Category: New & Notable | Page 134

Journalism grad working at TV station

Posted on March 14, 2013 at 8:37 am.

Like many students graduating from high school, Caley Bedore’s first career path didn’t turn out to be the right one for her. While enrolled in a sports administration program at a university it became clear to Bedore that her love of creative writing was the direction she wanted her education – and ultimately her career path – to go.

Once she decided to follow her passion she had to find the right fit, both in terms of a school, and a program. That fit proved to be the Journalism – Print and Broadcast program at Durham College.

“I applied to a few different colleges for journalism and creative writing and I ended up choosing Durham College because it’s close enough to home, yet far enough from home, and when I came here to visit it just gave me a good feeling,” said Bedore. “The sense of hands-on learning that is going to work in the real world was so nice.”

While in the Journalism – Print and Broadcast program, Bedore discovered a new interest – television journalism. From this realization, she applied for and obtained an internship at CHEX Newswatch in Peterborough, Ontario.

Things continued to fall into place for Bedore and upon completion of her internship she was offered a permanent position at the station. She is now working as a videographer and has had the opportunity to anchor the news; produce shows; and forecast the weather.

“Durham College helped me get my foot in the door and gave me a grasp of what I had to do,” said Bedore.

President and CEO of Rogers Media talks sports with students

Posted on March 13, 2013 at 9:09 am.

For students in Durham College’s Sports Administration, Sport Management and Sports Business Management programs, it was a chance to meet one of Canada’s sports media titans. For Keith Pelley, it was a chance to dish about the Toronto Blue Jays.

The president and CEO of Rogers Media couldn’t contain his excitement about the upcoming baseball season, and shared his hopes with more than 60 students at the Oshawa campus on March 11.

Pelley, also the former president of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium and former president of TSN, also divulged the four most important keys to achieving a job in the sports industry.

“The top four things you need to succeed at your job is work ethic, attitude, knowledge and intelligence,” said Pelley. “Since you’re already at college, you already have the knowledge and intelligence. So your work ethic and attitude is very important.”

“You have to be prepared to do anything – take the word ‘no’ out of your vocabulary.”

This advice especially rang true with Chase Hadden, a second-year Sports Administration student who knows that hard work can equal reward.

“What I took from it was that if you work harder than anybody else, they’ll look at you and notice that and consider you for a better position further down the road,” said Hadden.

Prior to joining Rogers in 2010, Pelley also served as president and CEO of the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts franchise with which he won a Grey Cup in 2004.

In addition to sharing stories about his passion for sports and his drive to succeed, he also answered a number of the students’ questions, ranging from resumé tips; sports broadcasting rights; and whether an NFL team would ever come to Toronto.

While stressing that the sports sector is highly competitive, he also told the audience that they should make sure it’s something they love to do.

“You’re going to spend more than 50 per cent of your life at your job so make sure you find something you’re passionate about. Do not live for the weekend.”

What PQAPA means to Durham College

Posted on March 12, 2013 at 11:41 am.

Program Quality Assurance Process Audit (PQAPA) was implemented in order to grant greater autonomy to Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology to govern their programs.

Overseen by the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, PQAPA involves the regular and cyclical review of each college’s program quality assurance processes. It focuses on college-wide policies and practices and drills down on selected programs to verify that practices are implemented; recommendations lead to improvement; and program quality is assured.

Each external evaluation of a college includes completion of a quality criteria form and self-study report; a two-day site visit; ends in a report from the audit review panel documenting the degree to which the college’s processes conform to the criteria; and provides recommendations aimed at improving and enhancing processes and procedures to ensure learning comes first.

Watch the video and see what PQAPA means to Durham College.

Impressive success rate for dual credit students

Posted on March 8, 2013 at 9:14 am.

Durham College recently announced that its most recent Dual Credit Data Report, covering September 2012 to January 2013, indicates an impressive 85 per cent success rate for students enrolled in the college’s more than 100 dual credit courses.

Focused on subjects involving the skilled trades, apprenticeship, business, health, wellness, general education, math, science, the arts and more, dual credit courses allow secondary school students from the Durham District School; Durham Catholic District School; Kawartha Pine Ridge District School; Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School; and Trillium Lakelands District School boards to get a head start on their futures by earning a secondary school and college credit at the same time, resulting in a seamless transition from secondary school to post-secondary education or an apprenticeship.

“Dual credits offer secondary school students wonderful exposure to a post-secondary or apprenticeship learning environment while they work toward both their OSSD and future career path,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “I am very proud of the results of this report, which are a great example of what happens when local schools, school boards, the provincial government and Durham College work together to create opportunities for students that are designed to meet their individual interests, strengths and needs.”

Delivered at select secondary schools and at the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, depending on each course, individual school and school board, dual credits are aimed at students who are:

Considered at risk of not graduating from high school;
Enrolled in a specialist high skills major (e.g. students focused on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD);
Enrolled in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (e.g. students in Grades 11 and 12 who are earning co-operative education credits through work placements in skilled trades); and
Under age 21, out of school and close to completing their OSSD requirements.

In addition, at-risk students can take dual credit courses through Durham College’s Centre for Success program, which encourages students to stay in school and earn their high school diploma by engaging them in a college environment – demonstrating that they can also be successful in post-secondary education. Students work toward their diplomas while on campus with access to regular college support systems and amenities. In addition to meeting the graduation requirements most students also earn a college credit during their time in the program.

