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Centennial College Annual
Report
Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Table of Contents
Remarks from President Ann Buller............................................................. 3
Our Mission and Vision ................................................................................ 4
Academic Framework ................................................................................. 5
Statement of Diversity .................................................................................. 7
Strategic Directions ...................................................................................... 9
Addressing Ontario’s Skills Shortage...................................................... 10
Learning Excellence and Student Success............................................. 10
Student College Experience ................................................................... 22
Organizational Strength .......................................................................... 23
Resource Development and Financial Stability....................................... 29
Looking to the Future ................................................................................ 30
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Remarks from President Ann Buller
I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the 2008-2009 year. Centennial’s many accomplishments
demonstrate how we achieved our mission to educate students for career success and our vision to
transform lives and communities through learning.
Over the past year, Centennial College undertook several initiatives related to learning excellence and
student success. The launch of our Signature Learning Experience (SLE) was supported with staff
development, a new website and an advertising campaign. Furthermore, we continued to improve our
program review processes, introduced new programs to meet the needs of our learners and partners, and
expanded applied research projects.
Centennial continues to lead in creating opportunities and pathways for underrepresented students
through initiatives such as the First Generation Project. We also developed programs to improve access
for aboriginal students, low-income youth, students with disabilities, and internationally trained
immigrants. To improve our retention rates, we introduced early identification and specialized counselling
interventions, as well as increased financial support for low-income students.
We want our students to succeed and to enjoy their educational experience from first contact through to
graduation. This past year, the Student Hub at the Progress campus was completed, funding for the new
library and academic space at Progress was secured, and enrolment services technology was upgraded.
The College remains fiscally responsible, achieving a balanced budget that serviced its debt obligations
and funded its capital expenditure requirements. Increased academic and international revenues, long-
term debt retirement, exceptional growth of our Endowment Fund and government funding helped the
College close the 2008-09 fiscal year with a small surplus for the seventh consecutive year.
I am pleased to announce the completion of Our Book of Commitments, our new strategic plan.
Developed through consultation sessions with students, faculty and staff from across the College, Our
Book of Commitments clearly charts our direction for the next five years. I believe that this document
reflects our identity as an institution and presents a clear roadmap for Centennial’s future. I would like to
thank everyone who participated in the strategic plan renewal process this year. Their contributions
helped to shape this vital document and I hope they share my immense pride in the finished product.
Thanks to the commitment of our faculty and staff, and the implementation of innovative programs,
procedures and policies, Centennial College is well-positioned to face the challenges of the coming year
and beyond.
Yours truly,
Ann Buller
President and CEO
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is educating students for career success.
Our vision is transforming lives and communities through learning.
We believe that learning has the power to
change lives in simple and profound ways. We
will help to create a future where everyone has
the opportunity to transform their lives and their
communities through learning that is relevant to
them.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Academic Framework
Our academic framework is a statement of direction for Centennial College as an academic
institution.
• It articulates our academic values and principles and governs academic decision
making.
• It applies to all of our learners and employees and encompasses all of our activities.
• It provides us with a commonly understood and agreed upon direction for the future as
we strive to serve our communities.
• Achieving the goals in our academic framework will enable us to become a true
community of learners.
We support the career and personal development of our learners in every decision we make.
We value and support one another in a process of continuous learning and improvement.
We create a positive environment for effective learning within a context of global citizenship and
social justice. We value the diverse profiles of our learners. Our curriculum, teaching and
support services are characterized by knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers, teaching
strategies that suit learner needs and an atmosphere of dignity and mutual respect.
We strive for excellence. Scholarly debate and applied research contribute to the quality and
distinctiveness of our learning environment and advance our instructional and curriculum
expertise.
We encourage and engage in evidence-based deliberation with open minds in an atmosphere of
mutual respect. We consult with and consider carefully the views of internal and external
stakeholders who have an important perspective on an issue.
We are accountable to our learners, our communities and the general public for the quality of
the learning experiences we provide, for the resources we use and for the manner in which we
treat all people. We build evaluation into all of our work so that we improve continuously.
To advance our mission, Centennial College strives to adhere to the following principles:
• Commit to Student Success: We foster excellence in our students and employees by
providing an equitable foundation that values their experiences and unique needs. We
engage and support learners in attaining clear, high standards so that they emerge from
Centennial College positioned for a successful career.
• Commit to Access: We support broad access to a college education by providing clear
pathways and supports to enable secondary school students to meet the requirements
of post-secondary programs.
• Pursue Excellence: We pursue excellence as a learning organization through
innovation, applied research, critical analysis, rigour and currency.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• Be Inclusive: We offer a distinctive, inclusive educational experience that builds on a
foundation of global citizenship, social justice and diversity.
• Integrate Technology: We are guided by the needs of learners and the learning
organization in our use of technology.
• Promote Communities of Learning: We are committed to creating communities of
learning through reflective practice, continuous improvement and lifelong learning.
• Encourage Partnerships: We encourage sustainable relationships that enrich student
learning, augment job readiness and provide our graduates with the knowledge and
skills to succeed in work and society. We seek a range of partners who are sensitive to
socio-cultural needs, support our institutional objectives and contribute to our
community.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Statement of Diversity
Centennial College and its Board of Governors
value and embrace diversity, equity and inclusion
as fundamental to our mission to educate students
for career success within a context of global
citizenship and social justice.
We recognize that historical and persistent
inequities and barriers to equitable participation
exist and are well documented in society and
within the College.
We believe individual and systemic biases
contribute to the marginalization of designated groups. These biases include race, sex, gender,
sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry, nationality, place of origin, colour, ethnicity, culture,
linguistic origin, citizenship, creed (religion, faith), marital status, socio-economic class, family
status, receipt of public assistance, or record of offence. We acknowledge that resolving First
Nations sovereignty issues is fundamental to pursuing equity and social justice within Canada.
We acknowledge the richness and diversity of the community we serve. As our community has
evolved and our staff and student population have changed, we have implemented policies and
practices to address issues of inclusion. In moving forward, we will build on this work to embed
commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of what we do.
Our Guiding Principles
We believe social justice requires that we value diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that
the principles and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion strengthen the social and economic
development, growth and well-being of our student population, our employees and our local and
international communities.
We uphold our social responsibility to contribute to a society that is equitable, fair and just. In
accordance with our mission, vision and values, we will demonstrate leadership in eliminating
barriers and implementing and promoting diversity through our academic framework, policies,
special initiatives and proactive measures.
We are committed to eliminating all forms of harassment and discrimination. We will prevent,
remedy and redress these inequities. We will create an environment of inclusion in our teaching,
learning, employment and support services so that we can fully serve our communities and
prepare our students to excel in the workplace and in society.
