Holland College Annual Report 2022/23

MS. PENNY WALSH MCGUIRE

Chairperson (until July 2022)

Charlottetown

MS. JESSIE INMAN

Chairperson (as of July 2022)

Charlottetown

MS. LORI DAWSON

Vice-Chair

Charlottetown

MR. CARL CHAPMAN

Charlottetown

DR. ALEXANDER (SANDY)

MACDONALD

President & CEO Holland College

Ex-Officio

DR. GREGORY KEEFE

President & CEO, UPEI Ex-Officio

HOLLAND COLLEGE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023

MS. ANNE PARTRIDGE

Charlottetown

MR. QUENTIN BEVAN

Charlottetown

MR. DYLAN MULLALLY

Stratford

MS. MARIBETH

ROGERS-NEALE Stratford

MR. BRUCE MACISAAC

Charlottetown

MR. PAUL LIVINGSTON

Charlottetown

MR. VALENTINE GOMEZ

Charlottetown

MS. DEBORAH DUNCAN

Georgetown

MR. JEFF DINGWELL

Mt. Stewart

MS. SUSAN ASHLEY

Kensington

MS. SHANNON WATSON

Charlottetown

MS. ZOE POCOCK

Charlottetown

MS. FELICIA CAREY

Charlottetown

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

It gives me great pleasure to present the 2022/2023 Annual Report. Operations were back in full swing this year, with students attending classes in person in all our locations across the province. There are many things we learned during the pandemic as we worked to adapt quickly to the ever-evolving situation, and some of those lessons will be carried forward. For example, after almost all our staff were working from home for an extended period during the pandemic, our Human Resources department has developed a remote work pilot project to explore the feasibility of some employees working from home for at least part of the week if they choose to.

New opportunities to support business also arose out of the last few years, so we were delighted to cut the ribbon on our new Business Analytics Centre, which is located at the Tourism and Culinary Centre. With more new Canadians coming to our province,

we saw the need for language testing and opened the only International English Language Testing System (IELTS) testing centre in the province.

As the imperative for new training emerged and became increasingly urgent, Holland College became one of the founding institutions of Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2), a group of climate-action leading colleges, CÉGEPS, institutions, and polytechnics from across Canada who have joined forces to educate a post-pandemic workforce to support a new climate-focused economic recovery. This year, we introduced several microcredentials to enable workers to train or to upskill to meet the needs of industry.

You will find more information about these initiatives in this report. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Alexander “Sandy” MacDonald

OUR VISION

Inspiring Today.

Creating Tomorrow.

OUR MISSION

Empowering diverse, student-focused learning, strengthening communities, and supporting future prosperity.

OUR VALUES

Our values guide our every move. They build upon our past and shape our future. We make every effort to do better and go further.

INNOVATION

We believe in being ahead of the curve. Seeing what’s coming down the line and ensuring our students, faculty, and staff are aware of the latest developments and have access to the latest techniques, trends, and technologies.

APPLIED LEARNING

We have a rich history as the provincial community college for Prince Edward Island. We honour that legacy as the applied learning institute by ensuring the skills and applications we offer prepare student to be leaders in their chosen fields.

INCLUSION

When we acknowledge and celebrate our differences, we strengthen who we are. Holland College strives to offer a welcoming and safe environment for all who come through our doors. We are especially interested in those who are underrepresented in our labour force market.

ENGAGEMENT

We want every student, faculty, and staff member to feel heard, included and inspired. We encourage continuous learning, teamwork, and open communication. Our college is a part of our greater provincial community, and we will continue to be an active member right across the province.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Our decisions today impact the communities we operate in and their futures. We aim to reduce our carbon footprint and reconnect with nature.

INSPIRATION

We embrace the responsibility to inspire and guide students toward their future careers and life paths.

INNOVATIVE & FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMING

Preparing students for the future requires us to consider how we use techniques and technologies to innovate and promote excellence.

■ INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING

■ POST-GRADUATE PATHWAYS

■ TEACHING EXCELLENCE

COLLEGE OPENS BUSINESS ANALYTICS AND INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING SYSTEM CENTRES

Regional businesses will be able to access the expertise of Holland College faculty and postgraduate students to acquire valuable business intelligence in the new Business Analytics Centre (BAC) the college opened in October.

