Once again, Durham College’s (DC) Communications and Marketing department is recognized for their hard work and innovation at the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Paragon Awards. This year, the team received gold in the Video Shorts and Electronic College Annual Report categories, as well as bronze in Special Events Promotion.

The prestigious awards are the only national competition of its kind showcasing outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges for the past 15 years. The 2015 national conference was held in Portland, Oregon. Graphic designers Beth Chapleau and Melanie Vincent, travelled to Portland to represent DC at this year’s conference.

“It was awesome to connect with so many people who work in communications and marketing,” said Chapleau. “To see all of the submissions from a wide range of community colleges was really interesting. DC is producing work we can definitely be proud of.”

On July 30, DC announced the official launch of its marketing campaign, Experience DC. The purpose of this multiplatform campaign is to bring the college experience to prospective and current students, parents, teachers and the community through a unique group of students representing a wide cross-section of programs, personal interests and personalities. From August 11 to 25, DC gave viewers a sneak peek at each student individually through a series of short videos on the Experience DC website. This series of videos, including the campaign launch video, were awarded gold at this year’s Paragon Awards. Since its launch, the Experience DC campaign has garnered more than 84,400 page views.

Another gold Paragon Award winner was the college’s 2013-2014 electronic annual report.

In addition to the two gold awards, the college received bronze for DC’s staff appreciation ceremony. On October 4, the college celebrated staff’s employment at the annual event. Service awards were distributed in five-year intervals, up to the 35-year mark, with nearly 170 staff members receiving recognition. For the first time, awards of excellence were given to nominated support, administrative and accessibility advocate staff. With more than 400 guests in attendance, DC President Don Lovisa, presented winners with their awards. Faculty excellence award winners were also given a $1,500 credit for a professional development course through the Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment. The annual ceremony allows faculty and staff to be recognized for their hard-work and dedication.

“I am beyond proud of the creativity, commitment, dedication and professionalism the DC Communications and Marketing department puts into their work every day,” said Carol Beam, executive director, Communications and Marketing. “To be recognized at NCMPR’s Paragon Awards is a great honour.”

This year’s NCMPR Paragon Awards received a total of 1,780 submissions in 53 categories. Winners represented a variety of colleges, all with a wide range of budgets, staff and resources. What made the award recipients similar was their dedication for producing creative and unique approaches to college communications and marketing.

Several representatives from Durham College (DC) visited Dublin Ireland to share their expertise and showcase the excellent programs offered at the college in the first Irish-Canadian Higher Education in Transformation Symposium, held at both the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Printworks, Dublin Castle.

Lon Appleby, professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services; Jay Fisher and Kevin Dougherty, professors in the School of Business, IT & Management; and DC President Don Lovisa travelled across the pond for the conference, which ran from March 30 to April 1. Also in attendance were representatives from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Trent University, Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT), and Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).  

DC staff and faculty actively participated through workshops and speaking engagements that provided a strategic focus for attendees on the direction of higher education.

Appleby hosted a workshop on the first day that focused on DC’s “global classes”, which connects students with industry experts, producers, researchers and authors from around the world through a virtual meeting room.

Dougherty provided an address on the second day that focused on Factors that Influence College Faculty to Adopt Digital Technologies in their Practice, and Fisher shared his expertise on the third day with a speaking engagement based on A New Model Within Canadian Colleges and Universities to Develop a Diverse Future Generation of Entrepreneurs: Inclusivity and Accessibility.

“I was very pleased to co-host and participate in this international symposium and engage in meaningful discussions with colleagues from Canada, Ireland and other countries about the evolution of higher education,” said Lovisa. “In addition, I was very proud of our Durham College faculty who presented at the conference and by the excellent reception they received.  Through our collective efforts we can focus on responding to the rapidly changing social and economic environment affecting higher education. From this place of cohesion, we can adapt our institutions and continue to prepare our students for success and position them as tomorrow’s leaders.”

Durham College (DC) has launched the DC Summer Accelerator program – a new initiative to help students, local youth and alumni take their innovative ideas or business ventures to market faster while utilizing the professional services from an experienced support team.

In collaboration with Spark Centre, the program offers incubation and acceleration services to support and provide access to services so young entrepreneurs can turn their great ideas into tangible and marketable products.

“We are thrilled to launch the DC Summer Accelerator, the latest addition to our FastStart programming,” said Debbie McKee Demcyzk, director, Office of Research Services and Innovation. “Teaming up with Spark Centre to provide expert advising and mentorship services, we will provide participants with a unique opportunity to kick-start their businesses. We’re confident that this will be a successful and in-demand program supporting young entrepreneurs.”

The DC Summer Accelerator is the perfect opportunity for those with compelling business ventures that have the potential for large market sustainability. Applicants must be committed and willing to receive coaching and work day-to-day with the Spark Centre team.

The program offers:

• Faster market entry with a sharp focus on building the technology, achieving milestones and growing revenues, while a support team provides advisory services, operational support and key connections.
• Reduced start-up costs through access to office space, bookkeeping, administrative support and preferred rates on professional services such as legal, accounting and intellectual property.
• A focused environment where participants are able to avoid common start-up failures by engaging with other entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

There is no cost to participate in the DC Summer Accelerator.  Some participants may opt to work part-time during the evenings or weekends while participating, which is acceptable as long as progress continues on their start-up activities.

