Regional Stewardship

Bow Valley College serves 1.3 million residents in the province of Alberta-from High River to Cremona and from the British Columbia border to Cluny. You’ll find us in places as different as 6th Avenue SE in downtown Calgary and Railway Avenue in Canmore. If you live in Acme, Irricana, Waiparous, or dozens of other hamlets, villages, or towns we’re as close as your keyboard.

To enhance services and supports for rural and remote learners, the College introduced full-service computer support to all rural locations, dedicated technology support through an online help phone program, and regular counselling and specialized support site visits to Aboriginal and rural campuses.

Listening to Our Region
As part of the College Regional Stewardship mandate and strategy, the College undertook a survey of its southern Alberta constituents to determine needs related to regional adult education and labour market needs. Outcomes from the survey were shared at The Partnering on Solutions Conference which took place in High River, AB on May 19, 2010. Representatives from communities, government, and business were in attendance, as well as members of the public-at-large. The keynote speaker, Dr. Roger Gibbins, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, stressed that the needs of communities differ one from the other and that the challenge-and the answer-lies in community outreach and engagement.

Enhancing Access Through Innovation and Partnerships
Together with government, a network of partners, and community supports, Bow Valley College is developing innovative adult education programs and services in Calgary and its surrounding region that equip people for lifelong learning and full participation in Alberta’s economy. We’re working together to ensure our efforts complement community efforts. Innovate online efforts are greatly enhanced for the offerings at eCampusAlberta. Efforts with partners like the Alberta Rural Development Network will enable the College to investigate health workforce development in rural Alberta, community consultation, engage post-secondary institutions in regional stewardship, and the role of employers in expanding post-secondary education in the region.

Next Steps
Throughout 2010-2011, the College will be implementing the BVC regional educational representative role in Strathmore, Okotoks, and Cochrane. These representatives will be the College’s eyes and ears, ensuring the post-secondary needs of the communities are understood by the College and that the regional stewardship role of the College is understood in the communities.

Locations
Bow Valley College currently offers onsite learning opportunities in:

Top Online Enrolment by Location
Bow Valley College believes in any time, any place, any path, any pace learning as exemplified by the numbers of BVC online learners in these communities:

• 1,432 Calgary
• 121 Edmonton
• 89 Airdrie
• 80 Fort McMurray
• 44 Canmore
• 32 Red Deer
• 26 Okotoks
• 20 Lethbridge
• 19 Banff
• 19 Strathmore
• 18 Cochrane
• 15 High River

Community Engagement in Post-Secondary Education Solutions project
During Spring 2011, Bow Valley College and its partners conducted a series of community consultations in Okotoks, Cochrane, Strathmore, and High River. The Community Engagement in Post-Secondary Education Solutions project was designed to conduct an in-depth exploration of the adult education learning priorities of rural learners and smaller communities. In keeping with the College’s regional stewardship mandate, the information gathered will be used to inform the delivery of affordable, accessible and relevant post-secondary education opportunities to local communities and rural residents in the Calgary region. The project report can be downloaded here.

Enhancing Access Through Innovation and Partnerships
Together with government, a network of partners, and community supports, Bow Valley College is developing innovative adult education programs and services in Calgary and its surrounding region that equip people for lifelong learning and full participation in Alberta's economy. We're working together to ensure our efforts complement community efforts. Innovate online efforts are greatly enhanced for the offerings at eCampusAlberta. Efforts with partners like the Alberta Rural Development Network will enable the College to investigate health workforce development in rural Alberta, community consultation, engage post-secondary institutions in regional stewardship, and the role of employers in expanding post-secondary education in the region.