OCNews

One silver lining for students during the pandemic might be greater choice of College courses this fall.

Okanagan College is hosting a virtual info session at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7 to inform students and parents about the greater array of courses available to students attending the College in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke.

To register for the info session, click here or visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/infosessions. 

“The shift to online learning for many courses this fall has opened up the array of offerings that students can tap into,” explains Joan Ragsdale, Regional Dean for the Shuswap-Revelstoke. “That’s going to be a huge benefit for recent high school grads and mature students alike in the Shuswap-Revelstoke area. They can stay local, learn from home and access courses which normally they would have to travel to Vernon, Kelowna or Penticton to pursue.”

“It’s particularly exciting for students in Revelstoke, as they’re going to be able to enjoy a wider range of academic courses,” adds Ragsdale.

“We’re encouraging students to chat with one of our education advisors as soon as possible so we can help them plan their fall schedules.”

One program of note coming up in Salmon Arm this September is the College’s Human Service Work diploma, which is offered annually in Kelowna and on a rotating basis in Salmon Arm and Vernon.

“It’s very timely that we’re able to offering this program this year, as we know there is huge demand for Human Service Work graduates locally,” says Ragsdale. “It’s a health care career that you can train for in Salmon Arm and find work in Salmon Arm, so it’s a great opportunity for students looking to step into the health care field now.”

And while many courses have moved online in response to the pandemic, Ragsdale notes that the College will still offer limited physically-distanced, in-person instruction in a host of trades, science and health courses that rely on that hands-on, practical training.

“As you would expect, the College will be closely following the guidance of the Provincial Health Officer, Interior Health and the Ministry of Advanced, Education, Skills and Training to ensure the safe delivery of those in-person classes, recognizing that they are critical for students’ education and training in some disciplines.”