The post-secondary college run by the Surrey School District has been significantly downsized, reduced to just three courses from the dozens it once offered.
Surrey Community College, located near 140 Street and 92 Avenue, has been in operation since 2003.
When it first opened, the college was touted as a post-secondary institution that would compete with other independent colleges. At one time, it offered as many as 35 different career-oriented courses in numerous fields, including graphic design, dental receptionist, horticulture and photography.
There are now just three courses remaining: Education Assistant (EA), Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Support Worker and Hairdressing.
“We’re really trying to realign our work… back to the K to 12 students,” explained Daniel To, Surrey College principal.
He said while the mandate of the college when it opened a dozen years ago was to offer more post-secondary opportunities in Surrey, there are now myriad institutions doing the same and enrolment in many Surrey College programs slowly dwindled as a result.
The focus now, said To, is to get back to the core work of educating students in kindergarten through Grade 12.
The three remaining programs may be post-secondary, he said, but directly benefit children and teens in Surrey public schools.
The two-term EA program prepares grads to work as learning assistants with classroom teachers in elementary and high schools. The ABA programs also two terms and provides expertise to work with autistic children in schools.
Training in both programs includes practicums where college students get hands-on experience in Surrey classrooms.
He acknowledged that while other local colleges and universities offer EA programs, having students trained at the school-district run college provides confidence, local experience and on-site teacher references.
“The idea is that we have strong EAs that we turn out ourselves and that we put back in our schools to work with our students.”
As for the Hairdressing program, To said it has been kept because it is a continuation of a career education program offered to Surrey high school students. It also allows those who don’t get in to the highly competitive program in Grade 12 to pursue it after graduation. As well, notes To, the next closest hairdressing school is in Vancouver, so the Surrey campus is in high demand.
Surrey College is accredited by the Private Career Training Institutions Agency of BC, so students can apply for provincial and federal loans just as they would at other major colleges and universities.
Students attending the college pay tuition and the Surrey School District receives no per-pupil government funding. The district would receive any profits from college programs, but for the last four or five years the college has barely broken even.
To is confident the new, tighter focus will be successful.
“The programs are good, they’re all self-sustaining and they’re all able to service our students and the community as well,” he said.
For more information, check www.surreycollege.ca