Congratulations to Kassandra Davidson, a first-year student in the Child and Youth Worker program for winning first prize in the Apply Early & Win contest from ontariocolleges.ca. She plans to hold onto her $2,000 prize in a savings account until she can put it toward her OSAP loan.

Davidson was presented her cheque by ontariocolleges.ca CEO Karen Creditor, alongside Durham College administrative representatives Don Lovisa, president, Judy Robinson, vice president, Academic and Susan Sproul, dean, School of Health & Community Services.

“We are delighted to see Kassandra win this generous prize from ontariocolleges.ca,” said Lovisa. “This financial assistance for one of our newest Durham College students is wonderful and we are grateful for the support.”

The 2014 Apply Early & Win contest is on now, and there’s still time to enter. Just apply and pay for your college application by Wednesday, January 15, 2014 for your chance to win.

Durham College announced today that its Paramedic and Advanced Care Paramedic graduate certificate programs were both afforded six-year accreditation through the Canadian Medical Association after completing a rigorous review of programs, documentation and outcomes.

“This is the national standard by which all paramedic programs are judged and I am happy to say that our results speak for themselves,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic. “This is a tribute to the incredible skills, abilities and dedication of our faculty, the positive learning environment that Durham College provides and our great relationships with our stakeholders.”

The Paramedic programs were evaluated in five different areas: relevance, students, resources, integration and quality assurance. This process ensures programs enable students to attain the competencies specified in the national entry-level competency profile for the profession; support the students’ educational interests and protect their rights; offer adequate resources to support student learning to the level required to meet the objectives; provide an integrated learning experience for students. In addition, it ensures the evaluation process results in continuous quality improvement.

“The common outcome of an accreditation review is two years. Further evidence and/or changes to address the criteria not met are then submitted,” said Stephanie Ball, dean, School of Justice & Emergency Services. “To receive six-year accreditation for the Paramedic and most health-care programs is the exception.”

Durham College currently offers one of only three six-year accredited Paramedic programs and one of only three, six-year accredited Paramedic – Advanced Care programs in Ontario.

It was lights, camera, action at the Centre for Food (CFF) last month when Durham College hosted CBC for the filming of a new consumer health series.

Chef and professor Dave Hawey and nutritionist and professor Sylvia Emmorey were joined by health reporter Kim Brunhuber as the trio filmed six different segments focused on health and nutrition inside one of the CFF’s state-of-the-art kitchens.

“Durham College is very excited to have worked with CBC on this project,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College.  “The CFF’s focus on connecting communities through education and the preparation, serving and celebration of food combined with the culinary and nutritional expertise of both Dave and Sylvia made it an ideal location to film this new series.”

Being shown on Our Centres, which is broadcasted at various times from Saturday to Monday in cities across Canada including Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, the series began airing on Our Toronto on November 30 and can viewed online on the CBC website. The segment filmed at the CFF starts at 35:45.

Durham College has more than 450 pathway opportunities in place with universities in Ontario, Canada and around the world, including Ireland and Australia, for the 2013-2014 academic year. These agreements, both formal and informal, enable qualified graduates of one-, two- and three-year Durham College programs to enter numerous undergraduate degree programs with advanced standing and complete their degree requirements in as little as two years.

This includes more than 30 pathways in place with its campus partner, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), allowing students to broaden their post-secondary experience in a variety of areas including media and arts, business, health, justice, science, technology and general arts and science.

In addition, the college offers 19 graduate certificate and eight fast-track programs to university and college graduates wanting to pursue further education.

“Being a participant of the Communication Bridge program between Durham College and UOIT was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” said Miranda Roach, a 2011 Durham College Journalism – Print and Broadcast program graduate. “Not only did it allow me to earn an undergraduate degree within two years, it also enhanced my skillset and critical thinking abilities. I excelled throughout my courses as a result of my initial completion of a diploma in journalism.”

Designed so students can apply their credits earned at Durham College toward a university degree, pathway programs allow students to leverage their existing college education to earn additional credentials – in some cases toward a year of study or more at university – so they can continue their post-secondary journey and further their future employment opportunities.

“Faculty and staff were more than accommodating, making the transition to a new learning environment comfortable and welcoming,” added Roach. “Completing both programs also broadened opportunities for my career path. I am a different person as a result of continuing my education and I’m also a proud graduate who was grateful for this opportunity because my success matters.”

In Ontario, new data from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer indicates that students who transfer among Ontario’s 44 publicly funded college and universities save an average of $11,000 in tuition plus more than a year of full-time study (business students). This combination of reduced costs and the opportunity to explore more than one post-secondary path creates an ideal scenario for students in terms of their ability to access both the hands-on applied learning and theory that comes from a combined college and university post-secondary experience and gain the skills, training and knowledge required to meet the demands of today’s employers.

“At Durham College the student experience comes first and as part of that commitment the college is dedicated to offering students access to as many post-secondary opportunities as possible,” said Judy Robinson, vice-president, Academic, Durham College. “This includes a strong emphasis on pathways from both college to university and university to college, the opportunity to graduate with both a diploma and a degree in less than the traditional amount of time and significant cost savings.”

