current students

Business Education That Extends Beyond the Classroom

Hailey O'Connor, Business, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusHailey O’Connor is a current Business student and even though she is in a compressed diploma program that is demanding, she recognized that join the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce (UOVCC) offered an exceptional learning opportunity. “In the fall, Lorraine MacKenzie, Executive Director of the UOVCC, gave a presentation to my Introduction to Business class. During this presentation, an overview of the Chamber was given and it was announced that they would be bringing on one student from Algonquin to participate on the Board of Directors. After learning how the Chamber supports and interacts with local businesses in the Ottawa Valley, I was very interested in applying to the student position. I was extremely excited by the opportunity to network with professionals in the business community and participate in the community events that the Chamber hosts” shares O’Connor.

When asked about the importance of this community partnership, MacKenzie shares, “having a Business student representative on the UOVCC is a win-win for us. The student gets to experience what it is to sit on a Board of Directors and gives them access to local business owners/managers/entrepreneurs who can give them advice what it is like to run a business. The Chamber wins by having access to the next generation of business owners/managers/entrepreneurs. We get a perspective from someone just starting their business career. They bring new ideas and ways of thinking. Even though there is only one representative, the other students are encouraged to participate in our events as well and that exposes them to businesses as well.”

UOVCC, AGM 2019

In photo are the new Board of Directors left to right: Tara Neville, Rebecca Bittner, Hailey O’Connor (Algonquin Business Student rep), Dez Bair Patel (Vice President), Bev McCormack, Cyndi Mills, Meghan Sutherland (President) and Lorraine MacKenzie (Executive Director) Missing from photo Maria Morena Church (Past President), Kaitlin Antler (Treasurer), Heather Salovaara and Beth Matasich.

O’Connor who is new to the Pembroke Area saw that this position would be a wonderful chance to get involved and jumped at the chance to further integrate into her new community. “In January 2019, I was informed that I was the successful applicant and I would hold a seat on the Board for the upcoming 12 months. I am still new to the Chamber, however, my experience so far has been very positive. In addition to attending the Chamber meetings, I have volunteered to be a part of the Events Committee and I am excited to be involved in planning some of the Chamber’s main events, including their Annual Gala. In the upcoming weeks, we will be planning the grand opening of the of the Chamber’s new office space located at 177 Alexander St. in Pembroke. The Chamber truly advocates the interests of local businesses and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved and hope to contribute ideas that will help promote and encourage local businesses.”

When reflecting on what skills she is learning in her day-to-day school work that will benefit her in her new role O’Connor thoughtfully shares, “In the business program, I have taken classes in project management, business communication and marketing that I think will be valuable in this position. Project management has given me a skill set that I think will benefit me in my role on the Events Committee as it has taught me vital processes involved in planning. Being a part of the Board provides a great opportunity to learn from professionals and gain practical experience to compliment my course content. I think it is wonderful that the Chamber is open to engaging with the student population in Pembroke.”

Having community partners like the UOVCC allows our students to extend their learning in a supportive environment.

 

Hepatitis B Vaccine Now Available on Campus

The Hepatitis B vaccine that was previously on backorder is now available in Health Services on campus, Room 127, for those students who are still in need of this vaccine to either initiate or complete the series that is required for their program of study. Please contact Health Services to arrange an appointment, 613-735-4700 x2748.
A reminder that the cost of the vaccine is $50.

Wellness Programs – Winter Semester

Welcome back to a new semester. With the new semester, we have new programming for students to improve their wellness while here at campus.

