The Students and Enrolment division has been awarded Organizational Excellence platinum in Excellence Canada’s Organizational Excellence Standard (OES) in 2024.
Excellence Canada rewards and recognizes excellence through their Canada Awards for Excellence (CAE) program. Achieving Organizational Excellence platinum indicates that the Students and Enrolment division has “achieved a sustainable practice of excellence with the outcomes to prove it.” A significant component of the platinum level is continuously improving excellence with sustained outcomes over at least three years.
“Our excellence journey has been transformative,” said Suzanne Blanchard, Vice-President (Students and Enrolment). “The Organizational Excellence Standard has provided a framework to guide our path to continuous improvement in the Students and Enrolment division.”
The Students and Enrolment division began their Excellence journey a few years ago, earning bronze level certification in Excellence, Innovation and Wellness in June 2019, followed by gold in the Organizational Excellence Standard in 2023.
The division’s application for Organizational Excellence platinum emphasized the ongoing and sustained strengths previously recognized with the gold level, and highlighted the additional steps implemented in the last year.
The division’s application highlighted some key strengths, including the Helping Ravens Soar strategic plan [PDF, 1.8 MB], departmental operational plans, divisional Town Halls and onboarding program.
The Excellence Canada team identified several strengths that stood out during the assessment process, including:
- A strong culture of collaboration and support
- Commitment to service excellence
- Evidence-informed decision-making to inform continuous improvement
- A focus on each student’s experience
- Fostering a caring and inclusive Carleton community
- Empowerment and trust in staff
“Many of the activities noted in the submission, and verified during the onsite focus group discussions, are most commendable,” Allan Ebedes, the President and CEO of Excellence Canada, wrote in the assessment report.
Achieving the platinum certification was a division-wide effort. Staff thoughtfully shared their experiences and insights at the focus groups, and the OES Working Group planned and executed the application.
The Students and Enrolment team accepts the Organizational Excellence platinum award in Toronto.
This recognition confirms the Students and Enrolment division is dedicated to a culture of teamwork, innovation and staff empowerment in pursuit of supporting student success.
“Reaching Platinum is a significant milestone for us,” said Blanchard. “It signifies our commitment to excellence and recognizes the dedication of every member of the Students and Enrolment division.”