year, taking it to the highest level in four years.

Last September, the college changed its entry requirement -- reducing the required Grade Point Average (GPA) of applicants from 2.0 to 1.5.

But Vice President of Student and Academic Affairs, Donald Peters, yesterday adamantly rejected the notion that the College had "lowered its standards''.

"We have adjusted the entry requirement,'' he said.

"The GPA does not in any way tell me how a student will perform.'' Around 50 percent of students with Bermuda Secondary School Certificates fall below the 2.0 grade.

However, Dr. Peters stressed: "This school is hard! The school standard is the content of what we teach.

"If we had changed the curriculum, then the standard would have been lowered.'' All students admitted to the College have to enrol in the same required courses and Dr. Peters warned: "Teachers are not sympathetic. If you don't make the grade, they will flunk you.'' A total of 704 applications were made for the last academic year. Of the 585 students accepted, 18 students were below the old GPA minimum of 2.0.

"These students received counselling from the recently expanded staff at the Academic Resource Center,'' Dr. Peters explained.

"The specially trained counsellors look beyond `anecdotal data' and determine what academic or social factors affected student performance.

"They then create individual programmes of extra work, tutoring, or basic study skills.

"The progress of these students will be monitored and recorded over a two-year period.'' A remedial programme, called Best Steps, was revamped last year to focus less upon technical skills and more upon providing weaker students with academic survival skills.

Dr. Peters said he believed that the Best Steps programme would be helpful for the people of Bermuda and would hopefully rid the school of its "second class status''.

"We have to prove ourselves. The only way to compete is to provide the same level of education,'' Dr. Peters added.

"The 18 we accepted are still here. It proves my theory, they will perform.'' Future plans for the College include on-campus residences for local and international students and the introduction of a Prior Learning Assessment Program (PLA).

Increasingly popular in North America, PLA programmes are used to encourage working professionals to pursue lifelong education.

By turning work experience into academic credits, Dr. Peters said he was optimistic that the PLA programme would play a crucial role in re-educating Bermuda's workforce and preparing them for the 21st century.

"We see a new school spirit,'' he stressed.

"It's a different image: strong student government, student activity and the international exposure students need.

"The Bermuda College is an institution at an international standard, equal to or better than any schools in the United States or Canada.

"We are optimistic that in the next two years Bermuda College will be the number one post-secondary institution for Bermudians.'' DONALD PETERS: "Teachers are not sumpathetic. If you don't make the grade they will flunk you.''