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St. Lawrence College (SLC) has integrated its International Education team with its Student Affairs division to ensure the College structure supports its vision of global engagement. This approach is unique for the college sector and best supports its “one college, one student” approach to ensuring all SLC students are successful.
“This integration weaves a global perspective through all of the ways we support our students and aligns to our commitment to operational excellence and student enrichment,” says SLC President and CEO, Glenn Vollebregt. “The world is a global community and with this change, our College looks at opportunities like exchange experiences, hosting international students, and our global alumni network as extensions of our core business and services, not the primary responsibility of any one division.”
This structural evolution aligns with the College’s inaugural Global Engagement Strategy. Launched in 2021, the Global Engagement Strategy strengthens SLC’s vision of being globally recognized and refines the concept of internationalization, making global engagement at home and abroad a shared commitment of the SLC community.
To lead the newly integrated division, Shelley Aylesworth-Spink, who has been in the role of Vice President, International Education since 2020, has been appointed SLC’s new Vice President, Student Success. Shelley’s international team will continue reporting to her and she will continue to lead international partnerships. In her new role, Shelley will also lead the Student Affairs team, currently being led by interim vice president Michael Cooke, who will continue to provide guidance and oversight as he transitions from the role over the summer.
Shelley joined SLC in 2017 as Associate Dean in the School of Business, where she focused on student success by building intercultural competence, creating lasting results that continue to positively impact business students’ experience. In February 2020, she became Vice President, International Education, leading SLC’s international admissions, student immigration support, community development, and global learning teams, plus SLC’s affiliate partnerships.
“I’m honoured to take on this position at SLC and continue working to advance internationalization efforts throughout the College,” Aylesworth-Spink said. “This holistic, new approach will provide the integrated education, services, and opportunities all students will need in an increasingly interconnected world, whether they come to SLC from our local communities or from across the globe.”
The College will continue supporting the unique needs of students from outside Canada while connecting students to the world. “As we continue to grow opportunities for our students, we will also keep developing our global network,” Vollebregt said. “SLC is committed to global engagement and student success as outlined in SLC in Five, our strategic plan, and this means ensuring every student is supported and successful whether they are studying here or abroad.”
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