Students enrolled in Lethbridge College’s Centre for Justice and Human Services (CJHS) can conduct a variety of interviews in a closed and safe environment thanks to the creation of new interview rooms where police statements or human services counseling can take place.
Originally a single classroom in the Andrews Building, room #AN1750 has been transformed into six separate interview rooms on either side of a corridor. The rooms replicate the kinds of current and future industry environments grads will likely find working in public safety, social services and any organization where interviews are a critical part of the mandate. As such, all Justice Studies programs as well as Child and Youth Care programs are using the space.
“This initiative supports student health and wellbeing through the mitigation of stress and anxiety while trying to conduct interviews in hallways, libraries, cafeterias and other locations,” says Trudi Mason, interim dean, Centre for Justice and Human Services. “Interruptions, technological recording challenges, anxiety over limited technology and privacy concerns are all alleviated with appropriate professional interview spaces.”
Examples of interviews and interventions conducted in the rooms include witness, victim, suspect, child, parent, parole and probation simulations as well as simulated student/teacher/parent consultations and counselling sessions. Students can record and review their interview footage in preparation for real-world scenarios.
"The interview rooms are a great addition to Lethbridge College,” says Devon Praskach, a fourth semester Criminal Justice diploma student. “They introduce us to the concept of investigative interviewing in a realistic and memorable manner."
While the rooms are generally staged for “hard interviews,” they can also be equipped with furniture and other items to create softer spaces for clients who are undergoing significant, stressful experiences. And, as technology advances, the interview rooms will be updated to continue to reflect real-world environments.
The new interview rooms are expected to have a positive cross-campus impact as other centres, including the Centre for Health and Wellness and the Centre for Technology, Environment and Design, may make use of the space. They also have potential for collaborative scenario-based learning events like mock crisis simulations and transition-to-work events including practice job interviews.
Additionally, Mason notes the interview rooms can be used by industry partners who may lack space for educational sessions to train new or existing staff. “Lethbridge College has gained the reputation for providing solutions,” says Mason, “and this initiative allows us to creatively provide opportunities for our industry partners.”