(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

mostly NOT COVID-19-related

Red Deer College suspends applications for five programs

Apr 27, 2020 | 2:04 PM

Red Deer College has made the “difficult” decision to suspend applications to five of its programs.

However, President Dr. Peter Nunoda says the reasoning for most of the suspensions is not what many may assume.

“These programs are not being suspended due to COVID-19 or budget implications,” he says. “RDC regularly reviews all of our program offerings to ensure that resources are being used wisely to meet student and employer needs. When enrolments are low or declining, it is always our responsibility to make decisions that will support RDC’s long-term sustainability.”

For the Instrumentation Engineering Technology Diploma, the specific reasoning is a short-term budget shortfall that does, in fact, have to do with COVID-19, as international students are integral to the program. Suspension of applications for this program is anticipated to be short-term.

Nunoda notes as well that the review and suspension of these particular programs is an entirely separate matter from the transition to university status.

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Suspended programs include:

• Instrumentation Engineering Technology Diploma

• Acting and Live Entertainment majors within the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Film, Theatre and Live Entertainment (note: students in the Film Production major are not impacted by this decision)

• Media Studies and Professional Communication Diploma

• Adult and Higher Education Instructor Post-Diploma Certificate

• eLearning Instructor Post-Diploma Certificate

Nunoda says these decisions were not made lightly.

“We’ve looked at a wide variety of options and scenarios for these programs,” he says. “Any time that a program is cut, it has an impact on people, whether students, faculty or staff, and that’s something we take very seriously. For these programs, all faculty and staff who are impacted have been informed, as have current students, who we will be working with to support in their educational pathways.”

Nunoda shares that for these five programs, enrolment was less than half of what is required to keep them sustainable.

The college says for students registered in these programs already, pathways will differ depending on the program and the future goals of individuals.

“Students in the first year of the two diploma programs and those in the eLearning Instructor Post-Diploma Certificate, for example, will have the opportunity to complete their programs and graduate in June 2021,” a media release explains. “Students in the degree programs may elect to switch majors or transfer to another program, as best fits their situation. RDC’s leaders and staff will continue to support them with these processes. No new students will be accepted to the programs for September 2020, and those who have applied are being contacted by the Office of the Registrar.”

Nunoda adds that no matter the reason for the suspensions, the college understands that people have personal and emotional connections to them, however administration need to be good stewards for the sustainable operation of the college going forward.