Durham College, UOIT students to benefit as Durham Chairman Roger Anderson and friends tee off in charity classic

June 2, 2008

OSHAWA, Ont. – Devoted golfers, those new to the game, and community champions will all come together on Thursday, June 5 to make a huge difference in the lives of people across Durham Region, as the annual Durham Region Chairman’s Charity Classic golf tournament returns to the Deer Creek Golf Club and Banquet Facility.

The 12th annual event will extend a phenomenal legacy of giving to community organizations, as proceeds from this year’s classic go to assisting students in need of financial assistance at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), along with construction of the world-class Abilities Centre Durham.

Hosted by Region of Durham Chairman Roger Anderson, the tournament is one of the most successful annual fundraising initiatives in Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area. It has raised nearly $3 million over its lifetime, including $452,000 in 2007.

This year’s sold-out event includes three Fraser Ford hole-in-one holes, a $1-million shootout, a putting contest and more. Auction items include a hockey box at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, a home theatre package and a round-trip for four to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

When:
Thursday, June 5, 2008
10 a.m. – Arrival, brunch and networking
11:15 a.m. – Board golf carts
11:30 a.m. – Shotgun start
5 p.m. – Cocktail reception, with dinner to follow

Where:
Deer Creek Golf and Banquet Facility
2700 Audley Road North
Ajax, Ontario

For more information:
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-uoit.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Don Lovisa appointed interim president of Durham College

May 16, 2008

OSHAWA, Ont. – The Board of Governors of Durham College is pleased to announce Don Lovisa, Vice-President, Academic has been appointed interim college president effective immediately. Mr. Lovisa replaces outgoing President Leah Myers who resigned from the college on May 16.

Mr. Lovisa joined Durham College in August 2007. Previously he was dean of the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts at Confederation College in Thunder Bay. Mr. Lovisa began his career 21 years ago as a small business advisor for Confederation College. He holds a master’s degree in International Management, a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a diploma in Adult Education.

“The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing president Leah Myers for her work over the past two years,” said Dr. Phillip ‘Rocky’ Simmons, board chair. “During her tenure at the college, Leah spearheaded a new five-year strategic plan and revised and refreshed the college’s operational and administrative policies. We wish Leah success in her future endeavours.”

Durham College, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, plays an important role in post-secondary education and is an integral part of the community.

“We are pleased to share the college’s Oshawa campus with the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and look forward to working closely with our university friends to create opportunities for all students,” said Dr. Simmons. “The Board of Governors knows it can count on the support and commitment of our students, staff, alumni and of the communities we serve as we move forward.”

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Donna McFarlane
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2952
donna.mcfarlane@durhamcollege.ca

 

Disclaimer:The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Durham College, UOIT, Lakeridge Health, Rouge Valley Health System, Durham District School Board and Durham Region Local Training Board to host nursing career fair

May 9, 2008

Students to explore nursing profession, career opportunities and education programs

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), in a joint venture with Lakeridge Health, Rouge Valley Health System, the Durham District School Board and the Durham Region Local Training Board, will welcome over 100 high school students and teachers to campus next week as they explore educational pathways and specialization options for the health-care industry at a joint nursing career fair.

Students and teachers from 18 local high schools will attend four break-out sessions led by faculty members from the college and university on topics including mental health, geriatrics, acute care and community nursing. In addition, they will hear a keynote presentation by Anitta Robertson, director of Special Projects for the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

Sessions will feature simultaneous presentations of each of the four topics, with students and teachers divided into four groups that will move from presentation to presentation on a rotating basis. Students will also learn more about how Durham College and UOIT’s leading-edge nursing programs provide the theoretical and hands-on training required to succeed in this important and challenging field.

When:

Thursday, May 15, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Who:

  • Faculty members from the UOIT Faculty of Health Sciences and Durham College School of Health and Community Services;
  • Randy Fallis, director, Corporate Human Resources Services, Lakeridge Health and Rouge Valley Health System;
  • Rose Retsinas, employability skills facilitator, Durham District School Board;
  • Rick Lea, executive director, Durham Region Local Training Board; and
  • Anitta Robertson, director of Special Projects, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

Where:

Durham College and UOIT
Gordon Willey building
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Break-out sessions – rooms SW206, SW207, SW213 and SW214

For more information and a full agenda contact:

Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-uoit.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Durham College helps younger students build pathways to college programs and career success

May 6, 2008

Grades 7 and 8 students to visit campus for interactive workshops

OSHAWA, Ont. – Even though final decisions about their post-secondary education are still a few years away, Durham College is gearing up to offer 600 Durham Region grades 7 and 8 students the opportunity to start forging their pathways to success through Building Future Connections.

