Important dates

Last day of classes	Friday, December 18
College closes for the holidays	Thursday, December 24
College re-opens	Monday, January 4

Services availability

Service	Dates and times
Oshawa and Whitby campus libraries	Please visit the Library Service & Operations Updates page for current operating hours.
All school offices and departments including the Office of the Registrar EXCEPT the International Education Office.	Open virtually from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Oshawa campus and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Whitby campus: Monday, December 21 Tuesday, December 22 Wednesday, December 23   School offices and departments are closed: Thursday, December 24, reopening Monday, January 4
International Education Office	Open virtually for live chat from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Monday, December 21 Tuesday, December 22 Wednesday, December 23 Thursday, December 24 Monday, December 28 Tuesday, December 29 Wednesday, December 30 Thursday, December 31 Saturday, January 2   Information about virtual events for international students is available online.
IT Service Desk	Information Technology Services has arrangements in place to facilitate critical technical requests.   The schedule of availability is posted as an announcement on ICE and MyCampus.
Campus Health and Wellness Centre	Virtual appointments with wellness coaches, mental health nurses, therapists and the clinic nurse are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Monday, December 21 Tuesday, December 22 Note: there will be no medical doctors available during this time.   The Campus Health and Wellness Centre is closed: Wednesday, December 23, reopening with full services available Monday, January 4.
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC)	The CRWC will have limited availability from: Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 23. Time slots are 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.   The CRWC is closed: Thursday, December 24, reopening Wednesday, January 6.
Student residences	All student residences on campus remain open 24/7 during the holiday closure.
South Village Dining Hall	The South Village Dining Hall closes at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 20 and reopens on Sunday, January 3 at 11 a.m.   Note: Students staying in residence over the break can receive food deliveries and grocery orders and book the common kitchens to prepare meals.   See the white boards in residence common areas, notices posted in the dining hall and posts onsocial media for additional details.
Tim Hortons	Tim Hortons at both the Oshawa and Whitby campus are closed: Friday, December 18, reopening on Monday, January 4.

 

Join us this December for a number of exciting digital Durham College (DC) events and challenges to help get you in the holiday spirit while connecting you with your peers.

The 12 Days of DC – Tuesday, December 1 to 16

The days are getting colder
The holidays are near
Our homes and hearts are filled with warmth
It’s a special time of year

We may not be together
But our connection is still strong
So get ready for some challenges
It’s time to play along

We’ll share holiday traditions,
A recipe or two
And when it’s all said and done
You might win something new

So, dig out your ugly sweater
Pour a cup of good cheer
Get excited for December 1st
The season’s nearly here!

Although this one looks different
We’ll still celebrate with glee
Spreading joy and merriment
During the 12 days of DC!

The 12 Days of DC event is kicking off this Tuesday, December 1 and will run until Wednesday, December 16.

Each weekday you’ll have the opportunity to participate in one of our festive online challenges on Twitter and Instagram. Each employee or student who participates will be entered into a daily draw to win an amazing DC prize!

 

Holiday Ecards 

Once again DC has got you covered this holiday season with DC-branded ecards for you to share with your family, friends, and colleagues.

Simply choose your preferred design and fill out the online form with your custom message to send your greeting.

We can’t wait to see how these amazing events bring us together virtually!

As we approach Durham College’s (DC) fall reading week scheduled from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30, remote and on-campus services and locations will continue to be available for students and employees during this time.

What services will be available?

School offices and service areas will continue to support students remotely. Limited staff will be available at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses to provide in-person support.

Students are encouraged to schedule in-person appointments before their arrival. For detailed service and office hours, please see Campus Operations on the fall semester webpage.

Will there be food service changes?

• Tim Hortons in the B-wing of Gordon Willey building, Oshawa campus will be closed.
• Marketplace Café seating area at the Oshawa campus will be open on the weekends before and after reading week and closed Monday to Friday.
• Tim Hortons, Whitby campus remains open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Who can come to campus?

