NorQuest College

NorQuest College is a publicly funded community college in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The student body numbers approximately 10,200 annually throughout the province in full-time, part-time, and regional programs.^[1] More than 2,000 students graduate each year.

NorQuest College is a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network.

History

1960s: The Government of Alberta approves the concept of Alberta Vocational Centre (AVC) Edmonton; AVC consists of four academic upgrading classrooms, a space housing 60 business education students, a barber shop, a beauty culture lab, and a welding and equipment maintenance shop, all at NAIT. 1970s: The Government of Alberta constructs a permanent 236,000 square foot building for AVC in downtown Edmonton. Today, this is NorQuest College’s Main Campus; AVC opens new Downtown Campus in the fall of 1971; Total student enrolment rises to 2,300 in 1972 from 550 in 1966. 1980s: Demand increases for new quality programs in language training, employment preparation, and business and health careers. 1990s: Alberta Vocational Centre renamed to Alberta Vocational College in 1990; Alberta Vocational College becomes a public, board-governed institution in 1998; Alberta Vocational College takes on new identity by officially changing its name to NorQuest College in 1999; NorQuest College opens Tutorial Centre for students, providing assistance in English, Social Studies, Math and Sciences. 2000s: New partnerships with government, industry, business, and community organizations allow NorQuest College to better serve Albertans; The College announces multi-million dollar Downtown Campus Development Plan to accommodate new students; The NorQuest Reader Project begins in 2003 to provide literacy materials for adult students who are Deaf and hard of hearing; The Government of Alberta selects NorQuest College as a regional steward to provide access to adult education in Edmonton and the surrounding region; NorQuest College expands programming in health and business careers; NorQuest College Practical Nurse diploma and Health Care Aide certificate programs become among the largest in Canada.

In 2013, after fighting to recover from multiple rounds of apparent overspending by the college in the past, new funding cuts from the provincial government have required NorQuest College to greatly reduce its Academic Upgrading programming. The college will merge this area with Lakeland College, and offer these courses online.^[2]

Governance

NorQuest College became board governed in 1998 and operates under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and is responsible to the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. The Board has 14 members and provides leadership for what the organization needs to accomplish - the results or outcomes. This results-based approach takes the Board away from day-to-day issues of administration. The “how-to” approach, such as process, programs and services, are the job of the President and CEO, who is appointed by the Board of Governors.

The Post Secondary Learning Act legislates the appointment of Board members. In summary the Board shall consist of the following: Appointed by the Minister of Alberta Advanced Education:

• 1 academic staff member nominated by the academic staff association;
• 1 student nominated by the students' council; and
• 1 member of the non-academic staff who is not engaged in the administration of the college nominated by non-academic staff

Appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council:

• 10 public members, 1 of whom shall be designated chairperson

Automatic appointment:

• The President of the College

An individual appointed as a Board member holds office for a term not to exceed three years. An individual may continue to hold office after the expiry of their term until they are reappointed; until their successor is reappointed; or for a period of three months (whichever comes first). Board members may only serve two terms unless three years have passed since their second term expired.

Campus

The college has seven campuses, two in Edmonton (downtown and Westmount), one in Drayton Valley, one in Stony Plain, one in Westlock, one in Whitecourt, and one in Wetaskiwin.

Through its distance learning network, the college reaches over 200 communities in Canada, from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.^[3]

Programs

In addition to health, human services and business career programs, NorQuest offers adult literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), intercultural education, Aboriginal education, academic upgrading, and learner supports for students with disabilities.

The College offers career diplomas and certificates as well as preparatory programs. Programs are offered full-time, part-time, online, and via a hybrid of online and in-person instruction.

NorQuest is a Canadian leader in health-care education. The College has among the largest practical nurse diploma programs in Canada and the largest health care aide certificate program in Canada.

NorQuest supported "Centres of Excellence" in Intercultural Education, Print Media, and Learning Supports, while beginning to develop Continuing Care Education and Aboriginal Learning. In late 2012 the College leadership decided to eliminate all the Centers with the exception of Intercultural Education, which lost the "Centre for Excellence" portion of its name. The College also launched the new Landmark Group Centre for Value Improvement in 2012, which promotes Lean and Six Sigma.

See also

• List of universities and colleges in Alberta
• Education in Alberta
• Canadian Interuniversity Sport
• Canadian government scientific research organizations
• Canadian university scientific research organizations
• Canadian industrial research and development organizations

References

All facts, unless otherwise stated, are from NorQuest College's web site:

• NorQuest College website

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to NorQuest College.

• NorQuest College website
• NorQuest College Library website

Colleges and universities in Alberta Universities Alberta Augustana Saint-Jean St. Joseph's Athabasca Burman Calgary Lethbridge MacEwan Mount Royal Public colleges Art and Design Banff Bow Valley Grande Prairie Keyano Lakeland Lethbridge Medicine Hat NorQuest Northern Lakes Olds Portage Red Deer Technical institutes NAIT SAIT Higher education in Alberta School authorities