We will be accountable for the changes we need to make. We will continue to comply with
existing federal and provincial legislative requirements. We will continue to develop and
implement goals, policies, competencies and special initiatives founded upon principles of social
justice to promote equity and inclusion. We will collect data to track our progress and regularly
evaluate the effectiveness of the initiatives we undertake, and we will communicate the
outcomes to our community.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Our Commitment
• A safe, secure, inclusive and accessible environment for learning, teaching and working
• Curriculum and instruction that reflect diversity and promote equity and inclusion
• Equitable and accessible opportunities for student success
• Building knowledge and evaluating effectiveness
• Human resource management systems, policies and practices that reflect diversity and
promote equity and inclusion
• Training and staff development in equity and diversity
• Accessible and inclusive College communication
• Strategic engagement with diverse communities
• Relationships and partnerships that align with our mission, vision and values
• Committing financial and human resources to promote diversity, equity and inclusion
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Strategic Directions
In accordance with the strategic direction from the Board of Governors, we identified five
strategic directions for 2008- 2009:
Addressing Ontario’s Skills Shortage
We aim to meet the needs of everyone in our community for vocational education. Expanding
apprenticeship and co-op opportunities and supporting excellent Second Career options
responsive to newcomers and the unemployed are key components of our planned
Comprehensive Skills Development Centre.
Learning Excellence and Student Success
We aim to achieve high academic standards. We support co-operative applied research,
technology innovation with partners, and program offerings that are responsive to the needs of a
knowledge economy. We seek to expand educational opportunities for local, national and
international learners seeking diploma- and degree-level education.
Student College Experience
We strive to provide excellent service to our learners, our employers, our graduates, our clients,
our partners and the public. We actively look for ways in which we can use our resources to
improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Organizational Strength
We value and respect our diversity. We seek to continuously improve our campus environment
and to distinguish and advance Centennial College in line with our mission to educate students
for career success. We want to develop new strategic partnerships with industry, educational
institutions, government and community organizations and nurture existing ones. We work to
continuously improve Centennial as a workplace.
Resource Development and Financial Stability
We plan to achieve long-term financial stability through balanced budgets, resource
development and business process improvements.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Strategic Direction #1: Addressing Ontario’s
Skills Shortage
The Conference Board of Canada has estimated that, by
2025, Ontario could face a shortfall of 364,000 workers 2008–09 STRATEGIC GOALS
due to the aging population and the slowing of population
growth. Centennial, in partnership with the Ministry of 1. Address Ontario’s Skills Shortage
Training, Colleges and Universities, initiated special
projects and programs to address the skills shortage.
2008 -09 Achievements
• Centennial established the Employment Training Centre, as a result of new funding
initiatives by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), to address the
needs of laid off workers receiving EI benefits. In the fall of 2008, 19 students were
enrolled utilizing Second Career or Skills Development funding and 142 are enrolled for
winter 2009.
• Second Career Information Sessions draw 30-50 attendees per week.
• An Employment Training Centre brochure was created to promote broader College
offerings including Employment Resources, Job Connect, and Industry Training.
• The following programs plan to provide an additional intake as part of Second Career
Initiatives: General Arts and Science have a Science Option approved for May 2009;
Social Service Worker and Medical Lab Assistant are pending approval for January
2010.
Strategic Direction #2: Learning Excellence and
Student Success
Implement Signature Learning Experience
Global Citizenship from Social Analysis
to Social Action is now a core
2008–09 STRATEGIC GOALS component of Centennial’s unique
1. Signature Learning Experience Signature Learning Experience (SLE).
The Global Citizenship curriculum has
2. Enhance Academic Quality and Occupational
been integrated across all College
Relevance
programs and is supported by intensive
3. Increase Program Choice and Availability faculty development. The School of
4. Applied Research and Innovation Community and Health Studies is
piloting a Blackboard e-portfolio tool to
5. Prepare Centennial Students for Global Workplace
assist students and staff in their creation
6. Provide Opportunities for Underrepresented of equity competencies portfolios.
Students
7. Improve Student Success
8. Provide Opportunities for New Immigrants
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9. Help Relieve Financial Strain on Students
Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
2008-09 Achievements
• The School of Advancement and The Centre for Organizational Learning and Teaching
(COLT) provided specialized training for faculty in preparation to teach the Global
Citizenship from Social Analysis to Social Action (GNED 500) course as a component of
the SLE. A shorter, intensive GNED 500 training session was offered twice to staff,
providing a course learning opportunity that is similar to that experienced by Centennial
students.
• Information sessions about SLE implementation and the role of humanracebook.com
were held at Centennial Day 2009, as well as at school/departmental meetings and
College Council throughout the year.
• COLT worked with the School of Community and Health Studies (SCHS) to lead the
September 2009 roll out of the Student Portfolio.
• To support students and staff in the creation of an equity competencies portfolio, a
cross-college group identified criteria for an e-portfolio. The group recommended the use
of the Blackboard e-portfolio product. A test environment is being created to assess
feasibility. This project is aligned with the e-learning framework development project.
• The School of Advancement has integrated the GNED 500 course into all model routes
for two and three year diploma programs and fast track programs.
• Based on the School of Advancement major review undertaken in 2008 – 2009, global
citizenship and equity principles will be embedded in the General Arts and Science
programs.
Enhance Academic Quality and Occupational Relevance
Centennial College was one of only four colleges in Ontario to have met all five of the rigorous
provincial program quality audit criteria established by the provincial process known as PQAPA
(Program Quality Assurance Process Audit). In addition, Centennial received a very high
overall rating of 4 out of 5. A rating of 4 indicates that quality initiatives are planned and tracked,
systematically rooted in quality criteria, and the College has begun to develop quality metrics.
2008-09 Achievements
• The PQAPA Task Force has continued to meet and has formed sub-groups that are
working on tasks to complete the specific recommendations made through the audit
process regarding academic quality, the expansion of Foundations programs and the
implementation of reflective practice as a faculty and staff learning strategy. For a
complete list of recommendations, please visit http://www.ocqas.org/pqapa.html
• COLT, through the new program development process and the comprehensive program
review process, is working with school teams to address issues of academic quality and
embed new policies and practices. This includes the expansion of Foundations
programs to a total of four across our schools. Foundations programs in all schools will
ensure that Centennial has created opportunities for all students to access programs
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
that they desire by equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to enter those
programs. The Foundations programs fill in educational gaps allowing students to
scaffold into the programs of their choice.
