Niagara College News and Media

Niagara College will host the Niagara Interprofessional Health Education Institute’s (NIHEI) ‘Living Interprofessional Health Education Symposium II’ on Tuesday, March 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, where participants will examine the best practices of patient-centered interprofessional care in the Niagara Region.

The symposium is held primarily for those in the healthcare profession, including professionals, faculty and students, as well as anyone interested in interprofessional health education and care.

Dr. Karl Stobbe, Regional Assistant Dean, Degroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, will give a keynote speech on interprofessional health care in family health clinics. A featured presentation, entitled “I’m Still Here,” will look at the journey of dementia, from the perspective of persons living with dementia and their care givers.

The symposium will incorporate experts from various areas of patient care, including emergency care, family health care, long-term care and outpatient care, showcasing the level of collaboration in healthcare throughout the Niagara Region. Interprofessional health care allows treatment providers to improve patient and provider satisfaction through support and education, ultimately ensuring improved, effective and efficient care.

Niagara College and Institute partners support an interdisciplinary approach to care and endorse the fundamental changes that are required within the delivery of the educational curriculum to realize this change.

Through interprofessional health education, students learn from, and with, students of other professions, and are introduced to concepts of working with an interprofessional health care team by combining health education, clinical visits, mentorship and professional development.

The registration fee for the symposium is $75, with a reduced group rate of $50, and $25 for students. All registrations must be received by February 20. For more information, or to register, call 905-735-2211 ext. 7386, or visit ipeniagara.com.

Niagara College has developed the Niagara Interprofessional Health Education Institute (NIHEI), a virtual entity within the Niagara Region, where team-based interdisciplinary training and education is focused on fostering a patient-centered interdisciplinary approach in the provision of quality, evidence-based care.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Marti Jurmain

Director, Research and Innovation

Niagara Interprofessional Health Education Institute

905-374-7454 ext. 4150

mjurmain@niagaracollege.ca

51% support offer in provincial vote

Close vote requires official review by the Ontario Labour Relations Board

Unofficial results indicate that a 51.25 per cent majority of college faculty accepted the colleges’ final offer. The official final vote will be determined after a review of all the ballots, including segregated ballots and mail-in ballots, by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB). 

We are pleased that so many faculty saw this offer as fair and reasonable and one that they could accept,“ said Dr. Rachael Donovan, chair of the colleges’ bargaining team. “We will now have to wait for the official province-wide results that the OLRB will certify as quickly as possible. Obviously, we hope that the official results will be available soon. We appreciate how anxious our students and our faculty members are about the results.“ 

The colleges’ final offer provides workload and salary improvements for faculty, including a 5.9 per cent salary increase that moves the maximum salary to more than $102,000 by September 2011. The colleges’ workload improvements include giving faculty more control over how workload is assigned.

- 30 -

Leading up to the February 10th final offer vote by Niagara College faculty, there have been numerous media reports and other information in the public forum that has created considerable confusion around the implications of the vote. To provide clarity for both faculty and students, the following is a summary of key faculty vote information:

College faculty across Ontario will vote on the colleges’ final offer on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

- The colleges have made their final offer.

- There will be no further bargaining.

- Colleges will not agree to binding arbitration.

- OPSEU has publically announced a strike deadline for Feb 17 – a rejection of the offer means a strike.

Vote Implications

- The vote will ask college faculty to accept or reject the colleges’ final offer.

- A simple majority of 50% + 1 will decide the issue.

- If the final offer is accepted, a new collective agreement will be in place and a strike will be avoided.

- If the final offer is rejected, OPSEU can call a faculty strike by providing five days’ notice.

No Binding Arbitration and No Further Bargaining

- Contrary to media reports, a rejection of the final offer will not result in further negotiations, binding arbitration or any modified position from the colleges.

- Voluntary binding arbitration would require the colleges to be prepared to accept changes to its last offer and they are not prepared to do so. Colleges have gone as far as they can go with the final offer.

Implemented Terms and Conditions

- If the final offer is accepted, a full collective agreement will be in effect and it will remain in place until it expires on August 31, 2012.

- All individual and union grievance rights, joint provincial committees, and all other terms and conditions of the collective agreement will be fully operational.

- The new collective agreement will replace the terms and conditions introduced in November, 2009.

- The colleges and the union will begin negotiations for a new collective agreement in June 2012.

Salary

- The colleges’ salary offer is a 5.9% increase over three years.

- College faculty will still retain a salary premium over Ontario secondary school teachers.

- Ontario college faculty will still be the best paid in Canada.

Workload

- There is nothing in the colleges’ offer that increases faculty workload.