From offering students opportunities to analyze a personal DNA sample and discover how much caffeine is in their energy drinks, to a chance to take part in a Criminal Scavenger Hunt, Building Future Connections is filled with 45-minute, interactive workshops that are designed to capture the imagination as the young students explore some of the many exciting, market-driven careers that come with pursuing a college education.

Grades 7 and 8 represent an ideal timeframe to help young minds build the connection between elementary school and college, as students prepare for their secondary school years when the career decision-making process begins in earnest. Building Future Connections is part of the provincial government’s School-College-Work initiative (SCWI) to provide students with clear pathways from secondary schools to college programs.

Building Future Connections workshops include:

  • Criminal Scavenger Hunt – Sponsored by the schools of Justice and Emergency Services, the scavenger hunt offers students an opportunity to learn more about police work and real-life investigation as they follow clues left behind by imaginary criminals. Students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills as they work in teams to unravel the clues, take notes and use search warrants;
  • What it Takes to be a Health-Care Professional – The School of Health and Community Services invites students to learn about some of the exciting challenges and amazing opportunities that await them in a nursing career. Students will explore a simulated practice setting in Durham College’s state-of-the-art lab environment, where they’ll also interact with sim family members who talk to them, have heartbeats, and even breathe like a real person;
  • Building a Solar Car – Students will learn about the mechanics behind solar-powered vehicles and will work in teams to build model-sized, solar-powered cars to take back to their home schools; and
  • What Turns on the LED? – This energy conservation-oriented session introduces participants to photocells and how they are used to control an LED indicator circuit.

When:
Wednesdays, May 7 and 14
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:
Durham College Oshawa campus
2000 Simcoe Street North
Gymnasiums 4 and 5 (original gymnasium)
Oshawa

Parking:
Enter off Conlin Road and proceed to the lot at the south side of the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (entrance is on the west side of the centre).

Media contact:
M.J. Jaffray
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
mj.jaffray@durhamcollege.ca

 

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Provincial government announces equipment funds for Durham College

April 28, 2008

Durham College will receive almost $400,000 as part of the recent provincial government announcement of $60 million in funding for Ontario colleges over the next three years.

Durham College will receive $382,370 this year, with additional instalments to be made over the next two years. The funding can be used for computers or software for classroom use, books or digital materials for libraries, and equipment or machinery for lab instruction.

“We are truly pleased by today’s announcement and the provincial government’s continued investment in a thriving and vibrant Ontario college system,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “Here at Durham College we know that in order for our students to succeed in the work force upon graduation, they require access to the equipment and technology in use by today’s employers.”

To read the full press release, please click here.


Durham College KPI survey results continue to improve

April 9, 2008

Student, employer, graduate satisfaction rates up over 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College welcomed the release today of the annual provincial Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results as another affirmation that its commitment to an outstanding post-secondary experience is resonating with students and employers.

In particular, the results show that Durham College graduates continue to have a distinct edge in the job market, as 90.7 per cent reported finding employment within six months of graduation.

The college’s results show an overall trend upwards, with growth in a majority of the benchmark areas examined as part of the surveys, which have been mandated annually by the provincial government since 1998. Colleges are required to collect and report performance data in the areas of graduate satisfaction, student satisfaction, employer satisfaction, graduate employment and graduation rate.

“The student experience comes first at Durham College and part of our commitment to living that mission every day is receiving feedback and then using it to help us improve all the programs and services that we provide,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “We are extremely pleased to see that our results are continuing to improve overall. I’m especially pleased by our graduate employment rate as it is another reminder that colleges are providing the knowledge, skills and training that ensures students find jobs in today’s rapidly changing workplace.”

Durham’s graduate employment rate of 90.7 per cent is up from 90.2 per cent in 2007 and is ahead of the provincial average of 90.5. Not only are Durham College graduates finding work, but they’re making an impression with employers. In fact, 95.6 per cent of employers surveyed reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with hiring a Durham College graduate, up from 94.8 per cent in 2007 and above the provincial average of 93.1 per cent.

Student satisfaction results also grew over 2007, with 70.8 per cent of Durham College students responding that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of services, up three percentage points from 67.8 per cent and almost in line with the provincial average of 70.9 per cent.

