Parent & Guardian Letter
You Matter!
Whether you are a parent, guardian, caregiver, family, or friend, you have played an important role – from protector, to teacher, to guide in your future Algonquin College Student’s life. As they move into our residence, it is important to remember that you will still be an influential part of their lives.
First-year students are going to experience a number of new experiences in the classroom, on campus and in residence. Sometimes these experiences include alcohol, other substance use, or sexual activity. Sometimes these experiences include all three. We know it is hard to talk about these topics with your loved one, but having these conversations will lower the risks associated with experimentation.
First, give your student facts to make knowledgeable decisions. Ontario college students believe that alcohol and other substances on campus are being used at a higher rate than they are actually used. Students believe that most students drink or use cannabis regularly, and engage in sexual activity with multiple partners. Actually:
- Almost 60% of students drank once a month or less
- Over 75% of students have not used cannabis in the last month, and 56% of these students have never tried cannabis
- Almost 80% of Canadian students have had 1 sexual partner or less
Sharing information like this can decrease the pressure to fit into what they believe is normal college life.
Second, check out the Algonquin College Umbrella Project with your student. This gold standard harm reduction approach helps students to lower the risks if they chose to drink or use substances. The project also provides resources for students abstaining from substance use and resources and support for those with a substance use problem.
Third, you and your student should take a look at Project Lighthouse at Algonquin College. This project provides support, resources and events that focus on building healthy sexual relationships on campus, providing education about consent, and preventing sexual violence.
And finally, encourage your student to get involved! Whether it’s joining a club, joining an intramural, attending one of our Residence events, becoming a member of the Algonquin Residence Council, or just simply blowing off some steam at our Students Associations new Athletics and Recreation Centre – student engagement is a huge contributor to academic and personal success in college.
What Keeps Young Adults Safer
- Not too much – using smaller amounts of substances or drinking fewer drinks
- Not too often – taking days or weekends off of alcohol or cannabis use
- Drinking/smoking in safe contexts – be around safe people and familiar places
- Stay safe when impaired – don’t drive or drive with people under the influence
- Encourage your student to participate in social activities that don’t involve alcohol or cannabis
- Encourage the buddy system – a buddy to go out with and get home safely with
- Keep the phone charged to order an Uber or a taxi if they go out (Uber and Lyft do not operate in Quebec)
- Trust their gut, if something doesn’t feel safe, leave
- If using cannabis, know that edibles (eating cannabis) take up to 2 hours to have an effect, have a stronger effect, and last longer. Taking too much too fast can result in panic attacks.
How will you know if your student has a problem?
They may be:
- Missing or skipping classes or assignments
- Seeing a drop in grades
- Requesting more money for expenses
- Not using the money you give them for fees/food
- Moody, defensive, or silent when you talk to them about school or substance/alcohol use
- Not showering, looking scattered/dishevelled, or not keeping their living spaces clean
- Experiencing changes in normal eating/sleeping patterns
- Having increasing numbers of reports of issues with Residence Life Staff or Algonquin College Security Services
Who Can Help?
Residence Life Staff
See our Mental Health & Wellness Guide for resources in residence, on campus, and off-campus.
Ottawa Community Services
Access this link for Community Services in Ottawa that can provide support-
Crisis Support
If you are in a crisis situation (immediate risk of harm to yourself or others) contact 911 or Algonquin College Security Services at 613-727-4723 ext. 5010.
Good 2 Talk
With Good 2 Talk, you can confidentiality speak to someone 24/7. You can call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868 to text with someone instead.
Counselling
Take a look at the Counselling Services that Algonquin College offers. From the homepage, you can also use the chat box in the right hand corner to speak immediately with a counsellor during office hours.
International Education Centre (IEC)
The International Education Centre provides resources, services and support for international students at Algonquin College.
What if a situation arises and I feel the need to get involved?
Our community is comprised of individuals with varying levels of life experience, interpersonal skills, and resilience. Rest assured, Residence is a supervised community and we are here to support your student.
Whether your student encounters a roommate issue or a particular challenge or hardship, highly trained professional staff are always available for guidance, resolution, and referral.
