OLDS — Enrollment in dual credit courses offered by the Community Learning Campus (CLC) is expected to nearly double this year.
Projections are that enrollment in those courses will hit at about 300 students, up from 159 last year.
Under the dual credit program, students enrolled in high school or Olds College can receive credits from both institutions for taking certain Olds college courses.
Two more school divisions have joined in the CLC’s dual credit program for the 2020-21 academic year.
They are the Prairie Rose School Division southeast of Medicine Hat and Holy Spirit Catholic School Division, headquartered in Lethbridge.
The Edmonton Catholic School Division is now involved as well.
That brings the total number administered by CLC director Jackie Taylor to 21.
Olds College and the Chinook’s Edge School Division, which oversees École Olds High School (ÉOHS), pioneered the approximately decade-old program.
Taylor said the CLC has offered dual credit online courses before – but only two, in the hospitality and tourism program.
Now this year, they’re offering six and could offer 11 if there’s a demand for that.
“We’re not offering all 11 this year and that really is a COVID decision because we weren’t quite sure the lay of the land,” Taylor said.
“So we decided that we’re offering six of the 11 this year. But all of those 11 are now developed and ready to offer.”
Taylor believes the higher uptake in dual credit online courses reflects concern among students about how best to position themselves, due to the downturn in the economy brought about by low oil and gas prices.
“I think Alberta students, they face uncertainty of understanding what their choice of career should be, given some significant impacts we’ve felt – particularly in our oil and gas industry,” Taylor said.
‘And so I think we do see many high school students worried and anxious about who to become.”
She said the dual credit courses – provided online or in-person – give students an opportunity to explore possible careers in a variety of paths, including the trades.
“We work very hard to connect students as best we can to explore possibilities based on some of their interest areas.
"And that just helps a student to sort through some of that thinking before they’re done high school and hopefully better launch themselves into after high school plans.
“And we do see a greater confidence and certainty come from students who have this ability to explore career pathways before they graduate".
