With some trees already starting to change from green to yellow, Prince George’s post-secondary institutions are gearing up for another school year.
Orientation is getting underway for both UNBC and the College of New Caledonia tomorrow. (Tuesday)
CNC President Cindy Heitman said they’ve made some adjustments as to how orientation is happening.
“Focusing on being more student-centric, in that instead of doing a college-wide, everybody all together orientation, we have divided it up by the academic schools that each student will be enrolled with,” she explained.
“We thought we’d do smaller ones, giving our students an opportunity to meet the faculty, staff and employees that they’ll be working with this year, and learn more about their programs in a more inclusive way.”
Heitman added with some financial challenges surrounding the College in regards to international student enrollment, it gives the College a chance to pause and reflect.
“It gives us a chance to pause and reflect and make sure the programs we’re offering are relevant, that they’re current, and they are what students are looking for, and what the region is going to need in terms of economic development,” she explained.
“We have a role to play in providing a labour force, we have a role to play in the economy, and how can we ensure the work we’re doing will position our students to be employed within the northern area, and position our community to thrive.”
UNBC started welcoming new students to campus last week.
Interim-Vice President Academic and Provost Bill Owen said his favourite part of a new school year is the excitement the students bring back to the campus after a quiet summer.
“It’s wonderful to see new students, new faces, and to see the returning students as well,” he said.
This year is also UNBC’s 35th anniversary year.
“June 22nd of 1990 was when the UNBC Act was officially signed and the provincial government, based upon the 16,000 signatories who wanted this university to be here,” Owen said.
“One of the things that we did this summer is we gave away $350 tuition credits or bookstore credits to about 150 students.”
Owen said more celebrations are planned, with announcements coming at a later date.
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