RDC Preparing For Move Downtown
Posted: Tuesday, August 9th 2011
This September marks the beginning of my fourth year as a Red Deer College student and my second year as a Bachelor of Commerce student. In those four years I've learned a lot of different lessons, but the most important one is the need to adapt when faced with change.
Red Deer College is going through such a change, as is Downtown Red Deer. This September the Donald School of Business will open its doors to over 600 new and returning students, bringing new faces and ideas into the downtown core. For some of these students this will be their first time attending a post-secondary institution and perhaps their first time living somewhere other than home. For others, while they may be used to their instructors and the idea of living on their own, they will still be faced with adapting to a new campus in a part of Red Deer that is unfamiliar to many.
The first day of a new college term always brings about a mixed bag of emotions, and for this reason I ask that you, the business owners and patrons of Downtown Red Deer be patient as we find our way. In my role as the Vice President Operations of the Students' Association of Red Deer College, I have done my best to ensure that all of those students we represent will be comfortable and prepared for their first day at the Donald School of Business.
For the past three months I have been working with the College as they develop the services and resources that will be available to student’s downtown, as well as working with members of the College to plan orientation events. These orientations will provide students with an opportunity to explore not only the new campus but also the downtown community. The orientations have been split into two different groups of students, new and returning. This will allow us to better serve the different needs of these two similar, yet different, groups of students. In addition to the orientation at the Donald School of Business, all first-year students will be attending an orientation event on the Red Deer College main campus with other first-year students.
On a more personal note I have applied, and been accepted as, the Youth Representative of the Greater Downtown Action Plan Steering Committee. This will allow the Students' Association to ensure the students we represent are maintaining a healthy relationship with the downtown community. In closing I would like to welcome anyone with questions, comments or concerns to contact me directly at shane.crawford@rdc.ab.ca or 403-356-4977. I look forward to my time at the Donald School of Business and getting to know everyone in the downtown community.
Shane Crawford
Vice President Operations
Students' Association of Red Deer College
