MEDIA ADVISORY

Colleges to collaborate to increase access to post-secondary education

CALGARY, January 11, 2010 – CALGARY—Representatives from Bow Valley College (BVC) and Olds College signed a memorandum of understanding today. The agreement will see the two colleges work closely on matters involving program development, facilities and services, and transfer credit and articulation.

“As Calgary and region’s Comprehensive Community College, our goal is to improve learning opportunities for those inside our service region—collaborating with Olds College is an important step toward this end,” said Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College.

“We will continue to increase access for students, facilitate life-long learning, and produce work-ready graduates who are responsive to the labour needs of our province,” she said.

Olds College is looking to expand its presence and programming in Calgary at Bow Valley College, likely through the establishment of a Calgary campus within BVC.

“Olds College and Bow Valley College both continually strive to develop innovative delivery methodologies for lifelong learning and expand the spirit of partnership embodied in the province's Campus Alberta Strategy,” said Dr. Tom Thompson, President of Olds College.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our respective institutions as well as the students of Calgary, who will now have better access to the unique real-life, hands-on learning for which Olds College is known.”

---

With the redevelopment of its North Campus slated for completion in May 2010 and the addition of its new, state-of-the-art South Campus, BVC is in a strong position to increase opportunities and access to education for the province’s learners.

Olds College--Founded in 1913, Olds College’s vision is to be the premier Canadian integrated learning and applied research community specializing in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental management. Located 45 minutes north of Calgary, Olds College provides certificate, diploma and applied degree programs, and participates with other institutions in offering post-diploma degrees. Olds College is further dedicated to nurturing innovation, learning, applied research and commercialization for agribusiness through the Olds College School of Innovation.

Bow Valley College--Calgary and region’s Comprehensive Community College--with more than 11,000 full- and part-time students, is a leader in health and business career training, adult upgrading, and English as a Second Language. BVC’s Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES), workplace training for immigrant professionals, and employment services provide a wide-range of services for business and professionals. Established in 1965, Bow Valley College is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar expansion, creating state-of-the-art facilities and doubling its student capacity by the year 2012.