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Niagara College And Niagara University Create New Pathways For Students
NC students from eight programs will gain guaranteed acceptance to NU
They may be on different sides of the border, but two new agreements will bridge the distance between Niagara College and Niagara University for many current and future students.
Representatives from the two postsecondary institutions – Niagara College (NC), based in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada, and Niagara University (NU), located Lewiston, New York, U.S.A. – met on February 23 to sign a Dual Admission agreement and an Academic Articulation agreement. The two new agreements create more opportunities for students from diploma programs at NC to seamlessly transition to a degree program at NU.
“As a binational university, Niagara University has a legacy of education in Ontario, and a great history of working closely with Niagara College in providing educational pathways that lead to career opportunities for their students,” said Rev. James J. Maher, President of Niagara University. “This partnership advances our strategic collaboration, creates a seamless application process for students, provides a dual admission scholarship, and gives students a clear direction into an academic pathway.
“We are excited to bring this program forward for these students, and we are proud to continue to call Niagara College our partner in education.”
“Niagara University has been a longstanding friend and partner of Niagara College, and we are thrilled that these new agreements further extend our collaboration and creates new pathways for our students to study at both institutions,” said NC President Sean Kennedy.
“The Dual Admission agreement with Niagara University gives students the assurance that, provided they maintain a good standing within their program at Niagara College, they will be guaranteed acceptance to Niagara University after graduation,” said Fiona Allan, NC Vice-President, Academic. “These well-defined pathways will serve our students well as they continue to explore degree completion opportunities.”
Thanks to the Dual Admission agreement, students from eight Niagara College diploma programs will gain guaranteed and automatic acceptance to Niagara University – as long as they graduate from NC with a grade-point average of 65% or higher. Those who opt to continue their studies in a corresponding NU bachelor-degree program will also receive a $500 scholarship for up to two years of study at NU and will be guaranteed an internship, or a similar high-impact experience if they completed the NU pathway program (where applicable).
Students who are accepted into a NC pathway program will be admitted automatically into the associated program at NU. Programs which are a part of the Dual Admission Agreement include:
- NC’s Early Childhood Education program, to NU’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts;
- NC’s Child and Youth Care program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology;
- NC’s Social Service Worker program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work;
- NC’s Sport Management program, to NU’s Bachelor of Sports Management – Sports Operation;
- NC’s Police Foundations program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice;
- NC’s Business Administration – International Business program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management;
- NC’s Business Administration – Marketing (Co-op) program to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management; and
- NC’s Business Administration – Supply Chain and Operations Management (Co-op) program, to NU’s Bachelor of Science in Management.
Students currently enrolled in the eight NC programs, as well as those who will begin their studies at NU from fall 2023 to fall 2025, will be eligible for dual admission.
The Academic Articulation agreement will create pathways from 16 NC diploma programs to 39 degree programs within NU’s College of Business, College of Education, and College of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management.
Students currently enrolled at NC, and those who will begin their studies at NU from fall 2023 to fall 2027, will be eligible for Academic Articulation which offers guaranteed acceptance into a corresponding degree program at NU with the assurance that they may complete all the requirements of a corresponding baccalaureate degree.
To be eligible for pathways that are part of the Academic Articulation agreement, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 65%. Upon completion of their NC program, students will continue their studies at NU. Half of all major coursework and the last 10 courses of the program must be completed at NU. NC students follow normal procedures for transfer admissions.
Dual admission and pathways created through the new agreements are open to both domestic and international students at NC, although they do not guarantee admission to the U.S. Students are responsible for securing their own student visas and immigration documents as required.
Details about available pathways for NC students are available at niagaracollege.ca/pathways/.
About Niagara College
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 9,500 students from over 80 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
About Niagara University
Founded by the Vincentian community in 1856, Niagara University is a comprehensive institution, blending the best of a liberal arts and professional education, grounded in our values-based Catholic tradition. Its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management, and Nursing offer programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral level.
As the first Vincentian university established in the United States, Niagara prepares students for personal and professional success while emphasizing service to the community in honor of St. Vincent de Paul. Niagara’s institutional commitment to service-learning has led to its inclusion on the President’s Honor Roll for Community Service every year since its inception in 2006, and its recognition with the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement.
(Attribution: Niagara College media release)
Additional Section Of Building At 350 Prince Charles Drive Experiences Structural Failure
WELLAND – Around 10 a.m. on Sunday, February 26, a 911 call was placed indicating that more of the 350 Prince Charles Drive building had collapsed.
