August 24, 2007

Durham College gearing up to kick off Orientation Week and welcome first-year students to campus

OSHAWA, Ont. – The new academic year is just around the corner and Durham College is gearing up to welcome first-year students to campus with the launch of its Whitby campus Head Start Day, Oshawa campus Family Orientation and Orientation Week 2007. An ongoing series of events designed to acquaint new students with the college’s experienced faculty and staff and vibrant campus, the activities provide students with the opportunity to participate in many exciting events, enabling them to make new friends and learn about program expectations, student services and clubs.

Head Start Day at the Whitby campus provides an opportunity for students to purchase books and parking passes, obtain campus IDs, meet representatives from Your Student Association and tour the campus. Family Orientation for first-year students and their families features a barbecue, campus tours, laptop pickup and program information sessions at the Oshawa campus.

• Whitby campus Head Start Day, Tuesday, August 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and
• Oshawa campus Family Orientation, Wednesday, August 29 and Thursday, August 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Orientation Week 2007 activities include:

• Campus Extravaganza featuring a barbecue, music, carnival games and a student services fair, Tuesday, September 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
• Program orientation for first-year students, Tuesday, September 4 at 9 a.m.;
• Mature/transfer students’ orientation, Tuesday, September 4 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.;
• Staff-to-Student Mentoring Social, Tuesday, September 4 from 4 to 5 p.m. ;
• Off-campus students’ social, Tuesday, September 4 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.;
• Movie-on-the-Lawn, Tuesday, September 4 to Friday, September 7 at 8 p.m.; and
• Shinerama Shine Day including a fundraising car wash and shoeshine, Saturday, September 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Orientation is just one of the ways the Durham College community enriches student life and a strong example of the challenging, supportive and inclusive learning environment the college provides. For more information, visit http://www.durhamcollege.ca/info-for/parents-families/first-year-student-orientation/.

Who:

• First-year Durham College students; and
• Durham College faculty and staff.

Where:

Durham College Oshawa campus
2000 Simcoe Street North
Oshawa, Ont.

Durham College Whitby campus
1610 Champlain Avenue
Whitby, Ont.

Parking:

• Oshawa campus – enter off Simcoe Street North and proceed to the Founders 3 parking lot; and
• Whitby campus – enter off Champlain Avenue and proceed to the main parking lot.

For more information 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.

August 24, 2007

Students considering or pursuing a career in the skilled trades now have even greater incentive, following an announcement on Friday, August 24 at the Durham College Whitby campus by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.

After a tour of the campus’s Skills Training Centre and meeting with Durham College apprentices and faculty, Flaherty formally launched the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) in Ontario on behalf of Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada.

The AIG provides a $1,000 cash grant per year to registered apprentices who have completed their first or second year in a Red Seal trade program, on or after January 1, 2007, and will help apprentices achieve their goals by offsetting the costs of tuition, travel and tools. It is estimated that up to 100,000 apprentices in Canada will be entitled to receive this taxable cash grant annually. Durham College offers 11 Red Seal programs and almost 800 apprentices were eligible to apply for the grant during the 2006-2007 academic year.

 

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.

August 10, 2007

Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association creates annual award for students in construction-related programs

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today that students enrolled in programs related directly to the civil construction industry will now have access to an additional financial resource thanks to the generous support of the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association (DRHCA).

“We are delighted to be able to establish this endowment fund to assist students in their pursuit of an education in a civil construction-related field,” said Greg White, former president of the DRHCA. “There is a growing demand for skilled professionals and tradespeople in our industry here in Durham Region and across the country. It is our hope that these annual awards will provide the help needed to encourage deserving students to pursue higher education in these fields.”

The organization has donated $41,000 to create the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association Fund, which will provide annual awards of $1,600 to one full-time student at the college and one at the university. Both must be enrolled in a program related to the construction industry, be a resident of Ontario and have a demonstrated financial need. The gift was formally presented to Clive Waugh, director of Leadership Gifts at Durham College and UOIT, during the DRHCA’s annual golf tournament and dinner held Thursday, May 10 at Wooden Sticks golf course in Uxbridge, Ontario. The generous donation qualifies for the provincial government’s Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) matching program, creating a total endowment of $82,000.

