September 6, 1999 For Immediate Release

A growth in student numbers and additional academic programs are two features of the 1999-2000 academic year, which officially begins on September 7th.

Official student numbers won't be known until the end of September, but there were 3200 students last year and registrations to the end of August were up 7% compared to the end of August last year.

On the programming front, some new programs and degree specializations will be available this academic year:

• A new Energy specialization will be offered in the BSc program in Environmental Planning. The Energy focus will be available at UNBC's regional centre in Fort St John and will prepare students for careers in the oil and gas sector, as well as other parts of the growing energy industry.
• A new certificate program in Rural and Northern Nursing has been designed for northern Registered Nurses who are seeking additional skills and qualifications in rural nursing. The certificate will provide students with some of the essential clinical skills needed to provide nursing care in rural and northern community hospitals, clinics, and health centres.
• New undergraduate honours programs are now available in History and Psychology. To complete these programs, students will be required to complete some additional coursework and research to supplement the bachelor's degree requirements.

Also new this year, the UNBC Northern Timberwolves men's and women's basketball teams will be participating in the BC collegiate league for the first time. The teams' exhibition schedule includes games in early October, and the first home games (played at the College of New Caledonia) will be played in mid-November.

On the construction front, work is progressing on the Enhanced Forestry Lab, which is scheduled to be complete in early December. Renovations are also continuing in food services: painting is complete in the Cafeteria and the Northwood Winter Garden and the Starbucks kiosk is scheduled to open on September 9th.