Weekly Wellness Activities

  • Chill Café – Mondays 2-3pm in Room 308 – Group for students struggling with stress and looking for a way to manage stress better.
  • Movement Meditations – Mondays 5:30-6:30 in Room 328 – Mindfulness group with a dynamic approach to stress reduction.
  • Positive Space – Tuesdays 12-1 in Room 216 – Open drop in space for LGBTQ+ and allies to get together and have lunch together. Planning of social events happens during this time as well.
  • AC Dog Squad, Algonquin College, Pembroke CampusMental Health Walk-In Clinic – Tuesday and Thursday 1-3:30 Room 138 – Students can be seen without an appointment by the mental health counsellor. Sessions are on a first come first served basis.
  • Dare to Self-Care – Tuesday 2-3 Room 308 – Drop-in group where students work on reducing stress and solving challenges
  • Colour and Chatter– Wednesdays 2:30-3:30 in Room 124 – Drop-in groups for students
    to participate in artistic activities and stress management.
  • WIND Walk/Yoga/Activity – Wednesday 11-12 meet in Commons – Wellness In Nature Days activities involve various activities to improve our physical and mental well-being.
  • Paws for Stress – Wednesday 1-2 Room 200 (starting Feb 6th) – Drop in to say hi to Luna to help reduce stress and have a moment with a dog.
  • SMART Recovery – Wednesdays 4:30-6 Room 308 – Drop-in group for students struggling with addictive behaviours including: drugs/alcohol, gaming, eating, etc…
  • Trauma Informed Mindfulness – Thursdays 12-1 in Room TBA – Mindfulness practice to help with managing stress and past trauma.

Mental Wellness Programs

Welcome to Algonquin College Pembroke Campus and the start of the school year.

As the counsellor on campus, I run a number of activities that I would like to invite you to. Activities and programs will be added regularly, so please watch in your Brightspace and email for new options. As we settle into our new schedules, many students are starting to see the need to maintain their mental wellness. We are offering a number of programs to help with that and we encourage you to take part.

  • Positive Space – Tuesdays at 12:00-1:00 pm in room 216 (Ongoing) – a drop in space for LGBTQ+ and allies to get together
    for lunch. Planning of social events occurs during this time as well.
  • Colour and Chatter – Wednesdays at 2 – 4 pm in room 124 – a drop in space (come for all or part of the time) to do some colouring, or bring your own and work at your own pace. This is a great opportunity to reduce some stress and meet people.
  • Chill Café – Tuesdays at 2:00-4:30 pm in room 308 – a 6-week stress and anxiety reduction program for anyone who has any level of stress.
  • WIND Walks – Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11:00-11:45 am (meet in the commons by the doors to the patio, ongoing) – Wellness In Nature Days (WIND) walks take you with a group to explore the local area along the waterfront and beyond. A great opportunity to distress.
  • WIND Yoga – Mondays at 12:00-1:00 pm and Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 am in the gym (Ongoing) – Free yoga, need we say more?
  • Dare to Self Care – Fridays at 12:00-1:00 pm in Room 308 (Starting September 28th, 2018) – an opportunity to learn and practice ways to help take care of yourself in your busy life.
  • SMART Recovery – Thursdays 4:30-6:00 pm in Room 216 (Starting September 20th, 2018) – a peer-led recovery program focused on positive behaviour changes versus the specific addiction. Very effective for eating disorders, internet addiction, drug and alcohol addictions, gambling or gaming addictions etc.
  • Mental Health Walk-In Clinic – Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-3:30 pm in Room 138 – planning life stressors is not always easy, know that you can always get support last minute during walk-in clinic times. Or make an appointment by emailing Nicole at lewisn@algonquincollege.com but you might have to wait a couple weeks.
  • Movement Meditation – Mondays from 5-6 pm in Room 328 – with exams and the stress increasing due to busy studies, we are offering another option for people to have free sessions to reduce our stress. Movement Meditation goes over a weekly meditation with movement which is known to help us focus our thoughts and decrease stress response. No need to sign up. Bring a friend.

Looking for volunteer hours/co-curricular credits consider volunteering for Wellness in Nature Days Facilitators (lead an activity weekly for your fellow students), Purple Couch (promoting mental wellness and connecting with students), please email Nicole Lewis lewisn@algonquincollege.com for further details.

Call for Nominations: Board of Governors Election

The Algonquin College Board of Governors is looking for an Academic Staff representative and a Student representative for the 2018-2019 academic year.

