Parents’ & Families’ Newsletter Spring 2018 Edition
Posted on Tuesday, June 5th, 2018
With spring fresh in the air, we thought it was a perfect time to provide an update on activities that have recently happened on campus and provide some insight into upcoming events.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit our dedicated Parents’ and Families website, featuring links to blogs, interesting articles written by our Student Services staff and a calendar that notes some important upcoming dates, we suggest that you take a moment to explore.
Our goal is to keep you informed. While we respect the privacy of our students, the information we will provide in this newsletter will give you a good sense of what is happening on campus throughout the year and will provide you with enough information to have engaging conversations with your student.
Convocation: An opportunity to celebrate student success!
The month of May has almost come and gone and we are saying goodbye to graduating students and getting ready to welcome a new group of incoming students. For those leaving us, we remind them that their graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 1st at 1 p.m. at the Pembroke Memorial Centre.
Each graduate will receive a personalized email with an invitation to register for their convocation ceremony. Learn more >>
Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus Receives Key to the City
Algonquin College has always had a close working relationship with the city of Pembroke. To honour the College’s 50th anniversary, the municipality recognized the contributions the College has made to the broader community in a very special way by presenting the campus with its prestigious “Key to the City.” May 9, 2018 was also declared, Algonquin College Day in the city.
The Pembroke Campus began operating in the city in 1967, the same time that the Ontario college system was born. In 2012, when the Waterfront Campus opened, it was the result of a strong partnership between the city and the college that the project came to fruition. The city had donated 14 acres of waterfront property to the college to allow it to build what has become one of the most beautiful college campuses in the province. The campus has also played a critical role in revitalizing Pembroke’s downtown. The building of three privately owned and operated student residences to support the college’s growing out of town student population is a great example of the economic stimulus that has been injected into Pembroke through the opening of the campus. You can read more about the Key to the City presentation in this article by the Pembroke Daily Observer >>
Bursaries and Scholarships
Did you know, there are a number of funding sources available to students to supplement their income during their post-secondary studies.
Each semester, Algonquin College reaches out to current students and invites them to apply through the Algonquin College Student Information System (ACSIS) for all the bursaries that are available to our students. Make sure to remind your students to read all their AC emails because some of them are worth a thorough read, and contain very important information.
yconic is a student help platform that aims to make life easier, more affordable and less stressful for students pursuing higher education in Canada. Students complete their yconic profile to be matched-up with funding opportunities whether through scholarships or contests.
ScholarshipsCanada.com helps students find scholarships and bursaries free of charge.
Pembroke Campus to Offer Personal Support Worker Program in Renfrew
Colleges are well known for their ability to respond to community needs. In Renfrew, there is currently a critical shortage of Personal Support Workers and as a result, Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus has partnered with the County of Renfrew to deliver a Personal Support Worker program at Bonnechere Manor, one of the county’s largest long-term care facilities. The program will begin in January of 2019 and will be delivered in an accelerated delivery model that will permit students to complete the program in six months, rather than the normal eight-month program length. With an aging population, the demand for healthcare workers, particularly PSW’s will continue to be great for the foreseeable future. Learn more about this partnership in this article >>
OSAP: Is your student eligible for “free tuition”?
If your family income is less than $50,000 per year, you may qualify for free tuition! That means you would receive OSAP grants (money you don’t have to repay!) that exceed the cost of your tuition.
Middle and higher income families
If your family makes more – even up to $160,000+ a year – your student may still qualify for support. Many students don’t apply for OSAP because they think their income (or their parents’ income) is too high – but you may be surprised! Get a quick estimate of your potential OSAP entitlement >>
Entrance Bursaries for OSAP Students
Students could be eligible for a $500 AC Aid Entrance Bursary! Learn more >>
Learn more by visiting our Financial Aid website >>
Repaying Ontario Student Assistance Program Loans: What’s the Next Step?
Is your son or daughter graduating and would like more information on repaying their student loans?
OSAP and the National Student Loans Service Centre offers a number of resources to guide your graduate through the repayment process.
Tuition Deposits Due June 15
Algonquin College requires incoming and returning students to pay a $500 tuition deposit fee by June 15th to hold their seat. Watch this short video to learn more about how this deposit can be paid. Watch College Tuition Deposit – Payment Options video >>
Did you know the Waterfront Campus has a Book Club?
Good news! For the first time ever, the Waterfront Campus Book Club will be running in the Spring/Summer semester! New members are always welcome. Our first book for the new semester is a fascinating page-turner:
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit By Michael Finkel – A National Geographic Best Book of the Year
Learn more about our Library Services and this Book Club meeting >>
Algonquin College Speaker Series Presents…Bruce Pappin and Pembroke’s Great Fire of 1918
100 years ago much of Pembroke’s downtown was destroyed by a raging fire. The blaze broke out in the early evening of June 18, 1918, starting at the Laundriault’s Livery Barns on Prince Street and sweeping through the town. It took several hours for firefighters to get the inferno under control, but by that time a pile of rubble was all that remained for several blocks of the downtown. Local historian Bruce Pappin will lead an informative speaker series presentation to mark the anniversary of Pembroke’s Great Fire of 1918 with a two-part session that includes a walk through the downtown, highlighting how the fire progressed and what buildings were destroyed. The presentation will also explore the aftermath of the fire, including the inquest that was held to determine the cause. Learn more about our Speaker Series >>
We hope you enjoyed reading our newsletter for parents and families. We would welcome your feedback.
Thank you for being part of your young adult’s post-secondary journey.
Sincerely,
Jamie Bramburger
Manager of Community and Student Affairs
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