Red Deer College president Joel Ward promises a year like no other.
“I think this will be a milestone year, a capstone year in this institutions’s 55-year history,” said Ward at a Wednesday news conference to talk about the upcoming school year.
“Never in our history have more things happened in so short a time.”
Last March, Premier Rachel Notley announced the government had approved a request for the college to become a degree-granting institution. Three new buildings worth a combined $125 million have been completed and seven new programs, including a four-year Applied Arts degree have been added.
However, the building is not done yet. In the spring, ground will be broken on a complex through a partnership with the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre.
The centre will provide one-stop services — counselling, health examinations, RCMP Victim Services and court supports — to traumatized children.
On top of that, the college of 7,500 is expecting another two per cent jump in enrollment in its non-apprentice programs helped by the addition of seven new programs.
Enrolment in apprenticeship programs remains flat, a victim of the prolonged downturn.
“Because of the economy because of the pipeline, all these things, the apprenticeship numbers are flat or even declining over the last three years. All of our other enrolment is up.”
Meanwhile, the college is busy putting together its transition plan to becoming a university. That will be done for October, and then the question is what the institution’s new name should be.
Red Deer College plans to get community help to come up with a suitable moniker, which must be submitted to the province by February, although a decision may come later.
With a spring election expected, Ward was asked if is concerned a change in government could affect the college’s plans.
Ward said the college has been in contact with the United Conservative Party and they support what is it trying to do.
“I do believe they might have some other priorities. There is the potential it could slow down a little bit
“There’s no indication from them at all that they would do anything to stop this from happening. So I’m very confident that this work will continue.”
Ward was joined by Paulette Hanna, vice-present academic, students’ association president Chaise Combs at the news conference.
Among the changes coming is a longer fall reading week.
“We work well with our students’ association and we’re really concerned about their needs and really try to meet them the best we can,” said Hanna.