Welland Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched to the scene and reported no injuries. However, additional components of the building have experienced structural failure. The additional failure occurred on the south side of the building, the same side of the building as the initial issue.
“The Ministry of Labour has control of the site and has prohibited anyone from accessing the building,” said Jack Tosta, chief building official. “The ministry has jurisdiction to conduct an investigation to determine if the condition of the building is safe to allow access for further evaluation of the structural engineering components.”
The cordoned-off area with security fencing is expanding out of an abundance of caution. The trail along the canal in the areas remains closed until further notice.
An initial structural failure occurred on February 18, and since that time, the Ministry of Labour has shut the site down for investigation. In addition, the City of Welland issued an Order to Remedy an Unsafe Building under the Building Code Act on February 19.
The cause of both incidents has not been determined.
(Attribution: City of Welland media release. Photos courtesy Anthony Gallaccio.)
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‘We’re Seeing Record Numbers’: Hope Centre CEO
One of two: Julia’s Hope Cup tomorrow, Hope Centre food bank beneficiary of fundraising.
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
WELLAND — The way Jon Braithwaite tells it, demand for services is growing; stats are way, way, up; new clients keep increasing in number. Trends that would light up the face of any CEO.
Not this face.
It’s clear he is troubled by what’s going on: food prices soaring, rents going through the roof, shortage of affordable housing, inflation still a problem.
Braithwaite is CEO of Hope Centre, the King Street-based social services agency well known for its work with the vulnerable through myriad outreaches: food bank, daily lunch program, emergency shelter assistance, counselling services and more.
I heard him speak for the first-time last month at an informal meeting for some Julia’s Hope Cup volunteers. He talked about what his agency does for people in need, with a special focus on the food bank, beneficiary of funds raised through tomorrow’s event in Chippawa Park.
He pulled no punches in talking to those volunteers: “We’re seeing record numbers. It’s not going to go down anytime soon.” Judging by solemn looks on some faces, Braithwaite’s message was having impact.
A meeting in his office followed soon after. Braithwaite joined Hope Centre in October, 2018 after 16 years as executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Niagara Falls. That was a big transition, but Braithwaite credits his brother, Michael, for being “an inspiration” to him through his own line of work, executive director of Blue Door emergency housing agency in York Region.
“I’m blessed to be here,” Braithwaite can say.
He could feel otherwise.
“This month (January) we’re seeing twice as many people as in January 2022,” he says.
“I just don’t know how we’re going to be able to meet that need.”
That’s the grim reality agencies like his find themselves dealing with.
But Braithwaite admits there is consolation in Welland’s reputation.
“The community looks after its own. The legacy of caring, you might say, is epic.”
The annual city-wide food drive comes to his mind.
“That we need to do this year after year brings chills to me. But the Welland food drive story warms my soul.”
Something else that causes him concern: statistics show the number of first-time food bank users is on the rise. In January alone, Hope Centre’s food bank was visited by 114 people who hadn’t accessed it previously. That compares with 69 the previous January.
“Astronomically high,” was how he referred to it.
“It’s something not only Hope Centre should be concerned about, but others too – that so many people are facing food insecurity. We are seeing more working families, more kids, more people we haven’t seen before.”
It doesn’t end there.
“We’re seeing people who used to be able to donate now using the food bank.”
Braithwaite finds himself thinking about these challenging circumstances even in off hours. The work isn’t something you can leave behind when you walk out the door at the end of the day.
“I find myself picturing a family in this type of situation: sitting down in the kitchen, someone saying ‘What are we going to do now?’ and at some point someone else saying, ‘Well, what about a food bank?’ That weighs heavily on me.”
Braithwaite is looking forward to the return of Julia’s Hope Cup. The fund-raising event ($40,000 is this year’s goal, and according to social media posts, the target is within reach) wasn’t held the two previous years because of pandemic protocols. So virtual escape room fundraisers were organized, raising about $95,000 in total.
“I’m excited about this year, what a beautiful community celebration. It’s a celebration of the life of Julia Turner, a great supporter of Hope Centre.”
Money raised will be for Hope Centre’s food security programs, Braithwaite says. Last year, Hope Centre spent about $100,000 on food security and the daily lunch program for people in need.
