GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
Jan 7, 2020
Posted in: Education, testing services
The Gabriel Dumont Institute Testing Services Department, located at the Dumont Technical Institute Building on 1003-22nd Street West Saskatoon, had a busy year with clients writing their exams and renovations going on at building. We have worked closely with the Institute’s Facilities Management and Operations to create a space where students and clients can feel comfortable before writing their exams. The space has been used regularly by all students and continues to grow.
In 2019, we administered tests to 399 individuals. These included 192 who wrote their General Educational Development (GED); 77 who sat for the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE); and 100 clients who did Accuplacer. As well, 14 clients wrote IXL while 16 nursing students were also served by the Testing Centre.
The numbers of students and clients who wrote their exams in Saskatoon decreased slightly from 2018 because the Testing Services Department was opened just one day each week (on Thursdays) due in part to staff shortages.
Our advertisement campaigns and community outreach resulted in an increasing number of students and clients from outside Saskatoon using our testing services.
Our friendly staff makes our facility a welcoming place and we have received numerous positive remarks from our clients. Janelle Duplessis works the testing department on Thursday’s with Dumont Technical Institute Administrative Assistants covering when needed. I would like to thank Janelle for her continued efforts in helping at the test centre while performing her regular duties as position as Faculty in the Adult Basic Education program. She continues to provide me with great feedback and keeps us updated with concerns if they come up.
In September, the Testing Centre partnered with the practical nursing program to provide support and testing for their online exams. Each week, students and staff use the space which provides the centre with more traffic on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Practical Nursing staff and the testing department have worked hard on making sure we are providing the proper equipment and space for our students. We will continue to work with the program to provide their testing.
Our hope for the New Year is to remain open Thursdays and gradually opening the centre more when we can utilize staff during quieter periods. We will continue to work with programs to provide their online testing needs. Further, the Testing Services mobile lab will be working in Buffalo Narrows to assist with the GED program. We will continue to provide Accuplacer and IXL services to GDI Training and Employment and continue expanding our services and reaching more students and clients. As well, discussions with the Correctional Services are ongoing with the goal of establishing a mutually-beneficial partnership. Overall, the 2019 calendar year has been rewarding and I am excited to see more growth and numbers climb.
By Kristi Ross
GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment and cultural institute serving Métis across the province
