December 5, 2008

The University of Northern British Columbia’s Board of Governors will be meeting in Prince George on December 6, discussing topics ranging from the student enrolment in the fall semester to the budget planning guidelines for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Enrolment in the current semester has reached its highest level ever for a single semester, reaching 3989 students, a 2.8% increase over last year. The enrolment number was captured on November 1, the annual date for providing official enrolment figures to the Government of BC and Statistics Canada.

The “Budget Guidelines for 2009-10” are being presented to the Board for information. The University is projecting a balanced budget for the remainder of this fiscal year and as part of budget planning over the next few months, UNBC will seek to address cost pressures on a priority basis and monitor the effects of the volatile financial markets on the University's endowment.

New Board Members:

• Jack Blaney is the former President of Simon Fraser University and has a total of more than 40 years of experience in senior administration at BC universities.
• Brian Brownridge is the President and CEO of Brownridge and Company Insurance Services. He a long-time donor and supporter of UNBC and has seen two of his children graduate from the University.
• Louise Burgart of Fort St. James is the owner and a director of Apex Mountain Resort. She is a former superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, vie-principal, and teacher.
• Lynda Price is the Chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation in Anahim Lake, west of Williams Lake. She is a UNBC graduate and the first woman to be elected to the executive of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. She is also the mother of Carey Price, the goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622