DC receives $13 million in federal funding for new CFCE Posted on September 14, 2016 at 10:35 am. Durham College (DC) announced today that it has received $13 million in funding from the federal government through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) toward the construction of the new Centre for Collaborative Education (CFCE) at the college’s Oshawa campus. The announcement was made by Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Liberal MP for Whitby, on behalf of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada at an event held at the college this morning. The $13 million commitment, combined with the $22 million in funding received from the provincial government toward the building in April 2016, brings the total amount being invested in the CFCE to $35 million, the largest single-project investment by government in the college’s history. With a total build cost of $40 million, the CFCE will replace the college’s aging Simcoe building, which was originally built as a temporary structure and opened in 1969. The new multi-level, 75,000-square-foot-facility, a legacy project tied to DC’s 50th anniversary in 2017, will serve as an educational access point for students while bringing together local, Indigenous and global community groups and members of key business sectors. The CFCE will be located to the east of the current building, where it will connect directly to the Student Services building, and is being designed to reflect and address the needs of both students and the community, including the desire for more collaborative learning and social spaces. “On behalf of everyone at Durham College, I extend my sincere thanks to the federal government for this significant investment in our unique vision and commitment to creating a facility that will expand local programming, further connect Indigenous communities to post-secondary education and drive entrepreneurship and internationalization via Global, Open and Collaborative spaces that connect the college to more than 50 academic institutions around the world,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “Providing us with the opportunity to expand into new programs areas that offer experiential learning opportunities designed to match the labour needs of industry, the CFCE is a legacy building for the next 50 years that truly reflects Durham College’s dedication to meeting the demands of students, employers and Ontario’s changing economy.” Designed to reflect DC’s commitment to working with local business and community partners to create a new facility where students, employees and the broader community can work together in ways that transcend the traditional concepts of education, the CFCE will house the following: The School-College-Work Initiative and the affiliated Centre for Success program, a partnership between DC and the Durham District, Kawartha Pine Ridge District, Durham Catholic District, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District, and Trillium Lakelands District school boards that assists in-risk students by helping them find their way to college. The Aboriginal and Student Diversity Centres. Entrepreneurial, Innovation and Creative spaces including the Spark Centre, which will expand applied research opportunities for students, faculty and small-and medium-sized businesses. Global, Open and Collaborative spaces that will enable faculty, students and the broader community to use technology in creative ways to gain unprecedented access to students, educators, thought leaders, subject matter experts and other visionaries from more than 40 countries around the world. Health science facilities including state-of-the art classrooms and labs; a spa focused on massage therapy, cosmetology and aesthetics; and programming centred around occupational therapy and physical therapy. Foundation programs designed to prepare students for the continuation of post-secondary education at college or university. Significant collaborative learning and social spaces for our students, faculty and community. “These infrastructure investments will help create high-quality, well-paying jobs that can help the middle class grow and prosper today, while also delivering sustained economic growth in the Durham Region for years to come”, said MP Caesar-Chavannes. “Through the Strategic Investment Fund, we are strengthening the foundation for building Canada into a global centre for innovation.” Since announcing plans to replace the aging Simcoe building in April, DC has made steady progress on plans for the CFCE. The construction and architecture tenders have been awarded and initial work is expected to begin this fall with construction to be completed in 2018. A comprehensive design consultation process involving the builder and architects is now underway with each of the services, programs and departments that will be moving into the CFCE. “Durham College has long been a vital component of our community,” said Granville Anderson, MPP, Durham. “This significant investment from the provincial and federal governments, which supports expanded programming and enhances Durham’s state-of-the-art learning environment, provides the renewal necessary to continue that important work.” The college will soon launch a capital campaign to raise the additional $5 million for the construction of the building in partnership with individuals, corporations, community partners and alumni over a two-year period. Anne Sabat leaves legacy gift to students Posted on September 12, 2016 at 3:30 pm. Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) announced today a $900,000 donation from the Estate of Anne Sabat. The gift will be shared equally by the two institutions to create scholarships and bursaries for students to pursue post-secondary education. Ms. Sabat, who passed away in 2015, was a longtime resident of Oshawa whose family built a successful dry goods and retail business after arriving in Canada in the early 1900s. Although Ms. Sabat’s father and mother had little formal education, they strongly believed in its benefits and this commitment was carried on by their children, and in particular Anne, who strongly supported the college and the university. “My Aunt Anne took great delight in meeting with staff and students and learning more about their work, studies and needs. I know she was very pleased with her decision to make these gifts to both the college and UOIT, which will total almost $1 million,” said Sylvia Boissoin, Sabat family. This generous bequest will create bursaries for graduates from DC’s Centre for Success (CFS) program. The program is a partnership between the college and five local school boards designed to enable in-risk secondary school students to complete their high school academic requirements in a college setting via access to smaller class sizes, flexible schedules and increased one-to-one access to teachers. Approximately $9,000 will be distributed annually to CFS graduates who are in need of financial assistance to continue their post-secondary education. In the event that none of the centre’s graduates meet the eligibility criteria for a given year, funds will be made available to other DC students facing financial hardship to help them continue their education. “We are incredibly grateful to the Sabat family, and particularly to Ron and Sylvia Boissoin, who have served as executors of Anne’s estate and have worked tirelessly to ensure that her wishes to make this generous donation to DC become a reality,” said Don Lovisa, President, DC. “Thanks to their commitment to education and to the young people of Durham Region, more students will be able to continue their post-secondary education and go on to lead successful and fulfilling lives.” At the university, the legacy gift will be added to the Sabat Family Endowment. This fund rewards students with a minimum average of 80 per cent who are entering or continuing full-time studies. Annual income from the fund will be matched by the university to support as many as 12 annual awards with a value up to $3,000 each. DC kicks off academic year by welcoming close to 11,000 students to campus Posted on September 9, 2016 at 4:02 pm. With the 2016-2017 academic year now underway, Durham College (DC) is welcoming close to 11,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students to its Oshawa and Whitby campuses and Pickering Learning Site. This includes more than 5,700 new students and over 600 international students who have travelled from 42 countries around the world to study at DC. “As we get ready to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2017, we are excited to see the new academic year get off to such a strong start,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, DC. “Our enrolment numbers indicate that students, both domestically and internationally, recognize DC’s commitment to fostering academic and career success. From introducing new programs to providing more educational pathways and opportunities for students to gain real-world work experience, we are focused more than ever on ensuring that at DC, the student experience comes first.” In addition to its commitment to student success, the college has also launched several new, market-driven programs for 2016-2017 in areas including filmmaking, finance, journalism and documentary production, interactive media and welding. In total, DC offers more than 140 full-time programs through its nine academic schools in addition to over 500 educational pathway opportunities in partnership with universities in Ontario, Canada and around the world. Along with welcoming both new and returning students to campus, DC Orientation Week is also underway to help new students acclimatize to college life, connect with college employees, meet their peers, explore student services and learn about student clubs and activities. DC welcomes international students to campus Posted on September 8, 2016 at 8:52 am. On September 1 and 2, Durham College (DC) excitedly welcomed more than 200 new international students to the college’s International Student Orientation. Held at the Oshawa campus, the event saw DC President Don Lovisa and Dr. Elaine Popp, vice-president, Academic, spend time with this diverse group of new students as they learned about the many services and supports available to them as they begin their post-secondary journey in Canada. Students received tips and tricks on how to settle in at DC, went on a campus tour, attended workshops on acculturation and academic integrity, learned about how to find local housing and gained information about working in Canada. Activities focused on making students feel welcome and confident in choosing DC as their post-secondary destination of choice. Students have the opportunity to get to know each other better and thereby create the first level of their social network, as well as get to know the staff from the International office. “International students who choose Durham College for their post-secondary studies are making a significant personal and financial investment in their future,” said Larissa Strong, manager of International Student Support. “DC offers a complete support system that will help students find their success academically, professionally, and personally. The International office supports students with practical issues like health insurance to more personal issues like adapting to a new culture.” With additional students from abroad expected to arrive as the 2016-2017 academic year gets underway, DC prides itself on offering international students the highest-quality Canadian education, preparing them to find rewarding employment in Canada or in their home countries; a safe and vibrant campus environment; and a fun and rewarding student life, with everything from clubs, to cultural activities, to sports, to balance studies with challenges and