January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
In this Issue...
Pg 2
Kick Start Your
Career!
Pg 3
Staff Spotlight
Pg 3
The Stuff You
Need to Know!
Pg 4
Keep in Touch
Pg 5
Venture into
Volunteering!
Pg 6
Pinterest - DIY
Decorating
Pg 7
Ask Jasmine
Pg 8
The Welcome
Centre: One-Stop
Access
Pg 9
Strange Facts
In This Issue...
The AC Hub newsletter is your personal access point to interesting and useful information within your Student Support Services. This is your
way of discovering the various services available to you, and where to find them when you need them.
This month highlights a number of valuable resources available to students to prepare for the upcoming semester. Check out Kick Start Your
Career for tips on how you can effectively network with potential employers and land your dream job. Discover the many benefits of giving
back to your community with Venture Into Volunteering. Exciting additions include DIY décor on our Pinterest Page, discovering The Welcome
Centre, and exciting opportunities for graduates and alumni! Also featured are the monthly Staff Spotlight, Ask Jasmine column, Stuff You
Need to Know, and Strange Facts!
Algonquin is a big place, with various campuses, and we want you to feel like you’re part of a community. An important element of community is communication, and we want to hear from you! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to share your questions,
dreams, photos, joys, and challenges. Keep an eye out for our next newsletter to see what’s happening around your campus in February!
Past & Current Events:
Jan. 17
Winter Tubing (Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 24
Winter Open House (Perth Campus)
Jan. 20
Wine & Food Pairing (Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 26
Community Project: Big Sky Ranch Animal Sanctuary
(Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 21
Single Mom Strong (Pembroke Campus)
Jan. 27
Dare to Self-Care (Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 21
Let’s Get Organized: Workshop (Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 29
Algonquin College Student Pow Wow (Woodroffe Campus)
Jan. 21
Discovery Evening Info Session; Pre-Nursing GAS
and Intro to Construction Trades Pre-Apprenticeship
(Pembroke Campus)
Jan. 29
Craig Kielburger (Woodroffe Campus – open to Perth &
Pembroke students)
1
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Kick-Start Your Career!
You’re a seasoned pro when it
comes to social media networking,
but how much do you really know
about career networking? If the
concept of career networking is
foreign to you, now is the time to
educate yourself in preparation for
the annual Career Networking Fair
taking place February 10th, 2015!
The Career Networking Fair is
Algonquin’s largest on-campus
recruitment event for full-time
career-related employment. The
esteemed recruiters will be seeking
graduates and soon-to-be graduates for full-time positions, as well
as students interested in summer
employment opportunities. Outreach Officer, Jennifer Jarvis of
the Employment Support Centre,
knows first-hand how to impress
potential employers, and has suggested a few helpful tips for students to remember (and follow!):
Be Prepared
Prepare yourself for the fair by
checking out the list of employers
that will be in attendance here, create a list of several companies that
most interest you, and do some
research within each company’s
website. Be ready to answer the
employers’ questions, such as “Why
do you want to work with us?” and
come up with a few questions of
your own for the employers: “What
skills do you look for in a potential
candidate?” or “What is it like to
work with your organization?”
Have a Plan
Arrive early and map out where
the employers are who interest you
most. Once you have an idea of
their locations, plan your course of
action and head to your top choice
first. Give yourself enough time to
speak with employers at a comfortable pace, keeping in mind that
you will only have 10-15 minutes per
employer.
Fly Solo
You can hang out with your friends
anytime. Employers are looking for
professional individuals who present themselves competently and
independently. If you are a parent,
it would be wise to have a friend,
relative, or babysitter watch your
children while you present yourself
to potential employers.
Stand Out From the Crowd
With the majority of job applications being submitted online these
days, it’s important to make a good
impression when given the oppor-
tunity to meet employers face-toface. You are a professional - so
dress and act the part! Clothing
should be business attire – no jeans
or athletic wear (jogging pants,
yoga pants, hoodies, or sports
caps)! You will also want to turn
your cellphone OFF; texts and calls
will prove disruptive to both you
and the employer.
Be the Solution
Employers fill or create positions
to fill a gap, or solve internal issues.
