iPads, cash offered to new students at Sudbury colleges

Colleges in Sudbury are using cash and computers to help attract students to their schools.

For Collge Boral president Denis Hubert-Dutrisac, handing out an iPad3 to all first-year students enrolled in a full-time postsecondary program is just the beginning.

"Its much more than just buying the iPad," Hubert-Dutrisac said. "Were buying into the Apple technology were tapping into a pool of specialists in academia, post-secondary and education in general."

He noted that Collge Boral is the first Francophone college to become a member of Apples iTunes U network. Students will have access to e-books tens of thousands of them.

With thisiTunes U venture, the collegewillwork on a collaborative project with two postsecondary institutions in Quebec: Cgep de Trois-Rivires and Collge Edouard-Montpetit.

"We will be sharing our knowledge and working together," Hubert-Dutrisac said.

To outfit this falls roster of new students with iPads, it will cost Collge Boral about $500,000. Hubert-Dutrisac said its a worthwhile investement, and one that is overdue.

Hubert-Dutrisac noted that, as he visits classrooms and meets students, he sees them all "hooked into something."

"Isnt it about time that that is fully integrated into the classroom environment, with the college, with the teachers and with a program linked to that," he asked.

Cash for courses

Meanwhile, over at Cambrian College, the leaders there are still relying on the universal appeal of cash to help lure students to the college.

On Wednesday the school announced its Graduation Tuition Rebate program.

Starting this year, students who apply for a diploma or degree program and finish on schedule will get 15 per cent of their tuition paid back when they graduate.

France Quirion, the association vice-president of Student Services, said students sometimes don't finish their program because of personal or financial problems.

She said she hopes the cash incentive will help the school retain students.

"I don't know if its just in my industry but ... its a lot more expensive to recruit a student than to retain a student," Quirion said. "So once we have them here ... we want to make sure that we keep them here."

College president Sylvia Barnard the program is a bonus designed to reward those who complete their studies on time and on budget.

"Cambrian already offers excellent value in postsecondary education, and were adding to that by putting between $1,200 and $3,500 back in the pockets of eligible graduates as they embark on their new careers," Barnard said.

Quirion also noted that the program can help students who may not benefit from other funding programs, such as scholarships or bursaries.