Mark Tam

Information Technology Services

This has been a long time coming, but I would like to nominate Mark Tam for the President’s Star Award.

As a CSD Counsellor supporting students with visual impairments, I spend quite a bit of time meeting with students determining academic accommodations and organizing the placement of equipment in classrooms so they can access course materials and actively participate in the classroom setting. Often this involves submitting requests to the ITS department to have large monitors placed in classrooms and connected to the professors’ monitors. Over the last couple of years Mark Tam has become my primary contact, my go to guy if you will.

It isn’t always easy to place equipment in classrooms. Students often make requests after classes have begun which means it can be a challenge accessing the classroom when it is empty. When a monitor is in place a student! may indicate that the location of the monitor or equipment does not work for them and another request to ITS will have to be submitted. Sometimes, a student will state that the equipment is not working and only after submitting another request to ITS to take a look at the issue are we informed that the monitor was not turned on or plugged in. I know Mark is not the only person working on these requests, but he always takes the time to connect with me for clarification or to update me on the placement of equipment. He understands that if a student does not have access to the equipment, then they are not able to participate in class. There have even been instances when a request has been made and within ten minutes, Mark is at our Assistive Technology Lab picking up equipment. Even by the third request, Mark is always patient, pleasant and helpful. When I expect to be met with frustration, Mark arrives with kindness and understanding. This makes a challenging part of my role that ! much more manageable and I am grateful to have him as a colleague.

Nominated by: Susan Blundon
Presented on: September 11, 2013