Be prepared to give employers
a brief personal marketing pitch
expressing why you would be an
asset to the business. Be equipped
with industry-targeted resumes to
offer employers, and if applicable
to your career field, present an upto-date portfolio that reflects your
skills and abilities. Need to shine up
your resume or portfolio? Visit the
Employment Support Centre during
drop-in hours (Tuesdays 9-11am, or
Wednesdays 1-4pm), or book an
appointment here to set up a mock
interview.
Follow Through
If an employer indicates interest,
ask for a business card for follow-up purposes. It’s also a good
idea to have a personal networking
card of your own to exchange with
employers. Once you’ve received
a business card, send a brief note:
“Hello, I enjoyed meeting you/
learning about your company, and I
will follow-up in a few weeks to see
if any opportunities have arisen.”
While it’s good to make contact,
don’t go overboard – wait for the
employer to get back to you. If you
don’t hear back, remain positive
and continue looking for other job
opportunities.
2
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Student Services Staff Spotlight
Kelsi Fitzgerald, Health Promotion Educator for Health Services
sition allows me to continue my
established roles in a more senior
manner. I now supervise and lead
the team of Student Health Promoters. I’m very happy because I love
what I do!
Tell me what a typical day in your
job is like.
What is your position here at
Algonquin College, and how long
have you been in this position?
Last year, I was hired as a Student
Health Promoter for the Health Services department. I worked alongside a team of students helping out
at information booths and interacting with students about various
Health Services campaigns.
In September of this year, I was
given the opportunity to become
a Health Promotion Educator – a
personal promotion! My new po-
A lot of my day involves planning
and creating bulletin board designs
to promote a wide array of featured Health Services campaigns.
Each month we change campaigns
for the bulletin boards around the
campus. This is my favourite part of
the job, as I am able to channel my
inner Martha Stewart by getting a
little crafty (it’s a good thing)! The
bulletins display important health
information in an interesting and
engaging way, so that students
will get the information they need
to positively maintain their health.
Campaigns can be as small as our
Positive Thoughts pull-tab posters,
or as large as our Party Smart event
posters, banners, and social media
posts to promote safe and responsible drinking with the Safer Ottawa
Drinking Alliance (SODA).
What are your interests/passions
outside of work?
I love rugby! And on the complete
opposite side of the hobby spectrum, I also love knitting. However,
as a second year Nursing student,
I can’t tell you when I last held
my own in a scrum, or purled a
stitch. So many textbooks, and not
enough time…
What would you like students to
know about you?
Even though I’m kept busy with
studying all there is to know about
the science of Nursing, I really enjoy
attaining new skills. I’m currently
trying to better my Scottish Gaelic,
so if you see me in my natural habitat (a.k.a. the Starbucks line-up),
feel free to join me for some Scottish banter.
The Stuff You Need to Know
JAN.26
Last day to withdraw with refund from full-time
Online Learning programs – January.
Last day to drop or add courses for full-time
Online Learning programs – January intake.
Fees due for full-time Online Learning programs –
March intake.
JAN.30
First installment of Co-op Fees due for 2015 Spring
placement.
FEB.1
Equal Consideration date – 2015 Fall, 2016 Winter
and 2016 Spring Term applications received by this
date are considered equally; applications received
after this date are processed on a first-come, firstserved basis, as long as space is available.
FEB.5
Offers of Admissions for 2015 Fall applicants
mailed to applicants for non-highly competitive
programs.
Academic withdrawal date for full-time Online
Learning programs – December intake
FEB.13
Last day to drop or add courses for full-time
Online Learning programs – February intake.
Last day to withdraw with refund from full-time
Online Learning programs – February intake.
FEB.16
Family Day (College is closed
FEB.16 FEB.20
Study Break Week (no scheduled classes for most
post-secondary programs).
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Keep in Touch
Looking forward to graduating
this year? Already starting to think
about what the next steps will be
after graduation? An important
step to remember is to stay in
touch with Algonquin College!
Long after you walk across the
stage at Convocation, Algonquin
College will continue to offer you
support. We talked with Graham
Thompson, Manager, Major Gifts
and Alumni Relations, to discover
what opportunities and resources
the College offers to its graduates.
As an Algonquin alumnus, you
will have access to AlumNet, a
quarterly newsletter to keep you
up to date with College and alumni
events, alumni awards, and alumni
news. The AlumNet newsletter
can also notify you about events
specific to your program, should
you wish to attend, or catch up
with other alumni!
