Frequently Asked Questions
How long has the Columbia Learning Society been providing support for learners?
Columbia College established an independent and separate non-profit society. The Columbia Learning Society was the name given to this society. Its principle aim is to provide bursaries and scholarships based on financial need to learners (children and adults) attending or wishing to attend Columbia College. The Columbia Learning Society has been active since September 2002. Since then over 4,500 adults and children have utilized bursaries and scholarships to attend courses, programs, sessions, workshops or tutoring at Columbia College. The Society is proud to have provided over $2,000,000 in bursaries since it became active and will strive to continue to expand this service to as many Calgarians as possible.
How can I get involved?
Fill out this form to sign up for upcoming exciting volunteer opportunities. Click Here
How do I apply for a scholarship or bursary?
Visit our Scholarships & Bursaries Page to see the application process. If you need assistance or have application questions, reach out to us at cls@columbia.ca
Where do donations go?
The following list describes the range of activities that donated funds would support at Columbia College. Some of these activities have already started up but are operating on a limited basis. Other activities could be established when adequate donations are provided.
College Preparation
College Prep serves to help barriered individuals access post-secondary education where, in most cases, they face financial and personal hurdles.
This group of professionals assess prospective students’ current academic readiness to enter a professional program at Columbia College. Prospective students are assessed in such basic high school competencies as math, science, and language arts. Where needed, learners are assigned to relevant courses designed to improve their academic competency. Successful adults are then allowed to enter their desired program of study.
Students are not charged tuition unless they need to repeat a course. They only pay for their textbooks.
Practicum Delivery
While a large portion of students attending public universities and colleges are not required to complete practicum/cooperative education course(s), they are required to complete these courses at Columbia College. These are very expensive courses to deliver, however they provide extensive opportunity for students to apply the theory they are learning in class to a real world work environments in industry that are related to their program of study. This experience improves employment opportunity.
Donations will allow Columbia to expand this aspect of our students education and enable us to produce even more competent graduates that are even more valued by employers.
Students are not charged tuition unless they need to repeat a course. They only pay for their textbooks.
Weekend Free Workshops
Columbia has been delivering free weekend workshops for many years. These workshops are designed to meet the changing needs of learners (youth and adults) in the community. Topics include such areas as computer applications, language enhancement, tutoring school age children, and managing your family’s finances.
Donations would allow Columbia College to expand the number of workshops and respond to the many requests for various types of free workshops.
Practicum Delivery
While a large portion of students attending public universities and colleges are not required to complete practicum/cooperative education course(s), they are required to complete these courses at Columbia College. These are very expensive courses to deliver, however they provide extensive opportunity for students to apply the theory they are learning in class to a real world work environments in industry that are related to their program of study. This experience improves employment opportunity.
Donations will allow Columbia to expand this aspect of our students education and enable us to produce even more competent graduates that are even more valued by employers.
Students are not charged tuition unless they need to repeat a course. They only pay for their textbooks.
Professional Program Scholarships
For over a decade, Columbia has been providing scholarships to needy students that will enable them to attend one of our professional programs.
The need and demand for scholarships far exceeds The Columbia Learning Society’s current funds. Donor support would allow Columbia to provide more scholarships.
Child Care Centre
In May 2014, Columbia established a new non-profit daycare. While monthly fees will only be able to cover basic daycare services, with the support of donors, Columbia intends to create a much more enriched learning environment. This will enable higher barriered children to have a greater chance to succeed in life.
Academic Upgrading
While thousands of adult learners need to upgrade their high school skills in math, English, and science, the government has continued to reduce its funding to adult basic upgrading. In fact, adult learners cannot even apply for a student loan to pay for basic upgrading since such loans are no longer available to any Albertan who needs to upgrade their skills. Most high barriered adults need to upgrade their high school education in order to enter a skilled training or professional program at a college, technical school, or university.
Donor funding would be used to bring down the cost of academic upgrading and enable more adult learners to enroll in the courses they need to take to provide them with learning opportunities.
Placement Services
Many higher barriered adults are not prepared or confident in finding a good job that pays better than minimum wage. This often leaves them accepting marginal employment with lower wages.
Most placement companies focus their business primarily on the better educated adults who have less barriers to employment.
With the support of donated funds, Columbia College would establish an employment “placement service” that focuses on the employment needs of high barriered adults.
Trades Training
Columbia College has been advised by the Alberta Apprenticeship Board that they will entertain submissions from Columbia College to establish a number of trade programs.
As high barriered adults require more than the basic education offered in most programs, donor support would be used to cover such costs as tutoring, the purchase of specialized material, workshop equipment, furnishings, facility lease, renovations, and program delivery costs. Donor support will also be used to reduce student tuitions.