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Notable NorQuest

AT 50, NORQUEST COLLEGE REDEFINES THE BOUNDARIES OF EDUCATION.

by Nerissa McNaughton

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orQuest College was founded by the Alberta Government in 1965 to provide educational opportunities based on foundational learning. In 1971, the college moved its location from a makeshift campus in the Tower Building at NAIT to its present eight-storey main campus in downtown Edmonton on 108 Street. Two years ago, following a 10-year conversation with the Government of Alberta, funding was announced for a new building directly north of the current downtown main campus. The Singhmar Centre for Learning will consolidate all of the college’s Edmonton campuses, providing a better student experience and increased learning opportunities. NorQuest’s president and CEO, Jodi Abbott, couldn’t be happier.

“We have grown considerably,” Abbott points out. “We are very disbursed with five campuses throughout Edmonton. Our infrastructure is not ideal and, for example, we can’t afford to put a library and restaurant facilities in each location. We need to consolidate. NorQuest’s Singhmar Centre for Learning is really about coming into the modern era of student expectations.”

The government funding is a $170 million grant. The cost of the new building is $192 million.

“We have a $20 million dollar fundraising campaign,” assures Abbott. “It’s called Maximizing Opportunities. We are raising $15 million for capital infrastructure and $5 million for student bursaries, scholarships and programming. The campaign launched last November and we are almost half way there.”

To hear Abbott tell it, raising $20 million in support of the Singhmar Centre for Learning and for student funding is as natural as getting your morning cup of coffee – and that’s because at NorQuest, the constant, never-ending focus is on the needs of the students.

When NorQuest opened it was proud to have seven students. Today more than 10,000 enroll each year. Seventy-one per cent are female and 450 students have disabilities. “We have expertise with disabled students to ensure they are successful,” notes Abbott.

Seventy-five per cent of the student body are from the Edmonton region. The remaining are from Alberta, the rest of Canada, and around the world. NorQuest’s global reach attracts new Canadians, and an increasingly-growing number of international students who hail from countries such as Jamaica, the Philippines, India, China and Korea.

Dr. Jodi Abbott, President and CEO

Another driving factor in the college’s accomplishments is the outstanding post-graduation success rate. As of 2013, 95 per cent of NorQuest graduates found employment or continued their post-secondary education. It’s not hard to see why the success rate is approaching 100 per cent.

Abbott explains: “One of the things we did three years ago was tie every program to workforce relevance. We created a Workforce Advisory Council consisting of leaders in the construction, manufacturing, healthcare, banking and hospitality industries. It’s created NorQuest College | 50 Years | Page 1 139

new programs for us. From the construction perspective, we know that there has been a real labour gap. We also know that we have certain populations that are underrepresented, such as the Aboriginal population. In talking to the construction industry, they cited a lack of trained labourers for entry level jobs. This gave rise to our Alberta Aboriginal Construction Careers Centre, which has been designed to connect prospective Aboriginal workers with employers recruiting for construction related careers “What this council has done is pushed us to think differently as a post-secondary educator,” smiles Abbott. “We are creating opportunities for our students that will create employment.”

NorQuest College has one of the largest Practical Nurse programs in the country, and to date, it has educated over 70 per cent of all the health care aides in Alberta. It also has strong ESL, social work, and business programming. As Edmonton, and the world changes, NorQuest keeps pace every step of the way.

“Post-secondary institutions have to pay more attention to the expectations of students,” says Abbott of another deciding factor driving the college’s agile decisions and programs. “Think of the student as a customer. That term can rub people the wrong way, but the reality is, students can identify what services they want. Our students are very driven to be contributors to economy. It is time for post-secondary institutions to be relevant to industry, bring students in, match their goals and get them educated and working.

“Institutions must also be more innovative in terms of revenue generation and managing funding. We have seen tremendous growth in the Alberta population and the reality is, government funding cannot keep pace. Because of this, institutions are having to be creative and say, ‘how can we bring in more revenue?’”

