By Sheldon Spackman

Online Learning

RDC welcomes learners for “unique” academic year

Sep 8, 2020 | 11:32 AM

Another school year is underway at Red Deer College with the majority of its roughly 6,200 students enrolled for online learning this fall.

College officials say there are approximately 13 per cent fewer first-year students enrolled in credit courses and programs for the Fall 2020 Term, with the decrease largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RDC President Dr. Peter Nunoda estimates about 5,500 students are taking their studies virtually for now, with the rest back on campus taking classes in small cohorts.

“We have limited numbers of our trades and apprenticeship and some of our health science, as well as science students in face-to-face situations,” he explains.

Several programs, however, have experienced increased enrolment for Fall 2020. Early Learning and Child Care Certificate and Diploma enrolment is up approximately 21 per cent, Legal Assistant Diploma enrolment is expected to increase by about 8 per cent, and the Justice Studies Diploma enrolment has grown by about 18 per cent.

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“This past year has brought some uncommon challenges with the global pandemic, but I have been impressed by the ability of our students, faculty, staff and employees to adapt and persevere throughout these unprecedented circumstances, bolstering the unwavering spirit of our entire College community,” Nunoda says.

There will be far less foot traffic on RDC’s campuses for its 57th academic year, but a limited number of shops and labs are taking place where deemed as critical to student learning outcomes. Most services for students will also continue to be provided through online interactions. However, areas such as the library, fitness and wellness services, and some food services will be provided in-person.

RDC’s Residences are also open, filled to about 30 per cent capacity for fall, with many students deferring their stay in residences until winter semester. Health and safety protocols will be in place and face coverings will be mandatory for on-campus visitors in common areas at RDC, and when physical distancing is not possible.

Even with the changes, Nunoda is confident that students will be able to benefit from the host of valuable learning opportunities available.

“Instructors have been diligently preparing and tailoring their lessons specifically for the online format and students continue to have access to the diverse breadth of more than 100 academic programs,” he points out.”

In January, RDC’s Donald School of Business will move from its downtown location in the Millennium Centre back to main campus. However, RDC’s downtown campus will remain well-used as the School of Continuing Education will utilize this space, continuing to provide benefits to learners and close connections with business leaders and organizations in the downtown core.

“RDC’s wide scope of programs, which were developed in collaboration between academic and industry experts, provide students with the latest in theory and applied skills to prepare them for their future careers,” says Kylie Thomas, RDC’s new Vice President Academic & Research. “This is an exciting time for me to join RDC. As we proceed on our journey to become Red Deer University, opportunities for learners will continue to grow, providing opportunities for them to complete their degrees in central Alberta, contributing to the economy and the culture of the entire region.”

In terms of tuition costs for students, Dr. Nunoda says no adjustments have been made as of yet.

“With the summer to really enhance delivery of online education, the students are getting a very, very high quality experience,” says Nunoda.

University status is another area where Nunoda says work remains ongoing and currently in a wait-and-see mode.

“The Government of Alberta has embarked upon what they’re calling a system review of post-secondary education in this province,” says Nunoda. “My public message is university status is going forward, but we need to wait for the system review to be complete to understand what the timelines actually look like. We should have a preliminary report towards the end of November and we should have a final report – latest January 2021.”

For RDC Athletics, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) has suspended competition during the 2020 Fall term due to COVID-19. An adjusted conference schedule for RDC teams is anticipated to begin in January. Cross country running and soccer are delayed until spring.

In addition to a full slate of home games, RDC is slated to host the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship from Feb. 25-27, 2021 and ACAC Women’s Basketball Championship from March 4-6, 2021.

Last month, RDC parted ways with Athletic Director Diane St-Denis as the college considers the program’s future.

Dr. Nunoda concludes he’s optimistic about keeping the College’s doors open during this time of uncertainty.

“The safety of our students and our staff is our number one priority. So we’re putting all the measures in place to both monitor and clean effectively. I am very hopeful that sooner rather than later, perhaps as early as January 2021, we get back to a more normal environment.”