Durham College employees proud to welcome new students

The Durham College (DC) community continues to grow, with approximately 6,000 new students pursuing their post-secondary education with us this year.

As the 2025-26 academic year gets underway this week, new and returning students are being met by friendly DC employees ready to welcome them. Whether answering questions and giving directions or ringing up purchases at the Campus Store, they’re easily spotted by their green DC gear and big smiles.

“It shows the welcoming spirit that Durham College has,” said Tara Koski, Dean, Students, who joined the Welcome Team in The Pit at the Oshawa Campus to help new students as they arrived for the first day of classes. Other employees wore green in support of DC and as a welcoming signal to the newcomers.

By doing so, they ensured that new DC students experienced a vibrant, inclusive, and confident start to their studies.

“There’s a whole host of emotions, from excitement to nervousness, and for a lot of students asking for help can be a barrier,” explained Koski. “I’ve waved hello to certain students that I’ve seen at the Academic Welcome sessions, and you can just see their relief that there’s a friendly face.”

Some need directions to their next class, while others have questions about our many student services.

For Records Manager Julie Hunt, who spent her morning helping out in the Campus Store as students bought their textbooks and other school supplies, getting students acclimated to DC is a priority.

“The faster we can help students and address their questions or their concerns, the more comfortable they feel,” she said.

With comfort, confidence and a lot of hard work, the very same new students who are learning about DC today will be crossing the Convocation stage in the future. For Koski, seeing students make that journey is truly special.

“Nothing’s better than seeing a student at Convocation, and they remember you,” she said. “And then you’ll see them come back and be mentors and presenters in classes. It really is a full community experience.”