An important piece of delivering the most appropriate support is to hear from the student themselves. We encourage students to exercise self-advocacy from a place of fostering personal growth and success, which we kindly ask for your support in that endeavour.
Should an occurrence arise, you are welcome to contact us. Please know your insight and feedback is important to us. We ask that you allow us to proceed with your student in a safe and confidential manner, which may mean your own exclusion from the process. Your student is our client, and we must act with care, comfort, and consent. Further, we are guided by privacy laws that set limits on information exchange and require the student’s authorization to release information.
Here are a few examples of privacy protected processes, where only the student is privy to participation;
- Application Information; admissions, acceptances, contact information, assignments, accounts, withdrawals/cancellation.
- Incident reporting: first-hand knowledge of events is necessary to document occurrences
- Statement of Appeal: to request exemption or review of policy and procedure.
- Special accommodation request: specific request related to Residence accommodation, i.e., medical, accessibility.
- Roommate Mediation: exploration, investigation, mediation, referral and support.
- Forms: administrative process that require information, preferences and consent from the student.
We are practiced hands when navigating the nuances of student communal living. Remember, we also have an obligation to all students in the same way we commit to assisting your student. You know what they say, ‘there are always two sides to a story’. We understand that you may feel the need to become involved, but we have a duty to maintain student privacy with the utmost diligence. We are pleased to know the student is well supported at home.
Our best advise is to check-in with your student regularly and be that sounding board they need as obstacles arise, and be sure to send them our way to allow for that personal growth and success to thrive.
Resources for Your Student
Here are some of the most useful resources that are available to your student. Take a look at the Student Support Services website for more information about all of the services available at Algonquin College.
Please encourage your student to connect with a member of the residence team if they would like any assistance identifying the best resource for them!
Project Lighthouse
Project Lighthouse aims to shine light on the topic of sexual violence and help students navigate healthy sexual relationships. Through compassion, education, and awareness, this initiative aims to reduce sexual violence at Algonquin College and support survivors of sexual violence.
Website: algonquincollege.com/projectlighthouse
Email: projectlighthouse@algonquincollege.com
Umbrella Project
The AC Umbrella Project is creating a safer space on campus to discuss the impact of the use of alcohol and other drugs. It focuses on helping students reduce problematic effects, and provides training, workshops, awareness, and support services for students and employees.
Website: algonquincollege.com/umbrellaproject
Student Distress Line
Get an immediate appointment with Counselling Services during hours of Operation.
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 7300
Website: algonquincollege.com/studentsupportservices/support-students-crisis
Health Services
Algonquin College Health Services provides professional, confidential medical services. Our physicians are available by appointment, and our Registered Nurses provide assessment and treatment of minor illnesses or injuries with no appointment necessary. A Mental Health Social Worker is also available several days a week.
Location: Room C141
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 7222
Website: algonquincollege.com/healthservices
Counselling Services
Counselling Services offers caring, confidential, professional help at no cost. Our counsellors will work with students to create a customized wellness plan from a broad range of mental health, career, and academic resources to help students address their concerns.
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 7200
Website: algonquincollege.com/counselling
Mamidosewin Aboriginal Students’ Centre
The goal of the Mamidosewin Centre is to empower and support Indigenous students at Algonquin College into the next phase of their lives (mino-biimaadizwin — “the good way of life”) in a way that is respectful and reflective of Indigenous cultures.
The Mamidosewin Centre provides a variety of cultural programs and services to Indigenous learners attending Algonquin College.
Location: E122
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 7186
Website: algonquincollege.com/mamidosewin
Centre for Accessible Learning
The Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible campus. We provide support to students with visible and non-visible disabilities who self-identify.
Phone: 613-727-4723 ext. 7200
Website: algonquincollege.com/cal
Transition Support Centre for Students with ASD
The Transition Support Centre provides support to assist students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they transition to post-secondary education.
Location: A144
Website: https://www.algonquincollege.com/cal/transition-support-centre/
International Education Centre
The International Education Centre provides resources, services and support for international students at Algonquin College.
Website: https://www.algonquincollege.com/international/current-students
Have more questions?
Please don’t hesitate to email us, call us, or visit the Parent/Guardian Guide on our website.