When it came to the quality of facilities and resources, 71.9 per cent were very satisfied or satisfied, up from 69.5 per cent and ahead of the province at 71.3 per cent. In particular, students appear to be extremely pleased with the college’s 90,000-square-foot expansion to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, which opened in June 2007. When asked about the quality of the recreation/athletics facilities, 81 per cent reported they were very satisfied or satisfied, a staggering 70-per cent increase from the 48 per cent in 2007.

Other Durham College results from this year’s report include:

Category
2008
2007
Province
Graduate satisfaction
81.5
81.4
82.8
Student satisfaction
77.4
75.7
77.9

– Knowledge and skills

86.9
86.0
87.5

– Quality of learning experiences

80.0
79.5
81.8
Graduation rate
67.4
68.1
64.9

Based on KPI results over the past few years, Durham College has continued to introduce a number of new initiatives designed to enhance the student experience. For instance, in 2007 the college increased space for group study, with an additional 10,000 square feet added for student use; expanded its Health Centre to offer wellness services such as a full-service pharmacy, sexual health centre, and chiropractic and massage therapy; and a Student Food Services Committee was established to provide feedback.

“Over the coming weeks we will look at this year’s results and celebrate our successes and determine where we can get even stronger,” said Myers. “The KPI report is an important part of our overall focus on continuous improvement and meeting the needs of all our students so that they can graduate with the skills necessary to meet the demands of today’s employers.”

To view the full results, please visit the Colleges Ontario website.


Durham College campus community puts best foot forward in support of Eastview Boys and Girls Club

April 2, 2008

Staff and students support local youth through annual walk-run event

OSHAWA, Ont. – Staff, faculty and students at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College are lacing up their running shoes once again to take part in the Second Annual Campus Charity Walk and Run for the Eastview Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday, April 9.

For a $20 entry fee, participants will walk or run a scenic five-kilometre course around the schools’ Oshawa, Ontario campus in support of the club and its special role in the community. This year, organizers have added some friendly competition with a team challenge that will see UOIT varsity athletes competing with Durham College teams for the most participants and the chance to win a trophy and $100 cash prize.

UOIT and Durham College faculty, staff and students are proud to support a number of organizations, groups and events throughout the year, contributing to the making of stronger communities across Durham Region. More than 1,100 members strong, the Eastview Boys and Girls Club provides a safe and supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. The Oshawa-based club is now in its 45th year of service.

When:
Wednesday, April 9
3 p.m. rain or shine

Where:
Durham College
Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, Gym 3
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ontario

Parking:
Enter from Conlin Road and proceed to the parking lot at the south side of the CRWC.

For more information:
M.J. Jaffray
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
mj.jaffray@dc-uoit.ca

 

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Durham College welcomes provincial budget's significant investment in the skilled trades

March 25, 2008

Province, college both recognize economic importance of skilled workforce

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College is applauding today’s provincial budget and its significant commitment to new skills and education opportunities for Ontarians, particularly the strong focus on skilled trades and training, a key area of focus and expertise at the college.

Durham College President Leah Myers welcomed the many new investments announced by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan in the budget, including $355 million for a new Second Career Strategy that will help unemployed workers secure long-term training for new careers and $75 million over three years to expand apprenticeship opportunities. Both initiatives strongly align with Durham College’s focus on the skilled trades and career-focused training.

“Having a skilled workforce that meets the requirements of today’s rapidly changing economy is critical to the future of Durham Region and Ontario,” said Myers. “The Second Career Strategy will make a real difference in Durham Region for individuals, who, through no fault of their own, find themselves out of work, yet are eager to begin new and meaningful long-term careers. I believe that with this new funding Durham College will play a key role in providing those learning opportunities in our community.”

Myers also welcomed the announcement of $200 million for Strategic Skills Training Capital Investments to expand training centres and capacity across the province; a $60-million commitment over three years for equipment renewal; and $45 million over three years for state-of-the-art equipment for apprenticeship. She noted having up-to-date equipment and outstanding facilities ensures excellence in programming and a positive learning environment for Durham College students.

This funding also appears to be ideally suited to growth plans for the Durham College Skills Training Centre (DCSTC) at its Whitby Campus.

“We have an exciting new vision for the expansion of the Durham College Skills Training Centre,” said Myers. “Our vision calls for significant growth in apprenticeship and post-secondary programming, and innovations in delivery approaches to better serve our industry partners. Plans to expand the centre by 40,000 square feet will add capacity to launch a new focus on energy, including industry-relevant programs and a retrofit of the centre that supports Durham Region’s energy leadership. I look forward to engaging the government in conversation about how to access these new funds and why the DCSTC is an ideal candidate for meeting the priorities announced today by Minister Duncan.”

