December 16, 1999 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia Senate has approved an initiativethat will strengthen UNBC's links with an innovative institution workingto increase northern participation rates in post-secondary education.

The Senate has approved UNBC's involvement in the planning and developmentof the University of the Arctic, a new "university without walls". TheUniversity of the Arctic is bringing together existing northern collegesand universities to co-operate in delivering courses and programs on northernissues. Scott Forrest, a graduate from UNBC's master's degree programin International Studies is working in Finland to help establish the newUniversity. The coordination office has been set up at the Universityof Lapland, with whom UNBC has an exchange agreement.

A program development team is currently working on developing a bachelor'sdegree in Circumpolar Studies, with many courses available via the WorldWide Web. UNBC Political Science professor Greg Poelzer is a member ofthe team, and the next meeting will be held at UNBC in January, when thecurriculum will be discussed. This past semester, UNBC offered a web courseon the Geography of the Circumpolar North, and is developing a web-basedcourse on Environmental Development in the Circumpolar North.

There are also initiatives to establish a northern research forum anda circumpolar mobility program to promote interaction among students andfaculty.

Robin Fisher, UNBC Dean of Arts, Social, and Health Sciences, and LeslieKing, UNBC's Northwest Regional Chair, are on the Interim Council of theUniversity of the Arctic and the Council will meet at UNBC in May, 2000.

The web page for the University of the Arcticis located at www.urova.fi/home/uarctic