Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario, presented graduating students with an inspiring speech at Friday morning's convocation. Franklin was presented with an honourary diploma from Loyalist.

By Megan McKinnon

This year, Loyalist College celebrated the achievements of 1,552 graduating students at three ceremonies during the school’s 41st convocation.
The final ceremony of Loyalist’s 41st convocation began at 10 a.m. on June 13 as faculty and graduates walked in procession into the gym to the notes from a lone bagpipe player. Graduates from the schools of media studies and computing, architecture and building sciences and continuing education were on hand to receive diplomas, certificates and awards from deans and faculty members.

By Brian St. Denis

The first annual AdSTARS competition went off without a hitch Wednesday at Loyalist College, with plans to make it bigger and better next year already in the works.
Developed by the Loyalist College advertising faculty, AdSTARS challenged local Grade 11 students to create a media campaign using a variety of media. Presenters used PowerPoint, videos, commercials, radio ads, posters and billboards to get their message across.

By Carissa Cosgrove

Two Loyalist College Paramedic students came home as the champions of the sixth annual Paramedic Skills Competition on April 5 in Oshawa.
Rick Wright and Chelsea Robertson, both second-year paramedic students at the Loyalist Bancroft campus were selected by their faculty and their course director Kelly Sheppard to represent Loyalist at the provincial competition.

By Brittany Kelly

Laurie Pratt says it's true.
"Some students may think teachers conspire against them to make exams on the same day," said Pratt, counsellor at Loyalist College.
"In reality that's just the way it is."

By Tara Bolger

Health services at Loyalist College offer students free injection kits to help prevent blood born infection and promote safer injecting.
The needle exchange program is mandatory for all health units and is a service that provides locations where injection drug users (IDUs) can exchange used needles for new ones. They are also given clean equipment and a sharps container, which is used for safe disposal of the needles.

By Scott Haines

Visit: From left Leona Dombrowsky, Maureen Piercy, and John Wilkinson view a demostration of Loyalist's Second Life Campus on April 11 at Loyalist College. Photo by Scott HainesLoyalist's Second Life campus drew the attention of cabinet ministers John Wilkinson and Leona Dombrowsky, who visited Friday to see a demonstration of the program.
Second Life is an online multiplayer application where people have avatars (animated people in the game) that interact with each other and the environment.
The avatar can walk around and fly around the world as well as interact with objects such as hang-gliders, scuba gear, coffee and many other things.
The Second Life project has not had any special funding from the school or from the province, said Ken Hudson, manager of academic and new media services.
"This was completely financed from my department because we wanted to make sure it worked before we went outside looking for financing," he said.
Hudson said that his department may be applying for grants and more financing in the future.
"Certainly, an opportunity exists for us to investigate that [possibility of funding] further," he said. "We are looking into it at this point."

By Scott Haines

Emergency services have only been called 10 to 15 times during the 2007-2008 school year, said Loyalist residence manager, Chris Carson.
The most serious call happened when a student punched through the window into the McFarlane building and as he pulled his arm back out, he cut it. The police and ambulance were both called. The student, a non-resident student, had left the scene and was found by his friends and they took him to the hospital.

By Carissa Cosgrove

Loyalist College students who are interested in continuing their education by earning a
university degree had their options increased on Wednesday.

Loyalist College announced three newly articulated agreements with universities in Michigan, Peterborough, and Queensland, Australia.

By Maxx Lennox

Survey results: Surey results of employers and graduates for 2006-2007Loyalist surpassed the provincial average in graduate placement the college's board of governors learned Thursday evening.
At 92.3 per cent of graduates employed six months after graduation, it was just one of the key performance indicators (KPI) that Loyalist exceeded. Loyalist is also one of the top five Ontario colleges in graduation rates at 69.6 per cent. The graduation rate increased by an approximate 10 per cent, said President Maureen Piercy, attributing the increase to the renewed efforts of Loyalist's faculty and staff, especially the student success mentors.
"We're very pleased with these results," said Piercy.
Mark Gallupe, coordinator of the social service worker program, agrees.
"A number of students have received employment before actually graduating, so it's looking very promising," he said
The data was collected from March 2007 to February 2008 by a third party survey firm on a provincial initiative, according to Piercy.
The data showed Loyalist, at 91.7 per cent, was below the provincial average for employer satisfaction, however the college's trend of producing high approval ratings in the past few years was evident. The student satisfaction rate was higher than the provincial average of 77.9 per cent. According to surveys conducted in June and November 2007 and Feb. 2008, 80.9 per cent of Loyalist students were very satisfied with the overall quality of learning, resources and facilities at the school. Ninety-six per cent of graduates say they would recommend Loyalist to their friends and family.
"I actually went to York University before and I like Loyalist so much more," said Kyle Weir, student in the environmental technician program. "It's smaller and you get some one-on-one with the teachers."

Surey results of employers
and graduates for 2006-2007

From left Leona Dombrowsky, Maureen Piercy, and John Wilkinson view a demostration of Loyalist's Second Life Campus on April 11 at Loyalist College. Photo by Scott Haines

By Maxx Lennox

Recommendations to increase tuition for Loyalist’s practical nursing program were approved at Thursday night’s board of governors meeting, pending high-demand designation from the ministry.
If that designation is approved, Loyalist would increase first-year nursing’s tuition by eight per cent, while the second year would increase by four per cent for September 2008.
George Burton, vice president of enrolment management and student services at Loyalist, says the other programs will stay within the current provincial guidelines for tuitions increases – around four per cent per year for diploma programs.
“We have to stay within that range and we want to ensure that any increases are minimal,” said Burton.

By Brittany Kelly

On Saturday April 19, 2008, Loyalist College will be opening the doors to entice new students for September and teach them about college life.
The day will feature displays for the services offered by the college and the programs that take place here and a tour of the city for new students to get to know the neighbourhood.

By Keri Sculland

The first student appreciation awards ceremony took place April 8, to commemorate students' initiatives to help others.
"It's a really nice way to say a special thank you to those students who have gone above and beyond," said Catherine O'Rourke, director of student success.