L-R: Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, Provost & VP academic (NWP) Dr. Vanessa Sheane, President and CEO (NLC) Glenn Mitchell, MLA for Grande Prairie Tracy Allard,

By Erika Rolling

Post-secondary

340 seats for healthcare programs added at NWP and NLC

May 25, 2022 | 5:55 PM

Over $850,000 dollars are being invested in expanding healthcare programs at Northwestern Polytechnic and Northern Lakes College by the provincial government.

It is part of the government’s targeted enrolment expansion program to support high-demand programs across Alberta.

Four programs at these post-secondary institutions will get money:

• Northern Lakes College: $436,920
• Northwestern Polytechnic: $416,771

NWP will be adding seats in:

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• Bachelor of Nursing University Transfer Program (40)
• Practical Nurse Diploma Program (16)
• Health Care Aide Certificate Program (16 in Fairview)

NLC will be adding seats to their online Health Care Aide eSTEP Program.

Dr. Vanessa Sheane, provost and vice-president, academic at NWP, says the institution put in four proposals in April to expand capacity with three of them accepted.

“These programs, we have tremendous demand both on the student side but also in industry and employment demand. So it is exciting to expand these programs and have more students; northern, Indigenous, rural attend the programs here.”

“With all of our proposals we worked with AHS both provincially and the North Zone and use their data and it’s just strengthened our proposal for the demand that we have for healthcare in the region.” Dr. Sheane says.

Grande Prairie MLA Tracy Allard says it’s not only an investment into our economy but also in students of the future and in our region.

“I’m so excited to see over $400,000 in funding will be going towards Northwestern Polytechnic, which is housed in my constituency here in Grande Prairie. This investment will support the healthcare system as a whole and serves as the perfect opportunity for growth in our community, particularly with our new hospital just across the way.” Allard noted.

The majority of the programs are ready to start accepting more students this fall.