Holland College announced the line-up of program offerings for the West Prince Campus when it opens next year at a meeting in the Alberton Town Hall this evening.

The college will offer five diploma and certificate programs as well as adult education programs when the West Prince Campus opens, giving residents of the West Prince region unprecedented access to post-secondary education.

In addition to the relocation of Adult Education upgrading and GED courses from West Isle School, the five full-time programs, which encompass business and trades training, are expected to be up and running early in the fall of 2011. The programs that will be offered are Administrative Assistant, Outdoor Power Equipment, Small Business Management, Sport and Leisure Management, and Welding.

The nine-month Administrative Assistant certificate program will train students for employment with federal, provincial, and municipal governments, and for banks, financial institutions and private sector businesses. The one-year Small Business Management certificate program prepares students for entry level management positions or to operate their own small businesses by providing them with a solid foundation of understanding of business operations. The two-year Sport and Leisure Management diploma program is designed for individuals who are interested in a career in outdoor leadership, community recreation, sport administration, health promotion, fitness consulting, tourism and leisure entrepreneurship or spa management. Graduates of the Sport and Leisure Management program can take advantage of further educational opportunities through our degree pathways agreements with other institutions.

The nine-month Outdoor Power Equipment certificate program will train people to service and repair a wide variety of equipment such as motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles, lawn and garden equipment, chain saws and generators. Students who complete the program may be eligible for apprenticeship credit. The nine-month Welding certificate program provides learners with the knowledge, skill, and attitudes to become entry-level employees in the welding industry. Graduates of this program may find employment in welding shops, shipyards, the maintenance and service industry, the heavy construction and steel industry, or they may be self-employed.

The West Prince Campus will house two large trade shops and several classrooms, as well as multi-purpose rooms which will be available for use by the community. In total, the building will accommodate about 100 students, addition 10 full-time staff members and several part-time staff members.

The college wanted to provide information on the programs to residents of the West Prince area as quickly as possible, so that potential students will have time to upgrade their education or work toward obtaining their GED if necessary prior to applying for the programs.