Today’s budget is even more crucial and timely given the Conference Board of Canada’s estimates that Ontario could face a shortfall of 364,000 skilled workers by 2025. Specific sectors that have identified looming shortages in skilled workers include the automotive, construction and environmental industries, all of which are focuses of training at Durham College. 

“By working with the provincial government, business leaders and other community partners, Durham College expects to play a leading role in providing the training solutions needed to meet the challenges ahead,” added Myers. “We are thrilled that the provincial government continues to partner with colleges and signal that it has put a priority on helping Ontarians reach their full potential.”

Background:

Since 1993, the Durham College Skills Training Centre has provided apprentices and post-secondary students in priority sectors with the critical skills and knowledge that drive personal success and economic growth in Durham Region and beyond. The centre is located on 29 acres and offers in excess of 200,000 square feet of classroom and shop floor space. 

The college offers 17 apprenticeship programs and over the last 15 years more than 20,000 registered apprentices have completed various levels of in-school apprenticeship training in the construction, manufacturing and transportation sectors, including 12,000 within the last seven years. Currently there are 1,600 apprentices enrolled at the centre, 120 Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) apprenticeship students, and 670 students in post-secondary programs.

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Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


Public Safety minister names Durham College professor to federal task force

March 20, 2008

Kevin McAlpine one of only five members named across the country

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College congratulates Kevin McAlpine on being named to a new federal task force announced today by Stockwell Day, the federal minister of Public Safety.

McAlpine, a professor in the Durham College School of Justice and the former Chief of the Durham Regional Police Service, is one of only five members named to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Reform Implementation Council. The council was formed in response to a key recommendation from the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP.

Durham College professors bring years of knowledge and real-world experience to our classrooms every day, providing students with unique perspectives and information that ensures students have the market-ready skills needed to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world.

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

To arrange an interview, please contact:
Michelle Good
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2197
michelle.good@durhamcollege.ca

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.


School of Justice's unique Special Events Auxiliary Team helps keep Durham College campus secure

March 10, 2008

Security operation program included in two justice programs

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College’s School of Justice is quickly gaining province-wide attention for providing students with a rare opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience as part of their program curriculum, while also helping to further campus security and safety. The Special Events Auxiliary Team (SEAT), a security operation designed to teach the fundamental principles of security services to students, is unique amongst Ontario colleges and proving to be a great benefit to Durham College.

Originally created as a voluntary security service, SEAT has now been added to the course curriculum of two separate programs at Durham College. Students in the Law and Security Administration (LASA) program attend Security Practices class, while students in the Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations (ALEI) program have the Security Leadership & Operations course within their curriculum.

“The SEAT program embodies the core values of Durham College,” said Stephanie Ball, dean of the School of Justice. “It provides opportunities for outstanding real-world learning experiences that greatly assist graduates by transferring their classroom learning experiences into tangible work skills that serve as pathways to promising careers in the security field.”

The service was developed in 2005 by Professor Geoff McCombe, when Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, a former professional boxer who was wrongfully imprisoned for more than 20 years, was attending a speaking engagement on campus. The need for additional security was determined and after completing a predetermined screening process, 26 students were chosen to provide supplementary voluntary security coverage.

Following their successful handling of Carter’s visit, the team was called upon to develop and implement a security presence at all varsity athletic events hosted by the college. Students in the ALEI program are responsible for the operational planning, strategizing and event co-ordination, while their peers in the LASA program provide supplementary security services. The result is a permanent organization to handle future events, otherwise known as SEAT.

By incorporating SEAT into the two School of Justice programs, students are provided with the opportunity to augment their in-class learning with a significant amount of hands-on, self-directed learning. The group will continue to evolve and respond to the changing needs of the labour market.

“The SEAT program learning model will continue to grow and develop here at Durham College and it will also serve as a model for other colleges to follow,” said Neil Gonsalves, a professor in the School of Justice and interim SEAT steward. “There is no greater reward than witnessing a student realizing he or she has succeeded because they have transitioned from the acquiring of classroom knowledge to successful application.”

For 40 years Durham College has provided students with quality learning experiences and support in finding pathways to jobs and productive citizenship. By offering high-quality, relevant programs that focus on workplace readiness and are taught by exceptional teachers, Durham College graduates have the market-ready skills to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world.

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Michelle Good
Communications and Marketing
T: 905.721.2000 ext. 2197
michelle.good@durhamcollege.ca

 

 

Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications, Marketing and External Relations.