Getting the answers to questions about studying at Durham College (DC) is now even easier with the new DC Virtual Assistant, an AI-powered chatbot that leverages technology to enhance users’ experience.

Last year, more than 35,000 conversations and 5,000 hours of chat time with DC’s live operators were logged during business hours, highlighting the need for an innovative solution to manage the high volume of questions and provide timely support. The DC Virtual Assistant, which launched this week, is available around the clock, ensuring users can have their questions answered at any time and helping to reduce wait times when needing to connect with a live agent.

The DC Virtual Assistant will support prospective students, applicants and current students with admissions and enrolment-related questions through the Live Chat option on the Admissions, Enrolment Services, International Education, and Student Recruitment webpages. Users will continue to be able to access Live Chat to connect with a DC employee during regular business hours.

“Our goal is to ensure that students can access the information they need quickly and easily at any time of day,” said Thom MacDonald, Associate Vice-President, Academic (Enrolment and International Education) and Registrar at DC. “By harnessing the power of Generative AI, DC continues to evolve and improve how we support our community.”

To use the DC Virtual Assistant, please visit DC’s Live Chat webpage.

Today, Durham College (DC) acknowledges the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which affirms the right of all members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities, including all sexual and gender orientations and expressions, to live freely as themselves.

This important day highlights the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

“Durham College is committed to being a place of acceptance for all. I am proud of the work we do every day to create a safe and welcoming culture at DC, where the values of respect, equity, and inclusion are extended to everyone,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President. “It is encouraging to see how our students, employees and alumni are committed to maintaining and strengthening that culture on and off campus.”

This year’s global theme – “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all” – is a reminder that everyone has the right to be their authentic selves without fear of discrimination.

With this in mind, today DC raised the Progress Pride Intersex Inclusive Flag at both our Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

To support learning and growth, the DC Library has curated a collection of materials focused on promoting education and awareness of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

Standing together against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia will ensure that DC remains a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Durham College (DC) celebrated the renaming of its Whitby campus main building to the Don Lovisa Building, in honour of its past president’s transformative leadership and impact on the college.

The renaming was announced during Lovisa’s retirement celebration in February, making it the third space in DC’s history to be named after a former president.

“I am profoundly grateful and deeply moved by the college’s decision to name the Whitby campus main building in my honour,” shared Lovisa. “It is a testament not only to my dedication and success but also the collective efforts of all those who have supported me throughout my tenure. It is my wish that those who have contributed to this moment will remember the excellent work we did together and take pride in their success as well.”

During Lovisa’s 16-year presidency, he oversaw millions of dollars in capital investments to drive growth of the college while maintaining a strong focus on employment skills for in-demand jobs.

“I had the privilege of working alongside Don for eight years, and during that time, I witnessed first-hand the type of bold leader Don was. His approach was grounded in a desire for relentless innovation in programming, operations and campus experience for our students, employees and visitors,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President of Durham College. “We are proud to honour his accomplishments with the naming of the Don Lovisa Building.”

Dr. Gail Johnson Morris, Chair of DC’s Board of Governors, says the Don Lovisa Building serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for Lovisa’s dedication to advancing education while prioritizing community connections.

“Don’s leadership was instrumental in growing Durham College’s impact and established it as a beacon of generative innovation,” she said. “His dedication and vision inspired countless students, faculty, staff and stakeholders, both here at the college and in our surrounding communities.”

Durham College (DC) welcomed more than students to Spring Orientation this month to mark the beginning of a new year and educational journey.

Students participated in a variety of activities with other students and volunteers to help them feel comfortable and adjust to campus life. They also had the opportunity to meet employees and faculty members, explore DC’s services and supports available to them on campus and learn more about their new programs, all while making new friends with other attendees.

Rashi Kakkar, a first-year student at the Whitby campus, shared it was her first orientation at a post-secondary institution. “It’s very comfortable, even while being an introvert. I didn’t expect it to be as friendly as it was, there are lots of caring people around,” she said.

