Discover Your Future Program Code: 0405 2015-2016 Student’s Program Handbook School of Career and Academic Access Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning Note: This is a companion document to the current Conestoga College Student Guide. Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 2 1) PROGRAM HANDBOOK GUIDELINES .................................................................. 3 2) WELCOME .............................................................................................................. 3 Conestoga Mission, Vision, and Values .......................................................................... 3 3) PROGRAM ACADEMIC TEAM ................................................................................ 4 3.1 Program Administration ......................................................................................... 4 3.2 Program Faculty .................................................................................................... 4 4) PROGRAM OVERVIEW .......................................................................................... 5 4.1 Program Description .............................................................................................. 5 4.2 Program Learning Outcomes ................................................................................. 5 5) PROGRAM INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS ................................................... 6 Program Information .................................................................................................... 6 5.1. Awards ............................................................................................................ 6 Program Requirements................................................................................................ 6 5.2 Evaluations (deadlines, tests and examinations) ............................................ 6 5.3 Student Appraisal of Teaching ........................................................................... 6 5.5 Attendance ......................................................................................................... 6 5.6 Procedure for Reporting Absences and Lateness .............................................. 7 5.7 Communication & Emailing Requirements ......................................................... 7 5.8 Maintaining Student Files ................................................................................... 7 5.9 Standards of Conduct and Professional Practice ............................................... 8 5.10 Unpaid Work/ Education Placement and Job Shadowing ................................ 8 6) STUDENT SERVICES INFORMATION ................................................................... 8 7) FACILITY INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 8 8) SAFETY INFORMATION ......................................................................................... 8 9) STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION ................................ 9 9.1 Student Protection Acknowledgement ................................................................... 9 2 1) PROGRAM HANDBOOK GUIDELINES This program handbook was developed to assist students in navigating their program requirements for the duration of their studies. The handbook is updated on an annual basis. Program requirements may be updated between the times you start and finish your program. Throughout your studies the most current, academic year, program handbook requirements will be followed. 2) WELCOME Dean, School of Career and Academic Access Congratulations on your decision to come back to school. We are pleased to work with you as you develop and follow your career and education plans. All of our programs are individualized to meet your needs. Please let us know how we can help you. Best wishes for a successful experience. Chair, Preparatory Programs Welcome to the Discover Your Future program at Conestoga College. With so many education and career choices available, making the right decision can be challenging. In Discover Your Future you will have the opportunity to develop your academic and soft skills, and work on your own personal development. We look forward to working with you while you learn more about yourself, explore the options available to you, and continue to improve your skills in a wide variety of areas. We have no doubt that the exploration and skills that you develop while in Discover Your Future will assist you in fulfilling your education and career goals. Conestoga Mission, Vision, and Values Vision Recognition for excellence in polytechnic education. Mission Champion innovation in education and research. Serve community needs and priorities. Inspire individuals to achieve their potential. Values Access - Education and training opportunities for individuals across the communities we serve. Respect - A welcoming environment that promotes fairness, individual rights and dignity. Quality - Excellence in the design and delivery of programs and services. 3 Innovation - Creative solutions to meet the needs of our students, partners and community. Community - Responsible employer, active partner and engaged corporate citizen. . School Mission and Vision To support individuals in reaching their career, employment and academic goals and to respond to employers’ recruitment and training needs. 3) PROGRAM ACADEMIC TEAM 3.1 Program Administration Dean – School of Career and Academic Access Andrea Leis Student Client Services Building, 215-5 519-748-5220 x3672 aleis@conestogac.on.ca Program Chair Thanh-Thanh Tieu Student Client Services Building, 214-3 519-748-5220 x2483 ttieu@conestogac.on.ca 3.2 Program Faculty Contact information for faculty will typically be provided on the first day of related courses. Coordinators are specific to a campus location. Downtown Cambridge Sue Dawe 150 Main Street, Suite 402 (519) 623-5345 sdawe@conestogac.on.ca Guelph Adam Jensen A-0 4 (519) 824-9390 x6172 ajensen@conestogac.on.ca Stratford Ed Lee Room 2 (519) 271-5700 x7227 elee@conestogac.on.ca Waterloo Brian Hofstetter 2C07 (519) 885-0300 x5229 bhofstetter@conestogac.on.ca 4) PROGRAM OVERVIEW 4.1 Program Description The Discover Your Future program provides an opportunity for students to participate in academic and self-assessment and career/employment planning. Based on the results of this assessment, students will research careers/employment that best suit their needs. Through information interviews, job shadows and labour market research, students will develop realistic goals and create an action plan to achieve those goals. Individually and in groups, students will build effective communication skills, practice assertiveness, and develop problem-solving abilities. The program also includes participation in a work/training shadow and development of a learning plan to prepare for the GED, for entry into further training programs, or to gain employment. The program includes upgrading in communications, math, and computer skills. 