An empty hall at RDC will likely be filled to the brim by the time a new degree program starts this fall. (Supplied/SARDC)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"historic"

Province grants Red Deer College new baccalaureate degree

Mar 26, 2021 | 6:04 PM

Red Deer College officially has its first baccalaureate degree outside applied programming, a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences.

Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides made the announcement on social media late Thursday.

The news came just a day after RDC students held a demonstration, emphasizing the message that ‘RDC Needs Degrees.’

Nicolaides, who spoke with rdnewsNOW Friday, said he believes the timing of the approval and the student demonstration is purely coincidental.

The minister explained that the process for approving degrees is crucial and entirely non-political; it involves the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) peer-reviewing submissions to ensure they meet world-class standards.

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The council also monitors degree programs to ensure they’re maintaining standards.

“I’m very pleased to be able to do this, and I’ve always been supportive of Red Deer College being able to offer more degrees. It’s absolutely essential,” he says of allowing people to study, and then live and work where they grew up.

“That’s why it’s important to have collaborative degrees where we can, but in situations where collaborative arrangements with other institutions are not possible, I’m very open to looking at situations where institutions can offer a wider variety of degrees.”

Red Deer College has four other degrees currently being evaluated by the CAQC, including a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in psychology, a Bachelor of Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Education.

Nicolaides says he’ll be happy to give final approval once the council is done reviewing the remaining applications.

The institution also currently offers two applied arts bachelor degrees, one in animation and visual effects and another for film, theatre and live entertainment.

Brittany Lausen, President of the Students’ Association of Red Deer College, describes the announcement as ‘historic.’

“It’s hard not to feel like the voices of Red Deer College students applied the needed pressure for this degree to get approved,” says Lausen, whose term as president ends next month. “I think the students here should absolutely feel proud, as well as the community members who supported students in their advocacy. The noise we made was heard.”

RDC President, Dr. Peter Nunoda, says the college is excited about the opportunity to offer students degree-completion opportunities.

“The support that RDC has received from our students, employees, alumni, stakeholders and community members has been an essential aspect in the success we are realizing now with the ability to grant this new degree,” Nunoda says. “This has truly been a community effort, for the benefit of the community, as more learners will be able to study, graduate and work in the region, thanks to the enhanced program opportunities at RDC.”

The Biological Sciences degree will prepare students for careers in animal physiology, molecular genetics and heredity, botany and ecology, to name a few.

Registration will begin soon with students beginning the program in September 2021. For more information, email artscienceinfo@rdc.ab.ca or call 403-342-3400 (Toll-free: 1-888-732-4630).

Asked about RDC’s transition to a university, Nicolaides shared that the long-term picture should be clearer come the end of April, as work continues on the Alberta 2030 10-Year Strategic Plan.