Xiyan, Kingstec Campus
Xiyan, Kingstec Campus
Focusing on student success
Helping students succeed in their programs and thrive in the workplace is paramount. The College is implementing a new Student Supports framework that focuses on student preparedness, with an emphasis on early supports for college readiness and targeted supports throughout the student lifecycle.
Increasing early supports
Ensuring students have the support they need early is critical for long-term student success. This is why the College is focusing on early connections to help students before they start their program. This includes services such as career exploration, pre- and post-admission assessments, program readiness, orientation to college-level learning, accommodation intake and planning, and financial preparation.
Improving retention with targeted supports
Student retention is being improved by delivering coordinated, targeted supports. These include resources supporting wellbeing, tutoring and academic support, testing services, accommodation implementation, counselling, care navigation and financial support. The Student Wellness Champion initiative continued to thrive over the last academic year, supporting student mental health and wellbeing, peer-to-peer engagement and academic success. Plans are in place to build similar peer-mentorship and community building programs for designated communities, including Mi’kmaq and Indigenous students, African Nova Scotia and Black students, students with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ students and international students.
Supporting transition to employment
Workforce attachment is being supported by providing integrated career supports. These include resume and interview preparation, networking opportunities, career fairs, employer connections, and services available both before and after graduation.
Building capacity for culturally-responsive supports
The College continues to advance equity and Reconciliation, and are embedding equity-focused and first-voice roles across key teams. Targeted supports will be provided for Mi’kmaq and Indigenous students, African Nova Scotian and Black students, students with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ students and international students. Within the Student Supports team, two dedicated offices will be established: one for the Mi’kmaq and Indigenous community and one for the African Nova Scotian and Black community.
Xiyan, Kingstec Campus
Students leading a provincial wellness movement
NSCC’s Student Wellness Champion initiative is the first provincial student-led model in Canada. It has grown from a two-campus pilot to a framework now used by 11 NSCC campuses and 10 additional post-secondary institutions. This year, Champions delivered over 200 wellness events, engaging students and strengthening peer-to-peer mental health support, wellbeing and academic success. NSCC is now expanding this model through new peer-mentorship and community building programs for designated communities and international students.
”Through this initiative, our campuses have become more inclusive and welcoming, with students feeling a stronger sense of belonging and support. My peers look forward to our weekly wellness events, which have helped encourage conversations around mental health and increased awareness of resources and supports on campus.”
– Xiyan, Kingstec Campus
NSCC students engaged in peer-to-peer wellness activities
of programs include work-integrated learning