A. A final grade for each subject is recorded on a student's transcript.This grade represents the student's level of achievement of the subject requirements. At the beginning of each subject, students will receive a written outline that identifies term work, examinations,other subject requirements, and outlines the grading process. The numerical grade value will be used in calculating the GPA.
The GPA is cumulative over all semesters of a program. This means that the results of each new subject are averaged with the results of all subjects previously completed. Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher to graduate.
This table outlines numerical equivalent of a GPA.
Grade |
Numerical Equivalent |
| 90-100 | 5.0 |
| 80-89 | 4.0 |
| 75-79 | 3.5 |
| 70-74 | 3.0 |
| 65-69 | 2.5 |
| 60-64 | 2.0 |
| 55-59 | 1.5 |
| 50-54 | 1.0 |
| below 50 | 0.0 |
A. Each school provides a student liaison to help student's reach their full academic potential. These representatives assist with:
A. Fall semester final examinations will be held between December 8 to12, 2008 and Winter semester examinations will be held from April 20 to 24, 2009. Students are advised not to make any travel or other commitments during the exam periods.
Q. My student is struggling with their course work is there somewhere they can go?
A. Yes. The Learner Support Centre's (LSC) mandate is to assist students in achieving academic success. This includes supporting students in a variety of ways such as: learning strategies, writing services, English as a second language, subject specific clinics etc. To accomplish this, we utilize peer tutoring, workshops, online resources, and computer software. Students can apply for a peer tutor under the College Peer Tutoring program. Alternatively, group clinics are often offered in a variety of disciplines but these are meant to be group sessions, not one-on-one. Students are encouraged to sign up for as many workshops and clinics as they wish. To access a calendar of clinics and workshops, please visit www.durhamcollege.ca/lsc
Q. Are there any important dates that I need to know of?
A. Important dates during the academic year can be found in the A Year on Campus, parent and family calendar. These valuable calendars are provided to you by the Student Life office. To receive a copy please contact the first-year experience co-ordinator at firstyear@dc-uoit.ca and specify that your student is attending Durham College.
Q. What athletic facilities are available for my student?
A. Durham College offers a number of recreation facilities and fitness opportunities to meet all lifestyles and needs. On-campus facilities include the state-of-art FLEX Fitness Centre which over looks the Oshawa Creek, five large gymnasiums, a 200m indoor track, two aerobic/dance studios, the Campus Ice Centre, Campus Tennis Centre, a soccer pitch, a fastball diamond, two squash courts and an indoor golf-training centre. Student's are required to bring their campus identification card to gain access to the Athletic, Tennis and Ice centres.
For more information and hours of operation, please visit www.campusrecreationcentre.com
Q. Do students have to pay extra for any of these facilities?
A. No, the cost to use these facilities is included in their tuition. There is an additional fee for fitness classes, personal training sessions and shinny hockey.
Q. Which varsity sports are available at Durham College?
A. Women's and men's soccer, women's and men's baseball, women's and men's volleyball, women's and men's basketball and women's and men's indoor soccer.
Q. Can I purchase gift cards for the Campus Bookstore?
A. Yes, gift cards are available to purchase at the Campus Bookstores.
Q. Can my student get help with writing a resume and/or job searching on campus?
A. Yes by visiting our Hired Career Services. Career advisors are available by appointment to critique cover letters, resumes and offer suggestions for improvements. In addition, Hired Career Services staff members are available to assist your with job search techniques (i.e. how to network with employers) and mock interviews can be arranged to help you prepare for any type of employment interview.
Q. Can students work while studying at college?
A.It is recommended that students work no more than 12 to 15 hours a week to ensure that they still have time to meet the academic demands of college. For many students, working while in schools helps with time management making their study time more effective.
Q. My student has a disability, where do they go for supports?
A. They can go to the Centre for Students with Disabilities.
Q. Are there bursaries available for students?
A. Yes there are a variety of bursaries are available to students throughout the year. Students can find a variety of informationon awards, applicable deadlines, and application processes on MyCampus under the student tab.
A.OSAP is an integrated student loan made up of both federal and provincial funding to assist students in paying for their post-secondary education.Students requiring financial aid should apply online forOSAP assistance. OSAP will then compare the student's educational costs against their available resources to determine their eligibility for funding.
A.Everyone can apply for OSAP, but not everyone is eligible. OSAP funding is determined based on a comparison of your financial resources and the cost of your post-secondary education.
For more information on Financial Aid and Awards, please visit their website.
Q.
When I went to withdraw money from my student's RESP investment funds, I was asked to provide "proof of enrollment" - what do I need to do?
A.Once the minimum payment of $140 (plus Mobil fee if it applies) of tuition has been made you may request a letter from the Office of the Registrar for a fee of $4. The request can be made in person in room A160 or by calling 905.721.3000 .
