Nova Scotia Community College
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

The NSCC School of Access programs in Continuing Care Assistant LINK (CCA LINK), Office Administration LINK (OA LINK), Adult Learning Program (ALP), and English as Another Language (EAL) for ALP are funded via a Federal Provincial program through the Labour Market Agreement.

The NSCC School of Access offers a number of programs that minimizes the cost of attendance for low income students.
1. Adult Learning Program (ALP) is a program designed for students who for a multitude of life circumstances have not had an opportunity to complete their high school education (grade 12) pre-entry level to post-secondary programs. This program is offered at no cost to the learners (tuition and learner resources). The program is funded through a partnership between the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning, the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education and Nova Scotia Community College. NSCC works in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services and Employment Nova Scotia to facilitate access to the program for learners. In this way learners can complete their education while continuing to receive their benefits. The majority (72%) of students who successfully graduate with their Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma continue with post-secondary education.
2. LINK Programming, is a unique program designed for students who have had their high school education interrupted. The majority of students are disenfranchised females who are on income assistance or are the working poor, struggling at minimum wage jobs with no hope of future advancement or improved wages. LINK students are academically assessed for entry into the program at ALP Level 4. In addition, they commit to be enrolled in continuous study for a period of 14-23 months depending on the program. Students work concurrently towards completion of their Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma for Adults (through ALP) and an NSCC certificate. Currently NSCC offers Continuing Care Assistant Certificate (CCA) and Office Administration (OA) Certificate LINK Programs. The program is designed to address a Labour Market need in a particular community and sector. Local employers sign an Employment Commitment Agreement to support students in their extended work terms. All student costs (tuition, books, uniforms, immunizations, health and dental) are covered through the funding agreement with the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning and the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education via a Federal Provincial program through the Labour Market Agreement. Similar to ALP, NSCC works in partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services and Employment Nova Scotia to facilitate access to the program for students to ensure they can continue to collect their benefits while attending college.
3. English as Another Language for ALP and English for Academic Purposes are offered to support new Canadians with permanent residency, a refugee with protected person status; or a new Canadian citizen who needs to update English language skills to pursue post-secondary studies. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is a rigorous and challenging program designed to prepare students for the academic demands of post-secondary education. As closely as possible, it reflects the authentic tasks and assignments that students will be required to do when they go on to credit programs in either college or university.

4. Adult ESL Option: English as an Additional Language (EAL) option provides an integrated approach for adult students (19 years of age or older) who need to complete their High School Graduation Diploma and build their English language skills at the same time. Students learn to meet the demand of studying and communicating in English and achieve the requirements needed to demonstrate fluency.

5. An African Canadian Transition Option is a unique program for students who self-identify as being Black/from the African Canadian community (of African descent). Students have an option of starting the Adult Learning Program in the African Canadian Transition option. In the safety of the classroom, students discuss topics such as racism, power, privilege, and politics, and are encouraged to strive for excellence. Using the principles of Africentricity, information is presented through the students’ eyes by validating African knowledge and contributions to society. Students are exposed to African Canadian role models and mentors and become empowered to embrace a positive self-image. After one year, most participants transition into the Adult Learning Program to complete the courses needed for their high school diploma.

6. The NSCC Student Awards program recognizes achievement in the areas of academic performance, leadership, community involvement, and career advancement. Awards are funded by employees, current students, board members, service clubs, corporations, small businesses, foundations, and alumni. The program also mitigates financial barriers by offering many awards which contain a financial need component. For these awards, students are asked to complete a financial form detailing their expenses and revenues, allowing for proper and consistent assessment in this area. For awards that include financial need, the component is weighed differently – some awards are granted based on 100% financial need, while others may include other components outlined above. Below is a listing of the 2013 NSCC student awards that include a financial need component:

Fall Awards (Current Students)

Aecon Atlantic Construction Trades & Technology Award
Albert Anderson Memorial Bursary
Arnold D. Johnson Sr. Award for Water Resources
Atlantic Credit Unions Bursary
Avondale Construction Limited Award
Beth Murray Award
Bird Construction Award
BMO Financial Group Award
Board of Directors Bursary
Bread and Roses Bursary
C.C. MacDonald Limited Award - In Memory of Charles C. MacDonald
Cape Breton Island Building & Construction Trades Council and Unionized Cape Breton Contractors Entrance Bursary
Carol Brasok Lifelong Learning Award
Carol Squire Construction Education Award
Colin and Ryan MacAskill Memorial Award
Core Conference Scholarship
Design & Construction Institute of Nova Scotia Award
Dexter Construction Award
Donna MacKinnon Award for Medical Office Professionalism
Dr. Daurene E Lewis Memorial Award
Dr. Joan McArthur-Blair Bursary
Duggan Family Memorial Award
Ernie and Delia Edwards Award in Culinary Excellence
Floyd Brown Memorial Award
Grant E. Crouse Memorial Award
Gregory W. Dean Memorial Bursary
Health Programs Bursary
Ian L. MacDonald Award for Electrical Trades
Interface & Workspace by Design Bursary
James Mattatall Memorial Award
Jason D. Mason Memorial Award
Jeff Todd Memorial Award
Jessie Tupper-Munroe Memorial Award
Joe Gallagher Bursary for Water Resources
John J. MacLellan Next Generation Award
Kevin Megeney Memorial Award
Krista Stewart Memorial Award
Lillian Rodgers Memorial Bursary
Lindsay Construction Award
MacDougall Steel Erectors Inc. Award
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Award
Mark, Jeffrey and Susan Reeves Achievement Award
Mark, Jeffrey and Susan Reeves
Advanced Diploma Award
Natalie Charbonneau Memorial Award
Northern Pulp Pictou Landing First Nation Award
Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association Entrance Award
Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association Returning Student Award
NSCC Foundation Bursary
NSCLRA Claude Langley Memorial Scholarship
Ocean Contractors Limited Award
Paralegal Program Support for Excellence Award
RBC Award
RCS Award
RKO Steel Award
Robert Sampson Memorial Award
Robert T. Peacock Achievement Award
Rogers Media Entrance Award
Saxton Family Award
Scotiabank Entrance Award
September 11th Memorial Award
Shelburne Campus Community Involvement Award
Shell Oceans Award
Stephen Sorrey Memorial Award
Stevens Group Award
The Claude Langley Memorial Scholarship
Tom Norwood Award
Truefoam Limited Award
Truro Business Office Award
Truro Campus Fall Bursary
Wanda & Raymond M. Ivany Merit Scholarship
Waterfront Campus Dedication Award
Women in Information Technology Award
Women in Trades & Technology Bursary

