Red Deer College

Coordinates: 52°15′17.76″N 113°49′37.08″W / 52.2549333°N 113.8269667°W / 52.2549333; -113.8269667

Red Deer College

Red Deer College Coat of Arms originally designed by Dr. Darren George
Motto	Ad Augusta Per Eruditionem (To Greater Things Through Learning)
Type	Public comprehensive community college
Established	1964
President	Dr Peter Nunoda
Students	7,500
Undergraduates	university transfer and university collaborative available
Postgraduates	not available
Location	Red Deer , Alberta , Canada
Campus	Urban Red Deer
Colours	Lime Green, Black, Silver
Affiliations	ACCC, CCAA, AACTI, CBIE, ACAC
Mascot	Rufus the lion
Website	www.rdc.ab.ca

Red Deer College (RDC) was a public comprehensive community college of approximately 7,000 students in credit programs and 10,000 in non-credit programming located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1964, RDC was built for a smaller semi-rural community but, in the four and a half decades since its founding, the city has grown into the third (now fourth) largest in the province. In 2021, this comprehensive undergraduate institution that once served all learners in the Central Alberta region, was converted into a regional polytechnic institute called Red Deer Polytechnic.

When Red Deer had a college, that institution made an effort to maintain the sense of community that fosters learning with small class sizes, hands-on learning, and instructors who are accessible and interested in their students' success. Red Deer College's Arms, Supporters and Flag (both designed by Dr Darren George) were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on February 20, 2004.^[1] The college is a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network.

In 2018, Red Deer College applied to begin transitioning to a university. The goal was to become a central hub of research and education for Central Alberta, offering world class education in the trades, the sciences, and the arts and fine arts.On March 5, 2019, the college announced a three-year transition process, and that it would adopt the name Red Deer University.^[2] On May 5, 2021, the Government of Alberta announced that Red Deer College would become a polytechnic institution instead of a university. Red Deer College has since announced that this transition is complete and they are no longer a comprehensive undergraduate institution. They are now a regional polytechnic Institute. ^[3]

Programs[]

The college offers certificates, diplomas, advanced certificates, applied degrees, academic upgrading and apprenticeship in over 75 different career and academic programs. The college has a variety of programs spanning the creative and liberal arts to engineering and trades with a focus on student success in the job market.^[4]

Scholarships and bursaries[]

The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 680 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation. Red Deer College scholarships for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis students include: Atoskewan Aboriginal Career Centre Scholarship ^[5]

Red Deer College awards approximately $390,000(CAD) annually in scholarships and bursaries.^[6] With an increased bursary, scholarship and awards program, the college makes an effort to ensure students are not turned away merely for financial reasons.

Undergraduate student conference[]

The Agora Student Conference is held annually at Red Deer College in support of undergraduates in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Having started in 2004, the conference has continued to grow and gain recognition from neighbouring institutions such as the University of Calgary. Those who present their original papers, presentations, or creative works at the conference also have the opportunity to have their work published in the Agora Journal which is distributed by Red Deer College.

Main Campus[]

Red Deer College's Main Campus is situated in the central Alberta corridor between Edmonton and Calgary. The campus is located near the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, an hour and a half drive from each of the province's major city centres, making it convenient for commuters. The main campus features a library, a bar, a restaurant, a Tim Hortons, a Starbucks, and other food-related businesses.

Donald School of Business/Downtown Campus[]

Donald School of Business aka Downtown Campus or DSB for short is situated in downtown Red Deer in the Millennium Centre building. It occupies floors 3, 4, and 5. Most business programs are situated here as a reflection of the downtown business community feedback.

Welikoklad Event Centre[]

Red Deer College has a third Campus/building directly across from the DSB. It features a stage, a movie theatre, and an art gallery space. It is used for some shows, and for when RDC hosts the Backpacks to Briefcases for students.

Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre[]

Completed in 2018 for the Canada Winter Games, the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre (popularly known as the GWH) features an ice arena (capable of Olympic sized ice), a performance gymnasium, a fitness centre, running/sprinting tracks, squash courts, and a massive court surface capable of holding 4 volleyball or 2 basketball games simultaneously.^[7]

Athletics[]

Red Deer College has one of the top athletics programs in Canada, as the Kings and Queens continue to produce best overall records at national competition of any college in the country.^[8] The 17 Red Deer College Kings and Queens teams compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. Other team and mixed sports Red Deer College participate in include: basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, badminton, cross country running, curling, and (formerly) golf. They are particularly known for their excellence in volleyball.

Notable alumni[]

• KD Lang
• Kari Matchett
• Tim Tamashiro

References[]

External links[]

• Red Deer College