TORONTO, March 14 /CNW/ - Ontario's 24 colleges today announced a
Semester Completion Strategy that ensures students can complete their semester
despite the disruption of the OPSEU strike.
"Our priority has to be the students," said Dr. Rick Miner, chair of the
colleges' committee of presidents. "Ontario's colleges have today launched the
Semester Completion Strategy to ensure students are able to meet their program
requirements.
"This commitment applies for each student, in each program, at each
college."
Each college is currently working on the specifics for the plan, and
further details will be provided to students next week. The colleges are using
strategies and solutions that protect academic quality. The colleges are also
committed to ensuring that graduating students are ready for the workforce.
The implementation of the Semester Completion Strategy will factor in
details such as individual student circumstances and programs of study. The
colleges will partner with the professional faculty and all dedicated staff in
the college system to ensure a quality educational experience. The
implementation of the strategy will vary from college to college.
The length of the OPSEU strike will also be a factor in the
implementation, and the Semester Completion Strategy will ensure students can
still meet their requirements regardless of the length of the strike.
Ontario colleges continue to urge OPSEU to end the strike. The colleges
have provided a good offer to OPSEU, including a 12.6 per cent pay increase
that moves the maximum salary to $94,277 by April 2009, and no increase to
workload.
"It is important to deliver quality education and training to our
students," Miner said. "We want to assure students that we are committed to
their academic success."