My thoughts are with those who lost loved ones in today’s explosion in Beirut, and those in the Algonquin College community with close ties to Lebanon and its people.
This tragic incident comes amidst news of Lebanese economic and social instability. For those with family and friends in the country, I want to recognize the ongoing impact of this uncertain period. Mental health resources for students and employees are available here.
When Taiwo Abraham joined Algonquin College it was an opportunity to shape the next generation of project management practitioners, bringing his global experience to help change the world for the better.
It’s that sense of purpose and passion that helped Abraham recently be named one of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) 2020 Future 50 honourees.
“Some time in February the PMI reached out for an interview and sent me some questions. Then a week before the announcement, I got an email from the office of the CEO letting me know this was going to happen and to keep it confidential until it came out,” said Abraham, 37, a Professor in Algonquin’s Project Management program. Continue reading Professor receives Project Management Institute’s Future 50 honour
In his communiqué on July 16, 2020, President Claude Brulé shared some good news about the progress of our pilot program to allow a limited number of learners and employees back to our campuses in order to complete studies from the Winter term. Now, nearly three weeks after the pilot began, I am happy to report that learners in the Welding and Fabrication Techniques as well as the Massage Therapy programs have successfully completed their Winter term. The remaining pilot programs will finish in the coming weeks.
Success for the pilot is defined in several ways. These activities have been completed in a safe manner. The responses to a survey of employees and learners who were on campus during the pilot indicated they were satisfied with the adequacy of safety measures being taken to protect their health while on campus. Though the health and safety of all our employees and learners has been at the forefront of all our decision making, the most exciting measure of success is that these groups of learners have finally been able to complete their studies. Continue reading Update to Summer Pilot Project – A Message from AC Senior Vice President Academic
From basement hackers holding vulnerable people for ransom, to more sophisticated and insidious attacks from foreign actors, it is critical to have strong lines of defence against increasing cyber threats. To help respond, Algonquin College is readying to launch its new graduate certificate program that will give students the skills to join this rapidly growing job market.
Summer is proving to be a busy time for us, as you may well have seen and heard on several media reports about our Summer Pilot Program last week. There was great public interest in the limited return of some of our learners and employees, and also a sense of optimism internally as we took our first steps to reopen since the suspension of in-person activities in the winter.
I am pleased to report that the pilot program is proceeding very well. Our learners and employees have had to adapt to a “new normal” on campus that felt a little bit strange at first, but everyone is getting acclimatized, and the measures and protocols that we have put in place are helping us move forward safely. This is a learning process for everyone, and it is helping us gain valuable information about how we can best proceed with course delivery as we scale up our efforts for the Fall term. Thank you to everyone — learners and employees — for helping us restart some face-to-face academic activities in a safe and effective way. Continue reading Message from the President – July 16
(OTTAWA, July 7, 2020) – Ontario’s colleges are calling for a new provincial strategy for post-secondary education that will expand the range of degree programs at colleges, including the creation of career-focused, three-year degree programs and master’s programs in specialized fields.
“Through innovation, creativity and flexibility, we can transform the scope of opportunities available to Ontario college students,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “Working together with government, we can help more people acquire the expertise that is needed in our communities. We can create new, dynamic educational options that prepare learners for cutting-edge, in-demand jobs.”
The Medical Officer of Health for the City of Ottawa, Dr. Vera Etches, has issued the following directive to all employers and persons responsible for businesses or organizations within the City of Ottawa, effective July 7, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.:
“Every Operator of an Enclosed Public Space shall adopt a policy to ensure that no member of the public is permitted to enter or remain in the public areas of the Enclosed Public Space unless he or she is wearing a Mask in a manner that covers their nose, mouth and chin.”
Algonquin College is developing a policy surrounding the wearing of masks for all members of the College community that will reflect the detailed requirements of the order and the anticipated bylaw, expected to take effect on July 15, 2020. Continue reading Message from the President – Mask Policy
Algonquin Graphic Design professor Andrea Emery received a text message in November from a friend telling her to expect a gift in the mail. The message didn’t say what the gift was, only that it might inspire her.
“I saw this and immediately thought of you,” the friend wrote. “I know you’ve been struggling a bit lately with finding what energizes you and makes you feel passionate and excited.”
The package arrived in the mail a couple of days later – a small, 5” x 7” sketchbook. Only it was no ordinary store-purchased, off-the-shelf artist’s sketchbook. It was from the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project, a creative endeavour that has seen thousands of people fill sketchbooks with artwork and send them to the library where they are put on display. Since 2006, some 36,000 artists’ books have been collected from more than 135 countries to be exhibited in the library, located in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighbourhood. Continue reading Algonquin professor’s pandemic project delivers the “wonderful kindness” of art
I would like to keep this week’s communiqué brief but there are a few things that I would like to mention before we break for Canada Day.
Last week, the Ontario government extended the Declaration of Emergency until July 15, 2020. This was done to provide us all with more time to safely continue the reopening of our province while also supporting our health-care sector. As an institution that produces graduates in many health-care and allied-health fields, we support the extra care that our government partners are taking to ensure everyone’s safety.
With safety guiding the gradual reopening of our College, we are pleased to welcome a small number of students back to our Ottawa and Pembroke campuses in just a few days. I want to welcome these students and our employees — I wish you all a successful return to the lab, shop, or, in the case of Pembroke, the beautiful forests of the Ottawa Valley. You are paving the way for the eventual return of all our learners. Continue reading Message from the President – June 30
Safety and Security Services would like to help the Algonquin College community guard against online and telephone scams. While this type of activity is always possible, the approach of the Fall term may prompt new types of scams aimed at current and prospective students, as well as employees.
When Taiwo Abraham joined Algonquin College it was an opportunity to shape the next generation of project management practitioners, bringing his global experience to help change the world for the better.
Dear Learners and Colleagues:
July 16, 2020
Dear Colleagues and Learners,
Algonquin Graphic Design professor Andrea Emery received a text message in November from a friend telling her to expect a gift in the mail. The message didn’t say what the gift was, only that it might inspire her.