Tuesday 3 May 2005
As well as finishing his double degree this year, UQ Business School (UQBS) student John Cornick is working as a coordinator for the School's Peer Mentoring programs and tutoring first year accounting students at the Ipswich campus.
The Mentoring in Class (MIC) and Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) programs are run by the UQ Business School at Ipswich under the direction of senior lecturer Dr Marie Kavanagh.
The programs involve second and third year students who are trained to assist with academic and mentoring support to first year students in selected courses.
Dr Kavanagh said the programs were introduced to create a non-threatening learning environment for first-year accounting students, in addition to lectures and tutorials.
She said, "We found some students were unwilling to raise questions in the big lectures and even in tutorials but would happily ask one of their peers."
"Traditionally, students involved in the mentoring in class program are selected to train as leaders of the Peer Assisted Study Sessions programs. In John Cornick's case, we also offered him a tutoring position."
Dr Kavanagh said she identified John Cornick as leadership material in 2003 and recruited him in second year as a mentor and PASS Leader. Cornick continued as a PASS Leader until this year when he was promoted to assist with both programs and to tutor in first year accounting.
In 2004 Cornick became involved in the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program at UQ Ipswich.
Dr Kavanagh is the Faculty Advisor for the SIFE Team. She said that the program encouraged student teams to apply their business skills and knowledge to community projects.
Cornick was one of the team who competed in the SIFE Nationals in Melbourne in 2004 and was elected CEO of the group.
Cornick said one of the projects his team enjoyed working on was the Ipswich Netball State Age Championships.
Cornick said, "We were involved in coordinating the event, securing sponsorship, and building a website. We worked with Bunnings and horticulture students from Bremer TAFE to redevelop the gardens at the site."
The event was so successful it was awarded Ipswich City Council's Australia Day Award for Event of the Year.
Also active in the UQ branch of the Financial Management Association of Australia (FMAA), Cornick successfully applied for vacation work with accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Shortly after completing his vacation contract, Cornick was offered a full-time job with the Big 4 firm and is due to start as soon as he completes his remaining law and e-commerce subjects.
Cornick successfully entered the double degree after performing well in his first year of university study.
For further information:
John Cornick
Phone (07) 5593 1242, Mobile 0414 701 670
Dr Marie Kavanagh
Senior Lecturer in Accounting
Phone (07) 3381 1003
Email m.kavanagh@business.uq.edu.au
Media enquiries:
Cathy Stacey
Marketing Development Manager
Phone (07) 3365 6179
Mobile 0434 074 372
Fiona Sutton
Mobile 0423 637 699
Email media@business.uq.edu.au
