Program - Day Two
Program
Day Two — Charting the course
Wednesday, February 4
Through collaborative workshops and interactive labs, participants can engage directly with existing practices, tools and pathways and even develop a blueprint for improving learner mobility at their own institution.
By facilitating opportunities for participants to work together — exploring new digital tools or creating ready-to-use pathways and programs — the day will identify administrative efficiencies that help institutions save time and resources. The February 4 sessions are intended to accelerate the implementation of transfer and learner mobility practices, making the day not just a professional development experience for participants, but a productive investment for institutions.
Featured speaker
Audrey Rochette, Assistant Vice President, Indigenous Initiatives, York University
Audrey is Anishinaabe from Waabadowgang-Whitesand First Nation and has held roles at University of Toronto, Sheridan College, George Brown Polytechnic, City of Toronto, Indspire, and imagineNATIVE. Having built a career on forging relationships rooted in reciprocity, Audrey has led implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action, overseen Indigenization measures as part of institutional strategic plans and, at George Brown, created an Indigenous Education Strategy.
Audrey’s graduate research focused on decolonizing museums through Indigenous voices, language and ceremony. She currently sits on several committees in different sectors, committed to reconciliation work. She is the daughter of a residential school survivor and says that her family centres her and that together they are deeply committed to reconciliation: “This is a lifelong journey. The Seven Grandfather Teachings guide me and while I’m still learning, I am a resource for this thriving community."
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Opening address: Audrey Rochette, York University
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Break
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Please note that some sessions today are full-day events, combining morning and afternoon time slots.
Experience Matters: Unlocking Occupational and Professional Programs Through PLAR – Part One
Tricia Bonner and Neil Kerby, Loyalist College
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
This is the first half of a full-day workshop. Are you looking to streamline credentialing and recognize employee skills at scale? Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on designing a bulk PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) process when working with industry partners. Using the bulk PLAR for Personal Support Workers framework, this session features interactive activities, practical templates and collaborative planning. Participants will work with real tools — checklists, rubrics, decision trees — and leave with a draft framework ready to adapt for their organization. Whether you're in HR, education or workforce strategy, this workshop offers a practical path to scalable recognition of prior learning.
Participants will:
- learn the components and workflow of a bulk PLAR process
- apply hands-on tools — such as program maps, templates, and decision trees — to assess prior learning at scale
- co-create a draft bulk PLAR framework that can be piloted or adapted for future use
Transfer Partnerships and Capacity-Building with Accredited Engineering Programs – Part One
Max Ullrich, Queen’s University
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
This is the first half of a full-day workshop. This workshop will bring together sending and receiving institutions to strengthen transfer pathways from engineering technology diplomas to accredited engineering degrees. Facilitators will share information about past ONCAT projects and the engineering transfer landscape in Canada. We will cover such topics as working with an accrediting body, implementing a new admission process, opportunities for sending institutions and visioning for the future.
Participants will:
- assess their institution’s current transfer processes
- explore insights from existing engineering transfer pathways
- discuss navigating CEAB accreditation criteria
- share strategies for building stronger partnerships and more efficient pathways
- consider future provincial collaboration
Empowering Your Institution: ONCAT Tools and Services in Practice
Leah Bernardo-Ciddio, Sienna Stock and Andrew Wilson, ONCAT
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Session description forthcoming.
Tried & Tested: Designing Strategies to Support First-Year Transfer Students
Erin Stewart Eves and Sylvia Moorthy, Trent University
9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Are you looking for fresh ideas for helping new transfer students adapt to your institution? Join us in identifying effective strategies that help new transfer students find their way at a new institution. We will include an overview of Trent’s approach from outreach to engagement to evaluation. Our strategy includes targeted communications, dedicated academic advising, social and academic programming for students and an annual transfer student experience survey.
Participants can expect:
- crowdsourcing of ideas and practices from other institutions
- brainstorming with colleagues from across the sector
- tangible strategies and models participants can take to their home institution
- a clear understanding of the resources required to make these strategies work
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent sessions
Experience Matters: Unlocking Occupational and Professional Programs Through PLAR – Part Two
Tricia Bonner and Neil Kerby, Loyalist College
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This is the second half of a full-day workshop. Are you looking to streamline credentialing and recognize employee skills at scale? Join us for a hands-on workshop focused on designing a bulk PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition) process when working with industry partners. Using the bulk PLAR for Personal Support Workers framework, this session features interactive activities, practical templates and collaborative planning. Participants will work with real tools — checklists, rubrics, decision trees — and leave with a draft framework ready to adapt for their organization. Whether you're in HR, education or workforce strategy, this workshop offers a practical path to scalable recognition of prior learning.
Participants will:
- learn the components and workflow of a bulk PLAR process
- apply hands-on tools — such as program maps, templates, and decision trees — to assess prior learning at scale
- co-create a draft bulk PLAR framework that can be piloted or adapted for future use
Transfer Partnerships and Capacity-Building with Accredited Engineering Programs – Part Two
Max Ullrich, Queen’s University
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
This is the second half of a full-day workshop. This workshop will bring together sending and receiving institutions to strengthen engineering technology to accredited engineering transfer pathways. Facilitators will share information about past ONCAT projects and the engineering transfer landscape in Canada. We will cover such topics as working with an accrediting body, implementing a new admission process, opportunities for sending institutions and visioning for the future.
Participants will:
- assess their institution’s current transfer processes
- explore insights from existing engineering transfer pathways
- discuss navigating CEAB accreditation criteria
- share strategies for building stronger partnerships and more efficient pathways
- consider future provincial collaboration
PLAR for Military-Connected Learners
CVMF3C
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Session description forthcoming.
Empowering Your Institution: ONCAT Tools and Services in Practice
Leah Bernardo-Ciddio, Sienna Stock and Andrew Wilson, ONCAT
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Session description forthcoming.
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Coffee and closing remarks