Steps to Opportunities, Academics and Readiness
Overview
Selkirk College has a diverse offering of programs to meet the learning needs of adult students. There are many options available that lead to certification and develop transferable skills for adult living and employment. Our mission is to nurture interdependence and independence through meaningful learning. Our programs build upon learners’ unique personal strengths, confidence, awareness and skills.
Our Teaching and Learning Philosophy
Transitional training programs include hands-on, experiential education designed to prepare students for success in a variety of workplace, volunteer and community settings. Students are exposed to a blended learning platform that includes foundational academic and life skills that are essential for developing life-long learners.
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We believe in giving learners the chance to flourish in a supportive college setting. It is important we take the time to get to know a prospective student, so an individual plan is developed to foster success and appropriately meet the needs of the student and programming.
Find out more from the instructor in your community and set up an intake interview:
Nelson offers a full or part-time program. Contact Alison Roy.
Castlegar offers a part-time program. Contact Lisa Young.
Grand Forks offers a part-time program. Contact Kim Vander Kooy.
Trail offers a full or part-time program. Contact Tammy Profilli.
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Program Outcomes
Learners participating in the Steps to Opportunities, Academics and Readiness (SOAR) Program at Selkirk College will finish their studies being able to demonstrate the following program outcomes:
1. Build on strengths and interests boosting self confidence
2. Identify, create and achieve personal goals
3. Build self-awareness and participate effectively as part of a team and in society
4. Develop and use effective strategies for handling conflict, change and stress,
and problem solving
5. Develop resource and support networks
6. Demonstrate resilience, creativity and critical thinking in challenging situations
7. Enhance employment readiness and develop useful and transferable workplace skills
8. Identify and practice appropriate health, personal and work safety procedures
9. Increase numeracy, literacy and technology skills
Admission Requirements
The applicant must meet the following SOAR Program requirements to be considered fully qualified.
The program does not have academic prerequisites, however, the instructor will assess the student’s capacity to succeed in the program. All students must:
- Participate in an intake interview with the instructor
- Have the ability to learn and participate in a group setting
- Have had no behavioral or emotional problems that would significantly interfere with the learning or safety of self or others
- Have a commitment to learning
- Have a medical condition affecting cognitive ability
Selection
Instructors will balance the needs of the classroom in regards to the following guidelines that determine capacity.
For a class with maximum enrollment of 12:
a. 1-2 High Needs Students (no more than 20% of total students): severe cognitive disability, or are required to have a support worker with them at all times.
b. 3-4 Moderate Needs Students (no more than 30% of total students): moderate cognitive disability and extra attention to adaptive functioning skills. No support worker required, but extra attention for location of students, activities done independently, and interactions with others.
c. 6 Low Needs Students (50% of total students or higher): mild cognitive disability, higher adaptive functioning level. No support worker required, and minimal attention regarding students’ independent choices.
Before an applicant’s file is considered to be complete, a student must:
- Complete a Selkirk College Application for Admission Form
- Conduct an interview (in person or by telephone) with the SOAR instructor
- Provide at least two of the following (students must provide documentation at their own effort and expense)
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- A psychological assessment
- A copy of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or transcript from school
- Documentation of disability from a physician or medical specialist
- A referral from Community Living British Columbia (CLBC)
- A recommendation from an instructor in a SOAR Program at Selkirk College, another college or high school
- A referral from a community agency
We believe in giving learners the chance to flourish in a supportive college setting. It is important we take the time to get to know a prospective student, so an individual plan is developed to foster success and appropriately meet the needs of the student and programming.
Selkirk College awards certificates of completion at the Goals, Foundations, Discover, Mastery & Mentorship levels.
PROMOTION
In the SOAR Program, it is not necessary to obtain a level certificate in order to take courses in the next level. However, courses within a certificate level are sequential and must be completed in order.
Courses
CASH20 - Cash flow, Money and Inventory I
CASH 20: Cash flow, Money and Inventory I focuses on the cash flow and movement of inventory within a business. Students will work at the cashier, count money, make change, total sales, create bank deposits, count floats, and monitor inventory flow.
CASH23 - Cash flow, Money and Inventory II
CASH 23: Cash flow, Money and Inventory II builds upon the skills developed in CASH 20. The course will focus more on the inventory organization of a business. Students will maintain the roles and responsibilities of the cashier, such as counting money, making change and totaling sales, but will also be involved with upholding the standards of the workplace, and ensuring task completion so that the business can thrive.
CPRJ20 - Community Project I
CPRJ 20 Community Project I provides students with an experiential learning opportunity. Students will collaborate together to design and execute a community-based project. The project will highlight skill areas in teamwork, communication, community connections, budgeting, project planning and project completion.
CPRJ23 - Community Project II
GOAL01 - Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 1
GOAL 01 Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 1 offers students the opportunity for individualized learning. Students will be welcome to set learning goals within the scope of skills development in literacy, numeracy, computer technology and/or adaptive functioning.
GOAL02 - Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 2
GOAL 02 Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 2 offers students the opportunity for individualized learning. Students continue to set learning goals within the scope of skills development in literacy, numeracy, computer technology and/or adaptive functioning. Students will be building upon the learning skills mastered in GOAL 01.
GOAL03 - Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 3
GOAL 03 Goal Setting for Transitions for Adult Living 3 continues to offer students the opportunity for individualized learning. Students continue to set learning goals within the scope of skills development in literacy, numeracy, computer technology and/or adaptive functioning. Students will be building upon the learning skills mastered in GOAL 02.
GOAL04 - Goal Setting for Transitions in Adult Living 4
GOAL 04 Goal Setting in Transitions for Adult Living 4 continues to offer students the opportunity for individualized learning. Students continue to set learning goals within the scope of skills development in literacy, numeracy, computer technology and/or adaptive functioning. Students will be building upon the learning skills mastered in GOAL 03.
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