Dalhousie’s Truro Start Program Widens Access, Offering Small-School Option to More Students
Dalhousie’s Truro Start program has been providing a small-school experience with big-city impact to students since 2022.
Initially open to students in the Faculty of Science, the program expanded last fall to include learners in the Faculty of Computer Science with a further expansion on the way for students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences this coming September.
The program gives students the option to complete the first year of their chosen degree on Dal’s campus in Truro — where they can take advantage of smaller class sizes — before transitioning into their second and final years in Halifax.
“I was accustomed to class sizes smaller than eight, so my 25 student classes actually feel pretty big,” explains Kristin Gaudet, a first-year Computer Science student from Digby County who took advantage of Truro Start.
“It’s nice starting off in a smaller area. I’ve made a lot of friends here and it already feels like home,” she adds.
Setting students up for success
The program also enables student to meet peers in their cohort through a first-year interest group and offers access to a dedicated program coordinator and advisor.
“I am so pleased to see this program expanding on our campus and students from a variety of disciplines living and studying together,” says Dr. Gefu Wang-Pruski, acting campus principal on the Truro campus. “Providing a variety of experiences for a variety of learners can only aid in their success within Dalhousie University.”
Student Ayva Perepelitza of Cold Lake, Alberta, says she was grateful to be part of the program.
“By starting my degree at a smaller campus, I am able to navigate university easier, and feel as though my learning matters,” she says.
Christian Blouin, associate dean academic in the Faculty of Computer Science, says expanding the program makes a lot of sense.
“Offering a new point of entry in the Computer Science discipline is important,” says Dr. Blouin. “The experience in Truro is different than in Halifax, and if this environment allows our students to build a strong foundation, then the Truro Start program is a success for us.”