- The colleges’ offer includes workload improvements that give faculty more control over how workload is assigned.

- Workload protections contained in the last collective agreement are enhanced based on the recommendations of the Joint Workload Taskforce.

- The colleges have addressed the Workload Task Force Report’s four recommendations. The colleges have offered new measures that increase faculty participation in course delivery decisions, consultation in setting course evaluation methods, improved support for out-of-class assistance, and expanded professional development opportunities.

- OPSEU’s workload positions go well beyond the recommendations of the taskforce report. OPSEU’s positions seek to exert individual faculty control over academic content and delivery, while reducing faculty time in the classroom.

Academic Freedom

- OPSEU’s academic freedom position does not support the academic mandate of the colleges.

- OPSEU is demanding that complete control over academic delivery and evaluation be given to individual faculty members.

- It is important that our programming content and delivery remain in the hands of our complete academic team and not solely in the hands of an individual faculty member.

- It is our responsibility of the colleges to ensure the integrity of the instructional activity, as colleges are accountable to accreditation boards, industry partners, advisory councils, employers, and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the quality of our programs and the preparation of our graduates.

Continue to visit www.niagaracollege.ca for updated information.

A Niagara College culinary student has taken first-place at this year’s ‘Making the Grade: Rising Chef Citrus Cook-Off’ competition at the Winterlicious 2010 event held in Toronto, January 29 to February 11.

Originally from Guelph, Ontario, Baker Lewis, a second-year Culinary Management student at Niagara College’s Niagara Culinary Institute, took home a cheque for $2,000, after defeating top students representing some of Canada’s leading culinary schools, including Humber College and the Stratford Chef’s School, February 2.

“I was ecstatic to win,” said Lewis. “There was a picture taken minutes after I was announced the winner, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a bigger smile on my face.”

The competition took place at SCHOOL restaurant, located at 70 Fraser Street in Toronto, with students going head-to-head in a grapefruit challenge for the top spot. A panel composed of local food enthusiasts and specialists judged the competition, which was held in front of a live audience.

“I am so grateful for the faculty and staff who were kind enough to lend me their valuable time, not only during the week, but on the weekend, helping me practice to make a win possible, in particular Chef Jim McClean and Chef Michael Olson,” said Lewis. “I chose Niagara College, not only because of the fantastic restaurant and wine industry in the Niagara Region, but also because of its stellar reputation with faculty, including world-renowned chefs.”

As part of the competition, Lewis created an appetizer, entrée and dessert featuring the citrus fruit.

“I had to produce four portions of an appetizer, entree, and dessert within a time limit of only 25-minutes for the appetizer and dessert, and 35-minutes for the entrée,” said Lewis. “My goal was to keep everything very simple, with clean, but distinguishable and bold flavours.”

For the appetizer, Lewis created a simple salad of roasted purple and golden beets, grapefruit segments, shaved parmesan, baby arugula, with extra virgin oil and finishing salt. As an entrée, Lewis served up a chive rosti, a crispy potato cake, with zested rapini, seared sea scallops, and grapefruit and vodka beurre blanc, a rich butter sauce. Lewis chose a simple dessert, featuring grapefruit and Niagara College Teaching Winery Cabernet Franc Icewine sabayon, a simple and sweet French custard. The sabayon was spooned over Florida Blood oranges and Ruby Red grapefruit segments, then lightly browned.

“It was my first external competition, let alone one in front of a live audience with celebrity chef judges and a large prize,” said Lewis. “Fortunately, I was able to tune most of that out and just do what I do best: cook.”

After graduation, Lewis plans on taking part in a work exchange program between Canada and Switzerland, called the Youth Mobility Program.

“I did live in Switzerland for a couple of years during high school,” said Lewis. “I can see myself working in a Michelin-starred restaurant there by the end of the summer, but things are very much up in the air right now.”

With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma, baccalaureate degrees and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched a $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011.For more information, visit www.NiagaraCollege.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Gordon Hunchak

Director, Marketing and Communications

905-735-2211, ext. 7567

905-650-7820 (cell)

ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca

Niagara College is preparing to mark the 20th annual International Development Week (IDW), February 7 to 13, by celebrating its strong global focus and its mission of providing outstanding applied education and training for a changing world.

The College is hosting a series of events at both the Welland and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus to raise awareness of international development, including a poster competition, exhibits, fundraiser, documentary screening and more.

“We believe that our involvement in development projects around the globe, together with our broad international student population, enhances the educational experience and makes our College more diverse, tolerant and globally aware,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “We have been very successful in bringing the world to Niagara College, and we have also been successful in bringing Niagara College to the world.”

