ALGONQUIN COLLEGE
Algonquin College graduates join Queen's University peers through engineering diploma-to-degree pathway

Algonquin College joins the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) in celebrating the inaugural cohort of students in the Smith Engineering Bridge pathway, who have successfully transitioned from a diploma to a degree program and joined their peers in the Smith Engineering Faculty. 

The bridge pathway is a route for graduates of an advanced diploma in Engineering Technology to transfer into an upper year of the civil, mining, mechanical or chemical degree programs offered by Smith Engineering at Queen's University. This pathway is a faster and more cost-effective route to becoming a professional engineer in Ontario, in comparison to completing a standalone degree after college. 

This September, 13 graduates from six Ontario colleges have started their civil engineering studies in third year at Queen's University, working towards a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Engineering. Prior to joining their classmates on campus this fall, these students completed two online courses part-time and then a full-time summer semester of foundational curriculum to help them smoothly transition to the campus environment and university dynamic.  

Adrienne Galway, President and CEO of ONCAT, shared her perspective on the program's impact, "The completion of this bridging program represents a significant milestone for these students as they continue their journey in higher education, with their eyes on future careers. We encourage other Ontario institutions to explore similar opportunities that promote inclusivity and accessibility, enhancing a more equitable educational landscape for all students." 

"This agreement is an innovative pathway for students recognizing the value of a polytechnic education," said Julie Beauchamp, Senior Vice President, Academic at Algonquin College. "Algonquin College is pleased to engage in partnerships that support student mobility and diploma-to-degree pathway achievement of educational and career goals, and we are thrilled to see students already accessing this pathway." 

"I would like to thank ONCAT and Queen's University for their terrific work in providing more flexible post-secondary options for Ontario's future engineers," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "By making it easier for students to transfer their credits between post-secondary programs and institutions, we can help students get where they want to go - no matter where they begin - and secure high-demand jobs." 

Students in this year's cohort are graduates from the following colleges: St. Lawrence College, Algonquin College, Mohawk College, Seneca Polytechnic, Humber Polytechnic and Durham College. However, graduates of any Engineering Technology program are eligible to apply to the pathway. 

The development of the Smith Engineering Bridge pathway was funded by ONCAT.