It wasn’t just back-to-school last week for students and teachers at elementary and high schools. Students and faculty returned to Moose Jaw’s Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus for the fall semester. 

All of last week, Welcome Week was held for a number of activities that happened throughout the week. On Aug. 29, there was free coffee and on Aug. 30 there was a picnic lunch was a variety of fun and games. 

A campus and community services fair was held on Aug. 31 to give students a chance to interact with some of the supports and services that are offered on campus. Welcome Week wrapped up on Sept. 1 with a Student Connect Festival that included live music.

“The events were organized at all of our four main campuses across the province, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and, of course, Moose Jaw,” said Sask Polytech president and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia. “They were well attended. A lot of students were there and a lot of faculty were there. It was great to see.” 

New this year at the Moose Jaw campus, Sask Polytech is offering a three-year agriculture and food production diploma program. The program was a collaboration with those in the industry. Rosia described it as built “by the industry for the industry.” 

He said the new program has already been getting a good response. 

“We announced the new program at the beginning of the New Year and it filled up pretty quickly. There are 30 seats in the program and we're currently full,” Rosia said 

It was a cross-disciplined program that develops skills in agriculture technology, farm machinery, farm management, land and production management and sustainability. The program includes three paid co-operative work terms. 

Finally, students and staff are reminded that repaving is taking place at the main campus parking lots. The work began in July and it is expected to wrap up by mid-September.  

There is alternative parking for students at the MacDonald Street parking lot near the Ironworkers building. Staff can use the parking lots on Algoma Avenue and the parking lot on the northwest side of the main campus.