4.2 Program Learning Outcomes Successful completion of this program will enable the graduate to: 1. Apply effective and appropriate communication skills. 2. Build self-esteem by identifying personal strengths, feelings, beliefs, values, attitudes and recognize how they affect self and others. 3. Articulate and evaluate various problem solving processes and develop strategies to respond to life and work situations. 4. Apply the skill of goal setting. 5. Become knowledgeable of available community resources and how to access them. 6. Identify the characteristics of a team. 7. Develop a personal inventory of accomplishments, skills, values and preferences. 8. Explore the changing nature of life and work roles including labour market information. 9. Develop a training plan for academic and or career goals. 10. Develop effective resumes and employment letters and forms. 11. Employ effective interview techniques. 5 12. Practice effective work search strategies. 13. Practice strategies essential to maintaining employment. 14. Participate in a variety of activities which reflect individual occupational and employment goals. 15. Achieve an elementary understanding of and skill in using personal computers. 16. Assess and determine current skill levels in communications and mathematics. 17. Complete a training plan to reflect occupational and/or training goals and all related requirements 5) PROGRAM INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS Program Information 5.1. Awards For more information visit the Financial Aid webpage. Program Requirements For general information on Conestoga’s policies and procedures and student code of conduct information, please refer to Conestoga’s Policies and Procedures webpage or to your Student Guide located in the Student Portal. 5.2 Evaluations (deadlines, tests and examinations) Copying and plagiarism of assignments will be dealt with in accordance with College Policy regarding Academic Honesty. 5.3 Student Appraisal of Teaching Students are asked to provide feedback regarding their faculty and course by completing the Student Appraisal of Teaching or “SAT” questionnaire. This is completed for each full-time faculty member on a 2-year rotation. Not all faculty are provided with feedback during the same academic year. SATs are confidential and are delivered to HR in a sealed envelope once completed by the students. The Chair meets with the faculty member to discuss the results of the SAT. 5.4 Discontinuance Students may be discontinued from a program if they do not meet specific academic standards. For more information visit the College Policies, Procedures and Guidelines webpage then click on the Academic Administration side tab and search for the document entitled Discontinuance Policy. 5.5 Attendance 6 The program assumes that you will be in attendance according to your attendance agreement. Our policy states that: If you are absent for three days or more and have not been able to contact us, then you may be withdrawn from your program. If you are absent due to illness, we may request a doctor’s certificate. If special circumstances arise, you may request a leave of absence. Part of your responsibility is to be “on time” (including after breaks) and to remain until the end of your scheduled time. Please call us if you cannot be in attendance on time for a morning, afternoon, or evening class. 5.6 Procedure for Reporting Absences and Lateness Discover Your Future students may call Preparatory Programs at the appropriate campus: Cambridge: (519) 623-5345 Guelph: (519) 824-9390 x6167 Stratford: (519) 271-5700 x7227 Waterloo: (519) 885-0300 x5353 Please include your full name, reason for absence, and your telephone number. 5.7 Communication & Emailing Requirements Conestoga will assign each student an email account upon enrolment. Conestoga will communicate information to students via their assigned account, and students are expected to check their account regularly. Faculty will not respond to emails from nonConestoga email addresses. 5.8 Maintaining Student Files As a condition of program review and accreditation, as well as ministry accountability, the School of Career and Academic Access is required to retain examples of student coursework in each of the courses of the curriculum. Each student is required to complete the Permission to Retain and Use Student Material form. In doing so, a student grants Conestoga permission to retain coursework over the duration of the student’s enrolment in the program. The coursework we retain will be used for the 7 purpose of program accreditation, ministry accountability, review, student recruitment, and/or marketing purposes. 5.9 Standards of Conduct and Professional Practice Another part of your responsibility is to ensure that you have read and understood the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the Student Guide. Conduct yourself in a manner that is appropriate for a professional, adult learning environment, including appropriate dress and language. Cell Phones – Please do not use your cell phone during class time. For emergency purposes, cell phones must be on vibrate mode. Computers - Computers and a printer are available for student use. Computers are NOT to be used for personal, non-course related activities. Noise Level - Talking should be kept to a minimum and at a level that will not disrupt the learning of other students. 5.10 Unpaid Work/ Education Placement and Job Shadowing Some students may have the opportunity to experience an education and/or job shadow. The location and duration will vary based on students’ needs and placement availability. 6) STUDENT SERVICES INFORMATION For general information on this topic, please refer to your Student Guide located in the Student Portal. 7) FACILITY INFORMATION For facility related information including after-hours access, parking, and classroom & computer labs please refer to your Student Guide located in the Student Portal. 8) SAFETY INFORMATION For Conestoga’s safety and security services and procedures please refer to your Student Guide located in the Student Portal. 8 9) STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION 9.1 Student Protection Acknowledgement A Student Protection Acknowledgement confirmation pop-up will appear after the applicant logs in into the Student Portal. A PDF will direct applicants to the location of related policies, procedures and program information. Applicants will confirm that they have been duly informed by Conestoga and attest to that fact by clicking the acknowledgement box provided in the popup. Date and time of the applicant’s acknowledgement will be captured in the Student Portal database. Conestoga will be able to run reports as necessary. Once the acknowledgement box has been clicked, the applicant may proceed to enter the Student Portal. An email will be automatically generated and sent to the applicant to confirm their acknowledgement. The Student Protection Information PDF will be resent within the email for their reference. The Student Protection Acknowledgement confirmation pop-up will appear to all applicants and students once per academic year. 9