• Presentations on reflective practice were delivered to schools/departments, and
expanded on at the Centennial College Support Staff Learning Event 2009. The
Leadership Forum participants also addressed Reflective Practice in their roles in May
2008.
• A standardized Student Handbook was developed for all schools.
• A new Comprehensive Review Guidelines document was developed and implemented.
• A new Equity Framework document was developed.
• A new Process Advisory Committee (PAC) Process map was developed.
• The following programs received accreditation in 2008-2009:
1. English for Academic Purposes Program (EAPP) was accredited by Language
Canada in February 2009
2. The Pharmacy Technician Program achieved the maximum three year
accreditation in 2008 from the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy
Programs
3. Accreditation has been received from Transport Canada for 18 months
experience and technical examinations
4. Five-year re-accreditation was obtained for the Autobody Repair Techniques
program and the Motorcycle & Powersports program in October 2008 from CNAB
(CARS National Accreditation Board)
5. The School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS) saw 13
technician/technology programs receive accreditation in May 2009. The
Architectural Technology program received accreditation in June 2009. Nine
more programs in SETAS will undergo the accreditation process in this upcoming
academic year.
• The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture (SHTC) created a program partnership in
Ooty, India with Monarch College. Students complete two years in Ooty and then come
to Canada for a third year plus placement.
• The Art and Design Foundations (ADF) program was expanded from the Delhi Campus
to Noida, Hyderabad and Mumbai campuses. The Digital Animation (DA) program was
expanded to Noida and Hyderabad and will be started in Mumbai in the coming
academic year. Presently, 322 students are enrolled in these offshore operations.
Centennial has five DA professors providing the lead instruction and curriculum delivery.
• The Canada Green Building Council recognized Centennial as one of the premier
Colleges in Canada to teach the pilot course in the “Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System”. Patrick Kelly, Chair,
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science and the full- and part-time
faculty in Architectural Technology secured this vital contract.
• The Business Development Division conducted a curriculum review and adjusted
continuing education (CE) offerings in engineering course programming in accordance
with changing market needs. CE also met specific industry requirements via customized
curriculum and delivery methods for a variety of corporate clients including: Toronto
Transit Commission, Canadian National Railway, Yamaha Canada, and Maple Lodge
Farms.
• The CE Provincial Survey results show a high level of satisfaction among CE students:
1. Quality of instructors at Centennial – 95% of respondents were very satisfied or
satisfied
2. Quality of courses at Centennial – 96% of respondents were very satisfied or
satisfied
3. Facilities and Services – 93% of respondents were very satisfied or satisfied
4. Helpfulness of staff at Centennial – 92% of respondents were very satisfied or
satisfied.
Areas of the survey where CE students’ ratings were 85% or less will undergo a more
detailed review, and the CE Management Team will form a plan of action for
improvement in these areas in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Increase Program Choice and Availability
Centennial is a leader in offering programs responsive to the occupational and social needs of
all learners, with new or enhanced program offerings in many of the Schools across campus.
Innovative partnerships with the University of Toronto Scarborough and Ryerson University
increase options for communications and health sciences students. In addition to approvals for
four new apprenticeship programs, the School of Transportation also received funding to
modernize equipment and labs.
2008-09 Achievements
PROGRAMS DEVELOPED OR LAUNCHED IN 2008-2009
Esthetician Diploma SCHS Fall 2008
Energy Systems Engineering Diploma SETAS Fall 2008
Technician
Energy Systems Engineering Advanced SETAS Fall 2008
Technology Diploma
Bioinformatics for Software Graduate SETAS Fall 2008
Professionals Certificate
Advertising Media Management Graduate School of Communications, Media Fall 2008
Certificate & Design
Event Management- Festival and Graduate SHTC Fall 2008
Conference Certificate
Hospitality Management – Food and Diploma SHTC Fall 2008
Beverage
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Tourism Management – Cultural & Diploma SHTC Fall 2008
Heritage Tourism
Hospitality Management -Hotel & Diploma SHTC Fall 2008
Resort Management
Payroll Management Graduate School of Business Fall 2008
Certificate
Food Service Worker Certificate SCHS Winter
2009
Sports Journalism Graduate School of Communications, Media Winter
Certificate & Design (SCMD) 2009
PROGRAMS TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2009 – 10
Contact Centre Operations Certificate School of Business Summer
2009
Community Service & Child Studies Certificate SCHS Fall 2009
Foundations
Spa Management Graduate SCHS Fall 2009
Certificate
Technology Foundations Certificate SETAS Fall 2009
Children’s Entertainment Writing, Graduate School of Communications, Media Fall 2009
Production and Management Certificate & Design (SCMD)
Hospitality Foundations Certificate SHTC Fall 2009
Strategic Management Graduate School of Business Fall 2009
Certificate
Financial Planning Graduate School of Business Fall 2009
Certificate
Court Support Services Certificate School of Business Fall 2009
Financial Fraud Investigation Graduate School of Business Fall 2009
Certificate
Financial Services – 1 Year Certificate School of Business Fall 2009
Financial Services – 2 Years Diploma School of Business Fall 2009
Total Benefit Management Graduate School of Business Fall 2009
Certificate
Media Engineering Design Graduate SETAS/School of Winter
Integration Certificate Communications, Media & Design 2010
Customer care professionals School of Business
• The following programs are in development:
• The School of Advancement is currently developing a program in Global
Citizenship and Equity.
• The School of Communications, Media and Design (SCMD) continued to work
with the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) through the College
University Consortium Council on a journalism “boot camp” for foreign trained
journalists in the GTA.
• SCMD is continuing to develop a Communications and Media Foundations
program with a launch date of fall 2010.
• The SCHS continued discussions with UTSC regarding the existing degree in
Paramedicine. Curriculum changes and modifications are being examined that
would allow for three streams for degree completion: Biology, Psychology and
Business Management.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• The RPN to BScN Bridging program in development with Ryerson University will
include a part time hybrid (online/classroom) format to be held at Regional
Access Centres beyond the GTA.
• The School of Transportation continues to develop a Modified Apprenticeship
Program for Coach and Bus Technicians.
• New programs are being developed for delivery at the GM Training Center to
increase corporate training days.
• The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture (SHTC) is developing new
programs in Commercial Baking and International Culinary Cuisine.
• SETAS delivered new program notifications to College Council for winter 2009
start. These include: Food Science Technology, Medical Robotics and
Automation, and Construction Management.
• The following programs and Schools saw an increase in the breadth of apprenticeship
training offerings:
• A Developmental Service Worker apprenticeship was approved for winter 2009.