“We are very pleased that the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association has chosen to create this endowment and help remove the financial barriers that can stand between students and their pursuit of higher education,” said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of UOIT. “This funding will enable deserving students to access the state-of-the-art and leading-edge education provided by UOIT, education that will put them one step ahead when they graduate and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow.”

The DRHCA is made up of 23 member companies that work with Durham Region and local municipalities to improve and standardize construction practices. The group’s focus includes employee health and safety and promoting the construction industry as an attractive career choice for youth.

“Through this generous endowment, students who face financial difficulties will now have an additional opportunity to access Durham College’s market-driven programs and exceptional professors,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “I am thrilled that the DRHCA is contributing this financial assistance, which will enable current and future students enrolled in such Durham College programs as Electrical Technician – Instrumentation and Control, and Mechanical Technician – Mechanical Maintenance and Control to gain the hands-on experience needed to succeed in their careers and make a difference to the construction industry here in Durham Region and across the province of Ontario.”

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

About the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association
In 1997 the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA) approached local contractors to form an association to ensure there was local representation on the OSWCA Board of Directors. This group, the Central-East Construction Association, became the Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association (DRHCA) in 1999.

Media contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.3111 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

June 28, 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – Community and business leaders, dignitaries and other distinguished guests will be transported to Marrakech this September as Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) today announced that the exotic and beautiful locale, nicknamed The Rose City, will be the theme of their 2007 Legacy Gala.

A Moroccan theme will set the tone for this exciting evening designed to raise scholarship and bursary funds for students attending the college and university. The event will feature exotic attractions including traditional music, belly dancing, fire-eating, sword-swallowing and acrobats who will recreate the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most intoxicating cities. Dr. Peter Zakarow and his wife Marianne, Oshawa community leaders and tireless supporters of post-secondary education in Durham Region, will serve as honorary co-chairs of the event.

Dr. Zakarow is current chair of the Durham College Foundation, former chair of the Durham College Board of Governors and was a longtime champion for the creation of UOIT. In December 2004, the couple pledged $500,000 to establish the Dr. Peter Zakarow Auditorium at UOIT, the largest lecture hall housed within the university’s Science building.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Zakarow family, a state-of-the-art auditorium now accommodates 250 students and is complete with all the technology necessary for leading-edge laptop-based learning and teaching,” said

Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of UOIT. “We are delighted that Dr. and Mrs. Zakarow are continuing to support higher education in Durham Region and at UOIT by agreeing to chair our sixth annual gala and help raise funds that will remove financial barriers for our students.”

The event will be held Friday, September 28 at Tosca Banquet Hall in Oshawa, which is owned and operated by the Albis family. Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and include a bustling market square where guests can barter or bid on striking gifts and enjoy an exotic dinner conceived and created by the Albis family and the head chef at Tosca Banquet Hall.

“This spectacular evening is one of Durham College’s biggest fundraising events and we look forward to an evening with both our individual and corporate donor partners that will help make the post-secondary dreams of our students a reality,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “Through funds raised by the Legacy Gala, we provide financial support to students in need – helping them learn the market-ready skills needed to obtain employment and to make a difference in the world.”

The Legacy Gala is held each September to raise funds for the scholarship and bursary program at Durham College and UOIT. It brings together community members and businesses to acknowledge their contribution to each institution’s success while raising awareness about students’ need for financial assistance for post-secondary education. More than $1 million has been raised through the galas, with last year’s event raising close to $470,000.

“Having visited Marrakech in the past, I can attest to the vibrant colour and character of the city and I am looking forward to reliving the experience at the Legacy Gala,” said Dr. Zakarow. “Marianne and I are thrilled and proud to give back to the community and represent our entire family as the honorary chairs of the event, as our continuing commitment to provide support for students in the pursuit of higher education is shared by all members of our family.”

