CUC and Red Deer College Collaborate to Train Nurses

Participating in the signing ceremony were, the presidents of both
institutions, Mark Haynal, and Joel Ward, (front) and Mark Johnson,
Chair of CUC's Board of Trustees, Joy Fehr, CUC's vice president for
academic administration, Linda Moore Martin, dean of RDC's Division
of Science, Health, Sport & Education, and Brad Donaldson, RDC's vice
president for academic administration (back row, left to right).

Red Deer College and Canadian University College (CUC) have completed a unique agreement that will afford nursing students the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of both campuses.

The unprecedented four-year agreement, signed earlier today, will provide up to eight seats for CUC students to join RDC students in the University of Alberta Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Red Deer College. While students will continue to live at the university campus of CUC, they will take their courses at RDC where they will work to attain the degree.  The agreement targets students who would typically opt for a faith-based education, but are also interested in RDC’s renowned BScN program.

Mark Haynal, CUC President, is excited about the opportunity this collaboration with Red Deer College provides for CUC students. “Canadian University College students want to serve theircommunities with confidence, competence, and compassion. Many of our students and their families regard professions in the health care field as an important way to meet their communities’ needs.  The opportunity to earn a nursing degree at Red Deer College while living on the Canadian University College campus allows our students to realize their dreams of compassionate service.”

For additional information please read Lacombe Express coverage of this event found here.

Students first apply to CUC, and, once accepted, are eligible to go through the competitive entry process for entry into the BScN program at RDC. They must meet the program requirements outlined by RDC.

With the current shortage of registered nurses in Alberta, post-secondary institutions like RDC are working to find innovative ways to increase seats in already over-subscribed programs in the province.

The agreement is inspired by Campus Alberta, a provincial government concept introduced in 2002. The concept encourages Alberta’s post-secondary institutions to work together to make Alberta’s post-secondary system a leader. RDC President Joel Ward says the agreement is at the core of Campus Alberta values.“This agreement is an excellent example of the collaboration that’s possible between post-secondary institutions in the province,” he says. “We’re always striving to create the learning experience that fits each student’s needs, and CUC came to us with an excellent opportunity to do just that.”

Red Deer College has offered the BScN through an agreement with the University of Alberta since 1990. Though the degree is conferred by the University of Alberta, students are able to complete all of their coursework at RDC. Along with the eight seats opened through the agreement, RDC currently offers 96 seats in the program.

The agreement officially commences on March 1 of this year.

Chan Shun Science Centre will Fully Reopen April 15

Restoration work has begun in the Chan Shun Science Centre, which sustained significant water damage as the result of a small explosion and fire in October.  Claims Adjuster Neil Hagerty estimates that two labs will be available for use by January 21 and restoration of the rest of the building completed by April 15.

"We will be back in our physics, biology and chemistry labs on January 21," said Dr. Bruce Buttler, dean of the division of science.  "In addition to those two labs, classrooms 115 and 215 in the east-west wing will reopen January 17, at specified times, for use for student labs and projects."  Although some portions of the east-west wing will be opening soon, the entire north-south wing, atrium, computer lab, and other popular study areas of the building will not reopen until April 15.

"We plan to have reopening party when the work is fully completed," said Bonita Campbell, administrative assistant for the Chan Shun Science Centre.  "Everyone on campus has been affected in some way by the temporary loss of this building, so the celebration will include the entire campus!"

"Bonita Campbell, who spent a great deal of extra time re-scheduling all classes that were using the science centre, is just one of many individuals we want to thank for helping us get through this crisis," said Dr. Buttler.  "We are also very grateful for the help we received from James Ng, Tammy Clarke, Ron Schafer, Julie Grovet, Darrell Huether, Reo Ganson, Joy Fehr and Larry Murrin."

While emergency salvage and clean-up work was done in the Chan Shun Science Centre immediately after the fire, because chemicals were involved in the fire, inspectors did not allow adjusters and contractors to enter the building to fully assess the damage and bid on repairing it until November.  Commencement of repair work was again delayed when extra time was needed to carefully review the bids due to significant differences in the proposed costs.  The cost to repair the damaged portions of the Chan Shun Science Centre is projected to be just over $523,000.  

"Although it will take longer than first expected to fully restore the Chan Shun Science Centre, we are very thankful for the service provided by our insurance company, Travelers Insurance, and their agent Neil Hagerty, of Crawford & Company who is the adjuster on this claim," said Darrell Huether, vice president for financial administration. "From the initial response on October 10 to when the restoration will be fully completed, Darren Bishop, director of plant services, and his staff have taken on the extra work and coordination required to oversee the project and liaison with Ryan Bedford of Belfor Property Restoration who is caring for the clean up and restoration."