fun outside the classroom. For more information, please visit the college’s International website. Durham College Orientation Week now underway Posted on September 2, 2016 at 2:41 pm. With the 2016-2017 academic year about to kick off, Durham College (DC) is busy getting ready to welcome more than 5,600 first-year students to campus during its annual Orientation Week, which runs from September 1 to Friday, September 9. Designed to help new students acclimatize to college life, meet college employees, explore student services (many of which are open extended hours) and most of all, enjoy the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, Orientation Week also provides students with an opportunity to learn about program expectations as well as student clubs and societies, all while making new friendships. “At Durham College, Orientation Week is a very important time of year for new and returning students,” says Kirsti McNabney, student orientation and transitions co-ordinator, Office of Student Diversity, Inclusion and Transitions. “Our programming helps students get comfortable around campus as it will be their new home away from home for the next couple of years. It’s also a fun way for everyone to gear-up for new and continuing studies while learning DC traditions, values and culture – before their first day of classes.” Activities include: International Student Orientation, Program Orientation, Fun Fair, Fieldhouse Yoga, Opening Prayer/Smudge, Cedar Tea and Bannock, Campus Cup Pep rally and game play, Whitby Campus Welcome BBQ, Drive-in Movie, #makeyourbedday, and mature learner workshops with more details available on the college’s orientation website. DC grads find success with Healthcare Leaders like Philips, GE and acute Healthcare Systems Posted on August 29, 2016 at 12:06 pm. It’s been a long journey, but Kerri-Ann Williams, a recent graduate from the Biomedical Engineering Technology program at Durham College (DC), has found success in her new role as field service engineer, Technical Leadership at General Electric Healthcare (GE Healthcare). Her new job began with a rigorous training program that gives new employees the opportunity to work with a wide range of medical equipment and maintain and install medical devices such as ultrasounds and X-rays. Once her training is complete, Williams will be a full-fledged field service engineer with key responsibilities including device installation, servicing, repairs, training clinical staff and providing excellent customer service. A native of Jamaica, Williams moved to Canada in 2011 and began her academic journey with DC in 2013. She credits the college for its excellent learning environment that supported her education and gave her the confidence to participate within the school. “The program had a strong focus on developing the technical aptitude and hands-on skills required in the field of biomedical engineering technology,” said Williams. “One of the key things I noticed during my placement was that I was very familiar with the procedures and jargon used by the various healthcare workers that I had to interact with.” Academic success wasn’t the only thing Williams pursued while at the college; she held a number of positions outside the classroom including DC Experience team member, co-chair on a fundraising committee for the Alumni Association and a work study student for two years with the Strategic Enrolment Services office. The opportunities within the school helped Williams demonstrate her strengths in the field and build her confidence, which led to receiving excellent references for her job search. As a new graduate, Williams offers a piece of advice to future DC students: “I want to encourage new students, especially new immigrants, to step out of their comfort zone and put themselves out there. Get to know your new home and the wonderful people.” DC, Spark Centre and UOIT partner to help small businesses develop robotic and automation products Posted on August 25, 2016 at 3:01 pm. Durham College (DC) has partnered with Spark Centre and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) to launch a new program aimed at helping small and medium businesses develop products focused on robotics and automation. With funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), this initiative will offer a variety of services to support potential projects, including assistance with: Development of a business/marketing plan. Modification of control software. Prototype design/development. The funding can also be used to support access to facilities on the shared DC-UOIT Oshawa campus such as the DC Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) and UOIT ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel. “This program is a natural extension of Durham College’s leadership and innovation in robotics, automation, applied research and entrepreneurship,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, DC. “With the funding from NRC-IRAP and our partnership with Spark Centre and UOIT, the college will be able to further leverage the expertise of our faculty and students, as well as our state-of-the-art facilities such as the IMC, to address the critical need for technical and business services for small and medium-sized businesses in the automation and robotics space.” To qualify for the program, companies must be incorporated and have less than 15 employees. Applications will be assessed based on suitability for the program and each organization’s capacity to complete its project. