Community Colleges Engage Students In a Number of Ways
When you attend college, you are sure to have a unique experience. That's because these institutions strive to foster inclusive environments that include a range of supportive measures that benefit students both in and out of the classroom.
One of Ontario's most respected community colleges is Centennial College. Having been established as the first college in the province in 1966 it has almost 50 years of experience in preparing students for careers in the areas of: Health and Community Studies, Transportation, Business, Engineering Technology and Applied Science, Communications, Media and Design; and Hospitality, Tourism and Culture. Not only do students attend classes that blend both theoretical lectures to offer them a solid base as well as practical experience to ensure confidence in the real world, they also benefit from a number of student services that ensure their success. Here is a look at some of the services available to students:
Academic Advising: Choosing a program can be intimidating. There are so many choices (more than 100 full-time programs and 140 part-time programs, to be exact) that narrowing it down may be challenging. That's where the advisors at the Student Advising Centre come in. These professionals include faculty and staff members who help you by finding a program that meets your interests.
Centre for Academic English: If English isn't your first language, you can advance your knowledge of it by attending free English tutoring. The tutors are all professionals with certification from TESL Ontario or TESL Canada who have years of experience teaching students from around the world.
Centre for Students with Disabilities: Students with a documented learning disability, medical or mental health condition, physical, visual, hearing or mobility impairment may benefit from this service, which helps them to meet the learning objectives of the programs in which they are registered.
Counselling: Under this service there are five offshoots. Career counseling helps students decide on a career path based on their interests, values and skills. Personal Counselling helps deal with stress, anxiety, adjustment to college, grief and loss, relationship issues, gender issues, communication skills and personal crises. Learning and Study Skills covers time management, note taking, reading skills, test taking skills and test preparation. Crisis Intervention is a safe place to talk if students are dealing with a crisis and need some comfort. And lastly, consultation includes providing referrals to helpers outside the college if needed.
Aboriginal Education Services: The goal of this service is to connect with Aboriginal communities to help enrich the Aboriginal student experience. As such, the service hopes to increase the number of Aboriginal learners accessing and participating in post-secondary education and training by developing specialized programs, offering apprenticeships and placements within desired fields in Aboriginal communities and providing help with job searches and strengthening community partnerships.
These are just some of the services one of Toronto's most respected community colleges offers.