The BAC, which received $750,000 from the Government of Canada through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is located in the Tourism and Culinary Centre.

The centre will be an innovation hub specifically designed to deliver project-based experiential learning for project management and data analytics post-graduate students while providing space, equipment, and expertise to businesses from across the region. Businesses will have access to stateof-the-art software and equipment when they collaborate with a team of students under the supervision of expert faculty.

The college also opened an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) testing centre, the only centre of its kind in Prince Edward Island. IELTS is an internationally recognized proficiency assessment with over 1,100 centers located worldwide. The test is designed to assess the English language proficiency of those who want to study, work, or immigrate to an English-speaking environment. IELTS assesses four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Before Holland College opened the IELTS centre in Montgomery Hall on the Prince of Wales Campus, people would travel off Island to take the test, or wait for an off-Island facility to offer testing in P.E.I. The IELTS General Training test is one of only two English language tests accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

(L-R) Shawn MacDougall, Director of Applied Research at Holland College; Peter McLaughlin, President and Managing Partner of Anne of Green Gables Chocolates; MP Sean Casey; and Holland College President, Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald at the recent opening of the college’s new Business Analytics Centre.

BIOSCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM OFFERS COMMUNITY LAB

APA OFFERS ACCELERATED CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PROGRAM

In the spring, Holland College offered a sixweek evening course for members of the public who are interested in increasing their knowledge of bioscience and acquiring basic skills to help them understand the field.

The program was developed with senior high school students aspiring to enroll in the Bioscience Technology program, educators interested in improving their scientific skills and getting hands-on lab experience, and members of the public in mind. Participants met one night a week for hands-on laboratory activities, and learned bioscience techniques, data analysis, and data acquisition.

The course, which was fully subscribed, was offered free of charge with funding provided through the President’s Strategic Initiative Challenge.

Canadian residents looking to pursue a career in public safety were able to take accelerated training at a reduced cost through a partnership between the Province of P.E.I. and the Atlantic Police Academy.

This is the third year for the partnership, which provided seats for up to 24 students in a subsidized accelerated correctional services program. The program included 16 weeks of course work and six weeks of on-the-job training at a provincial correctional centre. Students were trained in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and communication strategies, crisis management, Canadian law, ethics and professionalism, and workplace health and safety, as well as topics specific to correctional services.

Through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Transfer Agreements, each eligible participant received a 70 percent subsidy toward tuition costs and other financial supports. The Department of Justice and Public Safety covered the remaining 30 percent of tuition costs ($2,601) for four of the 24 seats for eligible BIPOC candidates.

STUDENTS PERFORM IN FALL SHOWCASES, WINTER CONCERT SERIES

Music Performance students were busy again this year with three showcases in the fall, and three winter concerts for second year students in the New Year.

Throughout their two years in the program, students participate in several ensembles, each of which focuses on a different genre of music. The showcases are an opportunity to perform pieces they have been rehearsing since the beginning of the semester. The first showcase, a Celtic and Acadian concert, was held in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall. The second showcase, a Rock and

Country concert, was held in Trailside Music Hall, and the third concert, in Baba’s Lounge, featured the Improv ensembles.

Second year students had the opportunity to perform original pieces and their personal favourites in a series of three winter concerts held in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall. Each student performed for 20 minutes either as a solo act or with a backing band. Preparing for the shows gives students valuable experience not only when they are on the stage, but also leading up to the performance.

Brenna Clapp (left) and Hayden Lysecki will both perform in the first of SoPA’s Winter Concert Series.

COLLEGE SIGNS DEGREE PATHWAYS AGREEMENT WITH NSCAD

Holland College signed a degree pathway agreement with NSCAD University that enables graduates of the one-year Fundamental Arts certificate program to receive credit toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

The agreement stipulates that graduates of the Fundamental Arts program will receive approximately one year of credit toward the four-year degree program. The Bachelor of Fine Arts program offered by the Halifaxbased university gives students the unique opportunity to specialize in a selected area while also exploring other fine art disciplines.

SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS STUDENTS DISPLAY WORK AT CONFEDERATION CENTRE

Artwork by students in Holland College’s School of Visual Arts was displayed in the concourse of Confederation Centre in the spring. The showcase, which featured work from graduating students in the twoyear Graphic Design and Video Game Art and Animation programs, and the oneyear Photography and Videography and Fundamental Arts programs, is an annual highlight for students.

