AUC program hailed as a success.A degree in community economic and social development (CESD CESD cholesteryl ester storage disease. ), the first of it's kind in Canada, is coming closer to reality as students are now getting ready to enter their second year in the program. Alice Corbiere, program co-ordinator of the new four-year degree program at Algoma University College Algoma University College is a postsecondary institution in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, offering undergraduate university degrees in more than 25 academic programs. Algoma is currently an affiliated college of Laurentian University in Sudbury. (AUC AUC area under curve ) says there has been very good response since it started in January with 26 students. Of those 26, 15 had designated (CESD) as their major. In September, another 12 students joined the program. "The four-year honours program is unique in that it combines economic and social development and it's geared to smaller communities, including First Nations," says Corbiere. The program also offers a CESD certificate. To date, the majority of the students have been from Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is the part of the province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron (including Georgian Bay), the French River and Lake Nipissing. Northern Ontario has a land area of 802,000 km² (310,000 mi²) and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it , several being Sault Ste. Marie Sault Sainte Marie — pronounced "Soo Saint Marie" (IPA /su seɪnt məˈɹi/) — is the name of two cities on the Saint Marys River, which forms part of the boundary between the United States and Canada. and area residents, but the program has also attracted students from southern Ontario. CESD is a new field that builds up and revitalizes local areas by using methods such as planning, designing and controlling. Graduates of this program will be able to work in a wide variety of areas especially with government, economic or social agencies and could include organizations such as banks, community financial groups, First Nations and academic settings. "We're joining the economic and social approach to communities," says Corbiere, who adds that another unique aspect of the program is their advisory committee made up of people working in the field. They are currently seeking employers who are interested in participating in a co-op program or can offer opportunities for students doing internships. Another aspect of the program is that it prepares students for Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDU CANDU CANada Deuterium Uranium (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited) ) and Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC EDAC - error detection and correction ) certification. Corbiere, who recently received her own certification, says the two groups provide a standard of competency in the field through their professional development requirements. By 2004, AUC hopes to offer some of the courses for the CESD program online. |
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