College-preparation program opens doors
by
Laura MacLean
Jun
20, 2007
A
program that was created by the Muskoka Literacy Council and Georgian
College is paving a road to higher education for those who live in the
Muskoka area.
Called Academic Upgrading for College Entry (ACE), the program first
started on Jan. 15 as a pilot partnership project between the literacy
council and Georgian College.
“What the program does is upgrades individuals
so that they have a high school equivalency level,” explained Amy
Nadrofsky-Freake, Muskoka Literacy Council’s
program co-ordinator. “It is recognized by
all Ontario colleges and apprenticeship programs.”
Nadrofsky-Freake went on to say that the ACE
program is geared toward those who did not complete grade 12, need a
specific credit to enter college, or to those who have been done school
for many years and want to upgrade their skills.
“It’s been great,” she said of enrollment. “Since January, 13 people
have enrolled in the program, 10 are currently enrolled and three have
successfully exited.”
Nadrofsky-Freake indicated that
representatives from Georgian College visit the Muskoka Literacy Council
on Monday and Tuesday evenings to teach students communications and core
mathematics, the two courses that are offered as part of the ACE
program. A student is taught in units and they work until they complete
the appropriate level to reach their goals.
“They don’t have to complete the whole program, but if they do, they
receive an ACE certificate, which is like a Grade 12 equivalency,” she
stated. “The program is designed to move at the pace of the individual
learner. It’s great for people who live in outlying rural communities
and can’t travel the distance to upgrade. It helps so many people in the
area who don’t have access to upgrading in order to go to college.”
When plans to start ACE were first being laid out,
Nadrofsky-Freake and reps from Georgian College met and wrote a
proposal to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in order
to obtain funding to deliver the program. Within the proposal, it
explained that Nadrofsky-Freake would
recruit individuals into the Huntsville program, which also operates at
the Georgian College Muskoka campus, as well as set up learning plans
for those wishing to enroll. The proposal also stated that Georgian
College representatives would assist the students in completing the
program.
“It varies depending on how quickly an individual moves through the
program,” she said. “It’s very exciting because it’s the first time
we’ve been able to bring the academic updating to Huntsville and its
rural areas. It opens a new door for our residents.
”
For more information contact the Muskoka Literacy Council at 789-1850 or
literacy@vianet.ca. The Muskoka Literacy Council provides free,
confidential, educational support and upgrading in literacy, numeracy,
and computer skills
