Last Day in the Classroom

The wrecking ball, so to speak, comes this week, to take down our classroom to make room for video conference rooms.  This is a strategic decision that Queen's made a number of months ago and they need to be ready for the class of 2012 who will start this September.  We'll be accommodated in a temporary space down the hall.

Over the past number of months, several of our professors, who all understand the business reasons for the change in service delivery, have expressed their sadness over this change.  Some have tried to sell us on the benefits of video conference rooms, and I wonder why.  Perhaps it is because we are the best marketing tool the school has.  As we go out and convey the benefits of the Queen's Executive MBA, it might be good for Queen's if we have an arsenal of words that support the video conference format.

The reality is that we chose the classroom format.  We could have selected a video conference format - whether through the Cornell-Queen's program or a competitor's program - and we did not.  While I understand there are benefits to the video conference format, and I was considering availing myself to the format, I don't think you can replace having a quick chat about future studies or your paper or workload while standing in line at Starbucks.  The ability to have impromptu conversations with a large group of classmates and professors cannot be replicated.

So, yes, it is sad that the format is changing.  But new students will not know the difference.