(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By rdnewsNOW staff

New Era Begins

New academic year ushers in exciting changes for RDC

Sep 4, 2019 | 1:38 PM

As classes get underway for a new school year, Red Deer College begins the next phase in its evolution towards becoming a university with its new president at the helm.

Dr. Peter Nunoda is now the man leading the institution through its ongoing transition to becoming Red Deer University.

“I am very pleased to begin my new role and lead Red Deer College at this exciting time as we continue our university transition,” Nunoda said Wednesday.

“When we officially become Red Deer University, students will be able to complete their degrees in central Alberta, contributing to the economy and the culture of the entire region. That is such an important goal that we’re all working towards together, and it will have far-reaching positive impacts.”

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While RDC moves forward with its multi-year university transition, offficials say students continue to have access to the diverse offerings of more than 100 programs across a range of credentials.

One new program has been added to the mix this year, with the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Film, Theatre, and Live Entertainment welcoming its first group of students this September.

“This is the second of our new applied degree programs in the School of Creative Arts, as the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Animation and Visual Effects started last year,” says Dr. Paulette Hanna, Vice President Academic. “We’re very proud of these new programs, which were developed in collaboration with industry experts and provide students with the latest in theory and practical, applied skills to prepare them for their future careers.”

In addition, RDC officials say several other programs that started last year continue to be highly sought after, including the two-year Justice Studies diploma, which has added another section for its first-year intake due to student demand.

Students are also continuing in the Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a collaborative degree with the University of Calgary, which allows learners to complete all four years at Red Deer College.

The Human Resources Management Graduate Certificate, eLearning Instructor Post-Diploma Certificate and Adult and Higher Education Instructor Post-Diploma Certificate are also all recent program options that provide students with online pathways to complete their education.

“There is great value in a college education to prepare learners for the workforce, and we never want to lose this, so we will continue to provide students with options across a range of credentials,” Nunoda says. “As we develop our own degrees, we will look at innovative ways to design and deliver programs that will have practical and entrepreneurial components to allow students to transition seamlessly into their careers. I look forward to working with our students, community members and partners as we become Red Deer University.”

Nunoda was introduced as Red Deer College’s 11th President on June 18, 2019. He takes over from Joel Ward who previously served in the role for the past 10 years.

This year, approximately 7,500 students are enrolled in programs at RDC.

(With files from Red Deer College)