Conestoga College

Conestoga College

File:Conestoga big.gif
Type	Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Established	1967
President	John Tibbits, B.Sc., Dipl.Ed., M.Ed., CAGS, Ed.D.
Location	Kitchener , ON , Canada
Website	[1]

The Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a public college based in Kitchener, Ontario in Canada. This, like other colleges, is for failures who cannot go to University.

History

The College was founded in 1967 as the Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology, one of many such institutions established in that time by the Ontario government to grant diplomas and certificates in career-related, skills-oriented programs. It was renamed in 2002 when the government extended the school's reach, namely to grant degrees in technology-based fields.

Over the years, it has added additional programs such as the Master of Business Administration program, in cooperation with the University of Windsor. In addition, the College offers a new nursing curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.) degree. Students accepted to Conestoga’s Nursing Program will take all four years of study at the Doon Campus in Kitchener. Graduates of the program will receive a degree from McMaster University.

Beginning in August of 2003 two new programs began which would be the first to award a degree to students entirely through the college. The two programs are the B.A.Tech Integrated Advanced Manufacturing Technologies program and the B.A.Tech Architecture - Project and Facility Management. Both programs award graduates a Bachelor of Applied Technology degree. Beginning of 2005 a new Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences Degree in Health Informatics was started in the School of Health Sciences, Community Services and Biotechnology.

In 2006, the college purchased the former University Heights Secondary School in Waterloo for nearly $6,000,000, into which its Waterloo campus relocated later that year. The property is significantly larger than its former Waterloo campus, which the college will sell to cover the cost of the purchase.

Academic Program

See Conestoga College organizational structure

Conestoga has a one, two, three or four-year programs; as well as apprenticeship training programs. There are also many options available to students including four-year degrees in Advanced Manufacturing, Teletronics (Telecommunications and Computer Studies), Architecture, Health Informatics or the brand new International Business Management degree which started in the fall of 2006. Conestoga also has several agreements with some Ontario universities like Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor and McMaster, with many more in the works, as well as several other Canadian and international institutions.

Campus

Doon Campus is the main campus for Conestoga College. It is located at the south end of Kitchener and houses the central administration offices as well as the majority of courses offered by the college. Regional Campuses have select programs.

• Doon Campus - Main Campus
• Waterloo Campus
• Cambridge Campus
• Guelph Campus
• Stratford Campus

Other Buildings

• Recreation Centre

Student Life

Conestoga Colleges Student Life section develops programs while working with students to enhance the student experience at Conestoga and the overall quality of campus life. Student Life works to provide transitional support, leadership opportunities, civic engagement and educational programming with their team of a Student Life Coordinator, two Student Life Programmers, Office Assistant, and the Director of Student Development.

Student Life Centre

The Student Life Centre, a joint venture between Conestoga College and Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), launched in 2006 to house various student-focused services including Counselling Services, Disability Services, Health Services, Learning Commons, Student Life Office, Student Life Programmers Office, Student Services Administration Offices, CSI Board of Directors and Staff Offices, Off Campus Housing (through CSI), CSI Self Serve Area, Shooters Photo Studio, CSI's Massage Therapist, Lounge/Atrium, CSI Sanctuary and Bar Bistro, Spiritual Room, Group Work Rooms, Meeting/Workshop Rooms, and the Student Life Centre Info Desk.

At the Student Life Info Desk, students can rent out the study work rooms, the meeting rooms, ask for directions or assistance with general questions.

Student Clubs

The Student government is headed by Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI), which was established in 1973. Previously known as the Doon Students Association, it is the official student voice for the over 6,000 full-time students of the college.

There are also several campus clubs which give students a way to interact and get to know each other.

Student Housing

Off Campus

Housing Services at Conestoga College provides students with an off-campus housing posting database. See the Student Services area of the college web site. To get on to the off campus housing list, landlords must go through a special process, and must contact the Housing office.

On Campus

On Campus Housing is available near the main Doon Campus at the Conestoga Residence & Conference Centre. It provides rooms of various sizes to over 500 students. For information on its Residence Life program, visit the college's Residence Life & Housing section.

Student Media

• 88.3 CJIQ - is college's campus radio station. It is used as part of Broadcasting: Radio course and Journalism program offered at the college.
• Spoke On-line - the web version of the official newspaper of Conestoga College. Student reporters in the Journalism programs of the college contribute the news and editorial content of the paper and are responsible for production of the weekly publication.

Student Sports

Conestoga College student sports teams are named 'Condor'. They compete against Varsity level teams. There is also intramural programs.

References

Aggerholm, Barbara (January 10, 2006). "University Heights getting new educational role: Conestoga College buys school to expand apprenticeship courses". The Record, Kitchener, Ontario: A1, A2. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Conestoga College Official Website
• Conestoga Students Inc.
• Conestoga Residence & Conference Centre
• Conestoga College Student Chapter of IFMA