It’s common when shopping at stores these days to get an invitation to go to a website, enter some long string of numbers, and fill out a survey for a chance to win some great prize.
But it won’t be common for much longer.
MicroMetrics, an Ottawa based company, aims to replace those surveys with in-store tablet displays that let retail companies collect the data instantly and act on it – in some cases, before the customer leaves the store.
This project, supported by students Nahed Abu Hadba; Alexander Butt-Piercey; Mark Collantes; Ian Durkin; Nigel Elton; Mila Hutchison; Matt MacLeod; Cristha Sinden-Masson; and led by Principal Investigator Eric McQuiggan, took first place at Applied Research Day 12.1, held today at Algonquin College. First prize earns the team $500! How’s that for feedback?
Second place, and $250, went to L8RCall, an app that allows you to record cellphone messages for later delivery. Keep an eye on these guys – you might be hearing about them later!
Third place went to GYMTRACK – students created a mobile app that syncs with GYMTRACK’s automated tracking system and personal trainer. The system can now provide audio feedback during your workouts – thankfully, you can adjust the volume so no one else can hear.
Applied Research Day is held every four months at Algonquin College and highlights applied research projects being done at the College. Applied Research unites students, faculty, and industry partners to solve everyday personal and business challenges.
Incoming College President Cheryl Jensen assigned herself a bit of homework during this year’s President’s Breakfast! Cheryl, who officially begins as President on Monday, told the over 1,100 employees gathered in the Marketplace Food Court – and the dozens tuned in online – that she is committed to hosting twenty employee feedback sessions in the coming months. She also pledged to continue hosting the popular President’s Council Town Halls started last year.
“You—Algonquin employees, community members, corporate partners. What opportunities do you see for our College?” she asked. “What fresh ideas do you think we should be pursuing? What’s the best way to continue Algonquin’s tradition of excellence?”
The President’s Breakfast is an annual employee event, bringing together Algonquin College employees from all campuses for a presentation that sets the tone and direction for the coming academic year.
The tone was set early, with the distribution of a very special button at each seat. Sporting the “Here 2 Help” logo, the buttons form one part of a new campaign encouraging employees to volunteer in College orientation activities. This is one program designed to help the College achieve its goal for the 2014-15 academic year—boosting term-by-term retention at the College from 86 to 87 per cent.
“When I was doing my masters, I wrote a paper on retention and came across a comment that has always stuck with me. It was a quote from a student who said, “I dropped out because no one noticed I dropped in,” adds Cheryl. “We want to make sure that doesn’t ever happen at Algonquin, by keeping our students engaged and excited so they get the education they deserve. It’s our job—and our responsibility—to do everything we can to help students transform their hopes and dreams into skills and knowledge once we have opened our doors to them. ”
To help us get there, Cheryl announced plans to create a Student Success Strategy. She highlighted several key focus areas related to student success where Algonquin already excels: Community, Partnerships, International, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Employees. Though she highlighted provincial belt-tightening as a challenge, Cheryl pledged to, “…be a strong advocate on our behalf, working with Colleges Ontario, our friends in the provincial government and our community partners to stress the importance of college education to Ontario’s economy.”
“In listing some of these opportunities and challenges, I don’t want to give the impression for a moment that the agenda is fixed,” Cheryl added. “As I said earlier, I’m looking to you for your input to help define the way forward. We need to keep moving, evolving, adapting. The status quo will get us nowhere: we need to be proactive, together. Each of us has a role to play in contributing to the success of our students. I am asking for your efforts and participation—for example, in campaigns like Here2Help, which supports new students and their transition to a new life over a particularly vulnerable first few months.”
Highlighting the important role employees play in student success was also a main focus of Christina Miller, President of the Algonquin Students’ Association. In her remarks, Christina praised employees for ensuring Algonquin College students, “…succeed and learn, not only in the classroom but throughout their entire student experience. We could not do this without you.”
Other highlights from this year’s President’s Breakfast included a look back on summer accomplishments, including A and B building renovations, Convocation, wireless improvements, and the 50th Anniversary preparations along with the unveiling of the four anniversary themes of Pride, Connection, Giving Back, and Diversity.
A program which offers Aboriginal students attending Algonquin College employment coaching is receiving a special Chair’s Award from the International Partnership Network (IPN).
