2024 – A Year in Review at Durham College Posted on December 20, 2024 at 11:16 am. Durham College (DC) enjoyed an eventful year in 2024. We welcomed a new President and largest incoming cohort, we celebrated our largest graduating class ever, opened up our campuses to thousands of prospective students and cheered on our athletes. We made great strides in research, furthered our connections with our local and global community, kept in touch with our alumni and watched with pride as our students and employees thrived. Read on to explore some highlights from this remarkable year. News DC ushered in a new era with the appointment of Dr. Elaine Popp as President. With an eye to the future, we began development of our next Strategic Plan, which will launch in spring 2025. Our state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) lab, opened in 2023, was named the Vanhaverbeke Family EV Training Centre, in recognition of the generous support of philanthropists Edmond and Sylvia Vanhaverbeke. The main building of the Whitby campus was named in honour of former DC president Don Lovisa. A $300,000 grant from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) will allow us to continue supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with our consultation and IP investment program. Our Campus Health and Wellness Centre launched new resources in support of the mental health of our students. DC researchers are partnering with Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences and the Abilities Centre in Whitby to study the impact of exercise on physical and mental health for forensic patients, thanks to a $350,000 College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant. Researchers at the Social Impact Hub utilized a $360,000 grant from the CCSIF to launch a project to study and improve mental health care for Black communities. Accolades Durham College was named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the eighth time, a Greater Toronto Top Employer for the 14th time, and one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges. DC received twice the recognition at the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) Awards of Excellence. We received a bronze in the Excellence in Sustainable Development category, and Program Coordinator Laura Maybury earned a bronze in the Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty. Journalism student Andrew Neary received three impressive awards, including Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Student of the Year, Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada Emery-Dufault Student of the Year, and DC’s Alumni Association Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Police Foundations graduate Maya Austin received the Joe Moylan Award of Excellence, given each year to a remarkable Police Foundations graduate from an Ontario college. Our DC students brought home 10 medals from the Skills Ontario 2024 competition. Alexander Harley won gold in Auto Service Technology and moved on to the Skills Canada Nationals Competition in Quebec, where he finished fourth. The Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture was recognized at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, receiving an Honourable Mention in the Urban Agriculture Excellence category from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Programs DC partnered with Sheridan, St. Clair and Fanshawe College to support women in the skilled trades. With over $2 million in federal funding, the partners will spearhead initiatives focused on elevating awareness and providing opportunities for women in exploring career education, networking and apprenticeships within the Red Seal skilled trades. That commitment continued with the Introduction to Millwrighting program, which provided 10 women with personalized support and training to help them prepare for the millwright aptitude test. An all-Indigenous group of 11 students successfully completed the five-week program. Our Journalism program marked its 50th anniversary with a special event in the Rotary Global Classroom. Six alumni took part in a panel discussion, sharing stories from their careers in the ever-changing industry and offering advice to today’s students. DC’s Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture and the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) partnered on a Dual Credit program that gives Ajax high school students the experience of working on a farm. Four new programs will launch in fall 2025, including the Electric Drive Vehicle Technician (EDVT) program, focused on creating skilled technicians capable of maintaining and servicing electric and hybrid vehicles. Other new programs include Environmental Technician, Interior Decorating, and the Immigration Case Management graduate certificate, furthering our commitment to meeting industry and community needs by producing career-ready graduates. Events We celebrated Employee Appreciation Day with President Popp’s first address to the DC community in her new role. At Spring Convocation in June, we celebrated one of our largest graduating classes in history, while Dr. Elaine Popp was officially installed as President. Fall Convocation was equally special with over 2,200 graduates crossing the stage. Our Open House events in the Spring and Fall welcomed thousands of prospective students and their families who learned about our 145+ career-driven programs and toured our state-of-the-art facilities. The President’s Breakfast celebrated the donors who generously support our students. The Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) opened its doors for the ORSIE Impact Expo, a celebration of the innovative research work happening at DC. Over 300 students completed the Centre for Success (CFS) and Adult Dual Credit (ADC) programs, overcoming unique challenges to achieve academic success. Experiential Learning Our students enjoy scores of opportunities to gain hands-on experience and put their skills to the test. Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations students are taking advantage of a new virtual reality (VR) scenario program to develop their communications skills and practice some of the challenging situations they’ll face in their profession. The Faculty of Media, Art and Design’s 48-Hour Storytelling Challenge gave students a chance to showcase their artistic skills in a variety of mediums. Talented musicians hit all the right notes during Oshawa Music Week, an annual celebration of the local music community organized by Music Business Management students. Students from the Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTA/PTA) and Journalism – Mass Media programs teamed up to produce the Rehab Matters Newsletter. OTA/PTA students brought their expertise on rehab while the journalism students provided guidance on writing and editing. A number of Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trips allowed DC students to immerse themselves in new cultures while enhancing and applying the skills they have learned in the classroom. Athletics A successful winter season resulted in provincial bronze medals for the men’s basketball and women’s indoor soccer teams. In a strong fall season, our women’s softball team became both national and provincial champions. The women’s rugby team also became provincial champions, while the men’s baseball team earned provincial bronze. DC’s Esports team triumphed over their rivals from Ontario Tech University in the annual Campus Clash. We announced the formation of a sitting volleyball team, a new accessible sporting option for DC students. The