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LOYALIST COLLEGE 2018 MILESTONES – A YEAR IN REVIEW

December 20, 2018

Belleville, Ontario, December 20, 2018 – December marks the end of the Fall term at Loyalist College. Students, faculty and staff have completed various projects, exams and initiatives, and are preparing for the first semester of 2019. The most significant highlights this term have been students’ progress and personal growth, which are facilitated through a caring, learning-centred focus which is the core of the Loyalist academic experience. 

2018 Milestones

Key Performance Indicator Results

  • When it comes to Ontario college graduates getting jobs, Loyalist is the top College in the province, according to Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results, released by Colleges Ontario in November. The research shows that 90.8 percent of 2016-17 Loyalist graduates were employed within six months after graduation, compared to the provincial average of 85.7 percent for Ontario’s 24 colleges. Loyalist placed above the provincial average for all five annual KPIs, including student satisfaction, graduate satisfaction, employer satisfaction and graduation rate.

 Economic Modeling Specialists International Report

  • An October economic impact report by Economic Modeling Specialists International (Emsi) shows Loyalist students will receive a 19.4 percent average annual return rate on their investment in post-secondary studies.
  • Loyalist diploma graduates are expected to earn an undiscounted value of approximately $625,800 more during the course of their career than if they had a high school diploma or equivalent.
  • A Loyalist education was also found to have significant benefits for the business community in the regional economy, as well as taxpayers and society as a whole.  
  • Loyalist contributes 5.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $465 million annually to the regional economy. This represents the sum of the operations spending impact, the construction spending impact, the student spending impact, and the alumni impact. Loyalist’s impact supported 5,496 jobs in the service region economy.

College Enrolment

  • September student enrolment at Loyalist was the largest since 2003, with registrations totalling 3,285, a 14 percent increase from September 2017. High enrolment numbers are the result of new program offerings, greater retention, and increased enrolment of international students, which reached 814, a 134.5 percent increase from September 2017. 

New Programs

Pathway Agreements

  • In April, Loyalist and Queen’s University signed a pathway agreement which provides graduates of the College’s Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees Certificate program with the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Degree at Queen’s through online learning. 
  • In May, Loyalist signed a pathway agreement which gives the College the opportunity to offer degree programs through the Limerick Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tralee. Graduates of numerous Loyalist two- and three-year diploma programs have the opportunity to earn a degree in as little as one academic year through advanced standing entry into Bachelor programs.

Applied Research

  • In January 2018, Loyalist opened the Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis (ARC), an 1,800-square-foot state-of-the-art laboratory which builds on the success of Loyalist’s Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction Applied Research Laboratory.
  • In February, the ARC was awarded $660,000 in funding through the Government of Ontario’s Colleges Applied Research and Development Fund (CARDF), administered by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) in partnership with Colleges Ontario. This grant will allow the College to extend cutting-edge research conducted by the ARC. Combined with $660,000 from industry partners, the total value of the project is $1,320,000.
  • In April, the ARC launched a year-long applied research project with Province Brands of Canada, makers of alcohol-free cannabis beers and spirits. Funding provided through the CARDF program allows Province Brands of Canada to leverage $300,000 from OCE, with their contribution of $300,000 cash and in-kind towards the research and development efforts.
  • In May, the ARC extended its applied research project with Entomo Farms, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), for another year. Through an OCE and NSERC grant, ARC and Entomo Farms have been working together to determine optimal storage and a ‘best before’ date of 12 months for Entomo Farms’ cricket powder product. 
  • In October, the ARC entered into an applied research agreement with VIVO Cannabis Inc. to investigate and develop innovative processes for the extraction and formulation of cannabis oil for commercialization.
  • In November, the ARC was awarded $150,000 in funding from the Government of Canada’s College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program – Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grant through NSERC. This grant will support the purchase of research equipment to enhance the ARC’s capacity to respond to industry and support innovation.

Supporting Entrepreneurs

  • In November, Loyalist and Startup Bay of Quinte launched a partnership that leverages the College’s campus as a hub of entrepreneurial activity. As a branch of the national Startup Canada entrepreneurship organization, Startup Bay of Quinte will continue to provide the Loyalist community, and the local business community with related support, resources and industry connections from its new home base at the College.

The Loyalist College Foundation

  • The College is grateful for the wonderful support of students and programs from our community donors. At the Annual Meeting of The Loyalist College Foundation on May 31, members learned that the endowed fund for student support had reached a significant milestone of $11 million at March 31, 2018.

