Residents looking for post secondary education have more options as of this week.
On Wednesday, September 18, the doors officially opened at the new Campus Alberta location in Drumheller. The Campus is now housed in the former Chinook Credit Union space on Centre Street.
The ribbon was cut at the new location of Campus Alberta in Drumheller. The campus is officially open and welcoming residents to come check out what they have to offer. Campus Alberta executive director Jean Madill (left), Red Deer College president and CEO Joel Ward, Mayor Terry Yemen, and Drumheller Campus Alberta coordinator Dana Davidson cut the ribbon.
Mayor Terry Yemen and the president and CEO of Red Deer College cut the ribbon, welcomed everyone in attendance, and congratulated everyone on the hard work it took to open Campus Alberta.
“We have responsibilities, both Red Deer College and Olds College... One of those responsibilities is to ensure there is access to programming for people in their communities. The best way to grow and develop communities is to enable education in those communities,” said Joel Ward, president and CEO of Red Deer Colllege and chair of Campus Alberta Central Region.
The new location boasts three classrooms, video conferencing, and 26 student laptops. A number of courses are being offered, including courses for health care aides, educational assistants, early childhood development and daycare, management certificates, communications certificates. In addition, Campus Alberta will offer course upgrading and general education development (GED) programs.
Courses will offer a mixture of online components, in-class instruction, and hands on experience.
“A lot of it is blended learning, so you do some online and then, for example, the Health Care Aide does a couple days at a hospital,” said Dana Davidson, coordinator of the Drumheller Campus Alberta.
Courses could be added if enough interest is shown.
“People can tell us what they’re interested in and maybe we can bring it here. If we have six people tell us they want an electrical technologist program, we can go to Campus Alberta and try to get it here,” said Davidson.
Now that the campus is open, residents are encouraged to stop by.
“If the community is looking to do something or needs help researching, they are welcome to come in and we will help get that ball rolling,” said Davidson. “It’s a great location. It’s centralized and we’re right next to the Outreach School. We’ve definitely noticed a lot more foot traffic through the door.”