Photography and Videography students

Sara Roach, right, and Gessy Robin prepare to hang their work in the concourse of Confederation Centre of the Arts.

(L-R) Fundamental Arts instructor Kate Sharpley discusses student Camila Chalini Blanche’s painting with her and student Aly Nemeth. Both students are considering NSCAD’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program.

SUPPORTS & INCLUSION

What our students learn in the classroom is only one element of the education we aim to provide.

Holland College is also about ensuring its students, faculty, and staff enter and exit our campus knowing they are welcome, supported, and seen.

■ STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE

■ MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

■ ENHANCED DIVERSITY

■ INDIGENOUS RELATIONS

NEW STUDENT WELLNESS CENTRE ANNOUNCED

A new wellness centre on the Prince of Wales Campus will centralize health and wellness supports, mental wellness, and education services for students, staff, and their families. The centre will be located in a building the college already owns on Kent Street, which is being renovated and expanded. When it is complete, the three-story building will offer a broad, integrated suite of services including a health clinic with two nurse practitioners, student academic support services, and career, mental health, and academic counseling. There will also be a focus on healthy living emphasizing the importance of sleep, diet, exercise, and social interaction.

The Province of PEI has committed $2.4 million toward the capital cost of the project. The remaining funds will be provided by the college through external fundraising. The comprehensive wellness and health centre will have satellite offerings at all campuses and centres across the province to provide full-service supports and to encourage student engagement.

(L-R) Holland College President, Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald; Honourable Natalie Jameson, Minister of Education and Lifelong Learning; and Doug Currie, Vice President, Corporate Services, Strategic Development and Stakeholder Relations for Holland College discuss the college’s plans for a new wellness centre.

COUNSELLING

COUNSELLING SERVICES

APRIL

1,337

395

ACADEMIC

3,673

240

EMPLOYMENT

226

22

777

473

319

456

44

11

250

SERVICES OF NURSE PRACTITIONER IN HIGH DEMAND

From March 2022 to the end of March 2023 a total of 1,319 students had appointments with the nurse practitioner. 405 were international students, 929 were domestic.

An additional 311 students and staff attended flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

STUDENTS SATISFIED WITH ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION PROCESSES

The team in the Office of Student Experience and Registrar worked diligently to support students when they returned to Holland College locations across the province in the fall of 2022.

For the first time since 2019, most aspects of the school year were back to normal, including in-person orientation activities. The new Student Experience Survey, which replaced the New Student Survey, indicated that more than 93 percent of the respondents were satisfied overall with the admission process, and almost 91 percent were satisfied with the level of support available during the registration process.

Several platforms related to student support, including the Student Help Centre, the Health Clinic, the Writing Centre, the Graduation Hub, and the Welcome Hub, were updated to provide improved access to students and enable them to book appointments through the website.

HOLLAND HURRICANES ATHLETICS

The Hurricanes returned to action in 2022/23, competing in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), Atlantic Football League (AFL), Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and Atlantic Collegiate Baseball Association (ACBA).

The Hurricanes hoisted ACAA championship trophies in men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s hockey, while also hosting the 2023 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship and Atlantic Collegiate Women’s Hockey Championships in March in Charlottetown.

A successful year operating ’Canes Camps, Hurricanes Academies, the Hurricanes Physiotherapy Clinic and countless fitness classes, intramural events and recreational clubs rounded out the year.

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR:

MOHAMMAD ALI (SOCCER)

MORGAN WHITE (VOLLEYBALL)

49

CCAA NATIONAL SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

37 CONFERENCE ALL-STARS

22 ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS

9 MAJOR CONFERENCE AWARDS

22/23 CHAMPIONS

Women’s Hockey / Men’s Basketball

Women’s Volleyball / Men’s Soccer

ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

Today’s decisions define the Holland College of tomorrow. Knowing this, we move into the future aware of our impact locally and as a member of a global community. We will take concerted action in support of our shared environment.

■ CLIMATE LEADERSHIP

■ GREEN INNOVATION

■ TRANSPORTATION IMPACT

■ BUILT ENVIRONMENT

COLLEGE LAUNCHES FULLY FUNDED QUICK TRAIN CANADA MICROCREDENTIALS

In February, the Government of Canada announced a $46.5M investment in Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2).

