Students return with class
Sandeep Kagra has been hitting hammer to nails in recent weeks. Now it’s time again to hit the books.
The 35- year- old Niagara College student from Niagara Falls said the five- week strike by faculty members didn’t impact him all that much. And he said because the Christmas break will be shortened to allow for completion of the fall semester in January, he doesn’t feel as though he’ll be losing out.
For Kagra, enrolled in the civil engineering technician program, the time off felt like a vacation. Although he tried to keep up with his studies, he said he got distracted with renovating his home and taking care of his twoyearold son.
His friend Daria Femina, 18, who’s in the same program at the Welland campus, said she is feeling a bit stressed about the fallout of the strike.
Femina is an international student from St. Petersburg, Russia, attending Niagara College on a scholarship. She said she hasn’t told her parents back home about the strike because she didn’t want to worry them until it was over.
She wasn’t planning on returning to Russia for Christmas, so the new semester timeline shouldn’t affect her.
Kagra said life is about ups and downs and you just have to let things go. And that’s how he dealt with the strike.
College students returned class Tuesday after the provincial government passed backtowork legislation Sunday after both sides of the labour dispute failed to come to an agreement.
Niagara College senior communications officer Michael Wales said Tuesday was a busy day with “all hands on deck.”
Staff will expand their hours until students are settled back into their routine, he said.
Wales said administration and support staff were located throughout the college campuses to answer any questions students may have. He encouraged students with academic questions to talk to their teachers and deans. There is also information on the college website Wales suggests students take a look at if they have concerns.
Domenic Graziani, 23, and Dylan Brennand, 24, both students of the college’s public relations graduate program, say they aren’t “too upset” about the strike.
“Having school during Christmas break is not ideal … We will have finals and stuff and teachers are doing a good job at condensing things,” Graziani said.
The two students said they are happy their teachers are managing to salvage courses. They won’t be overloaded with homework, instead, they said, assignments will be weighted differently so they can complete the program.
For those who feel they can’t finish the semester, the provincial government is talking to colleges about student refunds. Students will have the chance to drop out of their program before Dec. 5, and receive a full tuition refund.
Wales said the refund is provincewide and Niagara College is expected to have more information about it the coming weeks. He said students should check the college website for information about the refund, and what implications may come with accepting it.
As for faculty, Wales said the college is “very pleased to have teachers back.”
“Our faculty are very studentfocused — they will work hard.”
Wales said mediators and arbitrators are working with teachers and Ontario Public Service Employees Union to finalize any remaining issues. But right now the college and teachers are focused on student success.
Classes will run until Dec. 22 and resume Jan. 2. The fall semester will end Jan. 10. The winter term will begin on Jan. 15.
Students or parents with questions can visit www. niagaracollege. ca/ backtoschool for more information.