Application deadline is Monday, April 20.

On Tuesday, March 31 Durham College (DC) announced it has finalized its stand-alone policy and procedure on sexual assault and sexual violence and they are now publicly available on the college’s website.

“This is an important step to take for Durham College, alongside the other colleges across Ontario,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “It’s essential that everyone knows their rights and responsibilities and that the security of our campus continues to be a priority.”

DC’s policy and procedure communicate that all members of the Durham College community have a right to work and study in an environment that is free from any form of sexual violence. 

These documents ensure that the college has a process that:

• Protects the rights of individuals
• Facilitates an environment in which those who experience sexual violence are believed and their rights respected
• Holds individuals who are found to have committed an act of sexual violence, accountable

Presidents at Ontario’s 24 publicly funded colleges voted unanimously in November to create a stand-alone policy and protocol that would be available at all colleges by March 31. A draft version was publicly released in January and there have been consultations throughout the province to finalize the document.

Building on DC’s existing policies and procedures, the stand-alone policy and procedure provide precise definitions of sexual assault and sexual violence, set clear standards for reporting and responding to incidents of sexual violence, and establish clear processes for complaints and investigations.

Individual colleges and Colleges Ontario (the advocacy organization for the province’s 24 colleges) have consulted with students and college staff throughout Ontario. There have also been consultations with legal experts, the Ontario Women’s Directorate, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, government officials and others, including DC’s Director of Campus Safety, Tom Lynch, who sat on the provincial advisory committee.

The colleges’ policies and procedures support the action plan on sexual violence announced by Premier Kathleen Wynne on March 6. Work will continue to ensure the initiatives at each college fulfil the expectations and requirements of the premier’s action plan.

Ontario’s colleges are currently working on next steps, including new education and training at the colleges and the development of new awareness and prevention initiatives.

“We are grateful to our students and staff who have worked diligently to finalize our new policy and procedure,” said Meri Kim Oliver, vice-president, Student Affairs. “It’s essential that we continue working together to raise awareness about sexual violence and the role we can all play in preventing it.”

DC’s policy and procedure can be found on its Sexual Violence and Awareness page, along with a video and infographic to provide additional resources to students, staff and faculty.

Durham College, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Trent University have collaborated on a call for submissions from the provincial government’s Major Capacity Expansion Framework to build a new flagship facility dedicated to health and community studies, located in Oshawa’s north end.

The proposed Centre for Integrated Health and Community Studies (CIHCS) and the partnership between the three institutions is detailed in a collaborative new website, investwith3.ca. The bold vision proposes a new facility that will enable the institutions to deliver curriculum and create a campus culture that educates students in the requisite knowledge, and technical and soft skills needed for success in the health-care and community studies field. Offering a unique mix of programs from the three institutions will give people in Durham Region, Northumberland County and beyond access to more health-care professionals and technologies, as well as access to new innovative approaches to health care.

Additionally, the proposed new facility will open up opportunities for exciting new collaborations with industry partners that will position Durham Region and Northumberland County as a leader in health-care delivery, services and innovation. It will strengthen and sustain the partnerships already in place with area health care and community institutions, many of which are recognized across the province for excellence in health-care delivery.

The proposal and partnership by Durham College, UOIT and Trent University builds on a long history of collaboration with decades of experience working together. The natural synergies that exist between the institutions provide a solid foundation for success for the Centre for Integrated Health and Community Studies.

On Saturday, March 21, Durham College (DC) welcomed more than 3,900 visitors during its annual Spring Open House. The doors to the Oshawa and Whitby campuses and the Pickering Learning Site were opened as potential students, their families and the broader community explored all that DC has to offer.

The college’s innovative programs were showcased throughout the day by expert staff and knowledgeable students. DC Crew took visitors on tours of the high-tech classrooms, labs and state-of-the-art facilities at all three locations, while helpful information sessions on topics ranging from the admission process, to financial aid, career planning and access and support services were also offered.

“We look forward to Open House every year,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “It’s a great opportunity for potential students and the wider community to access a multitude of resources and limitless information about DC at one time, while experiencing all that the college has to offer first-hand. We hope to see many of the people we met on Saturday joining us soon.”

Centre for Food (CFF) ambassador and celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy was also on-hand and spent the day at the CFF speaking with attendees about the field-to-fork philosophy and signing copies of his new cookbook.

Visitors’ at all three locations had the chance to win free tuition for the year, valued at $2,700 or an iPad.

If you missed the spring open house but are interested in a tour of Durham College, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/campustours or contact the Admissions and Recruitment Office at 905.721.3000. You can also visit us online to learn more about our extensive program offerings.

Durham College (DC) hosted an information night on February 24 to showcase the college’s new two-year Insurance program and help students gain insight into a career in this thriving industry.

The free information session included a welcome message from Judy Spring, dean, School of Business, IT & Management, a keynote address from Trevor Buttrum, Career Connections program co-ordinator at the Insurance Institute and a panel discussion with leading industry experts.

