ESTEVAN, WEYBURN - Southeast College is inviting future Canadian and international students to register for post-secondary full-time programs for the 2022-23 school year.
The registration opened about a month earlier this year to allow for more time for students to make a decision about their potential future.
"The past few years have both challenged and changed Southeast College," explained president and CEO Patrick Stoddart. "We are very excited to offer some new programming to the college in addition to welcoming international students to our Estevan and Weyburn campuses for the 2022-2023 academic year."
It will be the first year for Southeast College to welcome international students.
"Our international registration is online on our website, and we have had a number of international registrations already. So that's looking really great," said Sheena Onrait, marketing and communications manager with the college.
Since it will be their first experience with international students, the college wasn't sure about the demand. They've designated a number of seats in a continuing care program in Estevan, and the business certificate program in Weyburn, for foreign students.
"If we get more interest in those programs, then we'll take it from there and adjust as we go on. That's the benefit of our regional colleges is we are flexible and responsible. So we are able to adjust and adapt very quickly to what the needs of our students are," Onrait said.
In the 2022-23 academic year, the college will offer the following programs: continuing care assistant, Estevan; welding, Estevan; electrician, Moosomin; industrial mechanic, Estevan; heavy equipment operator, Estevan; heavy equipment and truck and transport technician, Estevan; hairstylist, Weyburn; business certificate, Weyburn; early childhood education, Whitewood; youth care worker, location to be decided; and practical nursing, Weyburn.
"I look at all the programs and the programs are so career-oriented. It's very exciting to see students come in and go to school for, in some cases, four months, in some cases a month, and in some cases, two years, but then go right into their chosen career," Onrait said.
The college has shifted its full-time continuing care assistant program to Estevan. Their heavy equipment and truck and transport technician program continues to be strong with enrollments. They've also launched a heavy equipment operator program, which has been really successful so far.
"We've got that really great road started, across the way from our building (in Estevan). And we're looking to continue that really great work that our students started this year and into next year," Onrait said.
The college also shifted and put a full-time early childhood education program in Whitewood, and added a youth care worker program to their list.
Registration for all programs is open and students are encouraged to apply online. There is a $50 fee at the time of application, and the college will help the future students, no matter if they are still high school students or have already graduated, with the entire process. Onrait said that registering earlier rather than later would allow them to save the spot for most programs.
"The majority of our programs are first applied, first accepted, first admitted. Meaning, the sooner you apply and are accepted, the sooner you're admitted to our program and the sooner you have a seat," Onrait explained.
The only exception to that rule is their practical nursing program in Weyburn, which is a high-demand program and thus is more competitive.
"That one does come with a few different criteria in order to be accepted into that program. And all that criteria are outlined on the practical nursing page on our website," Onrait said.
A newly revamped Southeast College Entrance award program offers students the opportunity to receive funds at the start of their program, based on a combination of academic achievement and early registration.
Information on all upcoming programming including online registration is available on their website at www.southeastcollege.org.
