On Feb. 25, Cambrian College's board of governors decided to suspend its broadcast new media program, citing declining enrolment in the program.
This does not mean the program is cancelled, explained Cambrian College president, Sylvia Barnard.
Barnard explained if the college cancelled the program, in order to offer the program in the future, the college would have to go through an approval process with the province.
By suspending the program, the college avoids having to obtain approval.
“So we suspend a program,” she said. “We put it on a shelf because there hasn't been an interest in the community for a period of time. Then we may resurrect it.”
Barnard explained that students currently in the program would not be affected, and if students failed or were having problems in one of their classes, they wouldn't be abandoned.
“We always make sure we don't leave students stranded,” Barnard said. “We have alternatives that we are able to offer to the students. If they run into any difficulty, and they require some catch up or anything like that, we work with them individually to make sure that happens.”
The broadcast new media program is a three-semester program, two college semesters and one unpaid work-placement. The program was a post-graduate program that focused on the Internet, video, photography and journalism skills.
The college recently received new standards from the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities for its journalism program, and Barnard said that many of the skills taught in the broadcast new media program are now within the journalism guidelines.
“We have to take a look at and renew our journalism program to meet the standards,” she said. “We will be able to roll some of (the broadcast new media skills) in. (The program) will meet the new provincial standards for journalism, and the new provincial standards for journalism include broadcasting and new media requirements.”
