RRC president on capital projects, Aboriginal engagement

In an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press, Red River College president Stephanie Forsyth said the institution wants on-campus family housing, still seeks to grow in Winnipeg's Exchange District, and is considering more degree programs, in particular a bachelor of Indigenous adult education. While RRC's new culinary arts facility and student residence are set to open in the new year, its proposed skilled trades and technology centre still has financial barriers to overcome. The facility was budgeted at $175 million a year ago, a figure that keeps rising. One way to go about that project would be a private-public partnership (P3), but since the Manitoba government owns the Notre Dame campus, RRC cannot pursue P3 deals. That issue is also holding up development of on-campus student housing, particularly family housing that could accommodate Aboriginal students who cannot leave their families behind while coming to Winnipeg to study. "How do we enhance aboriginal engagement? That's critical for Manitoba," said Forsyth. One way to engage Aboriginal students: "We would like to see family housing on this campus." Winnipeg Free Press