Bermuda College is to launch a massive campaign to recruit mature students to its roll as it begins to prepare for the loss of 70 percent of its student intake this September.

Vice president Dr. Larita Alford said the lack of graduates from the public school system this year may turn out to be a good opportunity for the college, as it can use its resources to entice older students.

Both Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy will introduce a fourth senior level to their schools from September, meaning Bermuda College will lose the majority of its freshmen.

It will take the college two years to get back to its normal enrolment figures, but Dr. Alford said she believed there were many other people in Bermuda who could utilise the building.

Without mature students, the classrooms at the college will be thin on students and the lecturers thin on work.

As a result, anyone who has expressed an interest in the college in recent times, but who has failed to follow up, will be contacted and asked to consider furthering their education.

"In a much broader sense, we have looked at ways we can assist people to reach their life-long dream of completing an education," said Dr. Alford.

"They might not have followed their dream for whatever reason, but now would like the opportunity to do so. The community college is exploring the possibility of providing short courses in executive professional development, as well as providing courses at the other end of the spectrum, catering to those who need to brush up on their reading and writing skills.

Dean of Students Sheridan Talbot said a group of advisors had been set up at the college to look at the issue and find ways to attract mature students and make the transition to the college an easy one.

And advertising campaign is about to start soon.

She said: "We are looking for the mature, or non traditional, students who had a dream that maybe was deferred, who wanted to go to college but, for whatever reason, could not.

"But we realise that there could be a lot of anxiety about going to college, so we want them to know there will be support available, not just academic support, but personal support.. We want to help people so their dream can become a reality."

She said the college will be considering family support for students, finances and the practicalities of children when they discuss study options with mature students. And, where necessary, courses will be tailor-made to suit students.

And before classes actually get off the ground, Mrs. Talbot said a short foundation course entitled College 101 will be held to prepare the mature students for the college environment. The foundation course will include time management and acquiring good study skills, and will be followed up intermittently.

For more information, call the College at 236-9000.