The next step in this institution’s storied 67-year history has seen it transition to Lethbridge Polytechnic, a change that was given approval by a Government of Alberta order-in-council on June 20 and announced by Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney on June 25. As a polytechnic, the institution will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between education and industry, fostering economic development and enhancing the social and cultural fabric of our communities.
“As a polytechnic, we can create new pathways to other institutions, continue to grow our applied research and be increasingly nimble to ensure we meet social and economic needs in our region, province and beyond,” said Michael Marcotte, chair of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Board of Governors. “These opportunities are good for our students, our industry partners, our communities and the economy.”
Even before the announcement was made, Lethbridge College already met the definition of a polytechnic, and it had essentially been operating as one by offering hands-on programming, apprenticeships and being industry-responsive. Programs have long encouraged learning by doing, developing the practical skills and competencies required in today’s workplaces and giving graduates an advantage in the labour market.
“We became Canada’s first publicly funded community college in 1957 because southern Alberta needed one,” said Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic. “Being forward-thinking is baked into our DNA. And while our official designation has changed from a college to a polytechnic, our role in the community remains the same – to provide programming that meets the needs of industry, and to engage in research that supports economic development.”
Polytechnics also focus on innovation through applied research and collaboration, an area of the institution that has seen significant growth in recent years through the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
More opportunities to engage in research is one of the benefits the change will bring to students. In addition, it will fill a gap in southern Alberta’s post-secondary landscape as the only polytechnic south of Calgary; provide more pathways for learners at Lethbridge Polytechnic and to other post-secondary institutions; and offer a range of diverse program options designed in collaboration with industry partners to ensure that the curriculum meets current and future job market needs, all while ensuring continued personalized instruction, small class sizes and hands-on, practical skills.
Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association president Nagaraj (Raj) Rotti said: “I’m excited to see how this redesignation will bring more opportunities to students and how it will help students be better prepared for the challenges that come when they leave campus and go into the real world. It will help us prepare better for the coming opportunities.
Continue reading to learn more about what this change means for students, alumni, employees and community partners. In addition, a detailed Frequently Asked Questions page can be found at lethpolytech.ca/our-polytechnic.
WHAT IS A POLYTECHNIC?
In Alberta, polytechnics occupy a space between traditional colleges and universities. The term “polytechnic” means different things from country to country, with some countries not having polytechnics, others using the term interchangeably with “universities,” and others aligning them more closely with colleges that focus on applied learning. In Alberta, the term “polytechnic” has been used interchangeably with technical institutes for decades, but that definition does not reflect the reality that polytechnics, like Lethbridge Polytechnic, deliver a broad range of academic programs that are not technical in nature.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLLEGE AND A POLYTECHNIC?
The differences are small, especially for a campus like ours. Both types of institutions focus on applied learning and combine study with practical skills training and experience. Lethbridge College was one of nine Comprehensive Community Colleges in Alberta, but as Lethbridge Polytechnic, we’ll be one of five polytechnics, joining NAIT, SAIT, Northwestern and Red Deer. One key difference is a polytechnic in Alberta must provide approved apprenticeship training. That’s optional for a college, but it is something we have done since 1957 and will always continue to do.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ALUMNI?
Regardless of the name, you are still an alumni of our institution. We look forward to continuing what we have always done, sharing the stories and accomplishments of our alumni community. Whether you knew the institution as Lethbridge Junior College, Lethbridge Community College or Lethbridge College you are still a member of the alumni and institutional community. This change reflects work we’ve been doing for many years, work that our alumni have played a huge role in – growing our research portfolio, connecting with industry partners and emphasizing work-integrated, experiential learning. It is an accomplishment we can all be proud of. You may notice we’ve made some updates to reflect our new name. Our social media accounts have been updated and we hope you keep following along. The LC Alumni Perks app still works and still offers great deals and discounts. Eventually, the LC name will change on the app, but we anticipate that will just require an app update. Stay tuned! You experienced the transition from post-secondary to the work world, and your experiences help shape our programs and steer our students to success! Alumni involvement and connection remains vital to Lethbridge Polytechnic.
IF I NEED A REPLACEMENT CREDENTIAL, WHAT WILL IT SAY?
Your credential remains the same and still holds value. If you need a replacement, it will bear the name Lethbridge Polytechnic. Any credential issued by a post-secondary institution in Alberta must bear the graduate’s legal name and the institution’s legal name on the parchment. There will be a notation of the original date of production and the date of reproduction.
WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A NEW LOGO FOR THE NEW NAME?
Over the summer we began consulting with current and prospective students, employees and other key groups about a new design. That work continues into the fall, but we will be ready to launch that important visual before the end of the year
HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
To see the deep connection between Lethbridge Polytechnic’s vision and the original concept for Lethbridge Junior College, see our interactive history at: lethpolytech.ca/our-history.