All full-time and part-time Academic Staff and Students are encouraged to participate in this opportunity to serve the College.

NOMINATIONS:

  • Call for nominations begins March 26, 2018 (8:00 a.m.)
  • Close of nominations: April 4, 2018 (4:00 p.m.)

CAMPAIGNING

  • April 5 – 19, 2018

VOTING

  • April 18 at 9 a.m.
  • April 19 at 12 p.m.

To submit your candidacy, support a nominee within your constituency, and to access the Terms and Conditions of the Board of Governors’ Online Elections, please visit the Algonquin College Voting System.

Celebrate Your Graduation

For most senior college students their educational journey is coming to an end. They have completed their academic studies and are beginning their job search. Getting that first job is important. In fact, it needs to be the priority, but pausing to celebrate all that they have accomplished is also important. Unfortunately, too many community college graduates don’t attend their convocation ceremony.

So the question is why don’t they attend? I’ve chatted with a few graduates, and here are the top five reasons they gave me for not attending.

  1. I plan on being employed and I don’t want to ask for a day off to attend graduation.
  2. I’m moving away and it’s too far to travel to come back for the graduation ceremony.
  3. Most of my close friends from college won’t be attending, so I don’t want to celebrate alone.
  4. It’s not a big deal to me. I’m not into ceremonies.
  5. My family left the decision up to me and I opted not to attend.

So, now let me share the top five reasons why graduates should attend their convocation ceremony.

  1. Later in life, they will regret not attending. As we get older we have a greater appreciation for everything that we have accomplished and looking back on grad photos is a reminder of the hard work that needed to be done to earn a certificate, diploma or degree.
  2. It’s not just about the graduate. For parents, spouses and family members the celebration of a college graduate is just as meaningful for them as it is for the grad. While some parents will be passive and let the graduating student decide on whether to attend, trust me, inside they want their grad in the procession. Snapping that photo of a son, daughter or spouse walking across the stage in their gown and receiving their diploma from the President of the College is a moment of pride that they want to experience.
  3. Convocation ceremonies are fun. Yes, there is some down time when all of the graduates have their moment on stage, but for the most part, the ceremony is filled with inspirational messages, plenty of smiles and the anticipation of an even greater celebration with family and friends when the auditorium empties.
  4. You never know who is watching and paying attention in the audience. This is particularly true for award winning graduates who may catch the attention of a prospective employer as they are acknowledged for their academic prowess and college success in their field of study.
  5. It’s the right thing to do. Convocation ceremonies are the closing of a chapter in a person’s life. It may not be the last time a graduate enters into an educational program, but for now, it needs to be marked as a very special moment in time, just like a marriage or the birth of a child. Graduating from a post-secondary program can be life-changing, and it needs to be recognized in a formal way.

In closing….

  • Your new boss will probably understand if you let them know up front when your graduation ceremony is being held and that you would like to attend.
  • Call your fellow graduates and encourage them to participate. You’ll be amazed how influential you can be. If you need to travel, make it a great road trip to see some very dear friends. You’ll be glad you made the effort.
  • Give it is the importance it deserves. It really is a “big deal.” Do it for your parents or partner. They do care and want you to be at the ceremony. Most importantly, do it for yourself!
  • Life is too short. Fill it with great memories of your accomplishments. Your grad photos will live on for family generations to follow.

Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus will be celebrating its 2016 graduating class on Friday, June 3rd at 2:30 p.m. at the Pembroke Memorial Centre. I hope this blog will convince all of our graduates to attend.

Post by: Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus.

Research finds 84% of college grads secure employment within six months

College education continues to provide an effective pathway to the workforce as results show about 84 per cent of Ontario’s most recent graduates found employment within six months of graduation.

“Colleges build the talent and skills of students to help them pursue rewarding careers,” said Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario. “This strengthens the economy and builds Ontario’s international reputation.”

Read more of this media release from Colleges Ontario >>