• Two new sections (Sept. 2009 and May 2010) were added to the Automotive
Service Technician Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship program with a new partner,
Toronto Auto Dealers Association.
• Funding was secured for an additional three years for the Chrysler AST Co-op
Diploma program and added an additional section per year.
• Fall 2009 will see three skilled trades programs introduced: two electrician
programs and one refrigeration and air conditioning program.
• In February 2009, the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and
Universities, held a media conference at the School of Transportation to announce $1.8
million in additional funding for Centennial’s transportation apprenticeship program. The
School of Transportation will use the money it receives to modernize training equipment
and upgrade labs.
Applied Research and Innovation
Market driven, applied research activity creates maximum return on investment for business,
industry and government by accelerating innovation, knowledge and technology transfer and
putting research into practice. The inclusion of staff and students in applied research facilitates
real world training and produces the highly skilled workforce essential for future innovation and
prosperity in Ontario and worldwide.
Achievements 2008-09
• The College was involved in the following new research activities in 2008 – 2009:
• Ideas at Work funded by HealthForce Ontario
• Bridge Training for Internationally Educated Pharmacy Technicians funded by the
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• Feasibility Study on a Web-based Central Repository for Occupation Specific
Language Training funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Influence of Therapeutic Massage on the Physiology and Metabolism of Muscle
and the Central Nervous System: Evaluation by Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy (MRS) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in
Healthy Subjects and Subjects with Subacute Low Back Pain funded by the
Holistic Health Research Foundation of Canada
• The Applied Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) Fellowship Fund is a competitive
Centennial fund that encourages and supports faculty to engage in applied research. In
2008-2009 the following projects were funded:
• Institutional Praxis – Implementing a Reflective Practice Process at Centennial
College
• Surveying the Impact of UNESCO Heritage Site Designation on Cultural &
Heritage Sites
• Critical Incident Reflections: A Study of New Immigrant College Students
• Mindfulness and Meditation in Social Service Work
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Peer Coaching Model for Learning
Management Systems Technology Integration in Instruction
• Maximizing Simulation Efforts in College Environments: Merging Technology for
Improved Student Success
• Online Distance Learning Using SecondLife Application
• Measuring Faculty Utilization of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Data – Phase 2
&3
• Assessing Effectiveness of At-Risk Student Interventions
• Tracking Pharmacy Technician Student Competencies
• ARIC’s advocacy work with the Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation
(CONII) and Colleges Ontario led to the announcement of $10 million in new funding by
the province for college-industry innovation over the next three years.
• Centennial achieved NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada) eligibility.
• ARIC was asked to full proposal for a $2.4 million, multi-year grant from the NSERC
College Community Innovation (CCI) program. The project is titled “Mobilizing
Technology Solutions to Enhance Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Response
and Recovery” leveraging Centennial’s research expertise in emergency/disaster
simulation, response and recovery.
• In January 2009 Premier McGuinty and Minister of Research and Innovation Wilkinson
chose Centennial to announce new funding for 10 Ontario innovative companies
including REGEN Inc. long term industry research partner with SETAS and ARIC.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Prepare Centennial Students for Global Workplace
Just as our students come from everywhere, they expect to be equipped to work anywhere in
the world. Internationally-recognized experts who are enriching a curriculum focused on global
citizenship are exposing learners to diverse models. Opportunities for international internships,
co-op placements and exchanges equip Centennial graduates for the 21st century workplace in
Canada and abroad.
2008-09 Achievements
• Information Technology set up a web conferencing tool that will be utilized to facilitate
communication between Centennial students and overseas employers.
• The School of Transportation (SoT) has steadily increased international enrolments in
the Aviation and Automotive programs in an effort to obtain internationally recognized
accreditations.
• The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture (SHTC) created new articulation
agreements with Royal Roads, the University of Guelph and the University of Southern
New Hampshire.
• The Business Development Division increased the availability of articulation agreements
with overseas institutions. The following are a selection of signed agreements:
INSTITUTE/COUNTRY SIGNING DATE PROGRAM
Beijing Institute of Technology, China June 2008 Business
Jiangsu Education Services for International Exchange July 2008 Teachers' Training
Dalian University, China Oct. 2008 Business &
Hospitality
Harbin Normal University, China Oct. 2008 Animation
Harbin University of Science and Technology, China Jan. 2009 Business
Jiangsu Int’l Foundation for Excellence Education (JIFEE) Feb. 2009 Degree Programs
Nanjing Institute of Technology, China Mar 2009 Engineering
Conalep Tlaxcala, Mexico Sep 2008 Technology
Conalep – Head Office, Mexico Sep 2008 Corp. Training
University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, India Nov 2008 Engineering, Energy
All current and new Memorandums of Understanding and Articulation agreements
increase the number of potential co-op and work experience opportunities available for
domestic and international students.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Provide Opportunities for Underrepresented Students
Centennial continues to lead in creating opportunities and pathways for under-represented
populations including aboriginal students, youth from underserved neighbourhoods and
students with disabilities to enter, stay, and succeed. Among the pathways are early intervention
to offer financial support, specialized transitional programs, and mentorship.
2008-09 Achievements
• The Helping Youth Pursue Education (HYPE) program continued to build upon its
participation and extended its capacity to a maximum of 120 participants: 20 high school
aged; 100 college eligible. With the support of the TD Financial Group, this program will
grow to 160 participants in 2009-10.
• The First Generation Student (FGS) program will continue into 2009-10 with current
funding. Approximately 1400 Centennial students are now self-identified and recorded
on the FGS database. The program saw a number of new initiatives: setting up a
mentoring agreement with the Toronto District School Board for three high schools,
launching Centennial lunch and learn sessions, being involved in Centennial Discover
and Connect Days, providing support for Grade 7 and 8 Career Conference Days and
Grade 10 Careers Class recruitment activity.
• The FGS program worked with Student Financial Services to promote Aboriginal
bursaries and establish a database for those who applied for the bursary.
• The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) received funding from the Ministry of
Training, Colleges and Universities to continue to offer the Successful Transitions,
Advocacy, Research and Training (START) Smart program. This summer transition
program was introduced in 2006 for students with learning disabilities. The START
Smart program was designed through extensive collaboration between students with
learning disabilities and the entire CSD team at Centennial. The outcomes of the
program include enabling and empowering students with learning disabilities to transition
into and through Centennial. Preliminary observations indicate that the more “connected”
these students are, the higher the chances of their success and retention.