– 30 –

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Media contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.3111 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

June 22, 2007

Five alumni recognized for outstanding career achievements and community contributions

OSHAWA, Ont. – Along with celebrating the graduation of 1,400 students, Durham College announced today that five of its alumni are being honoured for excellence in their careers as well as their outstanding contributions to their communities. Gary Christian, John Edward Draper, Gail Elliott, Carolyn Luscombe and Connie Wood are all being recognized with 2007 Alumnus of Distinction Awards at the college’s annual spring convocation ceremonies being held today at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ontario. Their accomplishments are prime examples of how graduates of Durham College go on to spectacular career success and take on community leadership roles that help our country grow and prosper.

A great addition to the maintenance field, Christian, a 1986 Maintenance Techniques – Industrial graduate and 1990 Industrial Mechanic Millwright graduate, currently works for the Regional Municipality of Durham as a water treatment operator. Christian is a member of the Durham College Advisory Committee for the Water Quality Technician program where he contributes practical training ideas and provides faculty with interactive learning strategies. In addition, he assists seniors in the community with grass-cutting and home maintenance.

Draper, a 2005 Journalism graduate, found success through the creation of his business, Together We Rock! His company encourages leadership and learning through a series of presentations and a school program that promote communities that are accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities. Draper volunteers extensively within the community, visits campus often and continues to break down barriers in education and the working environment for people with disabilities.

A 1970 Public Administration graduate, Elliott made the transition from student to teacher after completing college. She spent her entire educational career with the Durham District School Board and its predecessors, including spending time as principal of Lord Durham Public School in 1986. Elliott also participates in the annual Terry Fox Run and at Parents as Partners conferences; supports anti-bullying initiatives; is actively involved with special-education conferences; plays a role on the Council for Exceptional Children; and supports her church’s food bank.

Luscombe is founder and president of Eclectic Events International. Since graduating from the Entertainment Administration program in 1995, she has received more than 25 international nominations for her work with the organization. She also taught Event and Meeting Management at George Brown College for 10 years. Luscombe is a member of the International Special Events Society in Toronto and the winner of prestigious Canadian Event Industry Awards for Spirit of the Industry and Producer of the Year.

Wood has had 31 years of nursing experience thanks to the Registered Nursing diploma she received in 1976. Through her work in a variety of health-care settings she provides quality long-term care, acute care and community nursing services. She is also a healthy living co-ordinator with the Haliburton Highlands Family Health Team. Wood’s community involvement includes serving on the Haliburton Friends Network board for Sir Sanford Fleming College, volunteering for Haliburton Highlands Health Services and participating in the Access Indicators panel for the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) report card.

The Alumnus of Distinction Awards recognize graduates who have excelled in their careers and contributed to the development of the college and/or their communities. More than 50 alumni have received the honour since the awards launched in 1990.

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

June 18, 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – Close to 1,400 market-ready, career-focused graduates will celebrate their success with family, friends, faculty, staff, guests and one of Durham College’s first-ever graduates, as the college celebrates its spring convocation on Friday, June 22.

Three different ceremonies will be held throughout the day to recognize the accomplishments of this year’s graduates. Ron Backwell, a 1969 Mechanical Drafting program alumnus and member of Durham College’s first-ever graduating class, will speak at all three ceremonies, which will also see the 2007 Alumnus of Distinction winners presented with their awards.

In addition to obtaining his mechanical drafting diploma, Backwell is also a 1979 graduate of the Durham College Mechanical Technology program who has completed additional programs at Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, the Canadian Institute of Management and North Texas Central College. This award-winning leader has been a professional business manager since 1988, is currently president and owner of Backwell Quality Systems, a consulting firm, and was named a Durham College Alumnus of Distinction in 1992.

Since its inception in 1967, Durham College has graduated more than 40,000 students, helping more and more become successful professionals each year. Offering more than 100 programs and courses through the schools of Applied Sciences & Technology; Business; Communication Arts; Career Development & Continuing Education; Design; Emergency Services; Health & Community Services; Information Technology; Integrated Studies; Justice; and Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship, Durham College enables students to succeed in their careers and make a difference in the world.

When:
Friday, June 22
9:30 a.m. – students from the schools of Emergency Services, Integrated Studies and Justice to graduate.
1:30 p.m. – students from the schools of Applied Sciences & Technology, Communication Arts, Design and Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship to graduate.
5:30 p.m. – students from the schools of Business, Health & Community Services and Information Technology to graduate.

