Words

Looking for volunteers for an upcoming event? No problem. The AC Volunteer Centre has re-opened and is ready to help you find volunteers for activities of all kinds.

Elizabeth Holmes is the community engagement officer at the AC Hub in the Volunteer Centre overseeing the re-launch. “Our programming is back but may look a little bit different with the new hybrid nature of work and school at the College,” she said.

Holmes is excited to have opportunities available to students. “For the first time in over two years, we will have in an AC Day 1 presence with 25 volunteers working alongside the AC Hub’s student navigators,” she said. Student navigators are employed by the AC Hub and work to help support students as they begin their studies here at Algonquin College. “They are going to be in residence and assisting with questions like giving directions, or figuring out where orientation for programs are, answering any questions at all. If a student is looking for a building, a student volunteer will be able to walk them there.”

“We hope this is the first of many (returning and new) volunteer opportunities,” said Holmes.

Since February, Holmes has been fielding requests for volunteers from many community organizations like the HOPE Volleyball Tournament and Ottawa Race Weekend. She’s hoping to start hearing from on-campus services looking for volunteers as well.

“We are up and running and here to collaborate with different departments, services, faculty and programs,” said Holmes. “We are looking forward to connecting and engaging with the campus community.”

Website updates allow those interested to sign-up for a volunteer mailing list so they can be notified when positions and opportunities become available. Current opportunities are listed along with areas to showcase different organizations.

“It’s been tough to feel a sense of community on campus,” said Holmes, “but as things are opening up we are excited to re-engage and get students the most of their post-secondary experience. Volunteering is a great way to do that.”

Have a volunteer opportunity or wish to volunteer? Email volunteer@algonquincollege.com. 

The National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Month in March showcases the value of co-op programs across Canada. On March 23, the National Day of WIL, we celebrate Algonquin College learners currently on co-op placements, as well as a recent co-op program graduate.

Shifting from a career in business to programing, Sukayna Dawd applied to the co-op version of the Web Development and Internet Applications program to acquire practical experience in the industry. Now in her second and final year, Dawd will complete her two co-op terms at Nokia before her final study semester in Fall 2022.

“I thought I could add more to my resume by getting actual experience to get my foot through the door,” said Dawd. “I had my eyes set on a private company for my co-op terms because I’ve had government experience and wanted to know what it was like to work in the private sector.”

In her Nokia co-op placement, Dawd is gaining on-the-job skills by working with software such as React, a front-end JavaScript library and GitHub, an Internet-hosting provider for collaborative software development.

Continue reading →

Dear Learners,

On Monday, March 14, the College of Applied Arts and Technology-Academic (CAAT-A) employee bargaining team representing full-time and partial-load professors, instructors, librarians, and counsellors informed their members that unless negotiations resume or the matter is referred to binding interest arbitration, a full strike (including picketing) will commence at 12:01am Friday morning (March 18, 2022).

I want to reassure you that we are doing all that we can to minimize disruption for our learners. Bargaining is a complex process, and one that we respect. You are going to hear arguments on both sides, and I hope you will keep an open mind as we face the future. While we may be facing a difficult time, I have every confidence that the Algonquin College community – all of us – will proceed in the coming days and weeks with a commitment to our values of Caring, Learning, Integrity, and Respect.

Open communication is critical at this time, and I want you have the information you need throughout this process. Rather than including a long list of possible academic and service impacts in this note, you will, instead, be receiving separate communiqués from various areas of the College that will provide you with guidance and information. Please be on the look out for these details.

In the meantime, should a labour disruption occur, here is some valuable information for you to note:

• All classes (including virtual/remotely delivered courses) at our Ottawa, Pembroke and Perth campuses will be temporarily suspended; our AC Online campus programs will continue without disruption.
• Continuing Education and Corporate Training classes will continue unless you are advised otherwise by your program.
• Field and clinical placements will be suspended during the full strike unless you are advised otherwise by your program.
• Co-op work terms will continue.
• Students will retain access to BrightSpace
• Students will be permitted to access all campuses in order to use available resources and services, such as the Library, labs, bookstores, athletic centres, Student Commons, the AC Hub, residences, and communal areas used for group work and study.

The College Employer Council (CEC), which is the government-mandated bargaining agent for the 24 Ontario publicly-funded colleges in negotiating collective agreements with unionized staff, has prepared a communiqué specifically for Ontario’s college students; it can be found HERE.

As always, we are here to listen to your concerns, and I want to ensure you that all strategic and operational planning around a potential labour disruption will be conducted with the overriding purpose of ensuring student success and a harmonious workplace for everyone.

Additional information will continue to be communicated as soon as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Claude Brulé

President and CEO