• The School of Business' Play It Smart program wrapped up on March 29 after a
successful year of community outreach. The Play it Smart pilot program offered a mix of
school tutoring in English, math and science, as well as some basketball instruction and
house league play on the professional court at the Ashtonbee campus. The free 20-
week program, which ran every Sunday morning from September until the last weekend
in March, involved more than 100 children between the ages of 7 and 13 from the
Malvern neighbourhood in northeast Scarborough.
• Community engagement has expanded with the formation of a Community Outreach
Office. Along with the HYPE and FGS projects, the focus of this office includes outreach
to the community through venues such as the Neighbourhood Action Partnerships,
collaborative initiatives such as the Pro-Tech multi-media centres, ongoing involvement
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
in several Youth Challenge Fund initiatives, and participation in the United Way-
sponsored Communities of Practice for Educational attainment.
• Centennial became a member of the “Council of Educators”, a group formed as a result
of the Mayor’s Panel on Making a Safe City Safer. The body provides a forum where
colleges, universities, and community educators share information, learn from each
other, and work together to make their programs for marginalized youth more effective.
As the Council matures, it is expected to provide a vehicle for evaluation, assessing
cost-effectiveness, and for sharing best practices.
Provide Opportunities for New Immigrants
Centennial College recognizes the potential of immigrants to enrich the life of the College and
community and provides advising, comprehensive counselling, document review and other
program supports to integrate internationally trained immigrants (ITIs) as quickly as possible.
Options include the Foundations programs, now available across the College, and bridging and
fast-track programs for internationally trained professionals.
2008-09 Achievements
• The Advising Office was formed three years ago to respond to the specific needs of
internationally trained individuals (ITIs). The Advising Team expanded from three to five
advisors in 2008-09, with support from the Colleges Integrating Immigrants to
Employment, and met with more than 900 ITIs.
• The School of Advancement was instrumental in the design and development of
Foundation programs for all schools at the College. The Foundation programs offer eight
hours of language instruction in each semester enabling students to develop in all four
skill areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• The School of Community and Health Studies (SCHS) continued to develop the Bridge
to Practice for Internationally Educated Practical Nurses funded by the Ministry of
Citizenship and Immigration ($354,553). Also in development was the Bridge Training for
Internationally Educated Pharmacy Technicians funded by the Ministry of Citizenship
and Immigration ($378,821).
• The School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science (SETAS) was granted an
extension to the Fast Track to Technology Occupations (FTTO). Technology
Foundations program will provide additional opportunities for new immigrants to upgrade
their skills to enter into fast track programs.
• The Business Development Division arranged articulation agreements with Teachers of
English as a Second Language (TESL) Canada and the Ontario Retirement
Communities Association. This will provide opportunities for ITIs to access the skills and
training required to successfully gain employment in the Canadian labour market. An
articulation agreement was also reached with Microskills Center that also engages and
supports new immigrants.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• CE Chairs began reviewing ITI academic documents to ensure that the ITI client is
placed on the appropriate CE learning path for purposes of advanced credit standing
and registration in appropriate courses to meet their employment goals.
• CE successfully secured funding from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration of
Ontario and Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a program targeting immigrants
with a financial background. The goal was to prepare these clients for the Canadian
Securities Institute examination. During the program, partnerships were established with
Job Connect, ACCESS, Sun Life Insurance, and CIBC to facilitate job placement in
industry.
Improve Student Success
Building on our success in retaining students with early identification and specialized
counselling program interventions, the Counselling Team provided leadership by actively
promoting their services throughout the College, with particular attention to students with
disabilities. Our International Student Services were expanded to include comprehensive
orientation and mentorship opportunities for all international students.
2008-09 Achievements
• The Business Development Division supported international student achievements
through a number of new success initiatives. A highlight of initiatives is provided below:
• A Peer Ambassador program matches international students with domestic
counterparts. The program created opportunities for students to meet peers from
different cultural backgrounds and academic programs.
• Canadian Workplace Orientation Program provides coaching sessions for
international students enrolled in co-op programs. The coaching sessions are
designed to increase international students’ success rate in securing a co-op
placement in their area of specialization. Of the 221 international students in co-
op programs, 54% attended the fall session. The success of this program will be
evaluated in winter 2010 when the first group of students are in their co-op
semester.
• Expanded International Student Services include an airport pickup service from
January 2009, a buddy phone system in the fall of 2008, a home-stay program
with airport pickup in winter 2009, and an enhanced orientation package
including a learning styles inventory, orientation to the transit system, medical
and religious information and academic supports.
• An effort was made to reduce student withdrawal from all programs and increase
retention. Re-orientation with the withdrawal process took place in order to address
processing issues, allow for a last minute intervention in hopes of encouraging the
student to reconsider their withdrawal decision, and gather accurate data to better
understand and address the underlying reasons for student withdrawal. As a result
the number of sign offs have been reduced. Counsellors who met with students
withdrawing for non-academic reasons have been able to explain/facilitate a return to
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
school for some students, including future re-admits and program transfers. The
process is under review by the Strategic Enrollment Management Executive Team
within the Retention Framework Process.
• The Counselling Team held ‘Start Out Strong’ Workshops for the nursing program. At
Progress, the Child and Youth Worker program's first year students meet with a
counselor as part of an academic assignment. Both initiatives are examples of early
identification/intervention efforts and seek to support student success in academic
schools.
• The Counselling Team offered a series of workshops throughout the year on a variety of
study skills such as improving memory/concentration, studying smarter not harder,
taking notes and reading text, transferring to university, managing time well, and stress
management.
• The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) put in place a range of platforms to
support student success in academic schools, including: (1) meeting with prospective
students with disabilities to discuss program suitability, assess needs, discuss transition
issues, determine appropriate academic accommodations and discuss support and
strategies for success prior to the start of classes; (2) development of a student
“Success Plan” which includes the individual student profile and referral to the Adaptive
Technologist and Learning Strategist; (3) development and implementation of individual
and small group assistance with compensatory learning strategies, self advocacy skills,
adaptive technology training, and strategies for success based on disability and
individual needs; (4) providing up-to-date Psychoeducational Assessments to identify
current strengths/weaknesses and needs.
• Specific supports were put in place for apprentices with disabilities, following
government funding. The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) is now able to:
o Gain a better understanding of the needs of apprentices with disabilities
o Provide a plan for enhanced disability support
o Partner with faculty to enhance opportunities for success
o Provide early intervention strategies for apprenticeship students with
disabilities
o Provide up-to-date Psychoeducational Assessments to identify current
strengths/weaknesses and needs
o Development of a coaching program (peer, graduate and faculty) to enhance
academic success
o Providing laptops and adaptive technology for apprentices with disabilities
who require assistive technology assistance
o Track all apprentices with disabilities who have registered with our office and
encourage connection with the CSD services and supports
o Measure student outcomes
• The new Dean of Students completed a series of campus-based student feedback
sessions, generating a rich body of students’ views, thoughts and ideas about academic
provision and college services. This will become a regular event.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• Enhancements to the transfer credit database continued but with lower priority than in
prior years. With new functionality coming in Banner 8 (Oct 2009), the ability to import
catalog extracts from other Banner institutions to assist in matching equivalencies will be
available; therefore, the upgrade to Banner 8 is a priority.
