The Battlefords – The North West College NWC Board of Governors announced Friday that Jay Notay has resigned from his position as president and CEO. Notay is leaving NWC to become the president and CEO of Keyano College in Fort McMurray, Alta., as of Oct. 4.
The board indicated that during his time with NWC, Notay positioned the college well by advancing a number of the board’s priorities.
One was to develop a comprehensive business case and feasibility study, in collaboration with the board, for a new campus in the Battlefords.
“This initiative is progressing well and the college, with ministry approvals, may soon be embarking upon a multi-million dollar capital campaign to support this key strategic priority,” stated the board’s release.
Through the process, the release added, the college has established further relationships and potential partnerships with industry, local community leaders, Indigenous communities and philanthropists.
The board also stated under Notay’s term, the college became a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and will be able to deliver programming to International students with study visas starting fall 2022.
The board also said the college’s profile within the province and its respective ministries have been improved given Notay’s work as chair of CEO Council and Co-Chair of the Association of Saskatchewan Regional Colleges for the last two years.
Through Notay’s leadership and in collaboration with his executive team, the college has successfully navigated through the challenges of the pandemic, including achieving balanced budgets during this time, said the board.
When Notay arrived in the summer of 2018, he brought to his role more than 22 years of experience as an executive vice-president, dean, associate dean and senior leader for urban and rural post-secondary institutions in Ontario and British Columbia. He left a role as the executive vice-president of Academic, Applied Research and Students with the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, B.C. to take on the leadership role at NWC.
The board said its priorities will continue to be facility related or financial in nature in the immediate future to ensure programs and services have the finances and infrastructure in place to serve the needs of students. With that in mind, the board will be appointing Tanis Studney as acting president and CEO as of Oct. 2.
The board has initiated a national search process for a new president and CEO, and Notay will continue his role with the college until Oct. 1. This temporary structure will allow Studney to continue to focus on board priorities, and enable Director of Programs Melanie Roberts to continue to focus on all of the essential programs and services that students, staff and faculty will require even now as the college continues to navigate through the impacts of the pandemic.
“The Board would like to thank Jay for his achievements as our president and CEO, and we wish him the best in his new role,” said Byron Merkosky, board chair. “We would also like to thank all of our community partners for their continued support of the college through Jay’s leadership, and we are looking forward to building upon our already strong relationships going forward. The Board is confident that the college will continue to thrive through the leadership of Ms. Studney and Ms. Roberts during this period of transition.”