“After working as a secondary school teacher and guidance counsellor for 31 years, I can honestly say this is one of the most successful student success initiatives that I have been involved with,” said Gail MacKenzie, manager of Strategic Initiatives, Durham College School of Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services. “The dual credit program allows students to reach their true potential and realize they can be successful, not only in their secondary school program but at post-secondary education.”

Working towards a healthier campus

Posted on March 7, 2013 at 9:50 am.

According to studies reported by CBC News, the number of students with mental illnesses has increased substantially in the past few years with more than half of students reporting symptoms. To address this many institutions, including Durham College, are looking at how to improve mental health issues on campus.

The Campus Health Centre is conducting their own research study to highlight the importance of a student’s mental health and the link between mental health and academic success. The findings of the self-assessment will be used in the formation of a comprehensive Mental Health Strategy which the college intends to use to promote awareness and the importance of good mental health on campus.

As part of this initiative, the Campus Health Centre is providing a free subscription to MyHealth magazine to students and staff. This resource provides accurate mental, physical and developmental health information and includes engaging interactive features.

The publication also provides tips for handling stress and depression, as well as how to practice self-care and smart decision making. The magazine is available for registration online with the use of a Durham College email address.

“As a health centre serving post-secondary students, we value mental health awareness of all staff and students,” said Amanda Cappon, mental health worker, Campus Health Centre. “The MyHealth magazine is one way of meeting this goal. To be aware means we are better able to intervene at an early stage. Early intervention has been demonstrated through research to reduce the negative outcomes of mental health issues.”

The Campus Health Centre provides a wide range of services to students during demanding times of the year. Twice a month, the centre has student volunteers called mental health promoters from the Addictions and Mental Health graduate certificate program stationed at a booth to speak to fellow students.

“The booth is intended to create mental health awareness, to ‘talk the talk’ and to promote self-care by informing students of support available in the health centre,” said Cappon.

Nominations open for DC student Board of Governor representative

Posted on March 6, 2013 at 3:25 pm.

Are you the new student voice of Durham College?

The college’s Board of Governors (BOG) is now encouraging full-time students who feel they demonstrate leadership and can provide a strong student voice to run for the position of student governor.

Along with all board members, the student governor is accountable to the students of Durham College, their employer, the government of Ontario and the communities the college serves by ensuring that the college is effectively and appropriately managed to achieve its mandate and provide needed services. As a student governor, you are a full voting member involved in decision making for college policies.

The BOG is accepting nominations for a new student representative for the 2013-2014 academic year until Friday, March 8, with elections taking place Monday, March 11 to Friday, March 15.

Take this opportunity to represent your fellow students – nominate yourself or someone you know today! For more information, please visit the student governor web page or contact Jennifer Clark, board secretary, at ext. 3292 or jennifer.clark@durhamcollege.ca.

DC professor receives College Sector Educator Award

Posted on March 6, 2013 at 11:12 am.

Durham College proudly announced recently that Virginia Harwood, a professor with the School of Justice & Emergency Services, has been awarded the College Sector Educator Award by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE). She is being recognized for her efforts to promote and support the development of her peers with regard to teaching excellence. This includes helping to support and ensure the success of her fellow professors and students and the teaching and learning leadership she provides both in and outside of Durham College.

“On behalf of faculty, staff and students at Durham College, I extend my warmest congratulations to Virginia on this wonderful achievement,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “This national award is reflective of her strong commitment to seeking innovative ways to inspire excellence in her peers including innovative mentoring and coaching techniques and her desire to promote new curriculum delivery and teaching methods among her colleagues in order to ensure students have the best post-secondary experience possible during their time on campus.”

In addition to her role as a professor, Harwood, a 1987 alumna of the college’s Legal Administration/Law Clerk program, also developed the college’s Mediation – Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) one-year graduate certificate program in 2010, which she continues to teach in and co-ordinate. Designed for individuals with existing educational or industry experience, the program includes a hybrid delivery model that enables students to participate in online chats and assignments and use digital technologies to interact with guest speakers.

“I am truly honoured to have been nominated and selected as a recipient for the College Sector Educator Award,” said Harwood. “I am extremely proud to represent Durham College.”

Harwood joined the college in 2002 after spending 17 years working as a law clerk for a major Toronto law firm and as a sole practitioner working in civil litigation; family law; estates; legal research; and real estate. An avid lifelong learner, she is a member of the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario; holds a qualified mediator designation from the ADR Institutes of Canada and Ontario; is an affiliate member of the Ontario Bar Association – ADR section; and is a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of the Durham Community Legal Clinic.

In addition to receiving the College Sector Educator Award, she was recognized with Durham College’s Vice-President, Academic Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in August 2011 and in 2012 was nominated for an Association of Canadian Community Colleges Teaching Excellence Award.

Harwood holds an advanced diploma in Legal Administration/Law Clerk; a certificate in Adult Education; a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education; a certificate and advanced certificate in ADR; and is a part-time student in the Master of Education program at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In addition, she volunteers on several committees; mentors new faculty; is co-facilitator of the Teaching in Community program; and established the college’s Campus Conflict Resolution Services.

Nominations for the STLHE College Sector Educator Award were received from educators across Canada.

Nominees asked to provide evidence of their own teaching excellence and participation in activities that support the teaching excellence of peers including student, peer and supervisor feedback; leading workshops; presenting at conferences; mentoring others; participating on academic committees; being active in academic associations; researching

and publishing related to teaching; and leading projects and program teams. Harwood will receive her award at the 2013 STLHE Conference in Cape Breton in June.

A national association of academics interested in the improvement of teaching and learning in higher education, STLHE’s membership is comprised of faculty as well as teaching and learning resource professionals from post-secondary education institutions.