Commitment To Service Keeps Him Involved Year After Year
Two of two: Enduring friendships shine as ‘unbreakable bond’ for Julia’s Hope Cup vets
By Joe Barkovich, Scribbler-at-large
WELLAND — Julia’s Hope Cup.
This is a story with many sub-stories: the spirit of competition in the hockey tournament; the spirit of community that sparkles in the silent auction and food and games celebration; the fundraising year after year; the focus on poverty and Hope Centre’s work; the Turners, Tina and Paul, their undying commitment to the event and to Hope Centre; young Julia Turner’s legacy; and special friendships that have endured the test of time. It’s the last of these I want to share.
Jim Larouche flicks back the pages of time.
We are in his office at F.E. Coyne Insurance Brokers in downtown Welland talking about something near and dear: Julia’s Hope Cup. He takes me back a few decades to days when Paul Turner, Eddie Burkholder and he and other boys from the ‘hood played hockey on the frozen pond in Chippawa Park, or Saturday morning baseball on the diamond at Ross School, or football in the park.
“Paul organized those games back then. He was the organizer, just as he is today,” Larouche says, a longing for yesteryear discernible in his voice.
I’ve heard about those days and those games before but it’s something to be shared again as his time machine takes us back. They weren’t quite teens yet, Larouche wants me to know, so important to him because the glue, the bonding that friendship grows, is as gripping today as five decades ago. That makes it a mighty bond.
Larouche is 62, his pal Turner is a year older.
“I still remember Paul’s address back then, 217 Edgar Street,” Larouche says.
The Burkholders lived on Glen View and the Larouche family on Pine Street. These friendships held firm through life’s ups and downs, tears and cheers, and triumphs and tragedies.
“It’s an unbreakable bond.”
It helps explain why he’s been part of the fund-raising, community-building Julia’s Hope Cup from Day 1. For Larouche and several others of his ilk, this is anything but a time-limited engagement.
I asked why he does it year after year.
“I guess I could borrow a line from Rotary,” says Larouche, a former Rotarian. “Service above self. It’s a good motto to live by in your community.”
The experience is rewarding and satisfying, he says. This comes from knowing you’re making a “small difference” in the Turners’ lives and also from being able to contribute to the community’s less fortunate via Hope Centre.
Larouche believes Julia’s Hope Cup has become one of Welland’s best known annual events and deservedly so.
“It shows just how compassionate our community is. When something unfortunate, something heartbreaking like Julia’s passing is – and we’re able to turn it into something positive and at the same time remember Julia’s contributions in her short span of years, that’s something special. Julia was active in volunteering and bringing the community together. Her legacy unifies the community by working together for a common cause.”
As Larouche sees it, the event offers layers of participation, whether it’s “making a donation, physically taking part by playing hockey, or volunteering.… that kind of support. ”
He holds dear the times and gatherings with Tina and Paul and friends over the years continuing to the present day. He calls their home “a magical place” warmed by family dinners, barbecues, sports gatherings and more, all with memories of Julia in their midst.
Friendship’s loyalty and respect are what matter most to Larouche, who can look back 50 years and remember the good times playing hockey on frozen Chippawa Park pond, and who can fast forward to present day where he relishes what Julia’s Hope Cup now does for so many others.
“I know one thing,” says Jim Larouche, “it makes the bonds of friendship stronger.”
Celebrate Family Day With A Full Slate Of Family-Filled Activities At Welland Arena
WELLAND – Don’t miss out on this year’s Family Day fun activities at the Welland Arena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, February 20. Admission is free with the donation of a nonperishable food item.
On the ice, opportunities to learn to skate with aids and bumpers are available, as it is the chance to try your hand at ringette. Off the ice, in the community room, residents can test their skills with hockey shooting accuracy and the challenge of bubble hockey.
“This year will feel more like normal than it has in a long time,” said Rob Axiak, director of community services. “Our staff is excited to prepare and deliver some great activities for families and engage with the community with family-focused fun.”
And if hockey or ice-themed activities aren’t your things, there will be a craft creation with the Welland Museum, face painting, a magician, and Shriner s Creek popcorn for sale.
Sponsored by the Welland Optimist Club, club members will be handing out a voucher for a free hot dog or fries and a free drink to every child who attends the Family Day celebration. The voucher is redeemable at the Main Arena canteen during the time of the event only.
Learn more at https://www.welland.ca/Leisure/eventsinfo/familyDay.asp.
(Attribution: City of Welland news release)
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