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Collaborative nursing students receive record national exam results

The Durham College/UOIT Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program received outstanding results from the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE), with 98 per cent of (BScN) graduates passing the exam. In addition, 100 per cent of graduates who completed the Durham College/UOIT Registered Practical Nursing bridging program and then the BScN program passed the CRNE. Finally, 92 per cent of graduates who completed the BScN after taking the Durham College/UOIT/Georgian College bridging pathway also passed.

“On behalf of Durham College, I extend my sincere congratulations to our collaborative nursing students on these outstanding results,” said Susan Sproul, dean, School of Health & Community Services. “The results are a true reflection of our students’ dedication to their studies as well as the college and university’s commitment to providing exceptional nursing education to students, ensuring they are able to meet today’s nursing needs.” 

In order to become a registered nurse in Canada, graduates of all BScN programs must pass this national exam. Not only are the recent results the highest yet in the history of the college and university’s collaborative nursing program, they are also some of the best in Ontario and across Canada.

“Success on the national registration exam is an important indicator of the high quality of our nursing programs,” said Dr. Sue Coffey, director, Durham College/UOIT and Durham College/UOIT/Georgian College collaborative nursing programs. “Even more importantly, it reflects the commitment of our students and faculty to ensuring our graduates are the very best nurses they can be. These results, along with consistently very positive feedback from graduates and employers about the degree to which the Durham College/UOIT and Durham College/UOIT/ Georgian College nursing programs prepare students for transition into nursing practice, underscore the success of these programs.”

Coach Nemish earns 400th career win

It was a milestone night for Durham College women’s fastball head coach Jim Nemish as he earned his 400th career victory in a Lords 5-3 win over Conestoga Thursday night.

In his career which spans 25 years as the Lords head coach, Nemish has compiled an overall record of 400-100-2, the most wins of any coach in OCAA history.

The Lords would rely on solid pitching, good fielding and timely hitting in Thursday’s win, as the teams battled in a close opening night match-up.

Lydia Kalbfleisch had a strong start on the mound for Durham allowing two runs over five innings while striking out four batters and earning the win. Freshman Danielle Crosby earned the two inning save allowing one.

Conestoga showed that they are a team not to be taken lightly in 2013 as they hung with the Lords for the entirety of the game. Starting pitcher Lauren Ruf looked impressive going the distance allowing five runs off of nine hits.

The Lords had the early edge as Brittany Bender had a bases clearing double in the second inning giving Durham a 3-0 lead. Conestoga would manage to cut the lead to just one run in the top of the sixth inning, as they cashed in two runners. However, Durham was able to add one more run in the bottom half of the inning and shut down a Condor rally in the seventh to pick up the win.

Ashley Black had the hot stick for Durham going 2-for-3 at the plate, while six other players had one hit.

Durham’s next action is scheduled for Saturday, September 14 against the St. Clair Saints. First pitch for the doubleheader is at 3 p.m. Saturday’s doubleheader is minor softball day at the diamond.

DC wins men's Campus Cup in shootout

For the first time in Campus Cup history, a shootout was needed to decide a winner between the UOIT and Durham College men’s soccer teams. In the end, Durham walked away with their fourth title as they won 5-3 in the shootout.

“What a way to end an exciting day,” said Durham College and UOIT athletic director Ken Babcock. “Both teams displayed a lot of passion representing their respective schools starting with pep rally and ending with the shootout. It was great to see all of the school spirit around campus today.”

Leading 4-3 heading into the final round, freshman Kashiff De Jonge buried his shootout attempt as the Durham College bench spilled onto the field in celebration.

Veterans Marco Trotta, Daniel Sokovski, Duncan Mitchell and Adam Farr were the other shootout scorers for Durham.

Durham took a 1-0 lead into halftime as David Gheorghita scored at the 22 minute mark. UOIT would level the score two minutes into the second half with defender John McMichael chipping in on the offensive end of the field.

The Lords have won four of five campus cup matches over the Ridgebacks. UOIT’s lone win came last season when they defeated Durham by a score of 2-0.

The UOIT Ridgebacks women’s soccer team earned a 2-0 shutout victory over the Durham Lords to win the second annual women’s Campus Cup. The win marked UOIT’s first ever Campus Cup title, as Durham College had won the previous year.

Freshman Emily Copeland-Dinan of Ottawa scored the Ridgebacks first goal of the game in injury time of the first half, which eventually turned out to be the game winner.

Another Ridgeback freshman Cassandra Sribny of Pickering added an insurance marker for UOIT with five minutes left in the game, giving her team the 2-0 victory.

Laura Whelan (St. John’s, N.L.) earned the shutout for UOIT, stopping every Durham shot she faced.

For more information on the Durham College varsity athletic teams please visit the Durham Lords website.

The 2013-2014 academic year is here!

Durham College’s campuses are alive with more than 5,000 first-year students embarking on their academic journey as the 2013-2014 year gets underway.