Help Relieve Financial Strain on Students
A central component of student retention is to assist students to meet the financial costs of post-
secondary education. Centennial and its Office of Development and Alumni Engagement have
led in innovative initiatives to improve access for low income students at risk.
2008-09 Achievements
• Student Financial Services (SFS) provided 20 new HYPE entrants each with a
Community Youth Initiative Bursary in the amount of $1,500, as well as five returning
HYPE students with a Community Youth Initiative Bursary in the amount of $1000. A
total expenditure of $35,000 was made to support students from at-risk communities.
• The Ministry matched Centennial’s bursary fund to provide 46 returning Ontario First
Generation (OFG) students with $1,000 each. Centennial also created a new bursary
program – First in my Family – providing $1,000 for 33 first year OFG students.
• Working with the IT department, Enrolment Services developed the capacity to provide
multiple on-line bursaries to assist distribution of bursary support to students. This will be
implemented once the Banner upgrade is complete.
• Centennial adhered to the Ministry mandate of providing the Student Access Guarantee
to every student identified by the Ministry download system. This bursary opportunity
was implemented directly to students without the added barrier of a student application
process. To date, $574,185 has been awarded to 817 students with an additional
summer allocation of $150,000 dependent upon Ministry notification.
• Centennial implemented a Centennial College Access Guarantee to further support the
Student Access Guarantee. This opportunity permitted 1,381 students to access
$372,721 in book bursaries, to date, and an additional $300,000 was set aside for the
summer semester as required.
• In an effort to reduce student financial strain, the Office of Development and Alumni
Engagement reported the following:
• Increased endowment by 42%
• Saw an increase of 20% in scholarship recipients (214 from 179)
• Saw an increase of 30% in scholarship revenue (cash value of $168K from
$130K)
• Saw an increase of 23% in bursary disbursement (204 students from 166)
• Saw an increase of 23% in bursary revenue (to $102K from $83K)
• Saw an increase of 131% in Ontario Government matching fund ceiling (to
$502K from a base of $217K).
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Strategic Direction #3: Student College
Experience
Enhance Student Experience
Centennial College is committed to improving the student
experience from first contact through to graduation. 2008–09 STRATEGIC GOALS
Upgrades to admissions and enrolment services ease the
1. Enhance Student Experience
entry process; the recently completed Student Hub provides
one-stop administrative services and library and athletic
upgrades are anticipated in 2009-10.
2008-09 Achievements
• The Athletics and Wellness Centre construction project is underway with the
construction contract awarded in April 2009. Construction is to begin in early June 2009.
• The Student Hub project at Progress Campus was successfully completed in early
November 2008 and is now fully functioning. As part of the new Hub, and dedication to
reducing line-ups and improving student wait times, a Q-Matic reservation system was
installed to expedite access to multiple services. In the first seven months of operation,
41,000 students received service.
• Diamond and Schmitt were selected in March 2009 as the successful architects for the
state of the art Library and Academic Space at Progress campus. The design of the
facility is currently underway and the tender package for construction is expected to be
issued by end of August 2009.
• In May 2009, the College secured a $35 million infrastructure investment to construct a
new library and academic space at Progress Campus.
• An upgrade to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) admissions module
software was completed in late November 2008. Enrolment Services are now able to
offer alternate program choices at other campuses using an automated process.
• The Enrolment Services Call Center went live March 12 with a new and improved call
flow. This new call flow is designed to reduce the amount of time it takes for callers to
get to an agent.
• Enrolment Services reinstated and updated their department SharePoint site.
SharePoint is used to post announcements, registration information including
open/closed programs, web registration information, registration deadlines, FAQs
regarding program admission, Student Financial Services deadlines and information,
and College events.
• The School of Engineering and Technology (SETAS) partnered with The Ontario
Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) to open
pathways to professional association for SETAS graduates. OACETT lectures to
promote student memberships and professional designation to students
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Strategic Direction #4: Organizational Strength
2008–09 STRATEGIC GOALS
Strengthen Partnerships
Ontario’s first College is a model for partnerships—
1. Strengthen Partnerships collaboration with other institutions and agencies, with
2. Develop an Inclusive Workplace government and the private sector—that enhance the
quality of the student, staff and faculty experience,
3. Increase Organizational Capability Through
GTA businesses and our community.
People Development and Empowerment
4. Improve Accountability within College 2008-09 Achievements
5. Ensure Strong Recognition of Centennial
• Participation in all Centre for Organizational
College
Learning and Teaching (COLT) sponsored
6. Increase Use of Information Analysis and learning events, held internally, increased by
Pl i i D i i M ki P 20% over that of the previous year.
Additionally, the number of school/departmental events provided by COLT increased.
• A contingent of eight new managers was sent to the system-wide Ontario College
Administrative Staff Association (OCASA) management development program in
October 2008.
• The School of Community and Health Studies (SCHS) continued to prepare a detailed
market analysis of the education and health sectors in preparation for the establishment
of the Emergency Preparedness Institute. An Emergency Management Program, an
online undergraduate course, and a game called ‘Disaster Strikes’ was developed for
interprofessional emergency preparation education.
• The SCHS continued to work on the IDEAS at Work project, an educational module
aimed at health care professionals with the anticipated outcome of improving
collaboration in disaster response.
• The School of Transportation (SoT) partnered with the York Region District School
Board and the York Catholic District School Board to add a new Ontario Youth
Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) Automotive Service Technician program. The SoT was
also successful in partnering with Algonquin College to teach the first year Aviation
program common core curriculum, and reached an articulation agreement with Georges
Vanier High School for the Aviation program’s “Theory of Flight” course.
• The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture continues to pursue UNESCO Global
Alliance for Cultural Diversity partnership status. Completion of this partnership status
will occur in the fall of 2009.
• The Centre for Students with Disabilities (CSD) engaged in a direct marketing campaign
to high school special education departments to raise awareness of the summer
transition program and supports available for students with disabilities. A letter
introducing the Enhanced Services for Apprentices with Disabilities was also included in
all mailings to prospective and active apprentices with Disabilities.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• The Student Life Enhancement Division (SLED) Advising Team worked with its internal
partners to ensure knowledge of the college application process and preparedness for
college for those enrolled in HYPE program, ensure clear focus of program choice and
next career undertaking for unemployed workers, provide clarifications on programs,
admission requirements and highlight a range of possibilities to facilitate an informed
decision-making process for recent immigrants.