In fact, Abbott says the main challenge facing NorQuest is the same one that affects every post-secondary institution: funding; but she doesn’t let that slow the college down.

“The current funding model was developed for a certain point in

time, but learner expectations have changed,” she notes. “It’s an appropriate time for the Alberta government to look at the funding model, and for institutions to look for additional sources of funding.

The government does its best, but we are never going to have enough money if we are only government funded. We have to think outside the box.”

Outside the box is how NorQuest operates, as evidenced by the 1000 Women Child Care Centre. To understand the centre and its impact, you have to know the origins of the 1000 Women: A Million Possibilities movement.

Top: A diverse, multicultural student population enjoys a variety of activities on and off campus. Bottom: One of the first graduating classes in the ’60s.

Congratulations on 50 Years of Success!

Allwest Commercial Furnishings

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Five years ago a group of prominent Edmonton women decided to raise a million dollars so students would have an emergency fund for everything from meals to bus passes. They raised the money in two years and decided to continue making a difference. NorQuest had plans to build a child care centre on campus. The 1000 Women group decided to raise $1 million for the centre; $750,000 for infrastructure and the rest in bursaries for childcare subsidies.

have research, training and business opportunities in our Clean Energy and Technology Centre in Drayton Valley. Our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program will continue to grow. We are working on a global business management certificate that is attractive to students that want to work in a global marketplace. In partnership with the University of Alberta and Alberta Health Services, we plan to build a teaching and research centre for continuing care.”

“There are not enough child care spots in Edmonton, especially in the downtown core,” says Abbott, “and most of our students are women with children. We have stories of students getting up at 4 a.m. to get kids to daycare then get here for class. It makes a big difference when you can take your child to the daycare centre in your school. The childcare centre will offer 56 spaces. NorQuest has a daycare provider and an early learning and childcare program. We will combine the training component with hands-on learning in the daycare.”

Abbott has heartfelt thanks for the students, the Workforce Advisory Council, the provincial and federal government, all the donors, stakeholders, Board of Governors, and employees.

NorQuest College has pushed – and exceeded – the boundaries of traditional education. From addressing barriers to education such as disabilities and childcare to actively involving the industries they serve, it’s no wonder NorQuest’s enrollment continues to rise.

This year the college turns 50. Amidst the milestone anniversary celebrations, NorQuest does what it does best – looks and pushes forward.

“Our new strategic plan focuses on workforce relevance and our unique market position,” says Abbott about the college’s future. “We

NorQuest College is out to change the world, and they are succeeding.

“You need to think – always – that anything is possible,” laughs Abbott. So, what does she think about being the president and CEO of an institution that is a game changer in the world of employment, inclusion and education?

“I love it!” she confirms; and it shows in the face of every student that comes to NorQuest and leaves with an enriched life, the workforce that receives skilled labourers and the employees that come to work each day to give Abbott and NorQuest their personal best.

11140 131 St NW, Edmonton, AB 780-644-6700 • www.norquest.ca

NorQuest College | 50 Years | Page 3

The Chinese Freemasons Society would like to congratulate Norquest College on their 50th Anniversary.

We are very proud to support you on this half century of educational excellence in Edmonton.

9622 102 Avenue • Ph: 780 422 7881 / Fax: 780 424 0978

chinesefreemasons@gmail.com

Congratulations to Norquest College on 50 Years!

Commercial Interior Specialists providing exceptional contract management in and around Edmonton, AB for over 30 years.

15904 – 116 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Office: 780-452-7072 • Fax: 780-451-6899 www.seagatecontract.com

PCL Construction congratulates NorQuest College on 50 years of education and innovation. PCL is proud to be building the next step in NorQuest’s history with construction of the Singhmar Centre for Learning.

Watch us build at PCL.com NorQuest College | 50 Years | Page 4