The AC Alumni Relations
department provides a wealth
of benefits and resources to our
graduates including on-campus
discounts, free employment
services support, library
privileges, and alumni networking
opportunities.
The most popular service that
graduates take advantage of is
the Employment Support Centre.
As an alumnus, you will continue
to have access to MyCareerZone,
job portal through ACSIS, and can
utilize the professional services at
the Employment Support Centre on
campus for updating your resume,
building a professional portfolio,
and mastering the art of a perfect
cover letter.
The Alumni-Industry Talks speaker
series is a terrific networking
opportunity that grants alumni
a chance to meet and listen to
industry-specific presenters
who are alumni, sharing trade
experiences, trends, trials and
tribulations. In November, Alumni
Relations partnered with the
Employment Support Centre to
present a speed-networking event
for alumni and current students in
the School of Business.
Other benefits of staying in touch
include receiving discounts at the
Fitness Zone, Connections: The
Campus Store, and the Print Shop.
You are also entitled access to the
College’s catering services, and
group benefits (through select
partners) for travel, insurance, and
other services.
presented to graduates who have
had outstanding achievements
in business or industry, and who
contribute back to the Community.
The Alumni Advisory Committee
also selects nominees for the
Premier’s Awards, which are
industry specific awards given to
recognize excellence in Ontario
College graduates. Check out this
years’ nominees here: http://www.
algonquincollege.com/alumni/
network/recognition-and-awards/
premier-awards/
Have a question about Alumni
Relations? Contact them at ext.
7072, or email them at alumni@
algonquincollge.com.
Notable alumni are recognized
for their work beyond Algonquin.
The Alumnus of the Year Award is
4
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Venture into Volunteering!
Welcome to the beginning of a
brand new year! Have you thought
about what you hope to accomplish
in 2015? Rather than set unrealistic
New Year’s resolutions, why not aim
to challenge yourself, while simultaneously nourishing the community
around you? Volunteering is the
ideal opportunity to do so, and it’s
never too late to begin!
Volunteering is more than just
putting in time at an establishment
or with an organization, and it’s
certainly much more than a simple ‘nice’ gesture. The foundation
of volunteerism is built upon the
desire, and passion, to give back
to your community. Donating your
time and energy to a cause that
resonates with you will have a huge
impact on those within the community around you. Sound unlikely?
Take a moment to reflect on the
critical services manned by volunteers, including fire fighting, deliv-
ering meals to homebound seniors
or homeless youth, or answering
phones at domestic violence and
sexual assault centres.
Worried about time management,
or the level of commitment required by volunteering? With so
many volunteer opportunities in
the community, there is something
for everyone – even if you can only
spare a few hours each month! The
AC Hub provides a variety of ways
for students to get involved, impact others, and develop leadership
skills through volunteering initiatives, including: the Student Leadership Program, on-campus events,
Community Projects (off-campus)
and Global enterprises. To speak
with someone about the benefits
of volunteering, and how to get
involved, stop by the AC Hub, or
reach out directly to Volunteer
Coordinator, Karen Chiarelli. You
can also learn more about the many
ways to get involved by visiting the
AC Hub’s Volunteer page here.
Here’s a sneak-peak at some of the
Community Projects coming up:
Jan.26 & Feb.9 – Big Sky Ranch
Animal Sanctuary: Volunteers will
aid Ranch owners in feeding animals and cleaning pens, in addition
to performing basic maintenance
repairs to buildings.
Feb.25 – Helping With Furniture:
Volunteers will assist in collecting
gently used furniture from community donors, as well as deliver
furniture to underprivileged families
in the community.
Each year Student Support Services
honours all volunteers at the Volunteer Appreciation Gala. This annual
event hosted by the AC Hub celebrates our volunteers, and shows
our appreciation by recognizing the
time and effort donated to both the
Algonquin and local communities.
The Gala is complimentary for all
student volunteers, and includes
cocktails, a delicious meal, volunteer awards, a keynote address
from an influential member of the
community, and entertainment. For
more details, or to find out how
you can nominate someone (even
yourself!), visit: www.algonquincollege.com/achub/volunteer-appreciation-gala
Choose to make a difference within yourself (and your community!)
this year by volunteering. Unlike
traditional New Year’s resolutions,
volunteering will motivate, inspire,
and diversify your life.
