Start a Program in Your Community

How does it work?

Your planning begins with a phone call to the SIIT Department Dean or Coordinator. Each department has a set budget and monies are allocated accordingly at the beginning of the year. Here's what happens next:

• The Dean or Coordinator will ask questions about what resources are available from your end (instructor, facility, etc.).
• The Dean or Coordinator then goes over the budget requirements for starting the program (instructor salary, facility rental, text books, etc.).
• We will let you know if your program is available; if not, we will "create" a program and curriculum for you.
  
• A minimum student enrolment (usually 20) is calculated by the department.
• You purchase the program from SIIT (costs vary depending on the program requested).
• Your community starts advertising that the upcoming program will be offered, OR your community will vote on which classes to run, OR your community board will decide what program they will run for the year and advertise programming later.
  
• We start to receive applications, normally through the main SIIT campus in Saskatoon.
  
• Paperwork is also started (transcript retrieval, processing, etc.).
• Assessments of each student take place. (SIIT has just formed an Assessment Team. Watch for updates about this process.)

How long does it take?

The time it takes to set up a program can vary, depending on various factors:

• Providing an instructor, salary and accommodations usually takes the most time.
• Ordering textbooks (assuming no backlogged orders) takes about two weeks.
• The type of program (depending on department, student needs and instructors); for ABE it's usually within a month and for T&I departments, online courses, and Workforce Development, it's usually two weeks to a month.