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, September 6. All projects must be completed by Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Interested companies can apply by downloading the application form. Durham College launches interactive campus map Posted on August 24, 2016 at 3:10 pm. Since opening in 1967 with only 16 portable classrooms and just over 200 students, Durham College (DC) has grown to comprise campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering. To provide students, employees and visitors to campus with responsive and reliable directions and information on the many buildings, services and spaces available on campus, DC has developed an Interactive Campus Map for the Oshawa campus. Users can access the new map to find the following information: Directions on how to get to all buildings at the Oshawa campus, as well as the distance to each location from a fixed point and estimated walking times. Locations of food services, public transit stops and study areas on campus. Information and fun facts about artwork and other points of interest. The map is available now on the DC website, at the information kiosk in the Gordon Willey building and via the DC mobile app. A project five months in the making, the map’s development was led by James Myers, a junior web developer in the college’s Communications and Marketing department, who graduated from DC’s Contemporary Web Design program in 2015. “As someone who spent a lot of time hurrying between my classes at DC’s Oshawa campus, I know the importance of finding the quickest possible route to get where I want to go,” said Myers. “I’m glad to have played a role in helping this project get off the ground and I hope it will be a benefit for everyone who attends classes, works on campus or wants to visit DC.” The college will launch a similar map for the Whitby campus next week. DC students and employees, as well as visitors to the Oshawa campus, are encouraged to try the new Interactive Campus Map and use the feedback function to share their user experiences and provide comments and suggestions. DC and McDonald’s team up for unique 50th anniversary opportunity Posted on August 19, 2016 at 10:39 am. The year 1967 was an eventful one for Canada. Not only was our nation marking its 100th anniversary, but two unique institutions – Durham College (DC) and McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada – were celebrating their grand openings. Now, with their respective 50th anniversaries on the horizon, DC and the 23 other colleges that make up Colleges Ontario are joining forces with McDonald’s to offer new opportunities to the restaurant chain’s employees in Ontario. Colleges Ontario, which serves as the umbrella group for the province’s applied arts and technology colleges, and McDonald’s have signed a partnership agreement that will allow management employees at the restaurant chain to receive credit towards a college business diploma if they complete specific training courses offered through McDonald’s. Employees who complete specified levels of company-based training will qualify to directly enter second year business or business administration programs at DC and other Ontario public colleges. “This partnership is a win-win for Durham College and other public colleges in Ontario and our partners at McDonald’s,” said Marianne Marando, executive dean of DC’s School of Business, IT & Management. “Not only do McDonald’s employees gain access to top-flight courses and professors at DC, but the college gets to work alongside committed and motivated students who’ve already demonstrated their business acumen.” Durham College looks forward to taking part in this unique partnership with McDonald’s and looks forward to welcoming employees to classes at DC’s School of Business, IT and Management in the coming months. Applications now being accepted for Fall Accelerator program Posted on August 17, 2016 at 1:38 pm. After the continued success of the Durham College (DC) Accelerator programs, FastStart DC, along with the Spark Centre is pleased to announce it will be offering its Fall Accelerator program once again this October. The program is designed to help students and graduates take their innovative ideas or business ventures to market faster while utilizing the professional services from an experienced support team. Over the course of the term, participants will develop their businesses, meet with industry professionals and participate in seminars and pitch competitions. “We are very excited to again offer the Accelerator program,” said Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean, Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “After the success of our incubator programs over the past year, we knew we wanted to give more students and alumni the opportunity to access the many benefits of participating in this type of program. Faster entry to market for their business, reduced start-up costs and providing a focused work environment for them to learn while they work alongside seasoned professionals are just some of the many benefits for participants.” The 2015 Summer Accelerator was the first time the program was offered and 10 business ideas were chosen to be a part of the incubator. DC Entrepreneurship and Small Business student Michael Shankar, who created the brand marketing focused business Belle in a Box, was a member of one of the participating teams in the inaugural program. Over the past year he has become a regular in The VIBE (B233), not only as an Entrepreneurship Assistant working with FastStart, but also working on his second startup, Nich & Mikey. “The Durham College Summer Accelerator was great,” said Michael. “It really taught me what I needed to support my business ideas. Working in The VIBE was also a great benefit of the program because it allowed me to work in a positive environment; filled with the people and resources I needed to be successful with my startup.” The application deadline for students and alumni interested in participating in DC’s Fall Accelerator is Friday, September 16. Applications can be submitted via the FastStart website, with the program beginning on Monday, October 3 and running throughout the fall term, with the potential to continue throughout the winter. « 1 … 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 … 166 »