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A Douglas College Newslette

  

 

 

DOUGLAS COLLEGE

August 14, 1985 RGHIVES

 

 

ACADEMIC EDUCATION
FOR EVERYONE

Increased access to academic education is having a major impact on people's lives
and on the social and economic status of our communities. However, according to
Gordon Gilgan, Dean of Academic Studies at Douglas College, the leading role
colleges have taken in delivering academic studies to adults of all ages and

backgrounds has been widely ignored.

Academic education, traditionally the field of universities, is now seen as

important training for people who have no intention of going on to university.

"Not only is academic education a good way to develop an understanding of our
world, past and present, but the discipline and communication skills people
gain is also very good preparation for dealing with our social and working lives,"

Gilgan says.

And since colleges and the Open Learning Institute opened their doors, the
participation rate of people from rural areas and from lower income families has

dramatically increased.

College faculty and administrators are also excited about the opportunities colleges
offer for innovative approaches to teaching in the traditional disciplines. Combined
studies and interdisciplinary methods, often used by college instructors, make

the learning process more interesting.