In support of both new and returning students, Durham College’s annual Orientation Week features several events including program orientation; Mature Student Social; DC First-Year Fun Fair; welcome barbecue; opening prayer and smudge; yoga in the yard; movie-on-the-lawn; First Blast; the annual Campus Cup pep rally and soccer matches; the Part-time Job Fair; the annual CampusFest Concert; and more. Orientation Week introduces new students to the college’s experienced faculty and staff, many student services and vibrant campus environment.

In addition Orientation week provides students with an opportunity to learn about program expectations as well as student clubs and societies while making new friends.

To learn more about what is happening on campus check out the Orientation microsite.

DC professors featured on Tech Talk

Tech Talk and the Virtual Research On Call team showcase the skills, talents and career highlights of two Durham College professors, Anna Rodrigues; a professor in the Journalism – Print and Broadcast program, and Cesar Juarez; a faculty member of the School of Media, Art, & Design.

Anna, who has a Master of Education with a specialization in Digital Technologies from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is an experienced journalist and new media professional. She shares her work experience, both past and present, providing advice for students to carve a meaningful and lasting career. Watch Anna’s video.

Cesar is a media and technology buff with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Toronto, and has seen the industry evolve from print and film, to going digital. He states that honing a broad spectrum of skills within your industry can truly pay off, which is the route that he took. Cesar advises students to know where they are going, and proceed without fear. Watch Cesar’s video.

Tech Talk is a video podcast series in Ontario that allows experts to present their stories of success to inspire students, and is designed to educate and expose people to possible career opportunities and the paths they may use to get there.  It pertains mainly to the areas of science and technology, relating it to the environment and society.

CampusFest headliner announced

The Student Association has announced that popular house music producer and DJ Wolfgang Gartner will be headlining this year’s CampusFest concert on Friday, September 13 as part of Orientation Week festivities.

Wolfgang has collaborated with a number of musical artists including will.i.am, Eve, Deadmau5 and Skrillex.

Other performers at CampusFest include Tommy Trash, an Australian DJ, record producer and remixer who has collaborated with Swedish House Mafia and Tiesto. Back by popular demand is Monster Truck; Durham Region’s 20 Amp Soundchild; and E.P. Taylor’s house DJ, DJ Donny C.

Tickets are now on sale in the Tuck Shop located in the Student Centre from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Durham College students may purchase tickets for $28 and may also purchase one guest ticket at a cost of $40 until Thursday, September 12 at noon. Campus ID cards or printed copies of class schedules are required to prove student status. Don’t miss out on this end-of-summer blast; buy your ticket today!

For more information on CampusFest please visit The SA website.

Update on status of elevator installation at the CFF

This message is being posted on behalf of the Project Management office.

October 8, 2013

We are pleased to inform you that the installation of the two elevators at the Centre for Food is now complete, following the strike of Ontario’s elevator workers earlier this summer. The building is now fully accessible. 

Thank you for your support during this time of transition.  

August 22, 2013

The installation of the two elevators at the new Centre for Food (CFF) at our Whitby Campus was delayed due to the recently-ended strike of Ontario’s elevator workers under the International Union of Elevator Constructors.

As of today, August 22, the installation has begun, with an aim to have the elevators in place and functioning by early October.  The CFF will still open for classes on Tuesday, September 3 with the rest of the building fully operational and in line with accessibility standards. 

We remain committed to student success and working with students and guests to meet individual needs as we move through this time of transition. Those using the CFF are encouraged to contact Beth Smith, Facilities and Ancillary Services, at 905.721.2000 ext. 2213 with any questions or concerns.

We will continue to provide you with updates as they become available.  

Bistro ’67 chosen as name for DC’s new restaurant

After a month-long naming contest, Durham College is pleased to announce the name of its new full-service restaurant: Bistro ’67, located at the Whitby campus’ new state-of-the-art Centre for Food (CFF). In addition to serving the public, the restaurant will provide a supportive and creative teaching environment and hands-on learning experience that will train the chefs and hospitality professionals of the future.

The name was chosen from more than 1,152 online submissions through the Feed Us Your Ideas contest which was launched on June 21. After one week, a seven-person panel reviewed the entries and determined their top five choices. The public then voted on the top five and after 1,242 votes were cast, Bistro ’67 was determined as the winning entry.

“The name Bistro ’67 encapsulates the proud and rich history of Durham College by paying tribute to the year we opened our doors, with a fresh, modern perspective,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “I look forward to my first dining experience at the very first green-certified teaching restaurant in Canada. True to the inspiration of Jamie Kennedy’s local food movement, I am confident that Bistro ‘67 will be an excellent addition to the field-to-fork culinary landscape for years to come. Bon Appétit!”

The winning name was submitted by Gail McKenzie, manager of strategic initiatives with the School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services at Durham College. For creating the name, Gail will receive dinner for six at the chef’s table, a Durham College prize pack including an iPad mini, and will be recognized at the CFF’s grand opening event on Thursday, October 17 at the Whitby campus.

