Lethbridge Polytechnic

{{Short description|Canadian polytechnic institute (est. 1957)}}

{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Lethbridge Polytechnic

| native_name = {{langx|bla|Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan}}, Stone Pipe

| image = Lethbridge Polytechnic Crest.png

| former_names = {{ubl

|Lethbridge Junior College (1957-1969)

|Lethbridge Community College (1969-2007)

|Lethbridge College (2007-2024)

}}

| motto = {{langx|la|Ex Disciplina Docti}}

| mottoeng = Learned from training

| established = {{start date and age|1957}}

| academic_affiliations = CICan, AACTI, CBIE

| type = Public

| campus = Urban
{{convert|37|ha|sqm|abbr=on}}

| president = Dr. Brad Donaldson

| faculty = 300+{{Cite web|url=https://www.lcfa.ca/people|title=Who We Are|website=Lethbridge College Faculty Association|language=en|access-date=2024-06-25}}

| students = 6,900

| address = 3000 College Drive S
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
T1K 1L6

| coor = {{coord|49.6620|N|112.8092|W|region:CA-AB_type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| colours = Blue {{color box|#6AADE4}} and {{color box|#739600}} Green

| sporting_affiliations = ACAC, CCAA

| mascot = Kodi the Kodiak

| nickname = Kodiaks

| website = {{URL|http://www.lethpolytech.ca/}}

| logo = Lethbridge Polytechnic logo.png

}}

Lethbridge Polytechnic (also known as LethPolytech), formerly Lethbridge College, is a public polytechnic institute located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with regional campuses in Claresholm, Vulcan, Pincher Creek, and the Crowsnest Pass.{{Cite web|url=https://education.macleans.ca/school/lethbridge-college/|title=Lethbridge College|website=MacLean's Education|language=en|access-date=2024-06-26}}

Lethbridge Polytechnic is ranked as one of the top 50 research colleges in Canada and has over 6,900 students enrolled in more than 65 certificate, diploma, applied degree, bachelor's degree, pre-employment, and apprenticeship programs.{{Cite web|url=https://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo/schools-in-alberta/lethbridge-college/ea479915-9537-44e7-ba75-a12700c54750/|title=Lethbridge College: Schools in Alberta - alis|website=Alberta careers, learning, and employment information - alis|language=en|access-date=2024-06-25}} Lethbridge Polytechnic is a member of the Rural Development Network.

History

Lethbridge Junior College was established in 1957 as the first publicly funded college in Canada.{{cite book|last=Sanderson|first=Kay|title=200 Remarkable Alberta Women|year=1999|publisher=Famous Five Foundation|location=Calgary|page=54|url=http://www.ourfutureourpast.ca/loc_hist/page.aspx?id=917825}} In 1969, in response to the opening of the University of Lethbridge, the college refined its mission and motivations, and changed its name to "Lethbridge Community College".{{Cite web|url=https://lethpolytech.ca/our-history|title=Our History|website=Lethbridge College|language=en|access-date=2024-07-11}} On 14 February 2007, to mark its 50th anniversary, the college's Board of Governors voted to once again change its name, this time to "Lethbridge College".{{Citation

| title = Name of college officially changed to Lethbridge College

| newspaper = Lethbridge Herald

| pages = A3

| date = 2007-02-15}}

On 25 June 2024, the Alberta government announced the college would become the province's newest polytechnic institute - Lethbridge Polytechnic, to reflect the institution's growth and ability to expand its programming.{{Cite web|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2024/06/25/college-getting-new-status-and-new-name/|title=College getting new status and new name|website=Lethbridge Herald|language=en|access-date=2024-06-25}}

Academics

Lethbridge Polytechnic offers preparatory studies, vocational training, and university transfer programs in 50 career fields, leading to one-year certificates, two-year diplomas, apprenticeships, and bachelor's degrees. Lethbridge Polytechnic provides applied bachelor's degrees and has transfer agreements with the University of Alberta, Athabasca University, University of Calgary, and University of Lethbridge for students who wish to transfer and/or further their studies with a bachelor's degree.{{Cite web|url=https://lethbridgecollege.ca/|title=Lethbridge College {{!}} What Happens Next Matters Most.|website=BE READY|language=en|access-date=2019-09-20}}

Lethbridge Polytechnic contains five academic centres which deliver its educational programs:

  • Business, Arts, and Sciences
  • Health & Wellness
  • Justice & Human Services
  • Technology, Environment & Design
  • Trades

Locations

Lethbridge Polytechnic's main campus is in Lethbridge, with regional campuses in Claresholm, Vulcan, Pincher Creek, and the Crowsnest Pass.{{Cite web|url=https://education.macleans.ca/school/lethbridge-college/|title=Lethbridge College|website=MacLean's Education|language=en|access-date=2024-06-26}}

Athletics

Lethbridge Polytechnic competes in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. The college fields men's and women's teams in basketball, soccer, volleyball, golf and cross country running. The teams are known as the Kodiaks.

The men's cross country team won the 2006 ACAC Championship, and the National Championship. The women's team also won National titles in 2003 and 2004. The women's basketball team won their second ACAC gold medal in 4 years, defeating defending champion Mount Royal College 67–59. They won the bronze medal at the 2006 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association National Championships in Cornwall, Ontario, where they defeated the Okanagan Lakers 79–77.

Media

Lethbridge Polytechnic has an on-campus media organization called Lethbridge Campus Media, operated by the second-year students in the Digital Communications and Media program as a part of their curriculum. Within the organization, students curate the online presence; Endeavour newspaper, published four times during the academic year; CRLC The Kodiak, an online radio station; and eNews, a news program broadcast through their website and locally through Shaw TV in the Winter semester. The students also create Expressions Magazine in the winter semester.

Wider Horizons is Lethbridge Polytechnic's community magazine and celebrates the successes and accomplishments of Lethbridge Polytechnic's students, staff, alumni and community partners by promoting them throughout the community and around the world. The publication aims to educate its readers, engage polytechnic stakeholders and recognize donors through compelling stories and images that relate to, and resonate with, its readers. It was launched in 2007 as part of the college's 50th anniversary celebrations.{{Cite web|url=https://lethpolytech.ca/wider-horizons/about|title=About Wider Horizons|website=Lethbridge Polytechnic|language=en|access-date=2024-07-16}}

The magazine has won multiple awards during the last four years, including gold awards in the CASE Circle of Excellence awards program for community college magazines and won a gold award for feature writing in the most recent CASE VIII competition.

Student Association

Lethbridge Polytechnic Students' Association (LPSA) is the voice of students on campus and strives to support students during their academic journey. LPSA consists of a student council and LPSA staff. The LPSA student council is made up of six student representatives and three executives whose responsibility is to make decisions in the best interest of Lethbridge Polytechnic students and provide input on their behalf at Lethbridge Polytechnic board meetings. LPSA staff facilitate social events, recreation programs, awareness activities, foodbank services, and much more.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mylcsa.com/|title=Who We Are|website=Lethbridge Polytechnic Students' Association|language=en|access-date=2024-07-15}}

The LPSA operates a social space on campus called The Cave, which features lounge-style seating, large windows with natural light, TVs, and a variety of games.

Leadership

class="wikitable"

|+ Presidents

NameTerm startTerm end
W. J. ‘‘Jim’’ Cousins19571963
Carl B. Johnson19631967
Dr. Charles D. Stewart19671975
Donald W. Anderson19761979
Les Talbot19791990
Dr. Donna J. Allan19902005
Dr. Tracy L. Edwards20052012
Dr. Paula Burns20132022
Dr. Brad Donaldson2022

Notable alumni

References

{{Reflist}}