January 15, 2008

Proposed bylaw left as is would have negative impact on students, fails to meet their needs

OSHAWA, Ont. – Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) applaud any initiatives that ensure safe and affordable housing for our students, while also meeting the needs of our neighbours in the communities surrounding campus.

That’s why both schools support students in their position that the City of Oshawa housing bylaw as proposed fails to address the significant concerns of students about the impact it will have on their access to off-campus housing. We believe the bylaw requires further work toward finding a solution that is satisfactory for all parties involved.

Students are concerned that the proposed bylaw will have significant financial impacts on the cost of rental housing. We are concerned that any increase in costs to students will have an impact on their ability to pursue a post-secondary education. We are also concerned about the negative impact this bylaw will have on potential students as they begin the process in the coming weeks of choosing their post-secondary home for this fall. We do not wish for the City of Oshawa to be viewed as unfriendly towards students. Finally, we are disappointed that the bylaw targets only the housing in the vicinity of our campus.

Durham College and UOIT have been working with the City, students, residents and other community partners since 2004 in regard to off-campus housing. Continued dialogue and meetings that are committed to addressing the joint needs of residents, the City’s safety requirements and students are the only way to ensure real solutions are found for all concerned. This type of co-operation made possible the recent announcement by the Oshawa Town and Gown committee of the creation of on-campus, apartment-style housing to open in fall 2008 with the capability of adding more spaces for fall 2009.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT’s 5,000 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario’s first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science, and its School of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science. UOIT’s commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Media contact:
Tony Doyle
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2209
tony.doyle@dc-uoit.ca

 

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