While Red Deer College students started classes today, school administration was thinking about the institution’s future, specifically its application to gain polytechnic university status.

The college has been promised an answer from the province by the end of this year and RDC president Joel Ward is hopeful it’s going to be, yes.

Ward said degree-granting status for RDC would result in higher enrollment and economic benefits for the region.

“We’re blessed in Central Alberta and Red Deer to have a post-secondary institution but it’s now time for the next step, the next evolution in our institution,” Ward said.

“New programs, new degrees, new opportunities for students who can’t otherwise afford to go somewhere else to complete their education.”

The school is already offering two new programs this year.

One is the human resources management graduate certificate through the Donald School of Business, a one-year program for students who already hold a degree and seek a career in human resources.

The second is the instrumentation engineering technology diploma, a two-year program developed with local industry stakeholders so students gain skills that employers seek.

Enrollment at RDC this year is at approximately 7,500 students.