Cumberland Campus offering three new courses

SPRINGHILL: Things are changing at the Nova Scotia Community College Cumberland Campus once again, bringing in two new programs and the return of a third.

After a year-hiatus the Cumberland Campus is reintroducing the [LPN] nursing program and adding a Utility Linesman course while replacing the plumbing course with an electricians program.

Cumberland Campus principal Don McCormack says he is pleased with the opportunities students will receive with the new programs and the fact they will graduate into a market where there is a need for trained persons in all three fields.

The LPN program is a wonderful opportunity for Cumberland County, McCormack says. Graduates will be ready in an area where theres a need.

The Utility Linesman course is a new endeavour for the region, designed to create employees for Nova Scotia Power and beyond, McCormack said. The one year program will create graduates ready to step into the field in Cumberland County.

The electricians program is part of NSCCs rotational programs. Bidding farewell to the plumbing program which is now located at the Pictou Campus, the electrical program will take its place making way for new tradespersons in the area.

Until the rotational programs cam into affect college course were finite posing to inundate an area with too many tradespersons in one particular field and not enough jobs. By changing up the curriculum it gives a region a market the opportunity to absorb its new skilled graduates.

What we do is look at the needs of an area and try not to saturate the market, McCormack said. Theres a challenge to it.

Presently, NSCC graduates are exhibiting a 91 per cent employment rate following graduation and of those newly employed their employers are reporting a 94 per cent satisfaction rate with their abilities, which, McCormack says, is fabulous.

In part with its emphasis on occupational health and safety, students will spend the beginning of their programs learning the ins-and-outs of workplace safety. Staff, too, are in a constant state of recertification to keep up with industry standards, McCormack says.

The community college is very anxious to comply with industry standards and occupation health and safety in each of the trades is the first thing students learn. With the electricians theyll start off small and work their way up and the linesmen wont be on poles until June of next year. This comes from consultants and Nova Scotia Power.

With the doors about to open to a new school year at the campus, McCormack says theres still opportunities for would-be students to contact the Cumberland Campus and discuss the future.