As we enter into our eighth week of physical distancing, I would like to share a couple of pieces of information that you may find helpful as we continue to plan for the time when we can come together again. I am pleased to announce that applications will open on May 15 for our COVID-19 Emergency Student Fund. This new $1 million fund will help learners who are in the most need of assistance to continue with their studies. On May 13, students will receive a message from Laura Stanbra, Vice President Student Services, that provides more details on how to apply to this fund. If you are a student in immediate financial need, please reach out to Financial Aid and Student Awards at bursaries@algonquincollege.com.
Of course, financial issues are only part of the struggle facing many within the Algonquin College community. Yesterday marked the start of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week (May 4-10). I recognize that this is a uniquely difficult time for mental health as people deal with stress, anxiety and personal challenges. Employees can find helpful resource information in our Employee Toolkit FAQ and via our Employee Assistance Program. Students can find mental health resources here. Continue reading Message from the President – May 05
Algonquin College has been named one of the top animation schools in the world in rankings recently published by Animation Career Review.
Algonquin ranks sixth in the world and fourth in Canada in the category of Top Animation Training Programs, according to the website. This is the second-straight year the College has cracked the Top 10 in the international rankings – climbing four spots from 10th in 2019.
I would like to acknowledge that today is the National Day of Mourning in Canada. On this day, we remember workers who have lost their lives, been injured or become ill due to work-related incidents — our flags have been lowered to honour these individuals. We also pay tribute to their families, whose lives have been changed forever. I know I speak on behalf of our Algonquin College Executive and Leadership Teams when I say that we believe every employee has the right to a safe workplace, and that we should all take a moment today to reflect on what this day means. Continue reading Message from the President – April 28
OTTAWA (April 27, 2020) — Out of the isolation of COVID-19, a group of recent Algonquin College graduates have come together and organized the first-ever virtual international music conference.
Featuring big name panelists and performers from across the industry, the Online Music Conference 2020 is set to run free over Facebook Live for the next two days (April 28 and 29). https://www.facebook.com/OnlineMusicConference/
Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace, Rob Lanni of Coalition Music, Joel Baskin of the Feldman Agency, and artists Morgan James, Joanna Connor and Destroy Boys are only a small sample of the guests lined up for the two-day event.
The conference lineup boasts a variety of topics. The first day features a Women in Music, Artists, and Manager/Agent panels. The second day includes Producer, Artists and Live Production panels. Both days will feature a live performance session from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., which will showcase local and international artists.
For more information on the conference check https://www.musicconference.ca/ or go to https://www.facebook.com/OnlineMusicConference/
Chris Lackner
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 2091
Mobile: 613-220-3479
lacknec@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College:
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.
While I am mindful not to add too many messages to your inbox, I have some very important updates that I’d like to share with you, and I did not want to delay until next week to do so.
As expected, we have had some very good news from our Prime Minister, who on Wednesday announced $9 billion in emergency support for young Canadians and permanent residents. This includes a new emergency student benefit and investments to create more jobs for students. This is going to be a great help to many of our learners and we are pleased that eligible students at our College will receive $1,250 a month from May to August. Students who are taking care of someone else or who have a disability will receive $1,750 monthly. You can read more about these initiatives here.Continue reading Message from the President – April 24
I would like to share some new information regarding our Academic plans for the Spring Term. This topic was discussed at this morning’s meeting of the Algonquin College Executive Team (ACET), and I wanted to let you know immediately that some important decisions have been made.
As you know, the uncertainty surrounding this pandemic has made it very difficult to plan for our future. We have always made the safety of our learners and employees our guiding priority. When we first began planning for the Spring Term, the data showed it reasonable to plan for a safe and gradual return to face-to-face activities by early July. Continue reading Coronavirus Update – Spring Term
Before I discuss College-related issues, I first want to acknowledge the devastating news from Nova Scotia this past weekend, when many innocent people lost their lives or were injured in several acts of violence. This is a Canadian tragedy, and one that I know will affect many of our employees and learners with family and friends in Nova Scotia. As an institution with one of the best Police Foundations programs in the country, we also join that program, its faculty, students and alumni, in mourning the loss of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Cst. Heidi Stevenson. I know our entire College community sends condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and our very best wishes for the full recovery of those who were injured. Continue reading Message from the President – April 21
I was deeply saddened on Sunday to hear the news from Nova Scotia, where so many lost their lives in a tragic and senseless series of acts of violence.
My thoughts today are with those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. I also know that many members of our Algonquin College community have close ties to Nova Scotia and its people, and I want you to know that my thoughts are with you, too. I am comforted that those bonds are strong, and that it will help those in communities most affected by these devastating losses.
As we come to the end of our fifth week of physical distancing, I have a few items that I would like to bring to your attention.
I have previously mentioned that I am aware that this pandemic has created many financial pressures. For some families, this struggle is very real, and is causing a great deal of anxiety about the future. I have received notes from several learners who have told me of very serious hardship, and I want you to know that I have heard you and that we have been working to find creative solutions to assist you. That’s why I am so pleased to tell you about new bursary funding relief that we are working on establishing for our learners to ease the burden for those who are most in need. These bursaries will help students maintain their studies and continue to pursue their hopes and dreams — we are currently working through the details and will be able to provide more information in the near future. Please keep checking your regular communication channels (BrightSpace, email, Twitter, etc.) for updates. Continue reading Message from the President – April 17
I have a few updates to pass along but before I do, I also want to remind you that all of our most important updates can be found on our coronavirus webpage at www.algonquincollege.com/coronavirus — this site will provide all the information you need in an easy-to-navigate format, whether you are an employee or a learner.
On Tuesday afternoon, our learners received an update from Duane McNair, Vice President of Finance and Administration, regarding fees and refunds. As he noted, Algonquin College must comply with directives established by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. The College assembled a working group to ensure student fees are aligned with the programs and services being delivered during this exceptional time. There is no one size that fits all — each student’s situation regarding fees and refunds is unique, depending on their term and program of study. Detailed information related to tuition and fees can be found online here. I absolutely understand and recognize that many of our learners and their families are facing financial challenges at this difficult time, and this is also recognized by our governments. This is why they have announced a number of interim measures and programs that continue to be refined, in order to assist as many people as possible who have been affected by this COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, if you are in need of emergency student funding, I encourage you to reach out to bursaries@algonquincollege.com to find out if we can assist you. Continue reading Message from the President – April 09
Dear Colleagues and Learners:
Dear Learners and Colleagues,