• Enrolment Services established a priority outreach list for school visits by reviewing high
school feeder reports and statistics. The reports were used to determine the priority of
high school visits in the fall. Enrolment Services also worked with Academic schools on
activities such as group tours for relevant feeder schools, and program specific events
both on- and off-campus, e.g. Agincourt CI Accounting Conference and School of
Business, Apprenticeship events at high schools and School of Transportation, Health
Symposium and School of Health and Community Studies.
• The Office of Development and Alumni Engagement continued to lead the College’s
Guild Inn initiative, coordinated college’s submissions to federal and provincial
infrastructure initiatives (circa $60 million), established a corporate partnership for the
School of Community and Health Sciences (SCHS), and collaborated on municipal
funding initiatives for the HYPE program.
• Centennial College and GO Transit committed to a joint investment in training and
education with the donation of a retired GO Bus to the School of Transportation. The bus
will be used as a training tool for students in the Truck/Coach and Heavy Duty programs.
This is the first time GO Transit has donated a vehicle to an educational institution for
this purpose.
• In partnership with Centennial’s Energy Institute, India’s University of Petroleum &
Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Centennial College and the
University of Waterloo for scientific research and education co-operation related to
energy technology, security and infrastructure.
• ARIC, and SETAS’s Energy Institute, in partnership with green tech company REGEN
Energy Inc., were nominated for a ‘Mind to Market Award’ and are currently leveraging
$5.6 million in Federal and Provincial grants including ongoing research involving
Centennial faculty and students.
Develop an Inclusive Workplace
Centennial restructured the Office of Equity, and added resources in the form of a new Manager
of Equity Education and allied research support. Through 2008-09, advisory committees have
begun work to implement the Equity Action Plan consistent with audit priorities and policy review
recommendations.
2008-09 Achievements
• The Office of Equity saw staffing changes with the addition of a senior researcher and
data management support.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• A self-identification survey was developed for data collection to provide a demographic
snapshot of the workforce for purposes of identifying areas of progress and
underrepresentation.
• An audit and review of dispute resolution policies and procedures on discrimination was
conducted to ensure proper alignment with decision making processes and
organizational culture.
• The Office of Equity established the Equity Steering Committee which met several times
and will continue to work throughout the year.
• Research and development of an Institute for Global Citizenship and Equity Education
continued with a scheduled launch date of fall 2009. Formal application for the
International Scholars at Risk program has been made as part of the institute.
Increase Organizational Capability through People Development and
Empowerment
In addition to expanding, tracking and acknowledging the use of opportunities for faculty and
staff development through the Centre for Organizational Learning and Teaching (COLT), the
College aims for a workforce that reflects the profile of Centennial students. Two events, the
annual Applied Research and Innovation Symposium and Centennial Learns, showcased the
College’s increasing research capacity.
2008-09 Achievements
• In a follow up to the target of 30 diversity hires Centennial set for 2008, 28 out of the
targeted 30 have been hired.
• The College hosted the third Annual Applied Research and Innovation Symposium
(ARIS) in June 2008, attended by faculty from across all disciplines and schools.
• The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) selected Shyam
Ranganathan, Dean of the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture, to participate in
the Tourism and Culinary Trilateral North America Mobility Committee.
• The Provincial Awards Committee of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering
Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) selected Jag Mohan, Dean, School of
Engineering, Technology and Applied Science, as this year’s recipient of the
"Distinguished Service Award". The award recognizes the hard work Dean Mohan and
his team have undertaken to secure accreditation for Centennial’s engineering
programs, Jag Mohan’s role as the Chair of Heads of Technology in Ontario, and his
advocacy for OACETT over the past couple of years.
Improve Accountability within the College
Centennial is accountable to its learners, its community and to the general public for the quality
of the learning experiences it provides, for the resources it uses and for the manner in which the
College treats all people. Centennial measures its progress toward the achievement of the
strategic and operational goals and reports the findings to its stakeholders.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
2008-09 Achievements
• The College implemented an integrated Attendance, Health and Wellness management
system. The enhancement to the College’s management of WSIB claims, combined with
the institution of enhancements to its return to work policy, cost the College
approximately $185,000. It is estimated that the program has generated a return on
investment of 400%. Total estimated savings are $1,020,925.
• An early intervention program was developed by Health, Safety and Wellness to ensure
at risk employees were accommodated at their current position to reduce the use of sick
days. Ergonomic assessments, previously contracted from outside sources, were
brought in house. Health and Safety staff conducted 33 Ergonomic assessments at a
total cost savings of $49,500. It is estimated that early intervention and accommodation
resulted in decreased absenteeism, resulting in a cost saving of $132,000.
• Attendance policies and processes were reviewed, streamlined and their application was
centrally monitored to ensure all employees could return to their jobs as soon as
medically possible following an illness or injury. The streamlined process saved an
estimated $456,375.
Ensure Strong Recognition of Centennial College
Centennial successfully works to develop communication strategies with all stakeholders, both
internal and external, with the aim of disseminating information about programs and services
that will help recruit and serve students, faculty and staff. This process of dissemination also
helps to attract partnerships and collaborations with external organizations.
2008-09 Achievements
• Centennial’s external website underwent continuous improvement to stay current while
improving usability. Absolute unique visitors to the www.CentennialCollege.ca site
increased by 68% from April 2008 to April 2009 in comparison with previous year (April
2007-08). The student portal, my.CentennialCollege.ca, underwent a complete overhaul
as well. Usage on this portal went up by 25% from April 2008 to April 2009 in
comparison with previous year (April 2007-08).
• Join the humanracebook.com advertising launched the Signature Learning Experience
to the GTA, differentiating Centennial College within its competitive set. An Ipsos Reid
study conducted in February 2009 revealed that the humanracebook message
resonated with the prospective groups surveyed.
• Marketing and Communications commenced a multiphase effort in forging strong
connections with prospective students and current students through social media such
as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs.
• Enrolment Services supported strong recognition for Centennial through a number of
on-campus events.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• May 2008 – Career Exploration Events: This event was open to students fro
grades 7 and 8 and saw approximately 360 attend from York Region District
School Board, the Toronto District School Board, and the Toronto Catholic
District School Board.
• May 2008 – Central Region College Dialogue: Held at the Morningside campus,
this event was attended by over 300 guidance councilors.
