October 29, 1999 For Immediate Release

Xerox Canada Contributes $60,000 to Provide Students with Greater Opportunities to Learn & Apply New Technologies

Xerox Canada is contributing a total of $60,000 to the University of Northern British Columbia to create the Northern Edge Xerox Team, for students to learn and apply new information technologies. Xerox Canada will be contributing $20,000 per year for three years. The Northern Edge program is one of five projects nationwide - and the only one in either BC or Alberta - being funded by Xerox Canada in 1999.

The funds will pay the salaries of students who are working with the University's Centre for Teaching and Learning on computer projects. "It makes so much difference to a student when they're learning to master new technologies to be able to work on real-world projects on or off-campus, rather than just course assignments," says Lynda Williams of UNBC's Centre for Teaching and Learning. "Projects could include developing web courses, multimedia and graphics, and database design."

Students will be recruited from all degree programs, with an emphasis on involving First Nations students. It is expected that students will work with Northern Edge on a part-time basis, while they continue their studies. The funding will cover the employment of up to 20 students. The first students in the program are now beginning their projects.

"Our gift of $60,000 will provide many aboriginal and non-native students with a chance to be more employable, by helping them acquire the skills that will make them successful," Howard Kaufman, Xerox Canada Vice-President Legal and External Affairs. "By funding the Northern Edge, we're helping UNBC's aboriginal students and funding a program that - to our knowledge - has never been done before by any other Canadian university."

To date, the North to the Future: Building on Success fundraising campaign has raised about $1.1 million. This is the University's second fundraising drive: the first fundraising campaign raised $15 million between 1992-1998.