Education

Winnipeg Free press - saturDaY, December 5, 2015 5 Toclaimyoursavings,simplycompletethe T1005formwhenyoufileyourManitobaincometax. ThankstotheManitobaTuitionFee IncomeTaxRebate... Forinformationabout savingupto$25,000 onyourManitoba incometax,visit manitoba.ca/tuition Itpaystostay inManitoba. Stayingclosetofriends andfamily.Owning yourownhomeata priceyoucanafford. Ataxrebatethatallows youtosaveupto $25,000onyourManitobaincometax. Thereisnobettertimetobuildyour futurehereathome. Findouthowyoucanreceivea taxrebateforupto60%ofyour tuition–asmuchas$2,500ayear. Thatextracashwillgoalongway topayingbackyourstudentloans, savingforahouse,ormaybeeven startingafamily. One of the greatest misconceptions about Brandon University is that you have to live in Brandon to attend. T he university has developed an ingenious system that makes its programs accessible to everyone, even those who live in remote communities. "Our adult learners are able to take our programs at various locations, as well as online. People gravitate to us because of the flexibility and style of the programs that we offer," says Heather Duncan, dean of the Faculty of Education. A great example of this is the university's Project for the Education of Native Teachers, or PENT for short. To make the program more flexible, the courses can be stretched over five years. The program's academic classes run from April to July. "This program was designed to develop teachers for northern and remote communities. The students are in school from April to July, and the rest of the year they're acting as teachers' assistants at schools in their community," Duncan explains. "They take a variety of classes while they're on campus. Most live in residence while they're here." As most PENT graduates return to their communities to teach, the 20 to 25 students who successfully complete the program each year have made a real difference. "This program has been going since the 1970s," says Duncan. "Our aim is to produce culturally-responsive teachers. Teachers who go back to their communities to work tend to stay there. This program has had a significant positive impact on our graduates' communities and on their families." The university is planning to upgrade the program and change the name to make it better suited to today's students. More information about PENT can be found on their website at brandonu.ca/pent. In addition to the PENT program, the university also runs community-based education (CBE) programs throughout Manitoba. "Our instructors travel to various communities to deliver the programs there. Many of the students in these communities have young children and attending university is not an option for them," Duncan says. This is the sixth year Brandon University has offered CBE programs. "This project has been very successful. We have CBE programs in Ashern and Portage la Prairie. We've started to offer the program in Dauphin. Our instructors will travel there on weekends to teach," says Duncan. "We teach a combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education program. We use Adobe Connect as a way of connecting with adult learners." Masters degrees in Education and Health Studies are also available through the university. For those who are artistically inclined, the university's Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory offers a wide variety of music lessons and classes. These lessons can be one-on-one or in a group setting, and are available in piano, voice, strings, percussion, guitar and all band instruments. Brandon University's School of Music has been around since 1906. Over 600 students are currently enrolled at the school, and adult learners are always welcome. Even adults who have never played an instrument before have found success at the school. Conservatory students of all ages have a number of chances to perform in front of an audience. The Conservatory Chorale is an internationally recognized choral program with over 100 singers ages five and up. The choirs perform extensively both nationally and internationally and have consistently won acclaim at all levels. Chorale members develop vocal and choral skills in choirs with the highest possible artistic standards. Singing in chorale develops musical sensitivity and responsiveness, musical literacy, appreciation for a wide variety of the highest quality choral repertoire, personal motivation, self-discipline and teamwork. The Chamber Choir, made up of the conservatory's most experienced and disciplined singers, has performed as a major touring group throughout Canada, the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy. For more information on Brandon University's courses and programs, please visit their website at brandonu.ca. ■ The Conservatory Chorale program. submitted photos BRandon u ReaChes out to students By Holli Moncrieff for the free press "Our adult learners are able to take our programs at various locations, as well as online. People gravitate to us because of the flexibility and style of the programs that we offer." bRandon UniveRsiTy

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