Durham College — Local services in Oshawa

I'm writing on behalf of my partner who has been through the Durham College Online Professional & Part Time Learning for his College Diploma.

This has been a rough experience. The only positive outcome is that he received his diploma while working a full time job (after having to remind everyone at Durham College that he is, in fact, a student and has been for a couple years)

When you’re taking your online courses and if you have any questions regarding the material, most of the professors will direct you to the textbook and wont explain anything further. Books are horribly written, don’t explain things, and no one elaborates.

It doesn’t matter if you understand the material. They just want the assignments complete.

For one course specifically, the professor wasn’t present for 6 weeks straight. She introduced herself, wrote an overview of the assignments that needed to be done, then never replied to questions or inquiries. Many students, including my partner, had to contact the school directly to get answers. One week before the course closed, they finally got a different professor to grade their assignments. I understand things happen in personal lives, but there’s absolutely no communication. This affects people and the education that they are paying for.

My partner had to submit assignments that he didn’t understand or feel confident about because no one answered his questions. Thankfully this didn't effect his overall grade drastically.

In February, he submitted his completed courses for review so he could receive his diploma. There’s no confirmation that the application has been received, but of course they instantly take your money.

He had to go through 3 different apartments for confirmation. He called the Professional & Part-Time Learning (PPL) Department, they transferred him to Enrollment Services, then they sent him to Convocation Services. At that point, Convocation Services confirmed his enrollment and that he is included in Spring 2024 graduation

Fast forward to June, and he has nothing — No information, no notice, no diploma, no communication in months.

He called the college and they said they have no information about him. The Convocation Department was busy so he had no answers. Thankfully, the woman on the phone was helpful and sent out a message internally to get someone higher up.

After multiple departments and back-and forth, we finally got answers:

3 weeks prior they audited his application and determined he was missing a course for graduation (which was incorrect). This information was not relayed to him. No messages, no emails, no calls. At this point, he was not going to graduate and he never knew.

After another call from us, the director reviewed his application again and came to the conclusion he was NOT missing a course. He had all the credits he needed.

Apparently there was some "confusion" with his program.

They then proceeded to invite him to the ceremony which was THAT DAY. We couldn’t make it, and unfortunately I would have loved to attend to witness his accomplishments.

We asked for a written email with all this information… nothing.

Five days later we still didn't have confirmation. Another phone call. The school didn't know the person we originally talked to and didn't know anything about this situation.

Another call. Finally got someone to say they’re sending out his diploma and finally got a written email.

Long story short: -They will happily take your money and charge for every step along the way -If you have questions, give them a minimum of 5 business days to get back to you, but even then you might not get answers -Prepare to teach yourself by using overpriced textbooks -Always get written confirmation, keep track of who you communicate with, and follow up when submitting forms. Make sure to get receipts and everything in writing.

After thousands of dollars and almost 4 years of this, he almost didn’t get his diploma because of some “confusion” and no communication

Extremely inconsiderate and unprofessional as if they don’t...

I am giving a one star because the one program was good.

I took the ADMH (Addictions and Mental Health) program at Durham. The teachers were awesome, supportive, and intriguing. These teachers made learning fun/interesting. They were always there to help if you needed it. I always felt supported in my journey in the program. I cannot say enough good things about Ann, Carl, Dan, and Randy. These teachers were incredible.

My goal is to work in mental health in nursing. I took the programs backwards I think. It all worked out in the end, so I am not worried.

I took time off (due to the pandemic). I started the PN (Practical Nursing) program.

There was always a struggle to have teachers! One semester I had the same teacher for all. my subjects! That was hard listening to her monotone voice all the time! She had no emotion or enthusiasm. Sometimes we got a teacher the day before the class started!

The program had a sink-or-swim philosophy to it. There was no communication between the staff and students. We were always left wondering. Wondering about how to do an assignment, how to dress, how to submit, who to talk to, etc. Basically, we were given an assignment and told to submit it by a specific date, and the instructions were vague. We would interpret the best we could, then would lose marks because we didn't do an aspect that was not on the marking scheme. You could 'fight' the mark, but the teachers and higher-ups would make it impossible and finally, you had no fight left in you and just let it go. The teachers were not supportive. Many would say that they are busy with other jobs and their family and have no time for students. Teachers did not like questions...we were questioning their integrity, not asking a question (accusations). Placements were given the day before so everyone was left scrambling to find child care, food, etc. Tests were not based on what we learned. You had to sit in class and listen to a teacher read off the PowerPoint and read the textbook, then you had to find other documentation to study from because those were what the test was on! 'Nurse in the Making', 'Simply Nursing', and 'Nurse It Like You Mean It' taught me so much more than the school did! There was no preparation for the consolidation test. Nothing. At. All. We all went in blindly. The higher-ups were impossible to get a hold of. The higher-ups blatantly lied multiple times. I lost track of how many times I caught them in a lie. (yes, you Debbie Morrison). Sorry to name a name here, but she was impossible to deal with! Never returned emails or phone calls, lied consistently, and was super unorganized. The student advisors and placement officers were absolutely useless! I would love to work in a job where I do nothing and get paid! Durham College hire me for this job! One of my placements was so mad at the school, that I am surprised they still take students.

I am sure I am missing some things, but you get the idea. And if the DC Cares email is posted under this, will you actually answer me? or ignore me for another 5 years???

Do yourself a favour and do not take the Nursing program at Durham College. Go to a better school....please...I beg you...your mental health and family...

It's a beautiful campus and most of the faculty are great! Unfortunately I've had nothing but trouble with the ones who are supposed to look into any questions and concerns I have regarding my program and school experience. I'm talking about the student advisors office, I can't speak for any of the others, this is just one of the many schools at Durham. They are not really available when you need them, they are completely reluctant to help. The people I've dealt with come off as very condescending and sometimes rude and aggressive. I've gone to my student advising office 4 times, each time with a question or concern and each time I've left feeling like I didn't get exactly what I was looking for, I was rushed, I wasn't taken seriously, and I should consider myself lucky that they even spoke with me because I'm not a priority and they are busy, and many other negative feelings. I have already sought out assistance for my concerns, and was directed to the RISE program, they are phenomenal, but again there is only so much they can do. I previously attended Durham a few years ago and I did not have any of these issues with the student advisors for that program, my experience then is not even comparable to now. I guess the student experience only matters sometimes!

Also laboratory work makes up a large portion of my program, and I am very disappointed with the quality of the labs at Durham College. I'm not even referring to their physical state, I'm talking about the way they are structured and executed, very poor quality. I know how to work fast and have a sense of urgency, so I don't appreciate being told to work fast, then told I need to calm down because there is time (when there isn't, I can read a clock), then being rushed out to the point where lab equipment is being broken, not washed at all or improperly, and I feel unsafe, frustrated, and I have incomplete work and data. If the lab is that long, the lab talk at the beginning should be cut short or the lab should be split up, I had this issue last semester as well. If it is a known problem by the instructor and lecture instructor responsible for the lab that there isn't enough time to safely and properly complete the lab, I don't think that it is too unreasonable that maybe some revision needs to happen, or the outcomes need to change to make the labs manageable and SAFE. Also to be told what the "real world" is expecting is extremely frustrating. I am a mature student, I have worked out in the "real world" for many years, so I know what employers actually expect. It's a shame that Durham College believes being a full time student isn't considered "the real world". So maybe it's my previous work experience and the fact that I am a mature student that has me feeling like I have made a bad purchase by spending thousands of dollars at Durham College that I can not get a refund on. Seriously considering if I should spend anymore of my money here or take my business somewhere else that has more respect for...