CALGARY – Bow Valley College (BVC) continues to see strong application and enrolment numbers for fall 2011 in career programs tailored to meet the needs of business and industry.

"As Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College, BVC is in a unique position to respond to southern Alberta's demand for work-ready college graduates in business, health care, justice, and human services," said Anna Kae Todd, BVC's Acting President and Vice-President Learning.

"Our fast-track certificate and diploma programs appeal to learners who want to enter the workforce in two years or less, including those who want to complement an existing degree with more focused employment training."

The College's strong enrolment is underpinned by the addition of a new Justice Studies Diploma with specializations in Correctional Studies, Youth Justice or Law Enforcement, as well as a Business Administration Risk Management specialization and an Aboriginal Addictions Counselling program.

More seats have been added to in-demand career programs, such as the College's Business Administration Diploma. In partnership with Alberta Health Services, BVC has also added seats to its Health Care Aide Certificate program.

In addition to its offerings in Calgary, BVC is expanding its online and blended programming this year in communities within the region. The College is making its expertise in academic upgrading available to communities across southern Alberta through its Real-time, Online high school courses.

"In order to serve the more than 1.3 million urban and rural Albertans in our region, we have developed and will continue to develop programs that are available any time, any place, along any path, and at any pace," said Todd.

"Our longstanding partnership with one of North America's fastest growing online learning consortiums, eCampusAlberta, is an important part of BVC's larger initiative to bring education and training opportunities to Albertans."

BVC is undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion of its downtown Calgary campus, increasing the number of classrooms and student study spaces and creating a state-of-the-art green college. More than 12,000 full- and part-time students attend the College each year.

BVC currently has additional campuses in Banff, Canmore, High River, and Airdrie, through which it plans to introduce new career and English as a second language programs this winter and spring.