Linking people, ideas and resources to create a lasting impact for students and community, the Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) 4 Team was honoured by NC for exemplifying the cross-functional teamwork that is the backbone of the College’s success.
Adam Dusome (Registrar, Senior Director Enrolment Services), Katerina Gonzalez (Director, Planning and Institutional Research), Vince Malvaso (Vice President, College Operations and interim Senior Director, Finance) and Jeff Post (Dean, Interdisciplinary Studies and Teaching Excellence) were presented with NC’s 2025 Team Award of Excellence at an employee event last December.
SMAs are the mechanisms by which the Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security provides performance-based funding to publicly assisted postsecondary institutions. The agreements outline the provincial government’s objectives and are designed to improve student education and economic outcomes, boost community outcomes, and ensure institutional stability.
The latest iteration of the agreement, SMA4, is a five-year agreement (2025-2030) focusing on metrics including STEM enrolment, experiential learning and graduate employment.
Through strong collaboration across the institution, careful data analysis, and strategic planning, the SMA4 Team ensured that NC is positioned optimally within the provincial framework by communicating the work of the entire college to the Ministry.
Demonstrating creativity, innovation, efficiency, and professionalism, the team delivered impactful results that support the College’s growth and long-term success, while prioritizing the needs of all learners.
The team’s commitment extends beyond the College’s walls through the cultivation of positive and valuable relationships with community partners. Recognizing the important role the college plays in bridging the gap between academia and the broader community, the team actively worked to ensure that these partnerships were reflected in the agreement. These include those that often result in new experiential learning opportunities, innovative community projects, and mutually beneficial initiatives that showcase NC’s leadership and engagement in the region.
The SMA4 team’s student-first mindset reflects a genuine commitment to NC’s mission of transforming lives and strengthening communities through education.