“Having a successful first working experience, and postsecondary experience, is critical to having a successful career,” says Denyce Diakun, Director, Workforce and Personal Development. “The students who enroll in DevelopMENTOR are Aboriginal students who, prior to coming to Algonquin, did not have work or postsecondary experience. The program is designed to prepare them to be successful in paid part-time work opportunities with participating employers through customized, individual employment coaching. We are pleased to accept this award recognizing our success in connecting Aboriginal students and youth to employment opportunities in our area.”
The DevelopMENTOR program began as a partnership between Algonquin College Workforce and Personal Development, and Tim Hortons Canada. Students who enroll in the program are given training, coaching, and feedback to ready them for part-time work that fits within their academic schedule. So far, the DevelopMENTOR program has helped 30 Algonquin College students – students like Trent McEwen, who has just graduated the Pre-service Firefighter Education and Training program. “I joined this program because I was having trouble finding a job and knowing how to present myself in an interview…[DevelopMENTOR coach] Sylvie got me to the level where I needed to be and, after the interview, the feedback was good…I was proud that I had Sylvie’s help through the process..I would recommend this program to any Aboriginal first gen student that needs help finding a job or finding ways to talk to people in a work place environment.”
Construction Engineering Technician graduate David Assinewai had similar feedback, saying, “I feel the services provided by Sylvie are extremely valuable and have served me well, and will continue to serve me well in future career aspirations. There is a great deal students can learn from these workshops, and I hope every student takes full advantage.”
This special Chair’s Award marks the first time the IPN has given out such an award – the network specifically created a category in their annual Global Best Awards to specifically recognize Algonquin College and Tim Hortons Canada for the DevelopMENTOR program. In a letter to Diakun, Alex Blackwood, CEO for the International Partnership Network, indicated that the DevelopMENTOR program is, “of a standard that the judges feel needs to be recognized.”
The award will be given out at the 12th International Education Business Partnership Conference in Brussels, Belgium in September.
Variety is the spice of life. And, as nine Algonquin College Cabinetmaking and Furniture Technician students recently found out, a little variety in their program (in the form of a special assignment) is helping to bring a lot of spice to Algonquin College. 2.47 million peppercorns worth.
The students were challenged with building something large that would test their hands-on skills in new and interesting ways. They decided to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest pepper grinder, which is currently held by a restaurant in Etobicoke with an 11′ grinder.
Today they unveiled a functioning grinder measuring at 16’4″, and sent official photos and videos to Guinness to help them certify the Grinder as the World’s Largest. Official measurements were also taken by independent industry members, and the mill was used to grind pepper onto scrambled eggs.
“The challenge was thrown at the students early in the program. All of our time was given after hours, mostly on Friday nights,” says Rodrigue Dagenais, one of the student craftsmen.
After researching their options, and with assistance from their Professors, John and Mike McKinlay-Key, the team decided to take on this peculiar challenge. “Our students rose to the challenges of the project. We were only really part of the project for safety and mentoring. I am pleased and impressed with the workmanship and dedication” says faculty member John McKinlay-Key.
Student craftsmen include Eric Beuman, James Brint, Andrew Carver, Liam Cluff-Clyburne, Rodrigue Dagenais, Jihad Farhat, Cameron Larsen, Spencer Olivastri and Declan Thomas.
Next steps for the team include wheeling the grinder over to the lobby of the Hospitality building on campus (where it will be on permanent display) and awaiting confirmation of the record from Guinness.
Sixteen foot, 496 pound pepper grinder, made by students and faculty in Algonquin College’s Cabinetmaking program, holds over two million peppercorns.
The Algonquin College community will come together to celebrate the nine students and two faculty members who, on their own time, have built what will soon be certified as the World’s Largest Pepper Grinder.
Nine students in the Cabinetmaking program were given the challenge of building something large that would test their hands-on skills in new and different ways. After researching their options, and with assistance from their professors, the team decided to beat the record, held by a Niagara Falls restaurant, for the World’s Largest Pepper Grinder.
This event will include an official measuring, photographs, and a demonstration, which will be documented and sent to Guinness World Records to make it official!
Who:
Cabinetmaking students Declan Thomas, Andrew Carver, Rodrigue Dagenais, Jihad Farhat, Eric Beuman, Liam Cluff-Clyburne, James Brint, Spencer Olivastri, and Cameron Larsen
Professors John and Mike McKinlay-Key, Cabinetmaking program
Where and when:
ACCE Building lobby, Ottawa campus, Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa, Canada
Lanark County native receives promotion from Chair, Construction Trades and Building Systems to become Acting Dean.
