May 1, 2000 For Immediate Release

Representatives from northern universities and colleges around the world who are members of the Interim Council for the University of the Arctic are meeting in northern British Columbia this week to continue planning for the University's establishment.

The University of the Arctic will be a "university without walls" and is bringing together existing northern colleges and universities to co-operate in delivering courses and programs on northern issues. Courses will be offered through face-to-face teaching and via the internet. About 30 post-secondary institutions in Canada, the US, Britain, Russia, Germany, and the Nordic countries are involved in developing the new university. The Interim Council is comprised of more than 20 members.

On May 2-3, the Interim Council will be meeting at UNBC's Prince George campus. Later in the week, the group will travel to the Nass Valley, north of Terrace. The Interim Council meetings in Prince George will include reports on the Northern Research Forum, the development of a new bachelor's degree in Circumpolar Studies, student and faculty exchange programs, student services, and distance learning programs. The meetings will be in Conference Centre room 205-211.

UNBC is actively involved in the development of the Arctic University. Both Robin Fisher (Dean of Arts, Social and Health Sciences) and Leslie King (Northwest Regional Chair) are members of the Interim Council and Greg Poelzer (Political Science) is a member of the Curriculum Committee. Two UNBC alumni - Scott Forrest and Pamela Spokes - are working in northern Finland to help establish the University of the Arctic.