Where:
General Motors Centre
99 Athol Street East
Oshawa, Ontario

For more information contact:
Tony Doyle
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

June 11, 2007

OSHAWA, Ont. – More than 240 golfers of all skill levels hit the links on Thursday, June 7 as the 11th annual Durham Region Chairman’s Charity Classic took place at Deer Creek Golf Club and Banquet Facility in Ajax, Ontario. In addition to enjoying a great day of golf and fellowship, participants came together in an effort to make a difference in the lives of people across Durham Region and extend a legacy of giving to community organizations.

Thanks to the generosity of golfers, sponsors, donors and volunteers, $452,000 was raised toward providing assistance to students in financial need at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Junior Achievement and the Abilities Centre Durham. The classic, hosted by Durham Region Chairman Roger Anderson, has raised nearly $3 million over its lifetime.

Representatives of each of the four organizations receiving proceeds from this year’s tournament were on hand for a cheque presentation, unanimous in their gratitude of Anderson’s ongoing and enthusiastic support of young people in the region.

This year’s sold-out event included three Fraser Ford hole-in-one holes, a $1-million shootout and a putting contest. Auction items included a hockey box at the Bell Centre in Montreal and UOIT and Durham College tuition.

– 30 –

For more information, contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@dc-uoit.ca

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 4,300 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

 

 

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.

May 16, 2007

Oshawa-based post-secondary institution now mandated to improve quality of nursing care in Ontario

OSHAWA, Ont. – The Honourable George Smitherman, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, has awarded a $1-million contract to Durham College to design an innovative critical care nursing e-learning solution for the province.

This multi-faceted educational initiative is part of the provincial government’s Critical Care Strategy and is intended to improve the quality of nursing care in Ontario’s hospitals. Durham College will use an innovative training model to offer a new Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program to current and future critical care nurses across the province.

“Durham College has been providing high-quality education to nurses for over 30 years,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “We are also a leader in innovative curriculum delivery and the use of technology in teaching. I am delighted that the Ontario government has recognized our commitment to excellence and innovation by awarding the college the provincial mandate for this best-in-class training initiative to meet this important health-care priority.”

Unveiled on Friday, May 11 and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the program will see students access five theoretical courses via the Internet, enabling them to learn at their own pace – regardless of their geographical location. Following completion of the theory courses, students will participate in hands-on simulation training at Durham College’s state-of-the-art, 5,700-square-foot simulation lab or at a simulation lab housed at one of the many colleges and universities across the province that have partnered with the college to offer the simulation portion of the program. Students will then complete their learning by gaining on-the-job experience in a critical care setting of their choice under the direct supervision of an experienced critical care nurse preceptor.

“We are proud to partner with Durham College on this innovative e-learning program for critical care nurses,” said Smitherman. “Nurses who were previously unable to attend traditional college programs due to geography, work or family responsibilities will now have improved access to the highly specialized training essential to caring for patients who are seriously injured or critically ill.”

In addition to the funding being given to Durham College, the government has allocated $1.5 million for the establishment of three simulation training centres to support the new program as part of a $7-million government investment to increase critical care training opportunities for nurses.

“Durham College is delighted to be chosen by the government to develop the Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program from a very competitive field of colleges and universities,” said Judy Robinson, dean of the School of Health & Community Services. “This will enable Ontario’s nurses to overcome many of the barriers that affect critical care training and we are delighted to have an opportunity to educate the next generation of critical care nurses and graduate an increased number of health-care practitioners with the highly specialized education and standards necessary to support today’s intensive care units.”

The program is designed to improve access to quality, integrated critical care services by providing provincially recognized critical care nursing standards and core competencies, as recommended by Ontario’s Critical Care Nurse Training Standards Task Group in 2005.

“The positive impact of Friday’s announcement on the recruitment and education of critical care nurses cannot be overemphasized,” said Jocelyn Bennett, chair of the nursing subcommittee of the Critical Care Expert Advisory Panel of the Critical Care Secretariat and senior director of Acute and Chronic Medicine Nursing, Mount Sinai Hospital. “The Province is leading nationally in its resolution to both the critical care nursing shortage and the quality of critical care here in Ontario. This strategy is about leadership and innovation and a real example of the positive partnerships that can exist between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Local Health Integration Networks, front line care providers and educational institutions.”

