The fall semester is underway at Red River College (RRC) Polytech’s Portage campus, and staff and students are settling into a busy schedule filled with new and returning programs.
Regional Campus Manager Guy Moffat says the team has been working hard to prepare for the return of students.
“It has been a busy summer getting everything geared up. On Monday, we started five of our programs,” notes Moffat.
Those include Business Administration year one and two, Early Childhood Education Workplace years one and two, the second year of the three-year Bachelor of Nursing program, and a brand-new Health Care Aide cohort. The Educational Assistant program begins September 2.
A recent revision to the Business Administration program also brings fresh opportunities for students.
“One of the exciting things about that is that they’ve added in a new major for Tourism Management,” says Moffat. “The year one students have that as an option to choose as one of their majors, which is really exciting.”
Expanding evening and community courses
Evening and short-term courses are also part of the lineup.
Students can register for Introduction to Food Manufacturing, the Long-Term Care Activities Facilitator program, and a slate of culinary classes with instructor Mark Upward. Human anatomy and physiology is another option, especially geared toward those planning to apply for the Bachelor of Nursing in 2027.
“There’s also the 45-hour course to allow any students to get their Child Care Assistant designation,” adds Moffat.
First aid training and activities through the Prairie Project Studio maker space are also available.
“We’re going to be commissioning a mural in the next month as well,” continues Moffat. “Annie Beach is going to be leading our students and some of the students from PCI to create a mural, which is done in partnership with Active Transportation.”
Student life and supports
Beyond classes, students can expect a variety of events and supports throughout the year.
Therapy dog visits, leadership meet-and-greets, and Thrive Week in November will all help promote wellness and engagement on campus.
Meanwhile, the campus is continuing to build its culinary program and explore new trades offerings.
“We’re working at getting some piping trades coming to Portage la Prairie for next year as well,” remarks Moffat. He adds that there are also talks around potential water and wastewater treatment training.
Strong enrollment and local impact
Enrollment has been encouraging across programs.
“We still have a bit of room, but enrollments have been really positive this year,” mentions Moffat. “We’ve seen a continuous uptick in enrollments since the pandemic.”
Most students come from the Portage area and surrounding communities, though a few arrive from other parts of the province. Moffat notes that international student numbers have been lower recently due to federal changes, but the campus is exploring ways to welcome them back in the future.
The value of the Portage campus is clear for many families.
“What we hear from our students is that it’s really kind of invaluable and definitely for students in Portage la Prairie,” says Moffat. “It’s much easier on the pocketbook to be able to continue living at home and attending school rather than having to incur the cost of driving.”
The Portage campus is also expanding its reach beyond city limits.
“We’re offering the Health Care Aide program right in the town of Treherne in January, which is really exciting,” continues Moffat. “We enjoy being in Portage and we enjoy getting out into other communities as well.”
As the fall semester begins, Moffat encourages the community to follow along with campus life on Instagram @rrcportage.
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