A healthy Sprott-Shaw campus in Nanaimo could see higher enrolment with the closure of the private community college’s Duncan campus.
The campuses offer some of the same programs and students already commute to Nanaimo for classes, said John Predyk, vice-president of operations for Sprott-Shaw.
“The 45-minute drive seems doable to most students,” he said. “I expect that to have a positive impact on Nanaimo.”
To accommodate higher enrolment, one staff member is moving from the Duncan campus to Nanaimo, he added.
After examining program availability and enrolment, Sprott-Shaw decided to close its Vernon campus and halt enrolment at its Courtenay campus until a full review is complete. The Duncan campus, however, was closed because of excessively high student loan defaults and B.C. Student Loans pulled designation as a result.
Predyk said the school has a program to help students keep loans in good standing, which is effective at other campuses.
“Students make their own choices to pay their student loans,” he said, adding that other campuses in the Sprott-Shaw family are strong and the company is looking at expand to other communities.
“Nanaimo operations are fine,” he said.
For more information, please visit www.sprottshaw.com.