women’s volleyball team prioritized their mental health by partnering with HONE Athletics to use a unique digital mental health platform to increase team communication and well-being through weekly check-ins. We look forward to another great year at Durham College in 2025. DC’s Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation partners with Cyber Security Canada Posted on December 10, 2024 at 9:49 am. In our increasingly connected world, the need for reliable cybersecurity is paramount. Since its inception in 2020, the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation at Durham College (DC) has set the standard for providing applied research services and high-quality education in this crucial field. That is sure to continue with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Centre and Cyber Security Canada, a non-profit certification body dedicated to helping organizations become more secure online. “Cyber Security Canada has done a phenomenal job of developing a standard that helps organizations enhance their cybersecurity posture. Through this MOU, we aim to leverage the Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation’s strengths to assist Canadian organizations in improving their security measures and meeting these national standards,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, Associate Vice President, Innovation and Research. Over the years, the Centre for Cybersecurity at DC has worked with over 40 organizations in a variety of fields, developing solutions to help them be more efficient and secure in the face of growing cyber threats. In one recent example, they conducted security assessments for the Town of Ajax. Working with Cyber Security Canada will help the Centre reach even more companies that are keen to improve their cybersecurity. “Everybody is thinking about cybersecurity, but they don’t know how to start and where to start. They don’t have the budget. They don’t have talent who can work on it,” said Sushant Katare, Senior Manager, Centre for Cybersecurity Innovation. That’s where the talented minds at DC come in. By connecting with the Centre, companies get access to research expertise that will help them identify and address their cybersecurity issues and get them ready to apply for Cyber Security Canada’s certification. In addition to certified professionals like Katare, the Centre also hires students from a number of DC programs to work on projects and gain real world experience. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” he said. If a career in this burgeoning field interests you, our Cybersecurity graduate certificate can get you ready! DC engineering grads can leverage their learning with new Queen’s University Diploma-to-Degree Pathway Posted on October 8, 2024 at 3:20 pm. Durham College’s (DC) engineering technology graduates can get a head start on their degree thanks to a new pathway agreement with Queen’s University. Students who graduate from DC with one of our advanced diplomas in Engineering Technology can now transfer into an upper year of the civil, mining, mechanical, or chemical degree programs offered by Smith Engineering at Queen’s. “We are thrilled about the strong partnership between DC and Queen’s University. This is a testament to our commitment to providing students with the best possible educational experience,” said Kara Woods, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology. “By integrating practical learning from DC with the rigorous academic framework at Queen’s, we are empowering students to transition smoothly from diploma to degree.” One such student is Mitch Connelly, a 2021 graduate of DC’s Civil Engineering Technology program who is part of the pathway’s inaugural cohort that began their studies in September. After years of working in the engineering field, he decided to return to school to upgrade his skills, and his timing was perfect. “It’s a lot cheaper than doing a full undergraduate degree straight from high school, and college is also more practical. I think employers recognize that,” he said of the pathway. “It’s better to go this route. You get a better education and more connections.” Mitch’s post-DC success and his pursuit of a degree at Queen’s serve as an example to today’s students, according to Civil Engineering Technology program coordinator Myla Minelli. “Mitch exemplifies the dedication, hard work, and determination that we strive to instill in all our students,” she said. More DC students are set to take advantage of the new pathway, with seven beginning the required online preparatory courses this fall before attending a full semester of foundational classes next summer. They will then enter their respective programs at Queen’s in September of 2025. The Smith Engineering Bridge pathway is funded by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT). “We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them”: How Durham College develops new programs to meet industry need Posted on August 26, 2024 at 12:42 pm. DC launches four new programs in fall 2024 This September, Durham College (DC) will welcome the first intakes of students in four new programs, designed to prepare them for today’s competitive job market with the skills and industry-specific knowledge they need to succeed. The Law Clerk diploma, Professional Selling and Business Development graduate certificate , Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate, and the Public Relations graduate certificate programs are DC’s newest offerings – contributing to the college’s impressive repertoire of more than 145 programs, all developed to meet employer and industry needs. “There is a heightened demand for professionals in these fields and we are proud to develop programming with a forward-focused perspective that prepares students to be career-ready in these industries,” said Dr. Jean Choi, Vice President, Academic and Students at DC. “We actively identify workforce trends and stay ahead of them by following a rigorous program development process that includes labour market analysis and consultation with industry professionals and leaders.” DC’s new Clinical Bioinformatics graduate certificate program is addressing the growing demand in the health sciences, particularly in emerging fields like genomics and proteomics. These fields, which have evolved from advancements in gene sequencing, enable scientists to use big data to identify and analyze diseases and disorders, leading to the development of targeted drug therapies and precision medicine. “Research indicates a significant need for experts in clinical bioinformatics who can effectively utilize genomic and proteomic data to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes,” said Choi. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in clinical data analysis, clinical research, or genetic counseling within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. “We also know that there are increasing employability rates in the public relations sector and legal fields, and in the sales industry the acceleration of digital trends has elevated the need for sales professionals to adopt new strategies to drive business success,” Choi added. As industries rapidly evolve and employer needs continue to shift, DC remains committed to a proactive approach to program development. The college is preparing students who will fill labour shortage gaps and support growth across sectors, enabling graduates to take on rewarding careers in new and evolving fields. Discover more than 145 in-demand programs by visiting DC online today.
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