Niagara College’s International Education and Development Division (IEDD) is committed to the internationalization of Niagara College staff, students and the surrounding community, with more than 500 international students, representing 60 difference countries, studying at the College.

IEDD focuses on promoting change in a sensitive, action-oriented manner, and is constantly addressing new ways to ensure that Niagara College fits into the global picture. Niagara College, through IEDD, is very active in publicly and privately-funded development projects around the world – projects that exemplify the College’s enthusiasm and commitment to providing international development opportunities for students, citizens and communities worldwide.

Current projects include:

IN-REACH (Rural Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Hub) in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The aim of the IN-REACH program is to enhance the capacity of the Centre for Rural Development (CRD) to drive economic growth in rural communities, support local resources to satisfy local needs, empower and build the capacity of cooperatives, train entrepreneurs and community development workers, and provide opportunities for service learning by students and mentoring for students.

Mulheres Mil (Empower 1000 Women) in Northern Brazil. The project focuses on gender equity in access to education and the workforce with the ultimate result of improvements to family life, regional and national economic development and greater participation from disadvantaged women in the political process. By sharing expertise in the hospitality and tourism industry with Brazilian colleges, Niagara College is providing unemployed women with programs that will link them to educational and workplace opportunities.

Niagara College is also involved with projects in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Saudi Arabia and China, with many new development projects planned for 2010.

IEDD takes part in the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Internships, and the Young Professional Going Global program, offering opportunities for international placements for college students and graduates, involving direct experience in an international community setting, often leading to employment for Canadian graduates in international agencies and organizations. Since 2001, Niagara College has facilitated the placement of over 350 young Canadians in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malta, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Zambia.

Niagara College also exports education to other countries, through articulation agreements in partnership with Universities in China, including the Hospitality Management – Hotel and Restaurant (Co-op) program at Changzhou Institute of Light Industry Technology (CZILI), and the Business Administration – Professional Golf (Co-op) program at Jiao Tong University. Both programs allow students to study the first two years in China, and the final year at Niagara College.

For more information, visit www.international.niagaracollege.ca.

With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma, baccalaureate degrees and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched an unprecedented $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011.

NOTE: International Development Week – Niagara College events provided below.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Mary Kilmer-Tchalekian
Manager, International Projects
International Department
Niagara College
905-735-2211, ext. 7852
mkilmer@niagaracollege.ca

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK – NIAGARA COLLEGE EVENTS:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 p.m. (NOTL, Yerich Auditorium)
“Aiding Dramatic Change in Development,” Shaw actor Jenny Jimenez.

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Welland, central foyer)
Exhibits: Red Cross, 10,000 Villages, Friends of Yryapu.

12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m. (Welland, V5)
Screening of BRFT video, “Against the Odds: Community Leaders in the Dominican Republic.”

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, W213, 3&4)
Presentation: “Involving Faculty and Students in International Applied Research.”

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (NOTL, outside library)
Exhibits: Red Cross, 10,000 Villages, Amnesty International, NCIC Fair Trade, Friends of Yryapu.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, SAC office)
Henna demonstration by Shazia Khan.

4:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. (NOTL, W207)
“International Aid and its Effectiveness” during Issues in Global Development I class.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. (NOTL, W216)
“1000 Women” video presented during Global Issues class with Professor Judy Calvin.

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (NOTL, SAC office)
Henna demonstration by Shazia Khan.

TBA (Welland, After Hours Pub)
Ghana Fundraiser, graffiti-themed.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Announcement of “What in the World is Global Development?” poster competition winner.

Announcement of “Where in the World?” contest winner.

Vote will happen one day before OPSEU’s strike deadline

Toronto, Feb. 3, 2010: College faculty across Ontario will have the opportunity to vote on the colleges’ final offer on Wednesday, February 10 – the day before OPSEU’s February 11 strike deadline. The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) will oversee a final offer vote to be held at all 24 colleges.

“We are very pleased that the OLRB was able to ensure that the vote can be held before the February 11 strike deadline,” said Dr. Rachael Donovan, chair of the colleges’ bargaining team.

The vote will ask college faculty to accept or reject the colleges’ final offer.

“This is a fair and reasonable offer and one that we hope faculty will support,” said Dr. Donovan. “If the majority of faculty votes in favour of the final offer, there will be a full collective agreement in place, the strike will be avoided, and we can all focus our attention on our students and their success.”

The colleges’ final offer is a three-year deal that includes:
• A 5.9% salary increase
• New maximum salary of $102,186 by September 1, 2011 – an increase of approximately $5,650 over the previous collective agreement maximum
• Workload protections contained in the last collective agreement are enhanced based on the recommendations of the Joint Workload Taskforce.