Leadership

  • In August, Megan Sheppard was appointed Senior Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer and succeeded Senior Vice-President Cathy Rushton, who retired. Ms. Sheppard has worked at Queen’s University for the past 10 years, where she served as Associate Vice-Principal, Planning & Budgeting, for the past five years. Previously she served as Senior Financial Analyst at York University and has also held positions at the University of Victoria and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
  • In October, Loyalist welcomed David Francis to the College as Dean of Applied Sciences, Skills & Technology. Dr. Francis brings substantial leadership experience in post-secondary education, having worked in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Ontario in roles such as Regional Program Manager, Director of Program Development, Academic Director, and most recently as Dean at Fleming College.

The Weston Family Scholarship in the Skilled Trades

  • Loyalist partnered with the Weston Foundation in the Fall of 2013 to launch The W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellowship, a three-year pilot project which began with 15 students and apprenticeships.
  • To date, the College and the Weston Foundation have supported 175 students entering skilled trades programs.
  • As a result of the Fellowship’s success, and the positive impact it was having on the skilled trades, the initiative was extended at Loyalist until 2020 and went nationwide in 2018.
  • As a Canada-wide program, it is currently being adapted to local needs and replicated by a number of other colleges, training providers and social service agencies. 

Awards

  • Loyalist Manufacturing Engineering Technician students Rebecca Sweet and Maxwell Graham were awarded Gold and Silver medals at the Skills Ontario Competition held in Toronto, May 7 – 9.
  • At the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education (CCAE) National Conference in Halifax in June, the College and two members of the Loyalist family were recognized with national awards. CCAE members represent universities, colleges, polytechnics, institutes, independent schools and cégeps from across the country.
    • Loyalist received a 2018 CCAE Prix d’Excellence Award (bronze) in the ‘Best Use of Multi-Media’ category. Loyalist’s winning #Amazing50 Video Series comprises 24 Loyalist graduate videos, filmed in seven provinces and one territory. 
    • Dianne Spencer, who retired from the College in August as Executive Director of College Advancement & External Relations, was presented with the 2018 CCAE Outstanding Achievement Award. 
    • Christine Richard, a 2009 Loyalist Public Relations graduate and 2008 Customs & Immigration graduate, was presented with the 2018 CCAE Rising Star Award and a $2,000 Presidents’ Scholarship to support her professional development.

Outstanding Varsity Athletes and Teams

  • Eight Lancers were named OCAA All-Stars.
  • Six Lancers were named OCAA East Region Team All-Stars.
  • Three Lancers received CCAA Academic All-Canadian Banners.
  • One Lancer was named to the OCAA All-Rookie Team.
  • The Women’s Rugby team finished fourth in the OCAA.

Fit to Learn & Fit to Work

  • As part of Loyalist’s commitment to Health and Wellness, the College will move toward becoming a smoke-free campus on January 1, 2019. Smoking or vaping tobacco will be prohibited in all indoor and outdoor areas, and in vehicles on campus, by any person at the Loyalist Belleville and Bancroft campuses and Port Hope Satellite location.
  • Loyalist is introducing Fit to Learn and Fit to Work College operational policies and procedures, which outline the expectation for students to be fully prepared to learn and participate in campus activities.  Students are expected to refrain from using impairing substances – legal or illegal – that will negatively affect their ability to learn or perform activities safely and competently.
  • Similarly, all employees and contractors working at the College are expected to refrain from using impairing substances – legal or illegal – before or during work hours that will negatively affect their ability to perform duties safely, competently and efficiently.
  • Loyalist is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy and productive environment for students, staff, faculty and guests. We are educating the College community on the health risks associated with cannabis use, as well as smoking and second-hand smoke. Students and employees who wish to stop smoking can access cessation resources and support through Loyalist.

Goals for 2019

Delivering an outstanding student experience is top priority for Loyalist, Ontario’s Destination College, where students choose and explore opportunities within and beyond the classroom. Loyalist’s mission is to empower students, faculty, staff, and community partners through experiential industry cluster-based education, training, and applied research programs that prepare job-ready graduates to transfer their knowledge to industry.

To help meet the needs of the skilled workforce, the College is establishing a framework for graduate attributes to be nurtured in the College’s curriculum and in its approach to learning. Through multi-disciplinary academic programs and an applied research focus, Loyalist will continue to support industry growth opportunities and enhance economic and social wellbeing within the Bay of Quinte region.

2019 Upcoming Events

  • 22nd Annual Career Fair – Wednesday, February 6
  • Summer Job Fair – Wednesday, April 3
  • Open House – Saturday, April 6

About Loyalist College
Loyalist is Ontario’s Destination College, empowering students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. The College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. When it comes to Ontario college graduates getting jobs, Loyalist is the top College in the province, according to KPI results, released November 2018. Of 2016-17 Loyalist graduates, 90.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com; including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses; and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 5.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $465 million annually to the regional economy – based on an October 2018 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536

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