Khushi Pandya and Uttara Jaiswal, both international students taking the became friends during orientation. Pandya said, “We came from India and we just met here. We didn’t know each other and we met two other people, too.”

International students received program specific support to assist with adapting to the Canadian classroom, finding part-time employment and more.

“It’s beyond our imagination,” said Jaiswal. “Professors gave us great information with great experience, and Professor Heather was amazing. Everything was perfect.”

Following both campus program orientations, students received new DC swag to show off their #DCpride and enjoyed music and food while connecting with other new students.

Did you miss out on some of the fun? Check out these top three blog posts for new students!

• Stay healthy at DC with our wellness directory
• 10 campus spaces every student needs to know
• Five things to ‘check out’ at Durham College libraries

From building bird houses to learning the science behind slime, hundreds of local girls had a blast exploring careers in science, tech and skilled trades at Durham College (DC).

Hosted on April 25 and 26 at DC’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, the Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference (YWSTT) included inspiration from both keynote speaker Promise Lafrance and hands-on exploration in a series of workshops for Grade 7 and 8 girls.

At the Whitby campus, the girls were welcomed by Rebecca Milburn, Executive Dean for the Faculties of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship and Hospitality and Horticultural Science and the interim Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Information Technology.

“There are so many opportunities available to you in science, technology and skilled trades and we are here to help you explore them,” she said. “Whether it is learning about a new field or career path, trying your hand at something new or even picturing yourself in a career you may never have even thought of before, today’s event is designed to show you the possibilities for your future.”

Leah Mollon, a Grade 8 student from Lindsay, Ontario, enjoyed workshops like Candy Chromatography where students used saltwater to separate colours on Skittles candy in DC’s biotechnology lab.

She also built circuits in a workshop presented by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) employees. OPG was one of a dozen sponsors supporting the event.

“I’m considering the trades quite a bit,” said Leah. “I’m still quite young and trying to figure out what I want to do, but the trades, I want to test them out.”

Sarah Kraemer, also a Grade 8 student from Lindsay, enjoyed trying on gear that OPG workers use to protect themselves from radiation.

She said she’s interested in a career related to neuroscience and said she loved exploring at the YWSTT Conference.

“I feel it’s really good at erasing the stigma around women in science and the trades,” said Sarah, adding that she’s attended two other similar events. “It’s really helpful in introducing people to new opportunities that you never knew existed.”

That’s a key message for Angie Dickinson, a control tech at OPG and an electrician by trade. She is also a DC alum who graduated in 2006.

Dickinson explained that she’s been a pioneer through her 25-year career and wants share the message that there are excellent careers in the skilled trades for women.

“At OPG we are trying to talk to the young women about the trades, so we’re trying to introduce to them that this a viable way to make a living, that it’s a very good way to make money in a non-traditional way.”

The girls heard directly from women in the trades in the OPG workshops and learned about building circuits and testing torque on nuts and bolts.

If the girls successfully completed their circuit kits, they lit up or played sounds like a few bars of “Happy Birthday”.

DC laboratory technician Andrea Colagiacomo ran a popular workshop on making slime and taught the chemistry behind it.

“So the Elmer’s glue contains long chains of polymers when it reacts with the contact lens solution and the baking soda, it creates crosslinking which turns the liquid glue into a non-Newtonian liquid,” she quickly explained.

In other words, the chemical reaction creates something that is neither a solid or liquid but it’s a lot of fun to mash up and play with.

In the workshop, the girls experimented with the consistency of their slime, as well as the appearance by adding glitter and food colouring.

Colagiacomo said her main goal was making sure the girls who attended her workshop had fun and learned something.

“I think conferences like this help to give some clarity to young girls as to which path they want to take and we’re all big science nerds and we’re all encouraging them,” she said.

Lily Streten, a Grade 7 student from Ajax, said she liked learning the science behind slime.

“I think it’s pretty cool because now I understand how it’s made and I can go home and impress my family with it,” she said, adding she also enjoyed the sessions on robotics and learning how to dismantle a furnace.

And her future plans?

