Nov 7 - Coquitlam campus set to grow by 850 students

Over the next two years, Douglas College's David Lam campus will grow by more than 850 students as the college relocates its Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies (CFCS) to Coquitlam.

The move is necessary to accommodate Douglas College's expanding student body, and to make room for even more students in the near future. Enrolment at Douglas College is up five percent over last year and 12 percent over 2009 - which has pushed the New Westminster campus to overcapacity.

CFCS offers programs in the human services field, including Early Childhood Education, Classroom and Community Support, Youth Justice, Therapeutic Recreation and Child and Youth Care. Graduates find employment in a variety of community and government-funded agencies. Currently, all CFCS classes, except Therapeutic Recreation, are taught in New Westminster.

Relocating CFCS to Coquitlam will help accommodate growth and provide more opportunities for students, says Scott McAlpine, president of Douglas College.

"By moving the entire faculty to Coquitlam, we'll be able to meet the growing demand for CFCS programs and open up additional classroom space at New West for other programs," McAlpine says. "And CFCS students will be able to take advantage of labs and other state-of-the-art facilities at the Coquitlam campus."

The move will be phased in over two stages to accommodate students. Current full-time students will be able to complete their programs - the majority of which are two years - at the New Westminster campus, and new students will begin classes in September 2012 at the Coquitlam campus. By fall 2013, nearly all CFCS programs will be offered at the Coquitlam campus.

McAlpine adds that the move underscores the need for the Evergreen Line, which will link Coquitlam and Port Moody to the SkyTrain system.

"The population of the Tri-Cities is growing, and Douglas is bringing upwards of 850 new students to the area. Once the Evergreen Line is up and running, students will be able to travel to and from the college much more easily, conveniently and sustainably."

"Coquitlam is proud of its relationship with Douglas College and the excellence of the education that students receive at both campuses," says Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart. "Coquitlam is excited and encouraged by Douglas College's continued expansion, particularly now that the Evergreen Line will connect the two campuses so well."

McAlpine points out that CFCS has partnerships with many community agencies in the Tri-Cities and predicts that community partnerships will expand as more programs, students and faculty are added to the Coquitlam campus.