“I brainstormed and submitted a few ideas trying to incorporate a name that would reflect the history of the college,” said McKenzie. “Since the college opened in 1967, I thought Bistro ’67 would work well!”

Scheduled to open this September, Bistro ’67 is a 70-seat, full-service, teaching and learning restaurant which will be green certified and feature dishes prepared and served by students in our culinary and hospitality programs, including produce and delicious flavours of the region.

The CFF is designed to accommodate approximately 900 additional students studying in culinary, hospitality, tourism, agriculture and horticulture programs. This incredible new learning centre will also feature state-of-the-art labs including a food and beverage pairing lab and hotel living lab, classrooms and meeting spaces, a retail store and a lecture theatre.

Highly-skilled graduates in a variety of programs including Culinary Skills, Culinary Management, Event Management (graduate certificate), Horticulture – Food and Farming, Hospitality Skills, Golf Facility Operations Management, Horticulture Technician, Hospitality Management – Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism,  Special Events Planning and Cook Apprenticeship will fulfil the demand for next-generation workers in sectors critical to our local economy.

FLEX Centre gets cardio equipment upgrades

The FLEX Centre is one of the most popular places for students and staff to visit on campus, accommodating about 1,000 users every day.

Naturally over time, equipment in any facility begins to experience wear and tear.

That is why the FLEX Centre cardio equipment is being replaced just in time for the start of the school year.

The equipment in the FLEX gets replaced regularly to make sure that all of its users are using only the best equipment during their workouts. The cardio equipment gets replaced every three years and the strength equipment gets replaced every five years.

Last year (summer of 2012) the FLEX saw the strength equipment exchanged and this year is the cardio equipment’s turn.

Between August 6 and 13, the FLEX Centre was closed to make way for the installation. The equipment involved in the move included the treadmills, cross trainers, up-right bikes, recumbent bikes, spin bikes, rowing machines and step mills.

Most of the equipment is being replaced with newer versions of the same equipment; however some noticeable changes include improved cross trainers and a change in the equipment layout.

The cross trainers are now more dynamic in allowing the user to exercise moving laterally instead of just linearly. They also automatically adjust the stride length of an individual based on the speed of their workout. The changeover also saw a switch of less used equipment to more popular equipment to maximize the usage of all pieces.

One of the main reasons the athletic centre frequently upgrades its equipment is to keep up with what is available on the market. Fitness equipment is constantly being tweaked and improved to give a better workout and experience to the people that use it. The athletic centre wants to provide the best equipment for all users of the FLEX.

FLEX fitness coordinator Angela Wood, commented on the equipment upgrade and how it will benefit the users of the FLEX.

“After visiting and experiencing many fitness facilities over time, all users of the FLEX are very fortunate to have an opportunity to work out in a facility where equipment replacement is as highly regarded as it is on our campus,” she said. “I hope people continue to use the FLEX in record numbers this year like they did last year.”

The FLEX Centre also offers a number of fitness classes to improve cardio and/or strength & flexibility. New classes introduced this year include cardio core, ginga, yoga for the chakras, zumba & muscle conditioning, yoga 101, beginner fitness boxing and warrior workout.

Returning fitness classes include movestrong, spin, muscle conditioning, belly dance, zumba, HIIT, power yoga and yoga for relaxation.

For more information on the FLEX Centre and its fitness classes, visit www.campusrecreationcentre.com.

Lifelong learning at Durham College

Over a period of six decades, Kenneth Jenkins has taken a number of Continuing Education classes at Durham College to support his career goals and in some cases, just because the topic interested him on a personal level.

“Initially I enrolled to expand my opportunities, to move ahead in the company I worked for and to expand my qualifications in the job market,” said Jenkins. “I realized much of what I was taking was enlightening, rewarding and enjoyable for life outside my job.”

One particular area that interested Jenkins was a French language course, which ultimately proved to be difficult for him due to the onset of severely deteriorated hearing. Although he successfully completed the course, Jenkins resigned himself to the possibility that it could be his last opportunity for enrolment in a continuing education program.

Rather than give up on his journey of learning, Jenkins decided to try a new approach by taking advantage of one of the many online courses offered at Durham College.

“I decided to try online learning and enrolled in a Political Geography course,” he said. “Online courses have expanded the opportunities for me to continue learning.”

Although he was intimidated by the technology, Jenkins found that he was able to quickly adjust and succeed in the class due to the academic and technical supports provided to him at the college.

“I felt somewhat apprehensive coping with this new learning venue,” he said. “But the availability of online assistance and the quality of technical support I received helped me to overcome my apprehensions and I was able to enjoy the course.”

Jenkins continues to be impressed with Durham College and the diversity of its curriculum and delivery methods.

“DC has expanded its curriculum over time, there are many courses available to satisfy ones interest or to stimulate new interests,” he said. “The courses I’ve taken have exceeded my expectations.”