Saskatchewan Polytechnic is holding an open house to give high school students and the public the opportunity to learn more about its programs and speak with instructors — with free on-the-spot registrations.
The Moose Jaw campus is hosting this annual event on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. for high school students and 6 to 8 for the public. Attendees can tour the campus, visit program booths, speak with college students and professors, and discover what life is like as a Sask. Polytech.
“I think sometimes students here in Moose Jaw maybe don’t always realize what we do offer (and) the potential opportunities they have for post-secondary education here … ,” said Scott Hellings, the student recruitment advisor in Moose Jaw.
“I think there is sometimes a misconception that we are just a trades school, but we are more than that. We have a lot of different programs in Moose Jaw … (such as) engineering technologies,” he continued, noting there is a wide range of offerings across all four campuses, from health care to pilot training.
Sask. Polytech’s programs are practical, hands-on and applied, which means students are doing more than simply sitting in a classroom all day, Hellings said. Instead, they are learning about an area of interest and doing work that they will undertake in the workforce.
This applied work aspect is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain experience and determine whether the program is something they want to do since they acquire a good sense of what their future career looks like, he continued.
“A lot of our programs are shorter in length, so you get out into the workforce faster,” Hellings remarked. “We (also) have smaller class sizes, so you get a lot more one-to-one instruction than you might maybe in a traditional university program.”
Hellings attended Sask. Polytech — formerly SIAST — in Moose Jaw more than a decade ago and acquired a business diploma with a focus on marketing. He appreciated how small his class size was, how friendly the campus was and how welcoming people were.
Moreover, he was grateful for the skills he learned because they prepared him for his current job and gave him a foundation to potentially pursue other careers in the future.
“At Saskatchewan Polytechnic, we really are concerned with student success … . You really get a sense of that when you’re here,” Hellings added. “Your instructors are always very accessible and helpful. And so, too, are your peers. It’s really nice to get a sense of community here.”
During the open house, students can apply on-the-spot to programs for free when they visit a campus, which allows them to take a big step toward their future, Hellings said. They will receive a coupon code that they can scan when they attend, which waives the typical $80 registration fee.
The student recruitment advisor added that Sask. Polytech grads are recognized for their problem-solving abilities and work ethic, while 95 per cent find a job within six months of convocation.
