Jody Burke, a recent graduate of the master of education (post-secondary studies) program and a Memorial employee, has been awarded the National University Technology Network (NUTN) Student Recognition Award.

The award recognizes students whose use of distance learning has been both exemplary and impactful in providing opportunities for personal or professional advancement. NUTN provides networking and professional development opportunities for innovative leaders in the advancement of teaching and learning online. This is the first time this honour has been presented to an alumna of Memorial University.

"I am very humbled and honoured to receive the NUTN 2014 Student Recognition Award,” said Ms. Burke. “Throughout my master of education program I balanced being both a distance education student and a student affairs professional. Balancing the demands of this dual role helped me gain new insight on the challenges our students face and the types of student supports I wanted to provide for Memorial’s and the Marine Institute’s online students. To be recognized by NUTN for my academic success and for my ability to use the knowledge gained during my degree as a springboard to create innovative online student supports such as the CONNECT Program is absolutely amazing.”

The review committee said Ms. Burke has an “excellent" academic record in distance learning.

“She has contributed to her university and to distance learning through creation of the CONNECT program, which has also received excellent external recognition. She has capitalized on every opportunity to blend her own education in and through distance learning with distance learning teaching and administration.”

Ms. Burke was recognized in 2013 with the Wagner Award from Distance Learning Administration for her work with the CONNECT Program. CONNECT is a student retention program, created and managed by DELTS, that engages online applicants and first-time online students and helps them to connect with the larger Memorial University community, both online and on campus. Ms. Burke was previously the student retention coordinator of the CONNECT program.

Ms. Burke is appreciative of the flexibility offered by online programs in the Faculty of Education. She has graduated from the master of education program with a 3.91 GPA.

“I am so grateful for the online learning options the Faculty of Education provides,” she said. “As a full-time staff member of Memorial, and now the Marine Institute, it was difficult to find time to pursue my studies on campus. Pursuing my M.Ed. online gave me access to the vast expertise of the faculty’s remarkable instructors and it allowed me to continue with my work as a student affairs professional. It was the best of both worlds.”

The Student Recognition Award will be presented to Ms. Burke at the NUTN Network 2014 Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Sept. 23. A list of presenters and descriptions of the conference can be found at http://nutn.org/network2014.