SHERIDAN COLLEGE

PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLANNING

Scheduling is fulltime and part time. Evening programming depends on student demand but is limited by available resources. Almost 100% of the evening students are employed. The core academic subjects, communications, mathematics and science, are offered evenings There is no demand currently for weekends. Delivery is individualized self paced except for the Employability Skills and Self Management/Self Direction components. Sheridan has the resources necessary to deliver blended learning. Hands on opportunities are available for an Academic Upgrading student to program shadow a post secondary program for a day. This is arranged directly with post secondary co-ordinators or through Liaison.

Program stats are regularly analyzed with special attention to student goals (most are further training) and student profiles. Most students are employed. Sheridan also uses the provincial and regional reports prepared by the CSC. There is monthly analysis of IMS stats to determine college progress towards targets. As a result of this analysis, more evening classes were added, and science was made available days and evenings.

Plateaued learners are referred to an academic advisor by faculty for reexamination of their goals. Their needs may also be met in Sheridan's Employability Skills Course which includes resume writing, interview skills, career search on the Internet, Essential Skills and identification of transferable skills. Qualifying students are also referred to Job Connect, which is co-located, as well as to Sheridan's Career Centres.

Stats compiled by the Peel-Halton-Dufferin Training Board are also examined, but these are primarily of use for identifying post secondary programming needs. Job Connect, Apprenticeship and LBS all attended a local forum which was a good first step for coordination and development.

MARKETING AND PARTNERSHIPS

Upgrading and Job Connect share students as appropriate and do cross referrals. There is joint delivery for foreign trained professionals which is part of a much larger initiative.

There is a partnership with a local school board to fast track students to their OSSD. Upgrading faculty provide the self management component and students take a college credit course. These are at risk students who don't fit well in the secondary system.

There is a partnership with Post Secondary to fast track students during the summer needing Business Math and Technology Math for fall admission. Health Sciences has a similar arrangement for biology. PS has provided specific input on the skills which must be mastered in these courses. The Registrar provides information on upgrading in applicant rejection letters, and people struggling in post secondary are referred to upgrading by PS coordinators. Although there is no preferential treatment of upgrading applicants, their applications are "walked" through the process by admissions staff. There is also liaison with Contract Training and Continuing Education.

Sheridan is very pleased with the progress of TOWES. Piloting with test takers was very successful and marketing to employers is progressing well.

SUPPORTING PRACTITIONERS

The manager shares all information with staff. All faculty (ft and pt) are able to participate in all internal, regional and provincial training events. There is college wide PD funding available. In addition, Sheridan offers inhouse workshops for all staff. Staff have participated in a joint Apprenticeship/Job Connect/Academic Upgrading forum. Staff have also had a presentation on TOWES and Essential Skills.