Durham College scores high on provincial continuing education survey

Oshawa, Ont. –Durham College today announced that it received high marks on the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology survey of continuing education (CE) students at all 24 colleges across the province, conducted in 2012.

Of the close to 2,000 Durham College students surveyed, 93 per cent indicated they were satisfied with the overall quality of the instructors at the college and 92 per cent were satisfied with the overall quality of the courses offered.

“Durham College’s School of Continuing Education is committed to providing students with the best educational experience possible – whether they want to upgrade their existing skills, expand their knowledge or make a career change,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “These survey results indicate that we are successfully meeting that commitment including offering both day and night time programming as well as online and weekend courses and classes, enabling learners to choose the educational path that works best for them while ensuring they receive current and relevant curriculum delivered by the best possible instructors.”

In addition to receiving high marks for the quality of both its courses and instructors, 83 per cent of students also said they would recommend their course to others with the same interests based on their experience at the college.

The Winter 2012 Continuing Education Provincial Survey is designed to provide insight into students’ satisfaction with their courses, instructors, college services and more in addition to the demographics of students who are taking college-level CE courses in Ontario in terms of educational background and goals, employment status, gender, age, and first language.

More than 17,500 CE students enrol at Durham College annually in hundreds of different courses including new offerings such as Sustainable Local Food; Children’s Mental Health; and Leadership Development Series.

For more information, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/coned.

About Durham College

At Durham College, the student experience comes first. In September 2012, the college welcomed more than 30,000 students to campus including 9,047 full-time post-secondary students as well as part-time and continuing education students; apprentices; and online learners. The college offers a wide range of market-driven programs in a number of different disciplines including business, information technology, media, art, design, general arts, science, skilled trades, justice, emergency services, health and engineering technology, enabling students to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today’s job market.

A three-phase expansion of the college’s Whitby campus is currently underway. Phase 1 opened in September 2009 followed by Phase 2 in May 2011. Phase 3 will see the creation of the 36,000-square-foot Centre for Food (CFF) focused on agriculture, culinary, hospitality and tourism. Accommodating approximately 900 new students, the CFF will house new classrooms and labs and offer a full-service, green-certified restaurant and lounge and see the creation of a greenhouse – all of which will be open to the general public. In addition, a new Student Services building opened at the Oshawa campus in January 2011.

For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2333
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca