Building connections
We are stronger together. When we connect, we support each other and our community.
At NSCC, we are fortunate to be part of many communities across the province. By nurturing strong, collaborative partner relationships, we can create meaningful connections and improve access and support for students and employees while at the College and in their local communities. We’ve designed our activities to build connections with these intentions in mind:
- Participating in local community wellness programs and provincial initiatives that promote wellness, reduce stigma and increase cultural awareness
- Partnering with healthcare agencies, police and community resources to coordinate the support of our employees and students
- Conducting research with partners and health agencies for evidence-based resources that extend our student and employee programming
- Promoting mental health and addiction services support, critical care and resources in our local communities
- Building relationships with service providers to improve access to culturally-relevant resources for Mi’kmaq and Black and African Canadian employees and students
College-wide actions
Employee resource networks
Employee resource networks (ERNs) are groups that provide NSCC employees from from equity-seeking, racialized and diverse communities the opportunity to come together to share common experiences as part of the College's emerging equity ecosystem (log-in required). We have ERN’s for the Indigenous/Mi’kmaq community, Black/African Nova Scotians, People of Color, Persons with Disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The executive sponsor is the College's Vice President, Academic and Equity.
HealthyMindsNS committee
The Department of Advanced Education chairs a committee to evaluate and promote emental health and wellbeing tools to post-secondary students in Nova Scotia—soon to be extended to employees. The College participates in this committee.
Active living program
This program motivates students and employees to embrace healthier lifestyles to impact mental and physical wellness, nutrition, financial preparedness and other tools to relax the mind and body, decrease anxiety and depression, increase energy, promote fitness and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Proactive wellbeing measures for teams
Try It February is a challenge to encourage employees to choose an experience they’ve never tried from a list, expanding their repertoire of movement, fresh air, relaxation, skill-building and adventure.
Mental wellness steering committee and mental wellness strategy evaluation committee
These committees are enriched from the participatory action of our student committee members. Collaborative efforts between students and employees empower people to embrace post-secondary mental wellness for all in that it is about ‘doing with’ rather than ‘doing to’. Engaging students as co-pilots on our mental wellness strategy is essential to promote health in post-secondary education.
Campus housing
NSCC has removed the use of the word ‘residence’ in reference to student housing. The term does not foster a safe, welcoming or inclusive environment for Indigenous students. Moving forward, the term (and variations) as it relates to housing will be removed from all College material, web pages and publications. The term 'residence life' will be replaced with campus housing.
Community assistant training
Training took place over two weeks and was supplemented with ongoing PD days and a January pre-term refresher. Topics included suicide awareness and prevention, non-violent crisis intervention, anti-racism and anti-discrimination training, bystander intervention, queer identities, responding to disclosures of sexual violence and supporting neurodivergent students. Participants visited Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia for experiential learning.
Campus housing educational programming
Based on the NSCC campus housing community development model for community connections, personal wellness and academic success, community assistants hosted 21 community programs during the academic year to support wellbeing and encourage the seeking of help. Further informing these programs were insights from the campus housing student experience survey, which helped employees better understand the student experience and identify areas and opportunities for growth.
International student ambassadors
Our international student ambassadors (ISA) program aims to welcome international students to the NSCC community and support their successful networking, with activities to meet new friends and forge shared interests and hobbies together, share our understanding of our respective cultures, explore career roadmaps for post-graduation and enjoy virtual/in-person events together. A session was held on mental wellness, stress management and resilience for our ISA leaders to help students manage stress and recognize signs in others.
Hobby buddies
This program helps connect students with similar interests and is being expanded with the Student Association in 2022-23.
Campus initiatives
Mobile student services
Burridge Campus
A table set up in a high-visibility area during the lunch hour once or twice per week is hosted by a student services advisor, promoting an array of inspiration and information on the employment and labour market, entrepreneurship, cultural awareness, and finances and budget planning. There are also handmade envelopes that contain anonymous inspirational encouragement students have written for others. Across 2021-22, the table led 122 conversations with students and 47 conversations with employees.
Mural inspired by Netukulimk
Middleton Campus
Netukulimk is a Mi’kmaw word that describes a way of life and our relationship with the natural world and how we take care of each other. It refers to the sustainable and wise use of our resources so that people and nature can coexist for generations to come.
A mural at Middleton Campus represents the relationship among people and at the same time our interconnection with the natural world. It features a tree that fits into the shape of eagle wings, which shows how our lives are connected and how we depend on each other. The Eagle (Kitpu) is the symbol for love - it shows us that our relationships are better when based on love, kindness and understanding.
Campus flag installations
Annapolis Valley Campus and COGS
This is an installation of the Mi’kmaw Grand Council flag, Progress Pride flag and African Nova Scotian flags with plaques explaining their significance. The hope is to educate all employees, visitors and students and be a welcoming symbol for members of the communities represented by the flags.
Online coffee houses
Kingstec Campus
Kingstec Campus offered online coffee houses for the campus community to help support community building and social connections while living with lots of restrictions. Each session had approximately 30 to 40 participants.
Forest bathing
Kingstec Campus
In March 2022, the Therapeutic Horticulture class organized a forest bathing session for students and employees with Soft Pine Wellness.
African fabric quilt
Akerley Campus
A quilt was purchased and installed at Akerley Campus, intended to be a welcoming symbol for students and employees of Black and African Nova Scotian descent, African Canadian descent or African descent.