• June 2008 - Centennial hosted grade 11 & 12 at risk students from the Toronto
District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Boards thorough the
Learning Partnership at the Centre for Creative Communications for a day of
hands-on discovery.
• November 2008 – Discover Centennial: The annual open house, held across four
campuses, saw approximately 1,700 attendees.
• March 2009 – Connect with Centennial: The annual spring conversion event saw
an increase in attendance of 36% with approximately 3,000 attendees across the
four campuses.
• Enrolment Services, through its Student Recruitment Office, made 467 off
campus visits to schools and community agencies in 2008-09, speaking to over
15,000 prospective students, and provided individual on-campus tours to over
850 campus visitors.
Enrolment Services will continue on-campus visits and events with the Toronto District
School Board and plans to expand to York Region and First Nations community
organizations.
• The 2008-2009 Academic year enrolment for semesters beginning in summer 2008, fall
2008, and winter 2009, exceeded budget and exceeding last year’s enrolment overall.
• Total domestic full-time enrolments for the year 2008-09 were up 5.7% compared to
2007-08. Total semester one enrolments were up by 7.2% compared to 2007-08. The
total domestic full-time enrolments exceeded budget by 2.6% and by 3.6% for semester
one.
• International full-time visa and transfer enrolments were up by 19.6% and semester one
enrolments in visa and transfer students were up by 25.2% compared to 2007-08. Total
international full-time enrolments exceeded the budget by 13.1%.
• Total CE enrolments for the year 2008-09 are up 9.6% compared to 2007-08.
Increase Use of Information Analysis and Planning in
Decision Making Process
The easy availability of high quality performance data is central to assessing institutional
progress. In addition to technology upgrades to support more robust data storage and retrieval
throughout the organization, a centralized project management tool was implemented for all
Information Technology projects.
2008-09 Achievements
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
• In an effort to support operational and strategic decision making an institutional reporting
structure was implemented. The Operational Data Store (ODS) reporting solution was
implemented in Finance, and is almost compete in Human Resources; the Student
phase is set to be implemented in 2009/2010.
• A necessary Banner upgrade was completed and as a result the Enterprise Data
Warehouse (EDW) project has been deferred until 2010/2011. This upgrade also had an
impact on deadlines surrounding the implementation of the ODS reporting solution.
• Eclipse, a project management tool for information technology projects, has been
implemented. A training program and support strategy were developed and also
implemented. Project management methodology will be developed in the next fiscal
year.
• A new annual program review process was completed by Schools and the Corporate
Planning Office for the 2007-08 academic year. The Corporate Planning Office
developed a “Program Quality and Growth” matrix to map each program in four equal
quadrants based on their past performance in application, enrolment, program quality
and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) data. The results were presented at the
Leadership Forum and shared with program coordinators.
• Centennial saw a slow but steady improvement in its Student Satisfaction KPIs. KPI
results increased by 1.3% over 2008 results with gains in all four capstone questions.
Some key findings include:
• Centennial’s Student Satisfaction rate rose 1.3% over 2008 results with 74.6% of
respondents indicating that they are satisfied or very satisfied.
• Centennial had a lower rating in the Employer Satisfaction survey; however, the
gap between Centennial and the other GTA colleges is negligible. Centennial will
work on improving this rating.
• Graduate satisfaction rates declined in four GTA colleges with Centennial’s
decreasing only marginally by 0.6%
Centennial’s KPI Committee will continue to focus on increasing awareness of the KPIs,
improve the logistics and administration of the survey, and direct energy and resources
into areas where KPI results indicate improvement is required.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Strategic Direction #5: Resource Development and
Financial Stability
2008–09 STRATEGIC GOALS Achieve an Annual Balanced Budget
1. Achieve an Annual Balanced Budget
Centennial College is committed to maximizing its
resources to support our mission of “educating students
for career success” and our vision of “transforming lives
and communities through learning”. It is critical that we achieve our balanced budget goal in
order to generate cash flow to service Centennial’s debt obligations and fund the College’s
capital expenditure requirements.
Achievements 2008 – 2009
• The 2008-09 budget supported Centennial’s mission and vision and achieved its
objectives. The principal goal of the budget was to enhance and maintain the
occupational relevance of the College’s programs and its academic quality
• The College closed the 2008-09 fiscal year with a small surplus for the sixth consecutive
year.
• Total academic Revenues were $138.2 million, representing an increase of 10.5% over
last year.
• Total international revenue was $15.7 million, representing an increase of 15.9% over
last year.
• The College retired $5.2 million in long-term debt during the year.
• The College successfully managed to secure $17 million in funding from Ontario
Financing Authority for the construction of Athletic and Wellness Centre.
• The College’s Endowment Fund is $7.8 million representing an increase of 42.4% over
last year.
Looking to the Future
Our Book of Commitments: Five Year Strategic Plan 2009-14
In 2007, Centennial College started to review its existing strategic plan and conducted an
environmental scan to build a base for a new Strategic Plan. The results were presented to the
College Executive Team and the whole College community for comment. Based on the
feedback “The Book of Commitment” was created. Nine commitments were identified:
In creating good global citizens, be recognized as just that.
We will strive to become an internationally recognized leader in education that places a strong
emphasis on global citizenship, social justice and equity.
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Centennial College Annual Report 2008-09
Prepare people for the new world that awaits.
Centennial will be at the forefront of applied education and, in doing so, meet both the economic
and social inclusion needs of our communities.
Be a community leader.
Centennial will play an integral, active role within the communities we serve. We will make a
difference in the lives of those around us and continue our leading-edge work to aid under-
represented groups, championing their cause to access and succeed in post-secondary
education.
Help students grow into leaders.
Leaders are not born they are created by the right environment, and through mentors who give
people the confidence and abilities to lead others. We will create such an environment and be
those mentors.
Forge many roads to success.
There is no single path to success. We recognize this. Centennial will continue to find new
routes for students to travel, and exciting ways to make their journey more rewarding.
Stand behind our promise to students.
We will guarantee the quality of Centennial’s programs and service delivery to ensure an
outstanding and rewarding experience for our students.
Be one of Canada’s best employers.
We will be an environment that challenges employees to be their best, and to make a
difference. We will be an inclusive, engaging work environment built on valuing diversity and
respect for all people.
Build the bottom line.
To become better and offer more to our students, we must grow. We will continue to find ways
to grow economically and be accountable for our resources and use them appropriately.
Tell a great story.
We have a wonderful story to tell. We need to be sure it is told in a compelling way and so we
will tell our story in a way that makes the community, the nation and the world sit up and take
notice.
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