For students, any financial assistance received during their educational experience is always met with appreciation, which makes Durham College’s (DC) annual scholarship ceremony such a special event.

Held on November 28, the college not only honoured 184 students for their outstanding academic achievements, but also gave them an opportunity to express their gratitude to numerous individual, organizational and corporate award donors for their financial contributions.

In-course scholarships, valued at $138,000, were presented at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre to students from the Oshawa and Whitby campuses as family, friends and college faculty and staff, including Durham College President Don Lovisa, looked on.

“I want to thank the many donors and organizations that contribute to our scholarship funds,” said Lovisa. “It acknowledges the value you place on a Durham College education. An investment in a Durham College student is an investment in the future success and prosperity of the college and the region of Durham.”

Lovisa paid special tribute to the late Alan Strike, a long-time supporter of DC who passed away in May. Strike was a member on the college’s founding Board of Governors in 1966 and former member of the Legal Administration Program Advisory Committee. He offered his generosity and support to not only the institution, but to its students, including his personal donation to the annual Scholarship ceremony via the A. Alan Strike Scholarship, which was established in 1992.

A number of donors also celebrated milestone anniversaries of contributing to the college through scholarships and bursaries including Paul Vessey and Pine Ridge Corvette Club (10 years); Marigold Ford Lincoln Sales and Rotary Club of Oshawa (20 years); Human Resources Professionals Association of Durham (25 years); Lovell Drugs Limited (30 years); and Andrew Foundation, BDO Canada LLP, Canadian Federation of University Women – Oshawa and District and Millwork/Rona Home Centre (35 years).

To view photos from the event please visit our Scholarship Ceremony photo gallery.

Durham College is being recognized for being a great place to work with the college named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers for 2014 for the fourth year in a row.

The college is proud to be recognized in several different areas of full-time employee support including championing continued skills development through a variety of in-house and online training programs and tuition subsidies; investing in the education of the future generation through academic scholarships for children of employees who pursue post-secondary studies; and helping employees save for retirement through contributions to a defined benefit pension plan.

“Durham College is pleased to be named one of Greater Toronto’s top employers for the fourth year in a row,” said Scott Blakey, vice-president, Administration. “This honour reflects our commitment to creating an empowering environment for all faculty and staff that fosters and rewards innovative thinking and ideas and enables all of us to fulfil our mission that the student experience comes first. Being recognized by Mediacorp Canada/Canada’s Top 100 Employers for providing employees with the opportunities, resources and benefits they need to be successful is a strong indicator that we continue to meet that commitment.”

Greater Toronto’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the greater Toronto area employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Organizations are judged on several categories including physical workplace; work atmosphere and social; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. Employers are compared to other organizations in their field to determine which offers the most progressive and forward-thinking programs.

For more information, please visit http://www.eluta.ca/jobs-at-durham-college . 

In honour of its grand opening two decades ago, the Whitby campus celebrated its 20th anniversary of providing high-quality training in skilled trades, apprenticeships and renewable technology, with a ceremony on November 21.

More than 80 people gathered in the student lounge area to hear remarks from Don Lovisa, president; second-year Construction Carpentry – Sustainable student Lissi Sorenson; and Sandy MacDonald, former 29-year employee at the college and fixture at the Whitby campus during his time there.

“While many things at the Whitby campus have changed, the college’s goal to provide quality learning experiences and the best facilities possible for each and every student has remained true,” said Lovisa. “I’d like to thank and recognize the faculty and administrative and support staff who helped open the campus in 1993 and those who continue to support its operation today.”

Guests were treated to a slide show of images from the past 20 years at the Whitby campus, including pictures from the official grand opening event on November 18, 1993. Cadbury treats were handed out in recognition of the building’s former resident before the college purchased the facility in 1992.

Covering more than 29 acres of land, the campus started as a 150,000-square-foot Skills Training Centre featuring shop and lab space; a productivity improvement centre; skills development office; and Bureau of Excellence.

The original campus layout also included a bookstore, library, student service centre and cafeteria. Since its opening, a computer commons, offices and further student space has been added.

The majority of the campus’ growth has taken place in the past four years as part of the three-phase expansion project. Phase 1 opened in December 2009 and included a second-storey addition with new classrooms and labs, wind turbines and geothermal technology systems in support of the college’s focus on renewable energy.

May 2011 saw the opening of Phase 2 which included 13,000 additional square feet of expanded shop area as well as new labs, classrooms and boardrooms; a renovated reception area; and two new residential labs.

The third and final phase of the expansion – the Centre for Food (CFF) – officially opened on October 17 and accommodates approximately 900 students enrolled in culinary, hospitality, tourism, horticulture and agriculture programs. It also features Bistro ’67, a full-service restaurant; Pantry, a retail store presenting ready-made food prepared by students; and state-of-the-art kitchens, classrooms and labs.

Sorenson a second-generation student at the Whitby campus, is following in her father’s footsteps and will be graduating next spring. She has great appreciation for what she will take away from her educational experience.

“I believe the college provides a learning environment that really lets the students who have a voice know that they will be listened to,” Sorenson said. “I am very proud to be graduating saying that I attended Durham College. It’s left nothing but a positive impression on me and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.”