Q. My student is living off-campus, can they still purchase a meal plan?
A. Yes, Voluntary Meal Plans are available to students living off-campus who choose to purchase their meals on campus. To purchase a meal plan, students must complete the Campus Meal Plan Agreement found in Dining Policies and deliver it to the Accounting office (Gordon Willey building SW116) for processing. For more information, e-mail mealplan@dc-uoit.ca.
Q. Are there healthy meals available on campus?
A. Balanced choices is Chartwells corporate nutrition program and it guides customers to healthy choices on campus. Labels and signs with Balanced Choices symbols clearly identify items that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and include everything from full meals to quick On The Go salads, sandwiches, snacks and vending selections.
Q. How do I go about sending my student a Chartwells Care Package?
A. Chartwell's overs several care packages that you can select from. Please visit www.dineoncampus.ca/DCUOIT to arrange to send your student a care package.
Q. Are there doctors on campus?
A. Yes, doctors are available in the Campus Health Centre daily.Appointments to see a doctor can be made by calling or visiting the office in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre.
Whitby Campus - A registered nurse is on-site (in the First Aid room, across from the cafeteria) each Thursday afternoon (1 to4:30p.m.) for referrals and nursing assessment.
Q. Does it cost anything to see the doctor?
A. There is no cost to see the nurse and the cost of seeing a doctor is covered by OHIP when a student shows their Ontario Health Card. The Campus Health Centre will bill international student's student insurance directly for costs.
Q. Can my student get their prescription filled on campus?
A. Yes. We have a pharmacy available on campus in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre right inside the Campus Health Centre.Students may also have their current prescriptions transferred over. The pharmacy also offers over the counter medications.
Q. What types of treatment are available at the Campus Health Centre?
A. Students can receive medical care, much like from that received from a family physician, including referrals to specialists. Lab work such as blood work, throat swabs and STD testing and EKGs can be performed on-site. They may also receive immunizations and allergy injections. The Campus Health Centre also provides acupuncture, chiropractic care, counselling for personal issues, massage therapy and nutrition counselling.
Q. Is there a cost for out-of-province students?
A. We honour all provinces' insurance plans with the exception of Quebec. Since Quebec does not have a reciprocity agreement with Ontario; Quebec students will have to pay "out of pocket" for medical care.
For contact information and hours of operation, please refer to the Campus Health Centre website.
Q. My student is in a Mobile Computing program, do they have to obtain their laptop through Mobile Computing & IT Support Centre?
A. Yes. Our Mobile Learning program requires full compatibility of all software and hardware. In order to offer students a reduced, full-service fee, as well as a tuition tax credit for the fee cost, students are required to acquire a laptop through the Mobile Computing & IT Support Centre. The tax credit is only available for mandatory programs. The laptops must be a campus asset in order to use licensed software.
A. Orientation is an opportunity for us to welcome first-year students to Durham College and provide a variety of activities designed to help students meet new friends, professors and staff and become acquainted with the campus and its services prior to the start of the academic year.
Q. What is the difference between summer orientation, program orientation and fall orientation?
A. Our new summer orientation program Get Prepared for September (GPS) provides new students with the opportunity to complete their college business prior to September start-up. Program orientation gives new students a preview of their upcoming school term and also provides them with the opportunity to meet other first-year students in their program. Fall orientation is a social orientation program that provides new students with the opportunity to get to know each other, check out the many campus clubs and services and have fun.
Q. My student is underage, will they be able to participate in Orientation Week activities?
A. All Student Life activities are are alcohol-free and for students of all ages.
Q. My student is not going to be living in residence, can they still participate in Orientation Week activities?
A. All Durham College students are encouraged to participate in Orientation Week activities. Students commuting to campus will have the opportunity to meet fellow commuter students at the Off-campus Student Social on Tuesday, September 2.
Q. How is acceptance into residence determined?
A. Acceptance into residence will be allocated by lottery for those who have applied by the deadline date. The lottery will be held at the end of May.
Q. Are first-year students guaranteed their first choice of residence?
A. All first-year students are guaranteed a bed in residence as long as they apply by the deadlines stipulated in the application. There is no guarantee that they will receive their first choice.
Q. When can students move into residence?
A. Student will be able to move into residence on either August 30, 31or September 1. Students may make arrangements to move in as of August 25 at the cost of $30/day.
Q. What is the difference between the various village and hall types?
A. Simcoe Village - South Hall. South Hall suites are open concept suites with a four piece bathroom and a kitchenette featuring a compact refrigerator.
Simcoe Village- Central Hall. Central Hall suites are open concept suites with a three piece bathroom and a kitchenette featuring an apartment size refrigerator.
Simcoe Village - North Hall. North Hall suites are two bedroom suites with a three piece bathroom and a kitchenette featuring an apartment sized refrigerator.
South Village suites are two bedroom suites that have a three piece bathroom and a kitchenette featuring a compact refrigerator. A mandatory meal is required for all South Village residents.
Q. What security features does residence have?
A. Residence offers a controlled main entrance, electronic cards for student rooms, sign-in and registration for all visitors prior to entry with valid photo identification, video recorded common areas, and staff on duty 24 hours a day. All the safeguards and rules are put in place by the residence management and the college for your safety and protection.
