MAD HATTER PAGE 4

 

QUALITY

From a ragtag start 20 years ago that grew out of an overwhelming demand from the
people of the small towns and communities of British Columbia, the formation of
the college and institutesystem is truly the crystallization of a dream of service
+o people, says Bill Day, chairman of the B.C. Council of College and Institute

Principals.

"The results are impressive," he says. "Students receive the education they deserve;
attentive and caring instructors add to a results-oriented, positive curriculum; and
the hundreds of career and academic programs that are not restricted by tradition are

capable of great flexibility."

"As educators, our duty is to make the highest quality learning experiences available

to most adults in the province," Day says.

And from Fort St. John to Newton, in over 80 different locations, the campuses and
learning centres of colleges and institutes offer the best in academic, career and

general interest education.

"The variety and quantity of programs is just one aspect of our striving for
excellence," Day says. "On top of this is the way we fit our programs to the

different economic needs of every community."

The reasons are obvious. In a vast province, the demands for education can vary
greatly. To ensure that each area's resources are maximized, the colleges and
institutes put special emphasis on enlisting the help of people knowledgeable

with the communities and experts in a needed specialty.

"Quality instructors for students means starting at the top," Day says, "and this
translates into the instructors and staff bringing in the idealism needed to honestly
give students new optimism, and the realism to make that optimism bring progress to

every community we serve."

The institutes begin by offering a full program of student services - counselling,
libraries, special teaching methods for students with learning handicaps and financial

aid offices at virtually all campuses.

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