Great Plains College prepares to welcome students for fall 2020
Great Plains College’s preparations for the fall 2020 semester will welcome students into a blended learning environment. Students will be offered a combination of in-person and distance/online learning environments, with the delivery model varied between specific programs and courses.
All of the college’s locations will be open and will provide a full complement of programming and services. The college is working in conjunction with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Ministry of Health and other post-secondary institutions in the province to develop plans that will emphasize the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff and the general public.
“Within the context of COVID-19 and any provincial health guidelines which will apply, our management and staff will be working hard to provide students with the best on-campus experience possible under these circumstances,” said David Keast, president and CEO of Great Plains College. “One of the major highlights of our fall re-open plan is that our blended model includes the provision of an on-campus face-to- face learning environment for students. Given the applied nature of college programming, this is a welcome development that we feel provides students an optimal experience within the safety parameters necessary.”
Keast also acknowledged the college’s preparations have included the development of contingency plans in the event that COVID-19 challenges re-appear. “Contingency plans will allow programs to quickly pivot to alternative delivery mediums should the need arise,” added Keast. “We have made investments in alternative delivery platforms and the faculty who would utilize them to provide for a seamless transition that would allow students to complete their education and training.”
The college has recognized that COVID has created some unforeseen challenges, one of which relates to student finances. To that end, the college has imposed a ‘freeze’ on all tuition, ancillary and other student fees for the 2020-21 school year. As well, the ability to apply for scholarships was previously extended an additional two months (to June 30) to allow for more students to take advantage of the monies available.
Registrations for the 2020-21 academic year are still actively being welcomed. The college encourages all prospective students to visit www.greatplainscollege.ca/programs-courses to review all of the opportunities available. Individuals looking for more information on the blended learning model and how it applies to various programs are encouraged to contact a student adviser via email at info@greatplainscollege.ca or by calling toll-free 1-866-296-2472.