Crandall University celebrated the invaluable contributions of its sessional instructors during its second annual Sessional Instructor Appreciation Night held on Monday evening.
The event recognized the dedication and impact of the university’s sessional faculty members — many of whom balance full-time careers in their respective fields or bring years of professional expertise into the classroom following retirement. Their real-world experience and commitment to students continue to play a vital role in shaping the Crandall learning experience.
Although he unfortunately could not be there in person to share his remarks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jon Ohlhauser expressed gratitude for the essential role sessional instructors play across the university.
“First, you folks are indispensable!” shared Ohlhauser via a written message that was read aloud in his absence. “Without you and your curricular contributions, our students would not be able to experience the rich education options available to them. We counted up this year that nearly 50% of the courses offered to students have been led by sessional instructors. Imagine how lean our course offering would be without you.”
Ohlhauser also highlighted how sessional faculty support the broader academic mission of the university, stating that their investment “allows our full-time faculty the space to be able to pursue their research activity and offer other courses informed from this base of research. These faculty are extremely grateful for all you do,” he said.
He added that students consistently speak highly of the experience they receive in courses taught by sessional instructors: “you bring new and additional perspectives to what they are learning.”
The evening also included the presentation of faculty appreciation awards. This year’s recipients were Richard Bell, Julie Schell, and Greg Steeves.
The annual appreciation night serves as an opportunity for the university community to celebrate the significant contributions sessional faculty members make to academic excellence and student success at Crandall University.