“I think I want to be a gym teacher, I’ll see what I get into when I’m older, but the welding sounded really fun too.”

Considering a career in science, tech or the trades? Start exploring at DC!

• Programs in Science, Engineering, Technology and Information Technology
• Programs in Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships
• Programs in Hospitality and Horticultural Sciences

Durham College (DC) is a double winner in this year’s Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Awards of Excellence after the organization recognized faculty member Laura Maybury and DC’s sustainability efforts both with bronze awards in their selected categories.

Laura Maybury, Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty

During her 10-year tenure at DC, Maybury, Program Coordinator for DC’s Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) and Physiotherapist Assistant (PTA) program has benefitted both students and the community by supporting health care training and bridging the gap between post-secondary education and industry.

“I am proud that Laura’s dedication and exemplary leadership is being recognized at the national level,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic at Durham College. “She is passionate about helping her students succeed and she serves as an inspiration as an approachable, supportive and thought-provoking educator.”

Maybury said she feels honoured to be selected to receive the award.

“I have been so fortunate to work in the rehab field for almost 20 years and at Durham College for the past 10 years, working daily with an inspiring and dedicated team of faculty, leadership and community partners,” she said. “The work that rehabilitation professionals do to promote recovery, reduce the impact of health conditions and enable participation is so very important and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to share that passion with our students, and support them in becoming exceptional OTA and PTAs who contribute meaningfully to the lives of those in their communities.”

Durham College, Excellence in Sustainable Development Award

At DC sustainability is a way of life. We are supporting the advancement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by taking meaningful action within our own institution and drawing on our strengths in collaboration and innovation to help transform our local and global community.

Initiatives like The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, the Energy Innovation Centre and the Social Impact Hub all drive applied research and hands-on learning aimed at improving health, creating education opportunities, reducing inequality and spurring economic growth all while tackling climate change.

“Sustainability is embedded in everything we do at Durham College,” said DC President Dr. Elaine Popp. “We believe it is our duty as an educational institution to foster stewardship of the resources and land on which we live. We want to lead by example, demonstrating environmental responsibility for our students so they can run the organizations of tomorrow with conservation front of mind. I am proud to be recognized for the work we do across our organization to prioritize sustainability and proud to lead by example in our community.”

Earlier this month, Project Management graduate certificate students gained practical experience by organizing the program’s annual Student Symposium.

With support from DC’s Faculty of Business, Durham College Student Association (DCSA) and the Durham Highlands chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the students organized the event as part of their curriculum. Guest speakers from DC and PMI shared their experience and knowledge with the soon-to-be graduates, who took advantage of the extensive networking opportunities available to them.

“It’s a great way for them to experience project management outside of a classroom setting,” explained Professor Mark Lewis, who is also a graduate of the program. “All the students that I work with always speak very highly about it because it does give them that hands-on opportunity.”

Karen Kwok was one such student, and she confirmed that the Symposium was an excellent way to wrap up the winter semester.

“It was a good opportunity for me to network and connect with fellow project managers, and I learned so much more about the PMI community,” she said. “I was able to be a part of a successful student-led project and now I am looking forward to what I can achieve in my next semester’s Applications of Project Management class.”

Her classmate Gaurav Dudani also made the most of the opportunity to connect with seasoned project managers.

“It was an educational and engaging experience,” he said. “The speakers shared invaluable insights, and learning about PMI’s member program and services was particularly enlightening.”

In their studies in and out of the classroom, Project Management students hone the in-demand skills needed by every company and organization that wants to use their resources more effectively and efficiently.

“It’s such a good program for any industry, because the skills you learn can be applied to anything,” said Professor Elaine Catell. “The interesting thing about our program is we’re not just teaching engineers. We have such a variety of educational disciplines and interests.”

Each semester, the program completes projects from both domestic and international clients, offering student teams a diverse range of challenges. These projects encompass numerous sectors, ensuring that DC students engage with a broad spectrum of real-world scenarios, enriching their learning experiences and preparing them for the complexities of their future careers. Businesses, community organizations and faculty are invited to contact Elaine Catell with potential projects.