Welcome back everyone and to our new students, our orientation festivities were kicked off with sun, warmth and high spirits for the upcoming year.

Barbeque

Peter Chase from Chase Restaurant provides the food.

Riverdale Zoo

“Second Careers”  is an Ontario provincial initiative funded by the Canadian government. People who have received UI benefits  within the last 3 years or are currently unemployed and receiving benefits are eligible to apply for retraining.

Applicants, if you are considering applying to Max the Mutt   please take note that in order to have your Second Careers application accepted at the final hearing, you will need a skill base that will enable you to apply for ADVANCED STANDING into year 2 of either Illustration, or Classical and Computer Animation Basics.

It is our understanding that you will not receive funding if you need the first year “Visual Arts Literacy” skills upgrading year!

In the fall of 2008 one student did receive funding for all three years (he is now beginning year 2),  which led us to believe that our program was within the guidelines.

However, all students who applied to Max the Mutt for entry into year 1 for September 2009 have been refused funding!  They were told that Max the Mutt’s diplomas in Illustration and Animation are 3 years diplomas and Second Careers will not fund programs longer than 2 years even if the tuition and hours of instruction fall within guidelines.

It seems that Second Careers policy stating that it will fund one year of skills upgrading and 2 years of career training now ONLY includes ESL or high school equivalency courses.

Since there is literally no one we can speak to about this,  we cannot explain this decision to you. However, if you think your skill base is strong enough for Advanced Standing, by all means apply to Max the Mutt.  One student has  already been funded and is beginning year 2 Animation  this week!

NOTE:  if you do not have a strong representational fine art skill base (including perspective and structural drawing) and you want to attend Max the Mutt,  you will need to explore other options to finance your education.

We wish all of you who were accepted by us and were turned down by the government,  the best of luck and are truly sorry we can’t help. We share your disappointment.  Please accept our sincere regrets.   I’m sure the primary Second Careers counselors who approved your applications would never have done so if the policy had been clear from the beginning.  This policy decision, it would seem, was made while your applications were already in process.

Those of you who were accepted and are determined to attend Max the Mutt,  please request “roll over status” to September 2010 and ask admissions for information and assistance in applying for a scholarship/ bursary. We will do everything within our power to help you.

NEW POTENTIAL APPLICANTS: IF YOU HAVE BACKGROUND AND BASIC SKILLS AND WANT TO APPLY FOR ADVANCED STANDING INTO YEAR TWO,  WE ARE HAPPY TO RECEIVE YOUR INQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS.

Your applications will meet Second Careers guidelines.