About the Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program

The new Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program utilizes an online learning model, including web- and computer-based learning (i.e. the delivery of content via the Internet and CD-ROM) and virtual classrooms to give new and current critical care nurses access to high-quality education and practical experience in simulated and real-world situations. This unique educational model also has great potential for other health education areas, including pediatric/neonatal critical care and advanced care paramedicine.

Although statistics from the College of Nurses of Ontario indicate that approximately 7,709 of Ontario’s 89,652 registered nurses worked in critical care in 2006, hospital shift scheduling and a lack of accessibility to critical care programs have created a clear barrier in terms of finding the time and resources to pursue additional education for many nurses.

A vital component of the task group’s strategy to improve the quality of care and system performance in adult critical care services in Ontario, the Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program being offered through Durham College can be completed on a full-time basis in eight months or less or in 20 months if completed on a part-time basis of one course per semester.

Courses being offered include foundations of critical care such as fluid and electrolytes and hematology; advanced health assessment including clinical decision making; cardiopulmonary nursing such as arrhythmia interpretation and mechanical ventilation; gastrointestinal/neurological nursing including traumatic injuries and trends in research; and endocrine and renal nursing such as hypo and hyper disorders and pharmacology.

A Summer Institute for Excellence will kick off this summer featuring a train-the-trainer program that will use Durham College’s high-tech simulation lab to train professors from colleges and universities across the province on how to utilize their own simulation labs to teach the simulation portion of the program, allowing students to conduct the clinical aspect of their studies at a location of their choosing.

Durham College’s fully operational high-tech and high-touch simulation lab features human-like simulators that realistically portray many ailments and serious health problems – giving students a virtual experience as they bridge the gap between normal and abnormal, and theory and practice.

The lab also uses program-specific software to simulate case scenarios reflective of a clinical setting, attracting educators from Canada and countries around the world wishing to learn more about the simulation techniques being used and integrated into the new Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program.

The Critical Care Nursing E-Learning Graduate Certificate program will accept the first cohort of students this fall. For more details, visit www.durhamcollege.ca/criticalcare. For more information on Ontario’s Critical Care Strategy, visit www.health.gov.on.ca/criticalcare.

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.caor call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

May 1, 2007

Online courses will deliver leadership, communication and other critical skills

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College announced today that it has launched an online program that will deliver valuable leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills to non-commissioned members (NCM) of the Canadian Forces and other individuals interested in military affairs.

The Military Arts and Science program is being offered online and on a part-time basis through Durham College’s partnership with OntarioLearn, a consortium of 22 Ontario colleges working together to develop and deliver online courses. The first 16 students are beginning studies this month. 

The program provides the comprehensive knowledge of leadership, critical thinking, security studies, resource management and communication skills required for modern military organizations and large corporations to function and for the career advancement of students. It is also a recognized component of NCM training that is transferable into the civilian workforce once NCM retire from military service. There are currently 57,000 NCM across Canada.

“We are very pleased to offer the Military Arts and Science program to help non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces gain critical skills and experience that will not only advance their military standing and aspirations, but leave them in good stead upon their retirement from the Forces,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “By offering this program online, we are offering flexibility and increased opportunities for members to access valuable training and education at intervals that work within their schedules.”

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to analyze the characteristics and essential elements of leadership needed by military personnel to perform duties as members of the Canadian Forces; possess the superior communication skills needed by individuals working in large, complex organizations; have a clear understanding of modern management principles used by military organizations and national and international industries; comprehend the significance of national and international security issues facing governments and the role of modern militaries in addressing these considerations; and much more.

Students can also pursue a degree with the Royal Military College (RMC) upon graduation. Through an articulation agreement, graduates of the Military Arts and Science program will earn six credits toward RMC’s Bachelor of Military Arts and Science degree program.

“The Military Arts and Science program is introducing new avenues for non-commissioned members of the Forces to pursue valuable professional development opportunities,” said Jeanette Barrett, who will oversee the program through her role as the dean of the Durham College schools of Continuing Education and Career Development. “Students gain the valuable leadership skills needed to meet the demands and needs of Canada’s evolving Forces, business and industry. They can also take advantage of the bridging program with the RMC to pursue a degree in less than the traditional amount of time, enabling them to choose their desired educational path.”

