instructor

clinical instructor

admissions advisor

nurse coordinator

director of science

Oulton College

As a dedicated instructor at Oulton College for six years, I am privileged to provide a firsthand account of my experience within this esteemed institution. Teaching in a field I am deeply passionate about, particularly within the Veterinary Technician program, has been profoundly fulfilling. Witnessing students apply their knowledge and skills with confidence is a testament to the quality education imparted here. The culture at Oulton College is generally positive, fostering a supportive environment where colleagues collaborate and uplift one another. However, I believe there is room for improvement in enhancing communication and closer interaction between management and the other departments throughtout the College. While I appreciate the autonomy afforded to us, more frequent check-ins and support initiatives could further strengthen our sense of community and belonging. Opportunities for professional growth are available, although compensation remains a concern, particularly amidst rising living costs. Competitive salaries are crucial for attracting and retaining talented staff who are essential to maintaining the college’s reputation for excellence. One of the most significant strengths of Oulton College is the outstanding support network among colleagues. The camaraderie and encouragement received from fellow instructors have been invaluable throughout my tenure. While reflecting on areas for enhancement, I recognize the importance of prioritizing mental health training for staff and students alike. As mental health concerns continue to grow, equipping educators with the necessary tools to support students effectively is imperative. Additionally, addressing any gaps in the quality of incoming students could further enhance the educational experience for all stakeholders involved. As both an instructor and an alumnus, I take immense pride in being associated with Oulton College. My journey here has been enriching, and I am grateful for the opportunities for personal and professional development that this institution has provided. In conclusion, Oulton College is a place of learning and growth, with dedicated staff committed to nurturing the next generation of professionals. With continued investment in staff support, competitive compensation, and resources for mental health education, Oulton College can further solidify its position as a leading institution in the field of education.

Pros: Co-instructors truly care about student success; very supportive team mates. Lots of paid vacation time. Christmas staff parties are nice and paid for by owners.
Cons: Owners only care about money; they do not seem to care if students are not right for the field or have failed classes. They will do anything to push them through, including encouraging instructors to modify course content to make it easier to enable students to pass, when in reality they shouldn't. This makes it hard on instructors who care about graduating capable, strong students. Instructors try their best to get students to pass but students who 1) openly cheat/plagiarize, 2) have criminal records which will bar them from entering their field of study, and 3) fail their on-the-job training are seen as no big deal and instructors are pressured to push them through so the college keeps getting the student's money. It's hard to keep morale high when every policy you try to enforce gets push-back from management. They would rather take students' money and put out unsuitable students. There is a reason Oulton has the reputation it does. There is also a reason employers do not like to take Oulton students. The EAP program is also a joke - takes months to speak to a counselor. Students in crisis are forced to wait weeks for some sort of support and end up turning to school staff who are untrained to deal with mental health issues. They desperately need an actual person like a guidance counselor or school psychologist, but of course that costs money so they will never hire one.

Pros, 2 week Christmas vacation, paid holidays.   Cheap food at their cafeteria. No nights or weekends. Professional development as is required by the province. Nice clean facility. 

Cons, paid for 7.5 hours per day however it is expected that everyone works for free after hours, your nights and weekends will be spent in front of a computer working. 

They give you 2 additional weeks vacation on top of Christmas and regular holidays but no one ever gets to take them as they always get denied and they do not pay out vacation.

 They claim they pay competitive wages but they do not reflect what your occupation would pay outside of the college, it’s competitive compared to what other colleges pay, I make more money doing the actual work I was teaching the students to do. 

They claim they pay “bonuses” however no one that I’ve ever worked with has ever received a bonus. 

Extremely micro managed. 

Not enough staff so your doing the work of 2 or three people. It’s a constant revolving door of new staff. 

Lack of investment in programs needs, a lot of the different programs equipment is broken and has been for a long time. 

Not uncommon to be working until 11pm or midnight as the college requires. 

