Niagara College is kicking off a new academic year with strong enrolment, enhanced campus spaces and a lineup of orientation and social events for students.
When the fall term begins on September 6, NC expects to welcome about 11,000 new and returning full-time students at its Niagara-based campuses, including almost 5,500 new students and just over 5,500 international students. The College’s latest enrolment projections are considered back to pre-pandemic levels.
“We are excited to welcome new and returning students from across Canada and around the globe this fall, as we kick off a new academic year with tremendous momentum,” said President Sean Kennedy. “We look forward to providing our students with an exceptional start to their college experience with the support of our dedicated faculty and staff, and our NC Student Administrative Council.”
Fall Orientation
The Athletics and Student Engagement department and International Division have been preparing students for the start of classes since earlier this summer.
Orientation Day is happening at both campuses on September 5. The day features Program Information Sessions and Co-op Information Sessions, where students can meet faculty and classmates from their program and ask any questions. All sessions are listed on NC’s Orientation website.
Also on Sept. 5, a Welcome Session for international post-secondary students will be hosted from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at The Core (Welland Campus) and The Armoury (Daniel J. Patterson Campus). During the event, students can mingle over a light breakfast and have a chance to meet staff from NC’s International Division.
Earlier this summer, pre-orientation initiatives were hosted for students to help ease their transition to college life.
KickSTART – NC’s pre-orientation program – took place on-campus in July and August, as well as a slate of virtual pre-orientation sessions on topics including timetable selection, student services and communications tools.
Pre-departure sessions were offered virtually through the summer for international students. The sessions give students an opportunity to ask questions, gather information around budgeting, housing, travel and more, explore college services and become better prepared to begin their studies at NC and life in Canada. The College’s Be NC Ready Modules are part of the programming.
NC employees also travelled to India to host in-person pre-departure sessions for incoming fall students. Between the virtual and in-person sessions, close to 1,300 students participated.
Social Events
A lineup of social events is planned for all students throughout the month of September – a collaboration between the Athletics and Student Engagement department, International Division and NC Student Administrative Council (NCSAC).
“Frosh is all about making memories, meeting friends, and starting the year out with exciting and engaging events,” said NCSAC President Dipal Patel. “We strive to be consistently enhancing the student life experience at Niagara College. Partnering with NC on orientation events is an essential means to kick off the school year in the best possible way.”
Orientation events include:
- NCSAC Carnival (Welland): This flagship event is back on Sept. 5, 2-7 p.m. on the front lawn at the Welland Campus. The event features a Ferris wheel, carnival rides, inflatables, a vendor fair, free food and more. Free direct shuttles from the Daniel J. Patterson Campus and back are available for students;
- NC Knights Soccer Home Opener (off-campus): The season officially begins for the Knights Women’s and Men’s soccer teams on Sept. 8 at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland. Students can cheer on the women’s team starting at 6 p.m. and the men’s team at 8 p.m.;
- Niagara Falls Boat Trip (off-campus): Students can see Niagara Falls up close and personal on a Niagara City Cruise ride (Sept. 9, all day);
- Vibing in the Vineyard (NOTL): Students can celebrate the start of the school year at the Teaching Winery where there will be free food, free non-alcoholic drinks, music and games. A ‘cash’ bar (debit and credit accepted) will be available inside the winery for students 19+ and have valid government ID (Sept. 20, 4-7 p.m.).
More information and a fulsome list of events is available on the Orientation social events calendar.
Move-in Day
For hundreds of students planning to call campus ‘home’ for the next academic year, the excitement will begin on Labour Day weekend when they move into campus residences.
Between September 2 and 3, NC will welcome 232 students who will move into residence at the Welland Campus, and 200 students who will move into residence at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Residence Life Staff from the College will be on hand to assist students with the move.
In June, NC announced plans to triple on-campus housing over the next four years, adding new living spaces for approximately 1,000 students between both campuses, as well as enhancements to existing residences to expand capacity and enhance student experience.
Updated facilities and campus spaces
This fall, students will see refreshed spaces and renovations that are underway to enrich learning environments, enhance student life and support inclusivity and accessibility on campus.
This past July, the original Pride crosswalks at the Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake were updated with the Progress Pride design in support of NC’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The new crosswalks better represent the College’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion and the commitment to increase representation across physical spaces, a goal in NC’s EDI Blueprint.
Accessibility on campus is also a priority. NC has started work on a project to assess and renovate all existing public washrooms accessed by students, employees and visitors off of the main hallways at both campuses. The project’s aim is to ensure that all washroom facilities are AODA compliant, to align with the College’s EDI goals and to integrate additional all-inclusive facilities throughout campus buildings. A project to renovate the public service counters across both campuses to meet AODA requirements is also underway.
As part of an ongoing effort to support hands-on student learning, the NC Teaching Greenhouse at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus is undergoing climate control upgrades and renovations to environmental equipment in the building. Construction of a new, state-of-the-art greenhouse also began this summer. The new greenhouse will plant the seeds for more innovation and research to benefit students and industry and is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2024.
At the Welland Campus, highlights include renovations to labs within the School of Media, Trades and Technology and the recent expansion of the Nursing Laboratory.
