College offers help to students in disaster area
9/8/2005 3:57:54 PM
September 8, 2005 - College of the North Atlantic has extended an offer to help students from the United States unable to attend college or university in areas affected by hurricane Katrina.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 college and university students from the Southern US have been displaced as the institutions they had planned to attend are closed due to damage sustained by the Category 4 hurricane which swept through the US south coast region in late August.
The college plans to offer affected students seats in programs where there is still space available. It is estimated that the college can accommodate up to 100 students this September, with many being able to avail of residence facilities.
“While there are a number of similar offers being extended, especially from post-secondary institutions in the United States, we are talking about a very high number of displaced students and many may have to look north to Canada to avail of educational opportunities,” says Pamela Walsh, President of College of the North Atlantic.
“We felt it was important to reach out to these students in this trying time and give them an option to, not only continue their education without missing a year, but provide them with a safe place to live and try to give them back some sense of normalcy. We will be looking at any and all ways that we may be able to help.”
The college made the offer as part of a response being led by the Association of Canadian Community College, of which College of the North Atlantic is a member. The combined report was presented to the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Wednesday, who will use it to help determine what level of assistance Canada can provide.
In addition to this offer, the college is undertaking a province-wide effort to collect funds to provide financial assistance to the affected institutions and their students. Donations are being accepted at any College of the North Atlantic campus during regular business hours.
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For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Manager of Marketing and Communications
(709) 643-7929