Nine programs at NAIT could be cut

In April NAIT students celebrated after a motion was stopped to suspend thirteen programs, but the celebration has been short lived. Nine of those programs are back on the chopping block for the 2011/2012 school year. There’s a number of reasons why they’re being considered, but NAIT’s Paula Burns says it usually comes down to two main issues, whether or not there’s an industry, and whether there’s student demand for the program.

Rebecca Resendes is a medical transcription student, one of the programs being considered for suspension. Even though Resendes will get her certificate in May, she’s still concerned about her employment opportunities if the program is suspended.

"We’re going to walk with a certificate and we’re going to be trying to sell our skills to perspective employers and they’re going to talk about, well why did NAIT cut it."

NAIT has been holding stakeholder consultations with all nine programs to get input from students, teachers, and people working in the respective industries.

Paula Burns says there’s still a number steps that need to be taken before a final decision is made by Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Doug Horner. Rebecca Resendes hopes her concerns are taken in to account when that decision is made.

"Having industry to sort of speak on our behalf I think was hugely important, given that it seems to be one of the concerns, well what’s the viability once these students are done."