Catholic College lives by its mantra
Published:Wednesday | May 13, 2015 | 11:34 AM
MANDEVILLE, Manchester:
THE CATHOLIC College of Mandeville continues to live by its mantra of offering quality tertiary education to adults while introducing and developing programmes to complement its academic offerings.
According to Dr Laurette Bristol, president of the college, the institution's capacity to improve offerings to the student populations has been improved through the use of technology.
"We have upgraded our computers and have moved towards an online system that has brought both faculty and staff up to speed with what is happening at the institution. We are now able to upload course offerings, assignments and grades to the system, so that everyone can have a fully online learning experience," Bristol said.
While maintaining an emphasis on teacher education, the opening of the ultra-modern facility in Williamsfield, Manchester, in February 2013 affirmed the college's pledge for administrators and its management team to provide the highest quality education to their students.
Bristol indicated that many of their students did not have access to computers outside of the school environment and, as a result, they upgraded a section of the library to accommodate a fully functional computer
laboratory.
"We call it the 'information commons' where students do online research and assignments for their coursework. It is really an extension of the library, with 25 machines available to the students. We are working to realise the national educational development goal of producing well resourced and competent individuals who will lead productive and successful lives," Bristol said.
Having played a pivotal role in the growth and development of its students, and with the high demand from young people yearning for further education, the college has also sought to redesign some of its programmes, including its offerings in special education, mathematics, science and technology education. "We have aligned our courses to be as competitive with other institutions in Jamaica, and have identified other areas of need not just in Jamaica, but across the Caribbean," Bristol said.
Some of the redesigned programmes which will be offered in the new academic school year will include a bachelor of education in early childhood education that will now be offered on a full-time basis, an associate of science degree in agriculture, certificate in sports massage therapy, and a masters in teaching and learning in collaboration with St Mary's University in Minnesota.
"What drives us is that we have a strong sense of service to the community. We care about our students and work towards meeting our students on an individual level. The college has been quietly making a significant contribution to Jamaica's development over the past 23 years, and in niche areas that have produced many outstanding graduates," Bristol said.