���������

Message from Dean of Arts and Foundational Programs Judith Anderson:

Adult Upgrading resets, with a focus on student access and program sustainability region-wide 

For many people, ��������� offers an alternative pathway to post-secondary education or a new career. Part of our identity as an institution is that we strive to be accessible and welcoming to students, regardless of how a student learns or what their previous educational experience has been. 

This is especially true in our Adult Upgrading (AU) department, where a team of experienced, dedicated ���������instructors and employees offer a range of programming that meets students exactly where they’re at.  

AU programming is designed to help adult students meet high school graduation requirements, upgrade high school marks, complete prerequisites for post-secondary programs, develop skills, and explore career pathways.  

Because it is provincially funded (students do not pay tuition), it is accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds and situations. Still, student demand for AU courses at ��������� has declined steadily by about 30 per cent since 2017.  

One of many reasons for this change may be that B.C. graduation rates have gone up by about 10 per cent over the same period. It is also true that universities and colleges across the province have made progress in removing barriers, with the goal of making it easier for students to access post-secondary education – putting less emphasis on past academic performance.  

This has created our current landscape, where AU programming continues to be critically important across our region, while at the same time overall student demand for AU courses is less.  

As a result, ���������is moving forward with changes to how we operate AU and offer courses. Our focus as we make this reset is on: 

1. Maximizing options for students to participate wherever possible, and
2. Ensuring that students across the ���������region continue to have access to instructors, and the supports they need to be successful.  

Here is some of what you can expect: 

Beginning in the fall semester, every AU course will be available in what’s referred to as a “hybrid flexible” or “HyFlex” format. This is an instructional approach that combines face-to-face learning and online learning.  

We’re looking forward to this shift for a few reasons. First, it means that we will be able to offer more courses to more students. Right now, we sometimes struggle to reach minimum class sizes at all our campuses. In these instances, we are at times forced to cancel or combine classes with low enrolment. Going forward, we will be able to take a regional view by bringing learners together using new, purposeful classroom technologies. Fewer courses will be cancelled, and more selections (levels, subjects) will be available.   

Second, this change allows us to reach students in all communities throughout our region – from Revelstoke to Osoyoos, and to offer them the same menu of courses as students in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon or Salmon Arm.  

At the same time, we know how critical it is for some students to be able to come to campus and meet with or get help from an AU instructor in person. We will continue making this available at each of our campuses. Likewise, students will continue to have access to computers, adaptive technologies and other supports.  

I want to be clear that in-person student support will remain – it is a priority for our team, and we will be communicating this message to our community, including students, future students, school district partners, and others.  

Finally, for several years, our AU department has also provided adult literacy services, including Volunteer Literacy Tutoring (VLT), and the Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP).  For those who are unaware, ���������is the post-secondary partner for multiple CALPs in the region (Revelstoke, Vernon, and Kelowna); and ���������runs the South Okanagan CALP out of Penticton. 

As we move forward with changes to AU, we are discontinuing the separate VLT service and encouraging students to instead access the literacy services provided by their local CALP.  

All the changes I’ve described above are focused on ensuring students continue to have access to as much AU programming as possible, even as our enrolment declines. Within that context, it is important to acknowledge that our instructional team will get smaller over the coming months, to match our student numbers. While this reduction is in no means a reflection of the incredible work of any of our team members, we know we need to be able to offer programming in a way that is sustainable.  

On a personal note, I want to thank the AU team across OC. Their work with our students is inspiring, it reflects their commitment and professionalism – and it is appreciated. While these coming weeks will include challenges, I’m confident that together we can continue to make a positive impact.  

As I said at the beginning of this message, these programs are core to our mission at ���������. They open doors for students who are looking for an environment where they can learn, and have a positive post-secondary experience that sets them up for success in their next steps. 

To our students – now and in the future – we look forward to welcoming you into AU, to help you take your next steps. 

Dr. Judith Anderson, Dean of Arts and Foundational Programs