January 7, 1997 For Immediate Release

Representatives of local media outlets are invited to an open meeting with University ofNorthern British Columbia President Charles Jago on Thursday, January 8th, at 10:30amin Administration Building Room 1051. The purpose of this session is to discuss a numberof motions passed by the University Senate during its meeting on January 7th.

The Senate dealt mainly with the report of the Planning Committee (the UNBCstrategic plan) and passed motions to:

• approve the Planning Committee report in principle
• approve the dissolution of the four undergraduate Faculties in favour of a revised academic structure
• endorse the process for a periodic review of all UNBC degree programs
• examine the feasibility of a three-year general degree program
• approve the report's revised statements of mission and values
• strike a committee on recruitment and retention (for undergraduate and graduate students)

In addition, the Senate passed motions calling for the creation of one-year certificate programs for students who may not wish to commit to a four-year bachelors degree program. Certificate programs will be comprised mostly from first and second year UNBC courses which are already being offered as part of the University's curriculum. The first two such certifcate programs will be General First Nations Studies and First Nations Public Administration.