Holland College is a founding partner in C2R2, a coalition led by Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology focused on developing demand-driven workforce training solutions for a clean economy through the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP). As a result of this investment, C2R2 has launched Quick Train Canada, offering microcredentials from select accredited institutions across Canada targeted at upgrading skills in crucial sectors targeted at Canada’s low-carbon economy — all at no cost to learners.

Whether students are experienced tradespeople upgrading their skills to adapt to evolving green construction techniques, new graduates improving their understanding of sustainable manufacturing, or those planning for future clean-tech job opportunities, the comprehensive offering of courses provides flexible, targeted upskill opportunities.

Building Envelope Science, Holland College’s first microcredential under the project, will equip the residential construction sector with enhanced knowledge and skills to contribute to increasing energy efficient builds in PEI and across the country.

Five additional Holland College short-course offerings under the Quick Train Canada brand were developed in collaboration with industry partners. Curriculum for these offerings include technologies to map & measure ecosystems, watershed management, carbon sequestration in watershed buffer zones, the capture and reporting of carbon offsets, and food processing and packaging for a clean economy.

PRESIDENT APPOINTED TO MAGNET BOARD

Holland College President, Dr. Alexander (Sandy) MacDonald, was appointed to the advisory board for Magnet, a Toronto Metropolitan University-based social innovation platform.

Magnet partners with education, government, technology, and community service organizations to connect employers with job seekers and provide training and career development programs and services.

Magnet provides the digital infrastructure for nation-wide projects like Canada’s Future Skills Centre and includes partnerships with Canada Job Bank, RBC Future Launch, Employment and Social Development Canada, and several industry associations.

The initial mandate of the board is to provide guidance and foresight to TMU and Magnet on establishing its governance framework and ensuring a strategic growth agenda.

Magnet’s initiatives support a range of outcomes aligned to their mission including employer education, early talent recruitment, diverse hiring, business growth, and thought leadership. Their goal across all projects is to advance opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds and prepare employers for a changing labour market.

Magnet’s social innovation and technology platform serves to support businesses of all sizes to connect with talent and stakeholders such as service providers, industry associations, policy makers and researchers, and to collaborate to deliver workforce development solutions.

CORPORATE INNOVATION

Shaping our future cannot be accomplished without taking a hard look inward. We are proud of who we have become, but recognize that we are evolving. To do so strategically, and toward our collective vision, we must be transparent, accountable, and work hard. We must ensure our lines of communication remain open and that we remain focused on our shared direction.

■ APPLIED RESEARCH

■ TECHNOLOGY

■ FISCAL PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY

■ MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

■ EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, RETENTION, & SUCCESSION PLANNING

APPLIED RESEARCH

The Applied Research Department supported a total of 125 college research collaborations with industry partners and community groups this year. Students from over 16 college programs participated in applied research activities and Holland College placed 35th nationally, up 4 places from 2021/22, in the Top 50 Research Colleges list.

The department continued work in Year 2 of the Applied Research Technology Partnerships program, which supported 12 exciting research projects funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada. This funding covers projects involving students, staff/faculty, and industry working on innovative applied research initiatives.

Work also continued on an ARTP Level 2 project, a unique collaboration between Nova Scotia Community College, College of the North Atlantic and Holland College.

Thirteen projects were funded by the National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) Contribution to Organizations fund this year. The funding enabled college faculty to apply their expertise to solve technical challenges for local companies, ultimately encouraging small and medium sized companies to innovate. The Applied Research department provided process improvement, validation, and extraction support to local bioscience companies as

125

INDUSTRY-BASED COLLEGE RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

16 PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS

26 FACULTY AND STAFF

20

PAID STUDENT PLACEMENTS

well as support for new packaging, sensory evaluation, and product development for local food processors. In addition, NRC-IRAP funded an additional eight projects through the new Interactive Visits program to further support industry-based projects.

Jennifer Bryant, a food product developer at Canada’s Smartest Kitchen, has been named Chef of the Year by the provincial branch of the Canadian Culinary Federation.

