On May 21, 1965, Ontario led the way for colleges of applied arts and technology with the creation of its college system.[citation needed] In 1967, Niagara College’s Welland Campus was established in response to the provincial initiative to create many such institutions, providing career-oriented diploma and certificate courses, as well as continuing education programs. In 1998 Niagara College opened its Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. In 2004, Niagara College’s hospitality, tourism and culinary programs moved from the Maid of the Mist Campus to new facilities at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. In 2002, Niagara College launched its Niagara College Teaching Winery, the first commercial teaching winery in Canada, and in 2011 it launched the Niagara College Teaching Brewery, also the first of its kind in Canada. Today, the culinary programs, teaching winery and teaching brewery are all part of Niagara College’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute. In the early 19th century, the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus was the site of the Black Swamp, through which Laura Secord travelled on her way to warn British Lieutenant FitzGibbon of a surprise attack by American forces. In response to the rapid growth of Niagara’s tourism sector and the anticipated demand for thousands of new workers, the college established the Tourism Industry Development Centre (TIDC). Housed on the Maid of the Mist Campus in Niagara Falls, the TIDC serves as a dedicated industry development and training resource for the hospitality and tourism sector. In 2007, the Ontario Street Site was added for the expanding Health & Community Studies programs.In 2008, Niagara College embarked on a $90 million campus redevelopment as part of the college’s overall master plan, which included significant improvements and additions to the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake Campuses. The redevelopment project was designed to increase capacity in programs that serve key industries in Niagara, including skilled trades, technology, winery and viticulture and hospitality and tourism, while providing much-needed improvements to aging facilities. The project was also a response to the college’s growth, including a 10.1 percent increase in total enrolment for the fall 2008 term - the largest increase among all Ontario colleges.Construction at the Welland Campus included a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) expansion to the Rankin Technology Centre, as well as a new Academic Wing, a Library and Learning Commons, a two-storey Athletics Centre a Student Centre and the $40 million Applied Health Institute (AHI), funded by the federal and provincial governments under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP). The facility brings all of Niagara College’s health programs into one complex and created space for new programs and 1,000 new students. The AHI includes classrooms and simulation labs, a dental clinic, community health clinic and a 350-seat auditorium.At the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, the project included construction of a Wine Visitor + Education Centre, which integrates academic programming, facilities for the unique Niagara College Teaching Winery and an educational centre for students, industry and visitors. The project also saw an expansion of culinary facilities and the construction of the Niagara College Teaching Brewery. The project was completed in spring 2011. The Learning Commons was renamed the Eva M. Lewis Learning Commons and Library in April 2016 following a $2.6 million donation from the estate of Eva M. Lewis. It was the largest private donation in the history of the school. In 2021, Niagara College partnered with Toronto School of Management (TSoM) to provide four business and hospitality programs at TSoM’s campus.Together our campuses provide unique living laboratories and top notch facilities that deliver hands-on applied learning opportunities; world-class applied research; and smaller class sizes in an intimate and friendly environment. Canada’s leader in applied, experiential learning, NC offers its students a breadth of programs that reflect and respond to the key sectors of our region, our province and the broader global economy.These programs immerse students within a highly experiential learning environment, enhanced by digital technologies. Our graduates possess cultural and global competencies; they are innovative, adaptable and entrepreneurial, pushing the boundaries of the possible for industry in Niagara, in Canada and abroad.The right size for you.At Niagara College, more than 10,500 full-time students study in over 130 diploma, graduate certificate, apprenticeship and Bachelor’s Degree programs. We also welcome more than 3,000 Part-Time Studies registrants each year, who study in 600+ credit, vocational and general interest programs. Our programs that provide real-world experience and are taught by passionate faculty committed to student success, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind educational experience.The staff of the Centre for Academic Excellence is committed to the continuous improvement of academic programs and academic pathways for our students through facilitating effective quality assurance processes, as well as offering a variety of instructional and curriculum development opportunities for members of our academic community.We serve as a resource to the academic divisions throughout the stages of new program development, program cyclical review and ongoing program development and renewal. We also serve all of the dedicated, talented and knowledgeable educators at the college throughout their teaching careers; helping them to enrich teaching and learning at Niagara College through their exploration of research into educational theories and practices, and through their implementation of innovative and engaging approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. The staff of the Centre for Academic Excellence invite you to learn about all that we offer and encourage you to get in touch with us to find out how you can get connected to resources, colleagues, services and events through the CAE.Vision: Fostering an unparalleled teaching and learning community.Mission: Promoting academic excellence.Values: Creating a culture that:Supports innovative, proactive approaches to ensuring student academic success through faculty and curriculum development.Values the scholarship of teaching and learning.Exemplifies professionalism and integrity.Is collaborative and rooted in respect and inclusivity.
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