed and approved by the Board for each of these programs. Follow-up reports on these action plans will become regular items at the meetings of the Board and the Commission of Studies.

The College also submitted follow-up reports on its evaluation of General Education for Lennoxville and St. Lawrence campuses to the Commission d'évaluation de l'enseignement collégial. The Commission's responses were very favourable and it recognized the quality of the General Education curriculum at both campuses.

Continuing Education services at St-Lambert and St. Lawrence have been very active in proposing new A.E.C. programs to their communities. Lennoxville made an additional effort to offer courses targeted to the English community of the area. These initiatives come at a time when Emploi-Québec, a major student feeder for continuing education programs, has virtually withdrawn from the market.

The launching of the Forum on the College Education by the Minister of Education generated an in-depth reflection throughout the network. The role and the very existence of the colleges has been questioned and debated. Colleges through their Fédération have asked for additional autonomy and greater flexibility in the management of their programs. The outcome of this reflection will be known next year, but the operation has already generated a desire to design and to offer new programs, to initiate projects in cooperation with school boards, other colleges and universities. There is a new climate that will allow colleges to innovate and Champlain Regional College is set to take advantage of this new orientation.

Late in November and in early February, the Commision d'évaluation de l'enseignement collégial visited the College within the context of our institutional self-evaluation. A few days before the summer holidays, the College received the Commission's preliminary report which was overall very positive. After proposing a few suggestions for improvement, the Commission concluded that the academic management is efficient, that the College has put in place necessary measures to ensure that its programs are developed, evaluated and revised adequately, and that it has a very good student follow-up system.

This year has been a year of recognition of expertise and of transition within the academic affairs realm. Champlain Regional College is in a position to build on its solid experience and to enter in a new era with confidence.