5
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Pinterest - DIY Decorating
Removable Wallpaper Tablecloths
Ping Pong Ball Lights
Framed Key Holder
Hide Cords!
Tealights and Coffee Beans
Framed Wifi Password
Cup of Joe board
Re-purpose old Sports Shirts
Domino Clock
6
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Ask Jasmine
I absolutely hate public speaking. I
just found out that I’ll need to give
an oral presentation in one of my
classes. I’m so nervous about it that
I’m thinking of dropping the course.
What should I do?
For many of us, speaking in front of
a crowd is about as fun as having
a root canal. Glossophobia, or the
fear of public speaking, is incredibly
common. In fact, it is estimated that
about 75 percent of us struggle
with some form of the fear. Symptoms include anxiety, sweating,
increased heart rate, dry mouth,
trembling hands or voice, upset
stomach, and nausea. Although you
might feel like withdrawing from
the course and running full speed
away from your fear, it’s unlikely
that you will be able to completely
avoid public speaking in your life.
Whether it be a school presentation, a job interview, or a wedding
toast, public speaking is simply an
inevitability. Class presentations are
a great opportunity to begin tackling this fear.
Here’s the good news: you can do
this! Yes, public speaking is scary,
and yes you might feel sick to your
stomach with anxiety, but the more
you avoid a feared activity, the bigger and uglier the anxiety becomes.
Conversely, the more you practice
and expose yourself to your fear,
the less scary and overpowering it
will be the next time you tackle it.
I challenge you to feel the fear and
bravely go forward!
Here are some helpful tips for confronting and conquering your fear:
1. Embrace mindful breathing
and visualization. Practice deep
breathing techniques in the
days (or weeks) prior to your
big day. Devote ten minutes
each morning to focus on your
breath, and employ these same
techniques in the hours leading
up to your presentation. To
find out more about mindful
breathing, make an appointment with your campus counsellor, or download a wellness
app like “Self-Help for Anxiety
Management (SAM)” to guide
you through deep breathing
exercises. Another effective
tip is to visualize delivering the
presentation with passion and
confidence. Imagine yourself
speaking articulately, maintaining good eye contact, and using
a clear and assertive voice.
2. Know the topic well and practice, practice, practice! Giving
a presentation with material
you feel confident about will
help to diminish anxiety. Review
your PowerPoint slides or notes
numerous times, practice in
front of a friend or mirror, and
brainstorm questions that the
audience might ask, so you feel
prepared.
3. Join a Group! If you’re really
enthusiastic about tackling your
fear and becoming a better
public speaker, consider joining
a group like the Ottawa Toastmasters Club. These groups
meet frequently and allow for
safe opportunities to practice
speaking in front of people who
understand your fear.
4. Slow down – way down. When
we are nervous we tend to
speak much too quickly. Slowing your speech down will help
your whole body to relax and
will ultimately make you feel
less anxious.
Finally, take long deep breaths and
remind yourself that you are fiercely courageous and that you will not
let fear prevent you from success.
Jasmine Cady, M.A.
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Pembroke Campus
Ottawa Campus
Counselling Services
Pembroke Campus
Counselling Services:
Jasmine Cady
(613) 735-4700 ext.2804
cadyj@algonquincollege.com
Perth Campus
Counselling Services:
Shawna Hyde
(613) 267-2859 ext.5610
hydes@algonquincollege.com
7
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
The Welcome Centre: One-Stop Access
for Support Services!
Do you have questions about the
services available to you as a student? On the Woodroffe campus,
the Welcome Centre, located on the
3rd floor of the Student Commons,
is your one-stop access point for
Student Support Services including,
but not limited to, the Centre for
Students with Disabilities (CSD),
Counselling Services, and the Employment Support Centre (ESC).
We spoke with Joanne McDonald,
Manager of Career Services and
the Welcome Centre, to learn more
about the Welcome Centre. The
Welcome Centre is not only your
front-line contact resource for the
CSD, Counselling Services, and ESC,
but the front desk can also answer
questions, book appointments, and
redirect students to all Student
Support Services. Student Support
Service representatives provide students with advice on what services
are available, recommend which
service to use, and guide students
to valuable supports available in
other departments.
