Day in the Life: Becky Cory

Becky Cory’s office is surrounded by organized chaos, as people pop their heads in to say hi or ask a couple of questions about current class events. When someone knocks on the door of her office, Becky doesn’t hesitate to respond.

Cory started working with University 101 two months before the first course began, back in 2006. The program offers free, non-credit university courses to people who  face significant barriers to post-secondary education.

A full decade later, the ever-changing work environment has become part of the routine for Cory, as she explains there’s no “typical” day. She and the team of facilitators with Uni 101 run three evening classes a week, one for alumni students of the program and two social sciences or humanities classes. Her time is split between program administration, teaching students in the classroom, supporting students who attend, supporting alumni volunteers and supporting work study students. She has a busy schedule but balances it well and meets everyone’s needs.

When Cory explains her favourite part of the job, it’s hard not to notice that her answer could apply equally to everyone involved in the program: “Being engaged with an active learning community.” That’s what brings them all together.

First launched as an accessibility initiative by humanities, social sciences expanded the program with Uni 102 in 2007. Graduates of Uni 101 and 102 can now also register for Uni 201. Those who want to go on to credit classes often transfer to the Humanities Diploma Program. UVic professors and graduate students volunteer to teach classes and the program is funded by the university, individual donors and various fundraising campaigns.

Asking Cory about how her work enables her to reach out to the community, she points out that the core mission of Uni 101 is outreach and community building.

Many of the students who come through Uni 101 do not have access to a lot of resources in their lives and are often living on really low income. “It makes the environment different than in other credit classes. Typical students have families they can call on, funding to meet their basic needs and the ability to eat regularly,” explains Cory—but Uni 101 students don’t always have that. Due to the students’ limited resources, Uni 101 staff and volunteers work extra hard to provide a supportive and respectful environment where students can collaborate and build relationships.

This year, Uni 101 is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To date, the program has provided a learning environment for over 350 students. Cory also keeps the students involved post-program by inviting them to volunteer as facilitators and and student leaders in the classroom.

That cycle of participation also fuels Cory’s favourite memory of Uni 101, from last summer.

“We had our first ever alumni-run course in creative writing. It was entirely facilitated and organized by the alumni students of Uni 101…. It really speaks to the strength of the community that the program is building and the opportunity that students are getting. People get to do things that they have never done before.”

Cory adds, “There was also that time we facilitated a workshop, developed by students, with the UVic Board of Governors about barriers to education. That was pretty great.”

Outside of Uni 101, Cory’s preoccupations veer toward creative arts. She enjoys painting, sewing and photography—and recently started knitting. And even though her schedule is busy, her passion for her work and the Uni 101 program is clear.  

“The program is really built on the foundation that people are capable and abundant—and that’s a phrase we use a lot—people bring what they have in abundance,” Cory explains. “Students bring passion, willingness and the commitment to ask questions and put their ideas out there. This speaks to the dynamic classroom environment that is really enjoyable for them to be a part of. The students are coming in having navigated numerous systems and still being resilient and creative in trying to meet their basic needs…. That’s why we’ve seen such success with students. We want to keep creating that community learning experience.”

Everyone is welcome at the 10th anniversary celebration of Uni 101 on March 31, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Vertigo (SUB). Please RSVP to uni101@uvic.ca or 250-721-6516.