November 29, 1996 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia's Planning Committee has published a strategic plan for the University over the next five years. The Committee's report is not a comprehensive plan, but attempts to establish a strategy for the continuing growth of UNBC over the period 1997-2002.

It is the central thesis of the report that UNBC must grow in terms of physical size, student numbers, instructional opportunities available to students, and in the breadth of research. "To bring about this next phase of growth, the University must find ways of using present resources more efficiently and expanding its resource base," according to the report.

Highlights include:

• An aim to steadily increase enrolment to the year 2001-2002, with the objective of achieving an enrolment of at least 3500 full-time equivalent (FTE) students. To encourage growth in regional enrolments, there will be greater support of course delivery beyond the Prince George campus. Note that UNBC currently has an enrolment of 2700 students, but since not all students attend the University full-time, the present FTE count is about 2200.
• A recommendation that, effective July 1997, the existing Faculties of Arts and Science, Health and Human Sciences, Management and Administration, and Natural Resources and Environmental Studies be dissolved. Existing degree programs and support staff would instead be organized into two Faculties: the Faculty of Natural, Physical, Environmental, and Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Arts, Management, and Social Sciences.
• A recommendation to Senate that it endorse a periodic review of all UNBC programs according to various criteria such as centrality to the UNBC mission and regional mandate and student demand. The outcome of the review will in large part determine the field of undergraduate "majors" and may also identify program amalgamations.
• A recommendation in the Five-Year Capital Plan that highest priority be given to the renovation of the University Library and Conference Centre in order to provide for an expansion of library holdings, the construction of an addition to the University Laboratory building, and the construction of a multi-purpose athletic/student activities building.
• An overall recommendation to focus greater attention on such issues as the provision of student services, the fostering of student life, issues of recruitment and retention, and regional student services.
• Greater promotion of research in support of northern quality of life and economic issues.

The entire 18-page draft report of the UNBC Planning Committee is available on the Web or in hard copy from the University Office of Communications and written comments on the report are invited. They should be directed to Charles Jago, UNBC President and Chair of the Planning Committee, no later than Monday, December 16th.

Following the receipt of comments, the Committee will hold a final meeting and present the report to the Senate and Board of Governors for approval. The Senate will be having a meeting on January 8th, and the Board will be meeting on January 25th.

The 15-member Planning Committee included representation from students, faculty, the Board of Governors and Senate, staff, and senior administration.