Details of the offer can be found at www.TheCouncil.on.ca.

-30-

For further information:

Gordon Hunchak
Director, Marketing and Communications
905-735-2211, ext. 7567
905-650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca

David Scott
416-786-1641

Toronto, February 2, 2010: College faculty will have the opportunity to vote on the colleges’ final offer. The colleges have asked the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to begin preparations for a final offer vote at all 24 colleges. The date of the final offer vote will be determined by the OLRB and communicated as soon as it is available.

The request to the OLRB follows OPSEU’s decision to set a strike date for February 11 and its refusal to allow the faculty to vote on the colleges’ proposed collective agreement.

“We have asked the OLRB to expedite the vote procedures so that the vote can be held as soon as possible,” said Dr. Rachael Donovan, chair of the colleges’ bargaining team. “We are asking that the offer go to a vote because we think the faculty should have an opportunity to have their say.”

The vote will ask college faculty to accept or reject the colleges’ final offer.

“The proposed collective agreement provides fair and reasonable improvements and is one that we hope faculty will support,” said Dr. Donovan. “If the majority of faculty votes in favour of the final offer, there will be a full collective agreement in place, the strike will be avoided, and we can all focus our attention on our students and their success.”

The colleges’ final offer is a three-year deal that includes:

• A 5.9% salary increase

• New maximum salary of $102,186 by September 1, 2011 – an increase of approximately $5,650 over the previous collective agreement maximum

• Workload protections contained in the last collective agreement are enhanced based on the recommendations of the Joint Workload Taskforce.

The colleges reject binding arbitration as a viable solution.

“Binding arbitration is not the answer,” said Dr. Donovan. “We believe the right approach is to allow the faculty an opportunity to vote on this offer, not to bypass them by giving the responsibility to a third party.

“There is no need for this disruption to our students’ education. Our goal is to end the uncertainty for students and faculty by getting an agreement in place.”

Details of the offer can be found at www.TheCouncil.on.ca.

Media conference call and webcast

The colleges’ bargaining team will be hosting a media conference call and webcast.

Date: Tuesday, February 2

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Media dial-in number: 1-800-319-4610

Audio webcast: Faculty, students and other interested parties are invited to listen to the audio webcast by accessing the link at: http://services.choruscall.com/links/ccac100202.html

-30-

For further information:

David Scott

416-786-1641

Once again this year, more than 100 Niagara College business students will “Raise the Roof” to raise money in support of key community agencies in Niagara.

Students in Niagara College’s Business – Sales and Marketing and Business Administration – Marketing programs gain practical experience by participating in the annual “Raise the Roof” campaign, which begins tomorrow with “Toque Tuesday.” Over the past four years, Niagara College students have raised more than $100,000 in support of Community Care (St. Catharines) and Project Share (Niagara Falls). Students have also worked with Project Hope in Welland.

“Raise the Roof offers a great opportunity for our students to put theory into practice, in a way that benefits the community,” said Jim Butko, Chair of the School of Business and Management Studies. “It teaches important lessons in both sales and in citizenship.”

The students will be selling the “Raise the Roof” toques on campus and at Toque Tuesday events, including the Mayor’s Pancake Breakfast at the St. Catharines Market Square, the Mayor and Council Chili-Cook-Off at the Optimist Hall in Niagara Falls, as well as Niagara Ice Dogs games.

Raise the Roof is one of many community initiatives through which Niagara College students gain hands-on experience, while serving the community. Niagara College construction students build homes through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, dental students provide care for children through the “Shiny Smiles” program, and Event Management students help non-profit agencies through the annual Many Hands project.

With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma, baccalaureate degrees and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched a $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011. For more information, visit www.niagaracollege.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Derek Spence

Faculty

School of Business and Management Studies

905 641-2252 ext. 4142

dspence@niagaracollege.ca

The equal consideration date for Niagara College’s Fall 2010 programs is fast approaching.

Applications received by February 1 will receive equal consideration, while those received after that date will be considered on a first-come first-served basis.

“This is especially important for our competitive programs, where the number of qualified applicants typically exceeds the number of spaces available,” said Niagara College Registrar Bob Hann. “I urge those who wish to begin their studies this Fall to apply early, and bolster their chances of acceptance into their program of choice.”

Applications are available online at ontariocolleges.ca. A full listing of all Niagara College programs, and services available to students, is available at NiagaraCollege.ca.

To date, Niagara College is experiencing a seven percent increase in applications over this time last year.

With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma, baccalaureate degrees and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched a $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011.For more information, visit www.niagaracollege.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Gordon Hunchak
Director, Marketing and Communications
905-735-2211, ext. 7567
905-650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca