College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has been awarded the National University Technology Network’s (NUTN) 2014 Institutional Achievement Award. The award was presented Tuesday at the NUTN Network 2014 Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
The international award recognizes an institutional member for effective use of technology in teaching and learning and/or administration that is exemplary, demonstrates leadership and commitment, and advances the field as an institutional model. Adding to the significance of the award is that it is presented while the college celebrates its 50-year anniversary.
College of the North Atlantic’s President and CEO, Ann Marie Vaughan, says to be recognized by peers on the international stage is an accomplishment everyone in the CNA organization should be proud of.
“This is a significant milestone for the instructors, support staff and management teams who have played an important role in making this achievement possible over the 50-year history of our provincial college system,” said President Vaughan. “Our college has been recognized for many things during that time, including being a leader in the delivery of distance education and in the exporting of post-secondary education internationally. We also have a long history of community service, combining college resources with the skills of instructors and students to develop worthwhile projects as part of their practical learning.”
College of the North Atlantic continuously strives and seeks partnerships so as to contribute to, and support, the overall advancement of teaching and learning through its effective use of technology. Examples of this include the Office of Distributed Learning and the college’s work internationally, including the College of the North Atlantic-Qatar operation, partnerships with eight institutions in China and international contracts with institutions in Guyana, Yemen and Vietnam to name a few.
“It has been quite the journey of progress since the first District Vocational Schools were opened to address identified regional and provincial training needs in 1963,” said President Vaughan. “We have not only shown tremendous growth over the last 50 years, but we have also established ourselves as a leader in post-secondary education and an integral part of local communities, economic regions, and the workforce of the province.”
Pam Quinn, Chair of the National University Technology Network, says the college’s accomplishments and ability to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of post-secondary education is an exemplary model that has shown success at every level.
“We are honoured to recognize College of the North Atlantic as the winner of the NUTN 2014 Institutional Achievement Award. A distinguished panel of reviewers cited College of the North Atlantic for its wonderful institutional commitment, from its governing board and President to implementation of a wide range of courses, certificates and degree programs for 17 campuses in Newfoundland and Labrador, and its campus in Qatar,” said Quinn, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas County Community College District’s LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications. “Particularly impressive are the developed strategic partnerships. The quantified impact on the provincial economy of $1.1 billion is one measure sure to catch the eye of its constituencies, as is its significant and committed focus to access by employing technologies as a key strategy as well as in creating an effective teaching and learning environment.”
Last year’s winner of the Institutional Achievement Award was Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic & State University).
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Media Contact:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca