“I’m the go-to person when there’s a problem,” says Étienne Collette1. His administrative technician job is split in two components: the daily management of the Social Work department of the Université du Québec en Outaouais and the support of the Social Work graduate students throughout their studies.
His responsibilities include the management of the professors’ teaching tasks as well as the assignment of course loads. “I prepare the contracts, I follow up on the lecturers’ requests for the recognition of requirements of teaching qualification, on the budget management and on the collective agreement compliance,” he says.
A little help for the students
Étienne Collette also assists the students in Social Work. “I make sure that their progress goes smoothly, oversee the different administrative follow-ups, including those related to the supervision of their research studies, and I help them conform to the institutional regulations,” he explains.
An appreciated recognition
Proud of what he accomplishes, Étienne Collette believes that his work is recognized by his colleagues. “I feel that I facilitate the work of the University professors, of the lecturers, but also of the students,” he confides.
“I know I enable the department to work well. I contribute in my own way to the primary missions that are teaching and research in Social Work. It’s particularly gratifying, especially when we know that those missions aim to shape citizens and to acquire knowledge that will serve society,” adds the technician.
“My work is done behind the scenes, but I think it’s essential work, which the University couldn’t do without,” he concludes.
1 Étienne Collette is a member of the Syndicat du personnel de soutien de l’Université du Québec en Outaouais (CSQ).
