Nova Scotia Loves NACLAA!
by John Sinclair

Professor Jack Novack of Henson College at Dalhousie University recently had a meeting with a number of Nova Scotia NACLAA students. As part of NACLAA's stringent quality control process, he wanted to touch base with them in person to see how things went during the program's inaugural year.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Nova Scotia practitioners found the material highly relevant and interesting. They also liked the fact that they could log on to their courses at any time of the day or night. But most of all they loved the interaction and support they received from fellow students across the country. Many Alberta students had previous experience with online learning and were eager to help the newcomers from down east. Their collegial support was greatly appreciated by the Nova Scotians, and was music to the ears of NACLAA brass. "One of the objectives of NACLAA is to foster a pan Canadian municipal consciousness," brimmed Prof. Novack. "Hearing these comments made me think that we're succeeding."

On the negative side, some felt that there was too much reading. But Novack made no apology. Rather he stated that the courses are prepared at a university standard and that an implicit goal of the course is to further develop skills in reading, comprehension and writing. Winked NACLAA's founding father, "Some students still think there is much reading, but at least now they understand why."

And will the Maritimers be coming back for more in the fall? Absolutely, says Novack. "Local government managers network and talk like any other professional group. And word is starting to get around. We're expecting a healthy increase in Maritime enrollments this September, and this only the beginning."

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