MITACS funded six student research positions in 2022/23. Students from programs in the areas of bioscience technology, environmental applied science and technology, hospitality and tourism, and marketing and advertising participated in applied research projects with industry partners.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

In the 2022/23 fiscal year the EDA fund supported 10 employees and paid out just over $25,000 ($25,579 to be exact) in reimbursements. Of this group, there were 8 employees who pursued master’s degrees, 1 employee who pursued a bachelor’s degree and 1 employee who pursued a specialty certificate. Human Resources also held 14 different PD sessions on a variety of topics. In total 443 employees attended these sessions.

REMOTE WORK PILOT PROGRAM

The Remote Work Pilot Program was launched in September 2022, and is largely due to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the inception of this program, the department has received 70 approved remote working arrangements.

The program will be evaluated at planned intervals throughout the two-year pilot and will seek input from managers and remote workers to better understand the challenges and benefits of remote working. To help college leadership manage their remote workers, a professional development session was held in January 2023, entitled “Performance Management in a Post-Pandemic Era”.

IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE SERVICES ASSOCIATION DESIGNATION

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled workers and international graduates from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada who want to work and live in the Atlantic provinces. The program helps employers hire qualified workers for jobs they cannot fill with the existing local workforce. The college has been approved as a Designated Employer in the AIP and is now eligible to recruit foreign nationals to fill labour needs under the Employer Endorsement process.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives continued to be a priority for Holland College and the Human Resources department this year. To support this commitment, professional development workshops are offered to staff, faculty and leadership on a variety of DEI related topics such as anti-racism, Indigenous cultural awareness, accessibility, and microaggressions. The HR team has also committed professional development funds to establish a collection of DEI related books in our libraries that will serve as a resource to staff and students.

STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Four Holland College employees were recognized for their professional excellence.

Library technician Leslie Holt received the Staff Excellence Award. Holt has personified excellence throughout her more than 14 years of service. Her vibrancy and presence have had a significant impact on the staff and students at the college.

The Teaching Excellence Award was presented to Susan Ashley, a learning manager in the Early Childhood Care and Education program. In over 30 years with Holland College, Ashley has been instrumental in the development and success of this program.

Wendy Gillespie is this year’s Facilities Support Service Excellence Award recipient. As a service worker on the Prince of Wales Campus, Gillespie has demonstrated exemplary performance since joining the Holland College family in 2016.

The Leadership Excellence Award was presented to Allison Doughart, program manager of Community Education and Language Instruction. Doughart, who has been with the college since 2000, has made significant contributions to the growth and success of the department, which oversees language training for newcomers.

FOUNDATION REPORT

The Foundation honoured Kent MacPhee (Business Administration, 1984), Marsha Doiron (Travel Counsellor, 1989 and Business Administration, 1994), and Wayne Young (Journalism, 1978) with Distinguished Alumni Awards. These annual awards are presented to up to three alumni who have graduated two or more years ago and who have demonstrated professional excellence and leadership.

The 22nd Annual Holland College Golf Classic raised approximately $75,000 to support the initiatives of the Holland College Foundation and Holland Hurricanes Athletics. The volunteer co-chairs of tournament, which took place at Belvedere Golf Course in September, were Quentin Bevan, Jennifer Evans, and Ron Keefe.

475 SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES, & AWARDS VALUED AT APPROX.

FOUR NEW ENDOWMENTS WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2022/23, ALL DESIGNATED TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES, & AWARDS.

$566,000 WERE GIVEN TO DESERVING STUDENTS.

HOLLAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION DONATIONS AND INVESTMENT INCOME EXCEEDED $2 MILLION IN 2022/23. $20,000 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO STUDENTS FACING UNFORESEEN FINANCIAL CHALLENGES, AND OVER $11,000 WAS PROVIDED TO THE COLLEGE’S ON-CAMPUS FOOD BANKS.

STATISTICS:

SUMMARY OF ENROLMENT

POST-SECONDARY STATISTICS

Students registered from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

In 2022/23, there were 615 full-time international students from 63 countries.

ADULT EDUCATION

Students registered from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Students registered from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023

n LINC & ELT = 555

Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada

n LINC SUMMER = 150 Participated in classes during July & August

n EAP = 28

English for Academic Purposes

TOTAL = 733

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Students registered from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Year

March 31, 2023, with comparative figures for 2022