As a reminder, limited and controlled access to campus is available only to:

• Students and employees who have a scheduled on-campus activity, such as a class, lab or in-person appointment with one of DC’s student services.
• Students who need to use campus resources, such as the library, practice labs or on-campus internet connection. Note: at this time, it is encouraged that students only come to campus if it is absolutely necessary.

Please be advised that entry into college buildings remains through existing access points and all individuals are required to complete the COVID-19 self-screening questionnaire before coming to campus. Security personnel will manage capacity to ensure health and safety guidelines are followed.

For additional information, please visit our COVID-19 webpage, or contact us by email at dccares@durhamcollege.ca.

This message is being sent on behalf of Natalie O’Rourke, manager, Student Conduct and Campus Investigations. Inquiries about Campus ID may be directed to photoid@dc-uoit.ca.

Durham College (DC) Campus ID Services is pleased to announce that a new digital identification process is targeted for release beginning in winter 2021, eliminating the need for face-to-face contact for card production.

During the fall semester, on-site Campus ID Services will remain closed while COVID-19 Public Health orders are in place.

Students who are required to be on DC’s Oshawa campus must show proof of a course schedule (either through the Durham College Mobile app or a printed copy of their course schedule from MyCampus) to gain access to the campus. Anyone entering DC campus premises may also be required to produce personal identification.

Please note: the UPass program is not available for the fall 2020 semester. Students have not been charged as part of their ancillary fees and DC student ID will not be valid as a bus pass for Durham Region Transit for the duration of the semester.

Later this fall, further information will be distributed regarding our exciting transition to the new Campus ID digital identification process.

Dear Students,

Over the course of the past three years, the Ontario government has provided post-secondary students across the province with access to LinkedIn Learning at no cost to individual institutions. eCampus Ontario has announced they will not be extending the service and the current contract will expire on September 30 (the previous deadline of September 21 has been extended).

Users will lose access to their Durham College (DC) LinkedIn Learning account on September 30.  Students are encouraged to connect their DC LinkedIn Learning account to their personal account to maintain history of any learning activity completed through LinkedIn Learning.

How to connect LinkedIn Learning to your personal LinkedIn account:

Step 1:  Visit https://linkedinlearning.durhamcollege.ca/

Step 2: Enter your Banner/Student ID and network password and select Sign In.  If prompted, please enter the password for your personal LinkedIn account and select Continue.

Step 3: Select the Me icon in the top bar

Step 4: Select the Settings link from the drop-down menu

Step 5: Select Connect my account under the Connect your LinkedIn account to your LinkedIn Learning account provided by your organization section

Step 6: Enter your profile information for your personal LinkedIn account and follow the prompts to complete the connection

DC Connect provides easy access to your course material such as course outlines, lecture slides, assignments, grades and other content shared by your professors. It also provides a course-specific messaging platform to get in touch with your professors or classmates. Think of it as your online class homeroom. Be sure to log in often to stay current with your courses.

Log into DC Connect at https://durhamcollege.desire2learn.com/.

Your student number and your network password are needed to login to DC Connect. Having trouble logging in? No problem, reset your password at https://sts.dc-uoit.ca/adfs/portal/updatepassword.

 

September is right around the corner! We can’t wait to welcome back returning students and meet our new cohort of first-years as they embark on their exciting post-secondary journey at Durham College (DC).

To support you as you navigate a unique new year, including changes to operations and course delivery, we’ve launched a new DC Ready microsite to help you get started and get settled. Full of helpful links and resources, the site is also home to our DC Ready Guide, a valuable academic success tool which will prepare you for your fall semester.

With COVID-19 changing the way we teach and learn, the DC Ready homepage will act as a hub of information so you can find the support and guidance you need to be successful at DC.

To visit the DC Ready microsite, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/dc-ready.

No matter the physical distance or disruptions between us, as a campus community our strength must always be rooted in a mutual respect, valuing and appreciation for one another. Without this foundation, everything else for which we stand crumbles.