“The most important skill you should have as a member of this industry is communication,” said Keith Miller, W.B. White Insurance & Financial Ltd. “You may get a call where it will be crucial that you are able to comfort the customer and be compassionate while ensuring you are gathering the information necessary to assess their situation.”

The insurance industry has been growing steadily in Ontario since 2005 and has seen an increase in employment above the provincial growth rate. DC is pleased to now offer a program in such a dynamic industry that employs more than 77,000 Ontarians.

The two-year program provides a broad exposure to business with a specialization in general insurance. Students will have the opportunity to develop their knowledge in policies and legislation, fraud awareness and client management to achieve a rewarding career in a thriving industry.

“The greatest misconception about the insurance industry is that it’s one that can be learned in a short time,” said Adam Hare, Petley-Hare Limited, Insurance Brokers. “It’s always evolving and changing and has so much to offer.”

Program graduates will have a number of career choices including appraiser, broker or agent, claims adjuster, customer service representative, loss control specialist, risk manager or underwriter – just to name a few. They will also have the opportunity to earn eight credits (out of 10) towards the internationally recognized Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation.

If you’re a people person with a flair for numbers and an interest in risk management, a career in insurance could be the path for you. Learn more at www.durhamcollege.ca/programs/insurance or join us at our Open House on Saturday, March 21.

They’ve posted on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram more than 20,000 times, they’ve received more than 150,000 hits on YouTube, and they’ve shared more than 100 insightful blogs. They are Durham College’s (DC) Team Experience, and they’re at it again, sharing their college experience in a fun and quirky interview with Channel 12 News.

“I think being able to see what students are up to first-hand is a great way for other students to connect,” said Matisse Hamel-Nelis, member of Team Experience and student in DC’s Public Relations program. “By sharing my experiences I want to let people know that if I can do it, they can do it too.” 

The interview, which aired in Durham Region, Peterborough and Kingston on Thursday, February 19, highlighted the innovative Experience DC campaign, which follows the lives of 14 unique students who are living the college life.

“So many people think college kids come straight from high school, but that’s not always true,” said Rebecca Haslam, Team Experience member and student in the Special Event Planning program. “College students are from all walks of life and the diversity amongst Team Experience members reflects this.”

In following the Team Experience members, prospective students can find someone to relate to. Whether it’s a parent balancing schoolwork with family life, a student on a journey to study in Canada from abroad, a first-year student straight from high school or a returning grad, there are stories and insights coming from Team Experience that will be relevant to them.

You can meet members of Team Experience at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses during spring Open House on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ask questions, tour the campus and experience DC for yourself. Visit www.durhamcollege.ca/openhouse for more information.

Durham College (DC) has announced the winners of its first-ever Experience Video contest. Christine Carson, Ivan Nimtsiv and Saiss Parthipan created the top three videos and won $1,000 in cash!

Launched via the Experience DC campaign, the Experience Video Contest was open to any resident from across Ontario over the age of 15. Entrants were encouraged to submit a 15-second Instagram video about a life experience, and the top three videos with the most votes received the cash prize.

“I look at life in a positive sense, I have the will to win, the desire to succeed and the urge to reach my full potential,” said winner Ivan Nimtsiv, first-year Human Resources – Business student. “This money will help me to pay for school.”

Saiss, a second-year UOIT student, said he saw the contest on Facebook and decided that his video would share life from a student’s perspective.

Mom and Oshawa resident, Christine, found out about the contest online and decided to submit a video featuring her baby Reid. “Everyone loves babies and baby videos,” she said.

With more than 27,000 visits to its web page and over 10,000 votes on video submissions, the contest provided an opportunity for residents across Ontario to share their story with a group of 14 dynamic DC students known as Team Experience and falls perfectly in line with the multi-platform Experience DC campaign.

Team Experience has been sharing their own stories of college life since September 2014. They’ve connected on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 20,000 times, on YouTube 150,000 times, and through more than 100 insightful blogs, giving followers an authentic, real-time account of what life at DC is like from their own perspective.

“It was great to see everyone’s creativity shine through in their 15-second videos,” said Matisse Hamel-Nelis, a second-year Public Relations student and member of Team Experience. “The word experience can mean different things to different people and this contest captured that essence. Congratulations to the winners and all those who submitted a video for sharing a piece of your day-to-day life with us.”

Anyone wanting to follow the adventures of the Team Experience members can visit www.durhamcollege.ca/x to check them out, and be a part of it.

Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) are hosting a Campus Master Plan (CMP) Community Open House on March 9. Students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to learn more about the future Oshawa campus expansion of DC and UOIT; interact with the CMP planning team; and offer feedback on the areas of:

• Public areas and open spaces.
• Building locations and landscaping.
• Transportation: driving, transit, cycling and pedestrian

  When: Monday, March 9

  Time:

• Quick session: noon – Gordon Willey building, DC Pit
• Quick session: 1 p.m. – UA Science building, West Atrium
• Full session: 3:30 to 6 p.m. – Dining Room (Room G213), Gordon Willey building

For more information on the CMP and the Open House, please visit www.campusmasterplan.ca.