Red Deer College is a very attractive date.
Those were the words of Mount Royal University president Dr. David Docherty, who was thrilled about a union that will allow students to obtain a bachelor of business administration degree while attending Red Deer College.
“This is a fabulous institution, we are proud of our association with Red Deer College and we think this makes sense,” he said. “This is all about the students and the learners.”
Red Deer College officially signed a partnership agreement with Mount Royal University during a celebration at its downtown Millennium Centre campus, home of the Donald School of Business, on Friday.
The morning celebration was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas and Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, local business professionals, alumni and representatives from both RDC and Mount Royal University.
At the end of four years, students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree credential, granted by Mount Royal University. The first degree-holders will be celebrated at RDC’s 50th convocations ceremonies in June 2014.
Wendy Wiebe, second-year RDC business student, is especially excited about the partnership as she plans on staying in Red Deer after she graduates from the degree program.
“We don’t have to leave here now,” she said. “There are a lot of students here who have families, there are single moms, so it’s awesome for all of us.”
In order to get her Certified General Accountant designation, Wiebe and other business students would have had to move to either Lethbridge, Edmonton or Calgary.
“People leave and they go to the big centres and don’t come back and it is unfortunate,” Wiebe said.
But two weeks after Mount Royal University’s board of governors approved the agreement, RDC filled its first third year with a cohort of 25 students.
If there is more interest, RDC president Joel Ward said they will add a second section. He said RDC anticipates they will graduate more than 100 bachelor of business administration students each year over the next three of four years.
“A business degree, we felt, was the next most important for learners in Central Alberta and with our partners at Mount Royal University that dream came true,” he said.
“We are very much interested in having more discussions about potential other collaborations. We think there are many more opportunities, maybe science, fine arts. We are starting to look at those as we speak,” Ward said.
Approximately 1,900 students have left RDC to complete their studies somewhere else. To keep those students in Central Alberta and to also prepare for an influx of 100,000 people in the next 12 years, Ward said the collaboration was especially important.
“We have to be prepared for the folks who are coming to Central Alberta and be able to provide them with post-secondary opportunities,” he said.
Dean of the Donald School of Business Joanne Packham could also barely contain her excitement. She said they really began pushing for the partnership last September and heard it could become reality in November.
“To say that I am excited is an understatement,” she said.
RDC’s Donald School of Business is accepting applications for the degree program classes that will start in September. Applications are available online at www.rdc.ab.ca or by calling 403-342-3400.
jjones@www.reddeeradvocate.com