Q. What is the $250 security deposit for?
A. A security deposit is required with all applications for residence. Once a student has moved into residence, the security deposit is used as a damage deposit for the room. The security deposit will be returned less any outstanding charges owed after the student moves out.
Q. Where do I park when I visit; do I have to pay for parking?
A. Visitors can park in one of the campus visitor parking lots. There is a charge for visitor parking.
Q. Is there smoking in residence?
A. No. The residence is completely smoke-free. There are designated smoking areas outside the residence for students to use.
For more information on residence, please visit www.theplace2be.ca
Q. What is security like on campus?
A. The campus offers several programs to ensure the safety of it's students, such as the blue lights, the safe walk service and security patrols. To learn more about safety on campus please visit the safety website.
Q. What is the Staff to Student Mentoring program?
A. The Staff to Student Mentoring program is open to all first-year students. It provides first-year students with an opportunity to be matched with a staff person who will be there to help them become acquainted with the college and help them through their transition to college. They will also be available to answer any questions throughout the year. Registration is on-going; students can apply for a mentor online or by contacting the first-year experience co-ordinator at 905.721.2000 ext. 2103.
Q. What kind of support does the program offer?
A. The Staff to Student Mentoring program supports students throughout the first year of college; assists students with developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills; encourages student engagement in campus activities; helps students connect with campus services; and assists students in having a positive college experience. Please note that the staff member is not there to assist with schoolwork but they can connect students to someone who will.
Q. How are staff and students paired?
A. We try to ensure that mentoring pairs are matched based on personal interests and/or career ambitions.
Q. Where can my student get more information and/or apply for a mentor?
A. For more information regarding the Staff to Student Mentoring program, they may visit www.durhamcollege.ca/stafftostudent. They may also apply for a mentor online or by contacting the first-year experience co-ordinator at 905.721.2000 ext. 2103.
Q. Does my student have to apply for the Student Insurance Plan?
A. No. All full-time students are automatically enrolled, and the cost is included in the tuition fees.
Q. My student is covered through my health insurance, can they opt out of the Student Insurance Plan?
A. Yes, students may decline coverage from the Student Insurance Plan by clicking here to complete the online opt out form. They will need to provide information about existing coverage - name of the insurance company,policy number and the name of the person who owns the plan. The online opt out form offers students an option to provide bank account information so that the refund can be directly deposited into their bank account. They will receive confirmation that this is being done. If an error is made in filing the bank information a cheque is then produced and sent to the Your SA office for pick-up. Refund cheques must be picked up within six months of opting out. Stale dated cheques will not be reissued. Students must have a current campus identification card in order to receive a cheque. Students will not be contacted individually or through mail service.
September start: September 1, 2008 to September 23, 2008
January start: January 1, 2009 to January 23, 2009
February start: February 1, 2008 to February 23, 2009
May start: May 1, 2009 to May 25, 2009 (May start students must complete the paper opt out form through the Your SA office)
Please note: Students will not be able to opt out at any other point during the school year. For example, if a student starts school in September, they must opt out in September. The same rule applies for opting in. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made if the deadline is missed.
Please visit Your SA for more information on the Student Insurance Plan.
Q. What co-curricular activities are there for students?
A. There are many fantastic ways to get involved at Durham College.Student's may:
Q. What is the Co-curricular Recognition program?
A. The Co-curricular Recognition program is a unique and cutting-edge program that was developed to support and recognize student participation and leadership in qualifying campus activities. The Co-curricular Recognition program allows students t oproduce an official record of their campus involvement. Students can create their personalized Co-curricular Record online through MyCampus. Each entry is verified by a staff person before being included on the student's official record.
A. The U-PASS is a universal transit pass that every full-time post secondary student has paid for in their tuition. The U-PASS allows students to access DRT buses and GO Transit buses operating in Durham Region during the academic year (September 1, 2008 to May 31,2009).
Q. How does my student arrange for a parking pass?
A. Students can purchase a parking pass online at http://durham.parkadmin.ca.Parkingpasses will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis for each parking lot on campus. Click on the link for more information on parking and to order your parking pass online.
Whitby Campus -Students may purchase parking passes(annual, semester, weekly and block) at the front desk of Student Services, Room103.
A. Your Student Association (Your SA) is a non-profit organization with a mission: To represent the interest of all students at Durham College, UOIT and Trent in Oshawa.
Q. What services does Your SA provide?
A. Your SA offers the following services:
Q. What services are offered by the Women's Centre?
A. There are four main facets of the Women's Centre: Drop-in space, resources, advocacy and events.
Q. Is the Women's Centre for women only?
A. No. The Women's Centre welcomes both men and women. All students are encouraged to use its resources and attend programs. We are called the Women's Centre because our mission is to promote the advancement of women and their well-being; a mission that men are invited to actively advocate and support.
Click here for more information on Your SA.