The Military Arts and Science program grew out of a need identified by the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) to meet the professional development requirements of its NCM. CDA oversees professional development and lifelong learning opportunities for the Canadian Forces. 

The program is also designed to meet the needs of individuals with an interest in military affairs and operations, including emergency services personnel such as police officers and firefighters.

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 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 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 close to 6,000 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and over 1,575 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:

Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@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.

April 27, 2007

College scores 94.8 per cent employer satisfaction ranking according to results of annual Key Performance Indicator surveys

The results of the recent provincial government Key Performance Indicator (KPI) surveys of Ontario college students, graduates and employers have confirmed what many employers already know – if you’re looking for a highly skilled, job-ready and technically savvy employee, it’s tough to beat a Durham College graduate.

The Ontario government mandates colleges to participate in the province-wide KPI surveys which are conducted by a third party that collects and reports performance data in the areas of employer satisfaction, employment rate, graduate satisfaction, student satisfaction, and graduation rate. The resulting data not only provides a snapshot of the present, it helps Durham College set goals and priorities for the future. In particular, the data highlights which areas could be improved to better serve students, graduates and employers, and helps the college determine how to provide even greater support to students in the pursuit of success – goals that ultimately impact both graduates and employers.

Durham College consistently scores well in all five categories year after year and most recently it was employers who awarded the college the biggest round of applause, giving Durham College graduates a 94.8 per cent employer satisfaction rating.

The college also continued its successful graduate employment track record with 90.2 per cent of 2006 graduates indicating they found employment within six months of graduation.

“I would like to extend a sincere thank you to each employer and student who participated in the KPI surveys,” said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. “At Durham, we offer high-quality, relevant programs that focus on workplace readiness and are taught by exceptional teachers with real-world experience. When employers respond with such a resounding endorsement of our strategy and efforts, we know that we’re on the right track.”

Durham College offers approximately 80 different full-time programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time courses taught by world-class professors who bring expertise and experience to the classroom, creating an interactive learning environment designed to help students develop the confidence they need to succeed in the workplace. In addition, the majority of programs include a field placement opportunity so students gain valuable workplace experience and make important professional contacts while they are still in school.

While the college’s mandate to provide market-driven programs and workplace-ready skills is obviously an advantage for students, the employers who hire its graduates are clearly benefiting as well. For example, when classroom training mirrors workplace tools and technology, the time required to train a new hire is substantially reduced.

Durham College Career Services also plays an important role in the college’s student and graduate success. “Durham College strives to provide students with quality learning experiences and support in finding pathways to jobs,” said Tara Blackburn, director of Career Services. “We act as a key resource for both students and employers, providing a number of different avenues to connect potential candidates with the right organization. When it comes to the KPI surveys, scoring over 90 per cent for both employer satisfaction and graduate employment confirms that our career and recruitment services are meeting the needs of two of our key stakeholder groups.”

Services provided to students include resume and cover letter reviews, job search assistance, career advising and assessment and more. Employer programs include the opportunity to conduct on-campus recruitment or information sessions, market program-specific opportunities directly to recent graduates through the free Graduate Connections service, participate in internship programs, and participate in various on-campus job fairs.

Of course, the success of combining education excellence with value-added career resources is in the numbers and Durham College had solid results in all KPI areas.

The college scored 81.4 per cent for graduate satisfaction, which measures the percentage of graduates who believe that their college experience helped them achieve their goals after graduation and 75.7 per cent for student satisfaction, which indicates current student perception of a wide range of issues ranging from teacher quality to facilities and support services. This feedback ties directly to Durham College’s new Success Matters Strategic Plan which clearly articulates the college’s current and future actions to provide students with world-class learning experiences, expert faculty and program quality; pathways that support their educational journey through to career success; and services and support in the areas that students indicate are the most important to them and their future success.

The college also placed in the provincial top five for graduation rate with a score of 67.6 per cent, graduation rate measures the percentage of students who complete their college program.

 

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