The ALCDSB and Loyalist College sign MOU to strengthen their international education program

Napanee, ON, June 22, 2022 – The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) welcomed Loyalist College President and CEO, Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, to the Board office Tuesday evening to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The MOU is a partnership between the College and the Board with a shared goal of increasing and diversifying international student enrolment in the ALCDSB and at the College. By adding English as a Second Language (ESL) to the existing list of courses offered through Loyola, the Board’s Adult and Continuing Education program, the ALCDSB will support international students by creating seamless pathways for students between the two educational institutions.

“The partnership aims to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of international student recruitment in both the School Board and the College, by reducing duplication of English language course offerings and leveraging our shared resources,” said David DeSantis, Director of Education for the ALCDSB. “We are very excited to be entering into this agreement. The ALCDSB is confident that through this process we will identify more opportunities for future collaborations,” he said.

The signing took place during the June 21, 2022, Public Meeting of the ALCDSB in Napanee, where both institutions declared their common commitment to building a solid, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnership. The MOU outlines the development and delivery of mutually beneficial programs and initiatives that support the mandate and vision of both partners. The agreement, if not terminated by either party, will continue for a period of five years.

“Loyalist College is thrilled to sign this MOU with the ALCDSB,” said Dr. Vaughan. “As Loyalist builds on its Destination College vision, we are always looking for new ways to expand and create seamless pathways and expand access to postsecondary education for international students. Together, Loyalist and ALCDSB will be able to ensure our respective organizations are building a solid, sustainable foundation from which to provide students with exceptional academic experiences.”

The fee structure, location, and delivery of the ESL courses have not yet been confirmed. The ALCDSB will provide delivery of courses to align with the College’s intake calendar so that courses are available to students ahead of their semester, helping students to be better prepared for their postsecondary experience.

The College will continue to accept the successful completion of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) at the Board for admission to certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs at the College.  A graduate with the credential will not be required to produce an English language proficiency test score such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). However, all ESL classes will be taught by a certified Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) instructor and will follow Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Standards of Practice.

​The ALCDSB serves approximately 12,000 students, employs over 1,400 full-time equivalent staff and covers a geographical area of more than 16,000 square kilometres.

The ALCDSB builds faith-filled learning communities where each member is loved, inspired, and successful.

Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs.

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Media Contacts:
Kelly Taylor
Communications Officer
The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board
ktaylor@alcdsb.on.ca

Braden Root-McCaig
Director, Marketing and Communications
Loyalist College
647-523-4300
brootmccaig@loyalistcollege.com