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AC Class of ’59 makes a big impact on learning

A lot has changed at the Agricultural Campus since Dale Ells (secretary, Class of ’59) and his classmates graduated.

“Classes were much smaller then,” he notes. “There were only 39 of us and if you wanted to complete the science degree in agriculture you had to go to Guelph or McGill.  We felt prepared to go into those new learning environments and even take on leadership roles mainly because of the high-quality instruction we received here in Truro.”

Ells and his classmates never forgot the foundation that the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (now Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture) provided them. Over the years, they often discussed how they could support the campus in return, particularly as their 50^th anniversary approached.

 “We had noticed other classes making a donation or establishing a scholarship, so we formed a committee to talk about what meant most to us. The conversations focused on our respect for the faculty and the quality of instruction we received.  So we decided to establish a fund dedicated to learning.”

Launched in 2009, The Class of ‘59 Teaching Development Fund helps faculty, technicians and staff involved in teaching provide the same calibre of instruction that Ells and his classmates cherished.

“With larger classes, tighter budgets, and the need to continually upgrade one’s subject matter, it can be difficult dedicating resources to updating teaching techniques or learning facilities,” says Ells. “We decided to focus our support on the entire teaching team.”

To date, the fund, which anyone can donate to, has been used to present a teaching workshop, invest in learning materials for instructor training and to purchase clicker technology that enhances student engagement while revealing how well they comprehend topics discussed in class.

“This technology helps me deliver more student-centred education, and that would not have been possible without the fund,” says professor Diane Dunlop (BSc (Agr) ’85). “What the Class of ’59 has provided us is an important opportunity to bring more excitement into the learning process and ensure a better understanding of course material.”

There is one other way that the fund has been beneficial, according to class president Campbell Gunn. “It’s certainly brought the class members closer together. We’ve been meeting every year since we started this. Our hope is that, through this gift, we can help the teaching team gain the tools they need, which will ultimately benefit students.”