College reinstates Civil program
2/9/2006 4:10:41 PM
February 9, 2006 - College of the North Atlantic has decided to reinstate the Civil Engineering Technology (CET) program at its Engineering Technology Centre (Ridge Road campus) in St. John’s, meaning students will continue to have access to this program option on the Avalon Peninsula. The college also offers the CET program at its Corner Brook campus on the province’s west coast.
Last year the college announced it would be suspending the intake of the Civil program in St. John’s for a number of reasons, including decreasing employment predictions across the country and limited physical space to introduce new programs at Ridge Road.
However, with the province’s economic forecast continually improving due to expected mega projects such as the Lower Churchill Hydro development and INCO’s Hydromet Production Plant, and the increased labour demand of the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association (NLCA), employment opportunities for Civil Engineering Technologists in this province are on the rise.
“We worked very closely with the NLCA to gather information that helped us determine that there is a continued need for graduates from this program, as well as many others offered through College of the North Atlantic,” says Brian Tobin, the college’s Vice-President of Academic and Student Services.
“Not only have we been told there is a need for Civil Engineering Technologists in general, we were told specifically, that there is a need for the highly trained, well qualified technologists that graduate from our program at College of the North Atlantic.”
Scott Granville, owner of Granco Construction Ltd. in Gander and 2006 Chair of the NLCA, says they are extremely pleased the college has decided to continue to offer its CET Program at the Ridge Road campus.
“As a graduate of the Civil program, I am very pleased with the college’s decision,” says Mr. Granville.
“The Civil Engineering Technology program has produced a consistently high level of graduates who are employed throughout the construction industry in our province. This decision is an example of the college responding to industry, and how by working together, we can ensure that our industry’s requirements for technologists are met for the future.”
Mr. Tobin said the consultation and advice received from the NLCA was critical in making this decision.
“We had a lot of meetings and discussions with the NLCA, and through those consultations we feel we were able to make the best recommendation to our board with regards to keeping the Civil program operating in St. John’s,” he said, noting the board fully endorsed and supported the recommendation.
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For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 227-6283
Or
Lar Rossiter
President
Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association
(709) 753-8920