In the wake of the most recent acts of unconscionable violence and Anti-Black Racism committed not only in the United States but here at home, Durham College (DC) acknowledges the ways in which our students and employees are being impacted.

We stand together in condemning the continued discrimination against, targeting of and oppression of racialized communities. We also recognize and reaffirm our commitment and responsibility to helping dismantle systemic barriers that persist in our own work, campus and greater community.

In the college’s new Strategic Plan, released last week, we articulated our shared values that include diversity and inclusion, respect, integrity and social responsibility. Let us be guided by these principles and each play our role in ensuring they are realized in all aspects of the way we learn, teach, work, live and lead at DC.

We know our students and colleagues are feeling pain, fear and disheartenment, the impacts of which show up in so many ways, not least of all their mental, emotional and physical health. If you are hurting, please reach out to the supports available through the college and beyond, including:

For students:

• Good2Talk Helpline (24/7): 1.866.925.5454 or text 686868
• M. Well Student Assistance Program: 1.877.554.6935
• Durham College Students Inc. Outreach Services: outreachdcsi@durhamcollege.ca
• Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions: diversity@durhamcollege.ca

For employees:

• • Employee and Family Assistance Program: 1.844.880.9142 or 1.877.338.0275 (TTY service) or www.workhealthlife.com

Dear students,

It might seem odd to be launching a new Strategic Plan at a time of so much uncertainty and upheaval. After much reflection, it was clear to us that the timing actually couldn’t be better.

Despite the literal distance between us these days, a common sentiment has grown and rippled throughout our Durham College (DC) community that, in many ways, we feel more connected than ever.

In light of the leadership, innovation, collaboration and excellence being demonstrated through our coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our new mission statement could have easily written itself:

Together, we’re leading the way.

Yes, the DC mission statement is changing. Over months of consultation, we heard our people loud and clear – the college has evolved and it’s time everyone knew it. While “the student experience comes first” kept our commitment to our students at the forefront, it wasn’t capturing the full story DC has to tell.

From our progressive, market-driven programs to our inclusive support services, DC is helping to reimagine what post-secondary education looks like in a way that pivots and adapts to what is needed, while teaching our students how to do the same in these ever-changing times.

We’re not just putting the student experience first at DC – we’re reinventing it.

In our new Strategic Plan, you will also find a refocused vision statement, refreshed values and updated objectives and strategies to support each of the four pillars that provide the plan’s framework: our students, our people, our work and our community. This is truly the plan that DC built, and each element reflects the input of our valued stakeholders from across campus and well beyond.

At the same time, we are pleased to unveil the beginnings of a refreshed brand identity that will continue to evolve with the college. This identity reflects how we are moving forward, while maintaining a connection to the past that has brought us to where we are today.to visually represent who we are.

It is with great pride that we share DC’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan with you. We look forward to hearing your feedback and continuing to lead the way, together.

Sincerely,

Don Lovisa
President
Durham College

Ivan DeJong
Chair, Board of Governors
Durham College

In March, we invited employees and students to attend sessions focused on gathering feedback on Durham College’s (DC) Academic Plan. Due to the impact of COVID-19 and our campus closure, we had to postpone these sessions.

Insights from our students and employees are critical to helping shape our plan, particularly as we look past the pandemic and consider ways that our teaching and learning practices may be influenced by this event.

 To ensure that we hear your valuable thoughts, I am pleased to share that these consultations have been rescheduled as virtual meetings on the following dates.

Student

• Thursday, May 21 from 5 to 6 p.m.
• Thursday, May 28 from 11 a.m. to noon.

Please RSVP to vpa@durhamcollege.ca if you’re interested in participating, indicating which session you would like to attend. All participants will be emailed the meeting link and virtual session agenda and details.

If you are unable to attend, but you have thoughts to share, please visit the Academic Plan feedback website. 

The input collected from the sessions and website will be compiled, reviewed and incorporated into the final draft of the plan.