A message from Fiona Allan, Vice President, Academic
I hope everyone has had some time away to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. As we return for Fall 2024, there is no shortage of change and excitement here at NC. We continue to upgrade classrooms and student gathering spaces, plan for facility renewal and program expansions, and recruit new talent.
As many of you know, last winter brought changes from federal and provincial governments regarding international students studying in Canada. These changes are still unfolding, and we anticipate a slight reduction in international enrolment due to the ongoing uncertainty. Fortunately, thanks to the extensive recruitment efforts and collaboration with local school boards by many of you, we have seen an increase in domestic enrolment. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in our recruitment activities, including open houses and hands-on demonstrations during student tours. Your dedication, commitment and hard work is greatly appreciated.
We also celebrate the success of our recruitment initiatives in our academic divisions, which have led to over 60 recent hires, with many new faculty joining us this term. I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Evan DiValentino as Dean of Business & Environment, Darrell Clarke as the new Associate Dean in the School of Trades, and Caroline Chabert Delio as Associate Dean for the School of Hospitality and Tourism.
As the new term begins, I’d like to highlight several projects and initiatives aimed at supporting our academic staff and enhancing the student learning experience here at NC. I look forward to connecting with everyone at our upcoming Artificial Intelligence Symposium on August 29 and wish you a very successful start to the new term.
Fiona Allan
Vice President, Academic
Programming & Supports for Academic Staff
Academic Integrity Office
The OVPA is collaborating with various departments and stakeholders across campus to establish an Academic Integrity Office at NC. This initiative will centralize our resources, making it easier for students, faculty and staff to access information and support.
A dedicated office will improve policy enforcement and better address current issues, aiming to reduce academic misconduct and provide timely assistance to students. Ongoing efforts in promoting integrity and supporting the community will help establish a lasting culture of academic integrity at NC.
Workshops, Events, and Professional Development
This fall, the Centre for Academic Excellence (CAE) will offer a robust suite of programming for academic staff. Offerings will include Brightspace training, the Back to Basics workshop series, Spotlight Ons and more. Additionally, the CAE will introduce two new professional development programs for faculty during break week and will release new resources on academic integrity, assessment design, and artificial intelligence.
Together with the OVPA, the CAE will host the Artificial Intelligence Symposium on August 29. Open to all academic staff, this event will feature two guest speakers and offer a chance to network in-person and gain valuable teaching tips for the term ahead.
Academic Spaces, New Programs and Community Expansion
Health and Community Expansion
We are advancing a Health and Community Expansion initiative driven by industry demand and ministry guidance. In line with our mission and vision to develop graduates who are capable, innovative, and adaptable to the needs and challenges of the health and community sectors, this initiative aims to enhance and expand our existing flagship programs, create new programs based on evidence and demand, cultivate collaboration with external stakeholders, optimize physical spaces for learning and practice, and incorporate wellness and inter-professional education throughout the curriculum. Consultations with important internal and external stakeholders are well underway and design will begin shortly.
New Program: BScN
We introduced a Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program to expand nursing education options and help meet the urgent demand for more registered nurses in Niagara and beyond. Delivered at NC’s Welland Campus in the Applied Health Institute, this program was granted a seven-year consent from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities starting August 29, 2023. This fall, we are thrilled to welcome 45 students from hundreds of applicants into our first cohort and plan to grow further in alignment with our health expansion plans.
New Program: Baking and Pastry Arts Management
This new two-year diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts Management offers a unique blend of theoretical instruction and practical training to enable graduates to go beyond the recipe and standard formulations to create new products, produce more complex and tailored confections and generate higher volumes in fast-paced environments.
After a common first year curriculum with the Baking and Pastry Arts certificate program that establishes the fundamentals, students in Baking and Pastry Arts Management program spend their second year exploring the creative design, food science and product innovation theories and practices needed to make their own mark on the world of baking and pastry.
The Niagara Launch Centre
Over the summer, we solidified a partnership with the Niagara Catholic District School Board at the Niagara Launch Centre in the Seaway Mall. NC now shares space with NCDSB that allows us to expand our trades programming and projects. This is a great opportunity to interact with our school board partners and showcase our students’ work to the public.
Project Refresh — Academic Spaces
The prototype phase of Project Refresh is underway, with construction timelines extended. Once construction is substantially completed, the Classroom Refresh Working Group and the Centre for Academic Excellence will engage faculty, staff, and students to explore the new learning spaces before the official launch in the new year.
In addition to Project Refresh, we are consistently improving and maintaining our classrooms with regular updates. This fall, 115 new whiteboards will be installed at the DJP and Welland campuses to enhance teaching and enrich the overall student learning experience at NC.