The Welcome Centre can provide
you with drop-in times at the ESC,
or book an appointment for you to
meet with an Employment Officer
one-on-one. Are you a student
with disabilities seeking additional
support in the classroom or around
campus? Allow the Welcome Centre representatives to connect you
with specialized learning strategists to devise a personalized plan
just for you for the academic and
educational support you need. The
Centre can also put you in touch
quickly (and confidentially!) with
Counselling Services for times
when you just want to speak with
someone, obtain academic choice
advice, or require help dealing with
a personal challenge.
In the event of a crisis, personal
or academic, the Welcome Centre
is your first point of reference. If
you are experiencing distress, the
urgent Counselling Service on campus will be contacted on your behalf through the Welcome Centre.
The AC Student Distress Line (ext.
7300) is available Monday-Thursday
from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Friday from
8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Free services that
provide support 24/7, if required after hours or on weekends, include:
The Ottawa Crisis Line (613-7226914) and Good2Talk (1-866-9255454 OR 2-1-1).
During the 2013-2014 academic
year, the Welcome Centre served
more than 32,000 students – booking appointments for counselling
sessions, providing students general information, and helping students
determine which services they
required. Don’t be afraid to reach
out and ask for help! The Welcome
Centre representatives are always
happy to speak with students and
assist in locating the necessary
services. Trained staff can help you
acquire whatever help you need
in order to accomplish personal,
academic, or career goals, resolve
personal issues, or obtain additional
support during your time here at
Algonquin. The Welcome Centre
can also be contacted by email or
phone (ext. 7200).
8
January 2015
The AC Hub Newsletter
Strange Facts
The Credits of Embarrassment!
Having forgotten his wallet and unable
to pay for dinner, this embarrassment
prompted Frank McNamara to create
the Diners Club Card - a credit card to
allow for an alternative method of paying for purchases without cash.
(Source)
Pluto has never had a birthday.
Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the sun,
and never completed a full orbit from
the time of its discovery to its declassification as a planet. If Pluto were still
a planet, its first birthday wouldn’t be
until March 23, 2178.
(Source)
Ancient Shopping Malls?
Roman Emperor Trajan commissioned
what was known as ‘Trajans Market’
for Roman shoppers. Six stories tall in
some areas, the upper floors were management offices, while the lower levels
sold wine, cheese, fruit, and other food
items. Mosaics or murals outside each
‘Tabernae’ demonstrated what was sold
within. There was even a great hall for
concerts! (Source)
Monster Protection
The Loch Ness Monster is protected
under the 1912 Protection of Animals
Act of Scotland. Yes, a (most likely)
fictional animal has been given official
protection rights – does that have anything to do with the fact that Nessie is
worth $40 million each year in tourism?
Maybe! (Source)
Pilots & co-pilots are required to eat
different meals.
Have you ever seen the classic movie ‘Airplane’? If you have, you might
already know why! Pilots and co-pilots
eat different meals just in case one of
them comes down with a case of food
poisoning.
(Source)
Japanese ‘tattoed’ apples sell for as
much as $150.
This isn’t your regular Granny Smith
apple! These apples are grown in
darkness so that they remain a creamy
white colour – then a sticker-like stencil
is applied when the apple is exposed to
light, prompting the colour change to
red everywhere except for the ‘tattoo’.
(Source)
It’s a fish, it’s a snake, it’s an…Indonesian mimic octopus!
All octopi can change the colour of
their skin to avoid predators, but the
Indonesian mimic octopus will pull
together tentacles, change colour, and
move differently to disguise itself as
something it’s not. Some favourite (and
poisonous!) animals mimicked by the
octopus include the lionfish and the
sole fish, among others.
(Source)
Hit the road!
The longest highway in the world is
Highway 1 in Australia. Measuring at
a length of approximately 14,500km,
it circumnavigates the entire country.
(Source)
There’s no place like home.
Utah has been giving free homes to
homeless people since 2005. This
initiative has since made it more cost
efficient to help the homeless, and cut
chronic homelessness in Utah by 74%.
(Source)
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The AC Hub Newsletter
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Jessica Ruttan - Graphic Designer
Content and Editing by Megan Watson
Assisted by Emily Robinson