Dominica State College: Expanding Access to Quality Higher Education
Dominica State College (DSC) stands as a national institution in Stockfarm, Dominica, committed to providing quality higher education to Dominicans and international students alike. Through a diverse curriculum that caters to various industries of national priority, DSC plays a vital role in the country's educational landscape.
Historical Overview and Establishment
The Dominica State College is an amalgamation of four previously established educational institutions. These are The Technical College, The Dominica Teachers Training College, The Sixth Form College, and The Princess Margaret Hospital School of Nursing. The amalgamation came to fruition through the Dominica State College Act of 2002.
The concept of merging these institutions was the brainchild of Prime Minister Rosie Douglas. Dr. Donald Peters, who was then at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, outlined the plans for the Dominica State College as a transition from the existing institutions. The proposal was then presented to parliament by the Minister for Education, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit. Skerrit adopted an inclusive approach. He invited all stakeholders in Dominica to participate in the development of the new college through 16 transition teams. These teams represented all aspects of the newly developed college. Mr. Zechariach Pollock, Head of the Education Planning Unit of the Ministry of Education, led the initiative. He was supported by consultant Dr. Hilroy Thomas, and assisted by Miss Avril Warner and Dr. Helen Francis Seaman.
The transition resulted in the following structural changes:
- The Clifton Dupigny College Academic Division became the Faculty of Arts & Science.
- The Clifton Dupigny Technical Division became the Faculty of Applied Science & Technology.
- The Teachers Training College became the Faculty of Education and Human Development.
- The School of Nursing became the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The State College was initially designed to provide students with the first two years of their university education. There were plans for the State College to begin offering 4-year degrees by 2010.
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Leadership and Key Figures
In 1996, Merril J. Matthew directed the Technical Section of the Clifton Dupigny Community College, while Mr. Henry Volney directed the Academic Division. Early involvement in the transition to DSC included Dr. Hilroy Thomas, Dr. Helen Francis Seaman and Zechariah Pollock, and several members of the Dominica Community who participated in the transition teams. By 2003, when the school had transitioned to be DSC, the president was Dr. Bernard Yankey, the former Organisation of East Caribbean States ambassador to Canada. Dr. Yankey was succeeded by Dr. Annette J. Bardouille who served as president of the College from 2005- 2007. By 2011, Dr. Donald C.
The first Governor of the College was Vans T. LeBlanc, a native of Dominica who at the time of his appointment was also the Managing Director of the National Bank of Dominica.
Academic Programs and Initiatives
DSC is the largest educational institution in Dominica by active student population. DSC offers a wide range of courses and programs to meet the diverse needs of its students.
One notable program is the Certificate Program, a one-year course covering essential agricultural topics. These include Soil Science, Farm Practice, Crop Production, Animal Husbandry, and Farm Management. Dr. Donald Peters, President of the Dominica State College, has expressed his support for the program.
Online Learning and Policy Development
The Dominica State College (DSC), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), has initiated a project focused on developing policies for online classes. This project aims to guide the development, delivery, and quality assurance of online courses. The first phase, which focuses on policy development, started this semester. The second phase, involving course development and review, is scheduled for the following semester. As part of this initiative, fourteen DSC staff members, including Deans, Faculty, and Administrators, attended a policy workshop. The workshop, facilitated by Dr.
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