Capped off with barbecue receptions at both Niagara College’s campuses, the 2022 Fall LauNCh event brought NC employees together virtually through Zoom, August 31, to reconnect and celebrate the start of a new academic year.

Taking a live-on-location approach, members of the college’s executive team took participants on a virtual tour of the Welland and Daniel J. Patterson campuses to showcase the different aspects of each and highlight improvements that have been made over the last two years.

“Today’s event is an opportunity to reconnect with one another,” NC President Sean Kennedy said from inside Benchmark Restaurant, which will now serve as an immersive learning lab and event space for students within the new Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division. “After a long two and a half years of pandemic-related adjustments to our academic and service delivery and modes of working, it is tremendously exciting to be returning to campus this fall in a more fulsome way knowing that our students and employees will be able to experience the unique energy and dynamic nature of college community in person.”

The fall semester marks the start of the first full academic year since the college’s new Strategic Plan was unveiled in April, charting “an exciting path forward for our college,” Kennedy said. “Our work will be guided by the goals of the Plan and our Key Areas of Focus: Wholistic Student Experience, Academic Excellence, Global Reach, Alumni and Partner Engagement, Social Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability, and Organizational Excellence.”

The plan is already being put into action, he said, noting that the college has already begun to hire a record number of new counsellors, faculty, support and administrative staff positions.

The college is also making organizational changes to support the Strategic Plan, including the addition of a new Vice President, Advancement, who will focus on growing relationships and connections to alumni, donors, and community partners.

The new Vice President will also lead significant new fundraising targets to ensure that NC continues to evolve and grow its programs, equipment, and campus spaces to respond to the needs of current and future students.

Post-event barbecues were held at both campuses, catered by NCSAC at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Chartwells at the Welland Campus.

“Among the many enhancements we have made in recent years–thanks to donors like those our new Vice President will steward–are the exceptional student commons facilities on both campuses,” Kennedy said. “Last November, we were pleased to host a small dedication ceremony to name the Rankin Family Student Commons at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in recognition of a leadership gift of over $500,000 from the Rankin Family to support student success at NC.

“We are grateful for the incredible support of donors and partners who have made these new facilities possible.”

The LauNCh event provided an opportunity to introduce NC’s new Board of Governors Chair Mishka Balsom, who offered her best wishes to staff and faculty as they begin a new academic year.

“In the true spirit of Niagara College, the fall term marks the start of new opportunities to collaborate and innovate,” said Balsom, the CEO of the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. “Today is an important touchpoint to reconnect with our colleagues and recommit ourselves to doing the best work for our students. Through lessons learned from the pandemic, students will benefit from more flexible course delivery paired with the experiential learning upon which the College has built our great reputation.”

NC Student Administrative Council (SAC) President Sam Jemison also offered good wishes to those on the call, on behalf of herself and the other 11 members of the NCSAC Board of Directors.

In a brief update on fall enrolment, Rick Anderson, Vice President, Student Affairs, said enrolment numbers continue to rebound since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“From a provincial perspective, we’re doing very well in terms of recruiting direct from high school applicants,” Anderson said. “In terms of non-direct applicants, we’re just a tad below the sector average, which we think is in part due to the Niagara labour market, which is among the strongest in the province right now.”

The activity of NC’s global partners is another component to consider when looking at fall enrolment numbers, he said.

“For Niagara College-Toronto, we anticipate we’ll have 4,300 students this fall, and in Saudi Arabia, we’ll have another 1,000 students enrolled. So overall, our enrolments are trending in the right direction and we’re extremely fortunate to have strong global partnerships that benefit the college overall. This enrolment picture is very good news for us.”

Fall LauNCh participants were also given a virtual preview of a number of the new and renovated spaces that staff, faculty and students arriving on campus next week will be able to access. Among them: a registered massage therapy lab and help desk at the Welland campus, and a full-service Tim Hortons and new additions and upgrades in the library at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus, including a new digital media room that is available to students and faculty.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is also home of the new Saundra Patterson Memorial Garden, which will be officially dedicated on October 3, honouring the partner of former NC president Dan Patterson.

“Over the summer months, staff and students in the School of Environment and Horticulture have been busy landscaping this beautiful memorial garden,” Kennedy said from inside the garden. “I know she would be so pleased that over 150 students have had their hands in this very special applied learning project, with many more involved in maintaining the space for years to come.”

As he wrapped up the Fall LauNCh tour, Kennedy announced the upcoming launch of NC’s workplace campaign for United Way Niagara, for which he is the 2022 Campaign Chair. The fundraising goal for 2022-23 has been set at $50,000.

“It’s a significant goal but when it comes to supporting those in need, the NC community shows up and rises to the challenge,” Kennedy said.

The workplace campaign launch coincides with the community campaign, which begins September 14.