Countdown to college

The Labrador West campus already has a healthy number of takers for its nine courses; with 160 students signed up (to date).

Sawyer, the campus’s administrator, said he is pleased with the interest so far and expects even higher numbers as registration day (Aug. 31) approaches.

“All three of our trades programs are filled [welding, millwright and electrical] and there are waiting lists,” he said. “But there is still some seats available for the other courses we offer.”

The two-year Office Administration Program is getting close to the fill mark and the Mining Technician Program has about 20 seats taken.

“We can accommodate about 45 in the Mining Tech (MT) Program,” said Sawyer who acknowledged the enrolment numbers have dropped from previous years.

Sawyer understands the dynamics have changed considerably since the heyday of the program. IOC officials came in and conducted interviews at the campus and, pretty well, hired all graduates from the program.

Major equipment on the way

But even with the numbers down somewhat, the attention on the specialized program has not slackened and an upcoming significant investment into the MT Program has Sawyer quite excited.

“We have gotten funding to purchase three, state-of-the art haul truck simulators,” he said with excitement in his voice. “That is very good news for us because students will be able operate in various conditions, it allows them more seat time on the trucks and the time spent on the simulator counts as operating hours. These simulators are very impressive.”

Sawyer said it’s good to have these specialized learning tools and equipment (required by the industry) available to students because the college is noted for its mining program.

“Tenders are ready to go out, so we are hoping to have them here by the end of the year,” he said of acquiring the new simulators.

Potential partner

Partnering with industry is something Sawyer is hoping to expand on even more. He said he’s been approached by Dexter (Municipal Group of Companies) who has the contract for the Labrador Iron Mines mining operations near Shefferville.

“The are interested in partnering with us (CNA) for a heavy equipment operator program,” Sawyer explained. “We would be responsible for the classroom portion and making sure the proper training and instruction is completed while they would take care of the hands-on training.”

It’s a venture, he said, that’s has potential and it will be seriously considered.

New College

With a new college well into construction and targeted for occupancy by Sept of 2011, Sawyer is anxious to bring his administration to the new facility.

“We will have 10 classrooms [in the new building] as well as a computer lab, a physics and chemistry lab,” he said. “A big thing is the new building will have a lecture theatre, we didn’t have that here. But the most exciting thing for me is, it will be all new and I am looking forward to the new shops. We have run out of shop space here in this building, so the shops I think are what I am most happy about…they going to be impressive because they are modernized and spacious and we had a say in how they’d be organized.”

Accommodation challenges

If Sawyer had gotten all he wanted in a new college, a student residence would certainly be included. The college does see some students come from the Labrador Coast but the bulk of the students are local and very few come from outside Labrador.

“You don’t really know how much of an impact [the absence of a residence] has,” he said. “Most people are local or some who come in have relatives and friends they can stay with or help them find a place.”

The concern for housing goes beyond just students, he pointed out.

“We are having a lot of problems finding accommodations for staff as well,” added Sawyer. “A lot of our new staff come from outside and it’s more difficult to find accommodations if you are not in here. Many [newly-hired staff], who have families, don’t want to come in here and run the risk of not finding a place.”

Night classes

In the meantime, the news is good for what’s on the horizons for the college in Labrador West. As with other years, there will be a number of night courses offered again this year such as Yoga, computer programs and whatever else draws enough interest to fill seats.

“We invite people to make suggestions as to what they’d like to see offered in classes,” said Sawyer. “Usually if we can get 8 to 10 people, we offer the class.”

And more

The ABE (Adult Basic Education) Program will be offered again this year as well as the University Transfer Program and the CAS Transition, which is new.

“The Comprehensive Arts and Science [CAS] is a preparatory program,” he explained. “It’s for someone, for example, who has a high school diploma but perhaps their marks aren’t high enough to get into a particular program. So it’s an upgrading and it’s new for us. We have done it in the past but it wasn’t really official until this year.”

Regular classes will commence at the college Sept. 7.

“I am anticipating a good year,” said Sawyer. “The numbers are good and we are getting some significant new equipment. And, if all goes according to schedule, we will be in the new building a year from now.”