How do I get started?
Begin by filling out a registration form on the RAEC website. Following that submission, Kelly Skelton (the RAEC director) will email you at the address you provided in your registration form to set up a meeting—either in-person at the RAEC building in Altona or an online video call. During this meeting, you will discuss your goals and develop an academic plan that suits your needs.
Can I take courses online?
Yes. Courses at RAEC are delivered through Microsoft Teams and are available in this format for online learners as well as students that choose to attend in-person.
What is the cost to attend?
Manitoba residents aged 19 years of age or older may earn their mature student diploma for free.
Manitoba residents who have previously graduated are entitled to earn up to 4 credits for no charge. If you require more than 4 credits, a fee per course will be applied.
When do courses take place?
Students can begin working on their courses as soon as they have completed the registration and intake process. There are no set class times, as the students will be provided with access to the course materials through Microsoft Teams and will asynchronously work through the content with the support of their instructor and the RAEC educational assistant. Students may register for the 2025-2026 academic year beginning on September 3, 2025. Registrations for the current academic year will be accepted until 4PM on April 14.
Will I be given due dates for my course assignments?
No. Students work at their own pace in their courses (within course timeline restrictions). Your instructor may be able to provide you with a course pacing guide with suggested “due dates”, but your adherence to the pacing guide is not monitored by your instructor.
How often am I expected to engage with my coursework?
Students are expected to maintain consistent progress and communication with their instructor for the duration of their course. At a minimum, students must submit a completed assignment at least once every 30 days to maintain their “active student” status and retain their spot in the course. Students who do not submit work at least once every 30 days will be removed from the course and the student spot will be offered to the next student in line. It will be the responsibility of the student to inform their instructor when they are ready to resume, at which point the student will either resume their course or be added to the course waitlist if the course is full.
How long will it take to finish a course?
As with any other provincially mandated course, there will be 110 hours of class time for a full course/credit and 55 hours for a half credit. The speed at which you progress through a course is largely determined by your availability and motivation as well as your unique set of skills and abilities.
How long do I have to complete my course?
Students enrolled in grade 11 and/or grade 12 courses are expected to complete their course(s) within a 20 week timeframe. Students enrolled in grade 9 and/or grade 10 courses are encouraged to complete their course(s) within the 20 week timeframe as well, but the focus will be on building a strong foundation to be ready for the rigour of the grade 11/12 courses (and beyond!); therefore, students will have 10 months to complete their grade 9/10 course(s).
How will I communicate with my instructor?
Your instructor will be available in person, via email, Teams chat, phone call, or video call. Please note that all communication from any RAEC staff will be sent to your BLSD student email account, which you will have access to after you have registered and had your intake meeting with the RAEC director.
How will I access support in my coursework?
Whether you attend online or in-person, the RAEC team is here to help! In a self-paced, asynchronous learning environment, one of the most important skills you will need to develop is self-advocacy. It is important that you contact your instructor or the RAEC educational assistant if you have any questions or are experiencing difficulties so that we can best support your learning. Instructors offer support in-person, via email or Teams chat, through video calls, etc. If you need a dedicated one-on-one session with your instructor, please book an appointment using the booking link provided by your instructor.
Will I get more/better support if I attend in-person?
We support all our students to the best of our ability, regardless of context. Your instructor(s) will balance the needs of the many students (both in-person and online) enrolled in the course, and as a result may not necessarily be available “on demand” to in-person learners. Regardless of the learning model you choose, to ensure that you receive dedicated one-on-one support make sure to book an appointment slot with your instructor.
Can I submit all the assignments for one unit or one course at one time?
You can, but by doing so you are choosing to opt out of the assessment for learning process and opt in to the challenge process. By choosing to challenge all or part of a course, you are stating that you do not need to improve your learning by engaging with feedback from your instructor. Therefore, if a student submits multiple assignments at one time, the instructor will evaluate the work with minimal feedback given and the student will not be able to resubmit those assignments for re-evaluation.
RAEC instructors strongly encourage each student to engage with the assessment for learning process. Assessment and feedback is an important part of learning and improving your skills/abilities, and your instructors are committed to ensuring that you receive the supports needed to learn and grow in your desired area of interest.
If you are an adult 19 years of age or older and you already have the skills/abilities that correspond to the curricular outcomes for a particular course, you may be a candidate for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), in which case you should speak with your instructor.
What is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?
RPL is a process in which individuals 19 years of age or older have the opportunity to obtain credit for high school-level knowledge and skills gained outside the classroom and/or through other educational programs. It can include work experience, on-the-job training, corporate training programs, self-directed study, non-credit courses, community work, and life experiences. A variety of assessment tools can be used by the adult learning centre to assess an individual’s learning to the outcomes of a course. The assessment can determine what you have gained and whether your learning equals or exceeds the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by particular courses offered at the adult learning centre.
Can I use AI tools to help me complete my assignments?
Most course assignments do not make use of AI tools. Speak to your instructor before using any AI tools to complete your work, unless you’ve been specifically directed otherwise. Unless you have been specifically directed to use AI tools in your work, the use of such tools will trigger the RAEC academic integrity investigation and disciplinary procedure. The RAEC academic integrity policy and procedure documents can be found on the RAEC website under “Students” > “Policies and Procedures”.
Will I be required to meet with my instructor?
You will be required to meet with your instructor either in person or through a video call prior to beginning your course. You will also be expected to engage in video calls or in-person meetings with your instructor as you progress through your course. These meetings will take place during RAEC’s operating hours and are a required component of your course. If you only have evening availability, this may impact your ability to complete the course in the allotted time as RAEC is open one evening per week, and the instructors work those evenings on a rotating schedule.
What kinds of supplies will I need?
If you are attending in-person, RAEC has you covered! We supply laptops, pens/pencils/calculators, paper, snacks, etc.
If you are an online student, you will need a reliable computer, high-speed internet connection, video call capabilities, and the technology skills to navigate an online learning environment.
Can I get my CAEC at RAEC?
No, we do not offer the CAEC (formerly known as GED) program at RAEC. Unlike the CAEC, the Mature Student Diploma is accepted everywhere.
What is the difference between the Mature Student Diploma and the Regular High School Diploma?
The difference between the MSD and Regular High School Diploma (RHSD) is you require 8 credits for MSD and 30 for RHSD. Both require an English and Math at the grade 12 level and 2 other grade 12 credits. Grade 12 Phys Ed is not required for MSD but is for the RHSD.
To obtain a Mature Student High School Diploma under the Grade 9 to Grade 12 (Senior 1 to Senior 4) Mature Student Graduation Requirements (2003), a student
- must be 19 years of age or over at the time of enrolment in school division/district or ALC programming directed at completing the Mature Student Graduation Requirements, or reach the age of 19 before completion of the course(s) in which he or she is enrolled
- must have been out of school six months or more, and out of school long enough for the class, of which he or she was last a member, to have graduated from Senior Years; and
- has not obtained a high school diploma.
Students can enroll in a school division/district or ALC for the purpose of obtaining the Mature Student High School Diploma if they are eligible as described above.