The summer at Algonquin College continues to be filled with exciting news as we are pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Hahn to the position of Acting Dean, Perth Campus, effective August 5th, 2014.
A resident of Lanark County for 22 years with a breadth of experience in multiple employment sectors and leadership roles, the college and community are eager for Chris to take on the role. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilfred Laurier University, and currently working on a Master’s degree in Education from St. Francis Xavier University, Chris combines education with years of post-secondary experience through apprenticeship.
Before joining Algonquin College in 2010 as Chair of Construction Trades and Building Systems at the College’s Ottawa campus, Chris worked for 23 years in a variety of organizations including Nortel as an instructional designer, the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation as a program manager for the TalentWorks initiative, and as a mediation officer with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. He then spent 12 years with the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) in the area of apprenticeship training and certification programs. He worked in the field with apprentices and employers, managed the local MTCU Ottawa office and later worked on some provincial initiatives including the Apprenticeship Modernization Project and the Employment Ontario Information System for Apprenticeship as well as apprenticeship research. Chris enjoyed his time managing great teams of people while with these projects.
Chris currently holds the title of Head of Apprenticeship at Algonquin College, is known for his sense of humour and desire to build meaningful relationships with people. Chris enjoys music, hockey, and outdoor activities such as canoeing and gardening. Chris will benefit Perth not only as an experienced and capable leader, but as an engaged community member.
Perth Campus and Algonquin College look forward to what Chris will bring to the position and are delighted to welcome him to his new role.
This message is sent to you on behalf of James McIntosh, Chair, Algonquin College Board of Governors.
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On behalf of the Board of Governors, it gives me great pleasure to announce Cheryl Jensen as Algonquin College’s eighth President. Cheryl will assume her duties as President on Monday, August 25, 2014.
In selecting Cheryl, the Board’s Presidential Selection Committee concludes a four-month international search aimed at identifying the person most able to navigate the College through the rapidly changing higher education landscape. Supported by executive search firm Boyden, the Board established a thorough and deliberate selection process. From the over 50 expressions of interest, the Committee moved to establish a short list and conduct interviews in June.
Cheryl is a proven leader who brings a wealth of academic experience to the role of President. She comes to the College from Hamilton’s Mohawk College, where she has worked for the past 31 years as a professor, dean and vice president. In her role as Vice President, Academic, a position she has held for five years, Mrs. Jensen led a reimagining of the academic plan at Mohawk, creating a strategy that responded to both industry trends and to the needs of students, employees, alumni, and the community. Cheryl was also the driving force behind the launch of applied research at Mohawk, and an outreach project aimed at improving increasing access to postsecondary education among young people from priority neighbourhoods in Hamilton and surrounding regions.
She previously held the role of Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training, where she led the proposal submission for a major partnership agreement with Hydro One (of which Algonquin is also a member). Cheryl was instrumental in the launch of Canada’s first bachelor of technology program with McMaster University. She also championed innovative integrated technician apprenticeship programs and led the transformation of Mohawk’s skilled trades campus.
Prior to becoming a Vice President, Cheryl was Mohawk College’s first female Dean, Faculty of Engineering Technology and Skilled Trades; and Chair of Computer and Electrical Engineering Technology. She taught in the Chemical Engineering Technology program for 16 years.
Cheryl holds a Master of Education, Organizational and Administrative Studies from Brock University. She graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Certificate in the Metallurgy of Iron and Steel.
She is the 2012 recipient of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) Silver Award for Leadership Excellence, and of the YMCA Hamilton Women of Distinction award as a ‘Trailblazer’. Cheryl serves as Chair of the Skills Canada Ontario Board of Directors. She served as a member of the Hamilton Community Foundation for four years, and was recently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors with the Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford YMCA.
Cheryl and her husband Tom, who is retired, have two daughters – Lorraine, a doctor, married to Brian; and Monica, a veterinarian – and one son, Neal, who is an electrician and a Mohawk graduate. They are also proud grandparents to five-month old Colton. She is an avid camper and her hobbies include canoeing, hiking, and running.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to congratulate and welcome Cheryl to the College. I would also like to express our appreciation to Dr. Kent MacDonald for his sixteen years of service to the College community, including his time as President.
It’s common when shopping at stores these days to get an invitation to go to a website, enter some long string of numbers, and fill out a survey for a chance to win some great prize.