Was employed from 2018-2022

This workplace is beyond toxic. The amount of job listings should tell you just how high the turnover is. Above all is the unethical admission of students and lack of requirements which makes it impossible to honestly graduate students. Then instructors are held responsible for students who are unsuccessful. The level of stress and lack of response and support from management is appalling. If you value your mental health, family and values do yourself a favour and do anything else. On top of everything, instructors are all paid differently depending on their field of study, despite doing the same job, same stress and same outcomes which is despicable. Zero value for employees, they are completely dispensable and will only kept a job if they keep their mouths shut about the unethical and frankly theft of their students. Management yells, swears and flat out abuses employees and upper management refuses to deal with official complaints of harassment.

A typical day at work is a mix of teaching, supporting and fostering education for future students. I have grown tremendously in my career here as an instructor; and I enjoy fostering the growth of my students. I really enjoy the management (both at my direct level; and the top tier), I feel like you don't get the support, and "extra fun" benefits of other things anywhere else or the time off during the holiday's that mean the most when you have young kids. There is amazing teamwork among my team, and they are a great bunch of people to work with. I will say the hardest part of the job is getting all the prep time needed to prepare a course when you first take it on, and having enough prep time to mark after student assignment's are due (when you have cohorts of 35+ students, it becomes time consuming beyond what you are given). So sometimes I find myself working extra at home outside of working/paid hours. 

The workplace environment at Oulton college is supportive, and the team is collaborative. I’m having the opportunity to develop my organizational, communication, and time management skills while contributing to meaningful academic operations. The workload is demanding, but manageable and leadership is approachable and values employee input. I also appreciate the emphasis on work-life balance and professional development. Overall, it's a great place to grow, learn, and make a difference in a vibrant educational community.

A typical work day involves in depth IT discussions and presentations. The current IT course provided (SMC) well prepares a student to enter the current work force seamlessly, and be a productive team player. The instructional staff are extremely experienced and provide an IT environment superior to anyone else. The workplace culture is to provide as much information and experience to students, to ensure their success in the workforce and future endeavors. Working here is all about the staff. If you have a dream job but difficult staff, you will dislike it, however the opposite is true here, and the staff are amazing. The hardest part about the job is the resistance of managers to discipline and solve problem student issues, and put it back on the instructors, as it's all about the tuition money.

So Oulton, grew up too fast and needed some adjustment to develop processes. But the last year lot of work has been made. I am in charge of a department, and appreciate the independency and the trust I have from ownership. Couldn't handle red tapes to slow down solution resolutions. 
My team and I got salaries review and were able to get nice adjustment link to our performance. From all the staff I have seen. If you wait all day to get your job served and work on it, it is not for you. Come with a vision approved and make it happens.  It is up to you to bring solution to a problem, not pass the hot potato to the next person, then senior management will help you to make it happens.
It is not different from private companies I used to work, but it is not a government entity, so you are linked to results (pretty obvious!). 
Christmas vacation and Easter are nice. Lot of investment in the facility.

I have had the privilege of working at Oulton College for about two years, and I can doubtless say that this is a fantastic place to work. This organization has consistently provided me with a supportive and inclusive environment where I feel valued and motivated every day.
Whenever I feel that my contributions are recognized and appreciated, I am always heard. I am grateful for the constant motivation and support I receive from my manager and company owners.
My experience at this college has been nothing short of exceptional. I look forward to enjoying the future in this supportive and inspiring environment. 
I highly recommend this workplace to anyone looking for a fulfilling and satisfying career.

As an instructor in the health sciences faculty, my day consists of time spent in the laboratory, clinic, and classroom. Some days start as early as 7:30 am, and some may end in the evening, however I do not exceed 35-40 hours a week, with full benefits, and good compensation. Our team is friendly and work together when needed and support one another. I really enjoy spending time with the students and getting to know them, it can be hard if they are having a bad day or are overwhelmed with the heavy workload. The college provides counselling through a 3rd party company if needed, which is a great resource for some students. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Instructor 9 salaries reported	$52,889 per year
Clinical instructor 5 salaries reported	$53.00 per hour
Admissions advisor 3 salaries reported	$45,667 per year
Nurse coordinator 1 salary reported	$95,000 per year
Director of science 2 salaries reported	$41.90 per hour

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