September 2, 2010

On Wednesday, September 8, the University of Northern British Columbia will begin offering courses in its 19th academic year.

New Programs

For the first time, UNBC will offer a MSc in Business Administration. The two-year graduate degree builds on the foundation of UNBC’s undergraduate Commerce program by providing post-graduate education in concentrations such as accounting, finance, human resources management, marketing, and international business.

The MSc Business Administration differs from the already well-established MBA program in that it is research and thesis-based as opposed to the MBA, which is a course-based degree.

The University is also offering two new minors: International Development Studies and Soils and the Environment. International Development Studies is meant to enable students to gain a multidisciplinary understanding of the processes that affect those living in developing countries. The Minor in Soils and the Environment provides students with an opportunity to focus on the Earth’s “Critical Zone,” the thin layer of the planet that supports life.

Also new this Fall, students will now be able to pursue a Joint Major in Economics and International Studies.

For the second year in a row, UNBC will receive funding to help unemployed and low-skilled workers upgrade their skills to transition back to the labour force, get a better job, or further their education. The program has now expanded to include low-skilled, employed individuals as well as individuals who are unemployed but not Employment Insurance (EI) clients. This year, the programs will be run out of the Terrace campus and begin in late-October/early-November.

Return of the Champions

The 2010 CCAA National Men's Basketball Champion Northern Timberwolves return to the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre for their first home game on Friday, November 19.  Leading the squad on the court will be last season's Male Athlete Across All Sports Inderbir Gill.
 
There are also a number of new additions this year, including former T-Wolf Todd Jordan who was named the new men's coach this past summer and new Athletic Director Jason Kerswill who began his duties in August.

New Cohorts

There will be new Bachelor of Social Work cohorts starting in Quesnel, Williams Lake, Terrace, Prince Rupert, and the Peace River region. In Terrace, there will be a new Nursing cohort commencing, as well as a cohort in Masters of Education – Counseling.

Facilities

Construction continues on the biomass gasification system that will provide heat to UNBC’s core campus buildings and offset an estimated 85% of current natural gas consumption. It is expected that the gasification system will be operational by early 2011.

Orientation

Northern Degrees Orientation 2010 will take place on Tuesday, September 7 to welcome all new UNBC students. There will be plenty of opportunities to get a feel for UNBC, make new friends, and learn about the campus.

There are several activities for students to participate in:

• Opportunities to learn about student services on campus (Telus Student Street 12:30pm to 2:30pm)
• BBQ (Agora Courtyard 12:30pm)
• Campus tours and help finding classrooms (Monday at 9am, 10am, 11am, and 12pm, and Tuesday at 1:45 in the Wintergarden)
• Orientation Scramble (NUSC Event Space 2:30pm)
• Wrap-up Party (NUSC Event Space 4pm)

Visit www.unbc.ca/orientation for further information.

Residence Move-In

On Sunday, September 5, new students will arrive on campus and move into their new homes in residence. UNBC president George Iwama, his wife Marilyn, and members of UNBC administration will be on-site between 10am and 6pm to greet new students and their families.

Summer Numbers

In 2010, 2,205 students took part in summer courses. This represents a 3.9% increase over last year.

Precise enrolment figures for the Fall semester won’t be known until later in September