Spring Awards (Future and Current Students)

Don & Jean Worsley Music Excellence Award
Global Maritimes Media Award
Marid Industries Limited Award
Raymond E. Ivany Merit Scholarship
Construction Association of Nova Scotia
Building Futures for Youth Award
J. R. Eisener Contracting Limited Award
Kingstec Financial Need Entrance Award
Webster Award
Mechanical Limited Award
Burridge Campus Spring Student Success Award

1. Students enrolled in the School of Access are supported and served through a dedicated and qualified Adult Learning Program Counsellor. The ALP-C works in collaboration with faculty and staff to support each student to ensure each has the resources required to be successful. In addition to counselling services, faculty and staff support and facilitate students with issues related to housing, a food and clothing bank and linking with other agencies on a per student basis. Staff work as a team to ensure that they provide all available and appropriate support to enable each student to focus on academic success.

2. Students also receive professional support through the Disability Resource Facilitator. Funds are provided through the Nova Scotia Labour and Advanced Education Department to ensure students’ access to tutoring, psychological educational testing and other accommodations at no cost to the student as needed.

1. Students in the School of Access Programs have dedicated access to a qualified and dedicated Adult Learning Program Counsellor who supports and facilitates their transition into learning in consultation with faculty and staff.

2. Adult ESL Option: English as an Additional Language (EAL) option provides an integrated approach for adult students (19 years of age or older) who need to complete their High School Graduation Diploma and build their English language skills at the same time. Students learn to meet the demand of studying and communicating in English and achieve the requirements needed to demonstrate fluency.

3. English as Another Language for ALP and English for Academic Purposes are offered to support new Canadians with permanent residency, a refugee with protected person status; or a new Canadian citizen who needs to update English language skills to pursue post-secondary studies. English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is a rigorous and challenging program designed to prepare students for the academic demands of post-secondary education. As closely as possible, it reflects the authentic tasks and assignments that students will be required to do when they go on to credit programs in either college or university.

An extensive college-wide (85+ and growing) bursary and awards program is available to students.
In addition to upwards of 30 awards designated for APL learners, program tuition and associated costs (text books, Health and Dental) are covered for students enrolled in the ALP and LINK programs.

"Get Started" is an orientation to college for learners and their supporters (parents, guardians, learner's partner, or other family supporters). This workshop introduces supporters to college, workload, stresses and how they can support their learner.

The School of Access staff has extensive relationships with all partners at the community and government level to reach out to students with low-income backgrounds. There are coordinated advertising campaigns and presentations to community-based and government groups. To recruit students for the CCA and OA LINK programs the School of Access collaborated with NSCC Marketing and Communications to develop and action an extensive targeted marketing and recruitment campaign. In addition, numerous community based presentations, open houses and visits were made in each location where the program was being offered. The LINK Program and Adult Learning Program staff collaborate with a wide range of community partners such as the Department of Community Services, Employment Nova Scotia, Community Learning Networks, First Nations Education Councils and African Nova Scotians Services, Chambers of Commerce, Municipal Government Development Officers and sector councils to ensure that all partners and the clients they serve are aware of the learning opportunities available.

ALP and LINK students are guided through the application and admissions process by staff, and the ALP-C. Often students do not have access to a computer to complete the application process. The ALP-C facilitates this process in conjunction with faculty and staff to ensure that the admissions process is not a barrier to participation.

The NSCC Student Awards program also mitigates financial barriers by offering many awards which contain a financial need component. For these awards, students are asked to complete a financial form detailing their expenses and revenues, allowing for proper and consistent assessment in this area.

Students enrolled in the Continuing Care Assistant Program have all additional costs such as uniforms, health and dental, and immunizations covered for the duration of the program. In Office Administration LINK the costs for health and dental are covered for the duration of the program.
Faculty and staff support food banks, emergency funds and referral for additional supports as required.