August 31, 2001 for immediate release

On Tuesday, September 4th, roughly 3500 University of Northern British Columbia students will begin classes in the 2001-2002 academic year. The official enrolment number won’t be known until late September, when students have confirmed their registration and finalized their course selections for this semester. However, the University is expecting a slight rise in enrolment, following a 3% increase in student applications.

The start of the new academic year is marked by a number of developments:

• Almost every single computer in the campus student computer labs has been upgraded, at a cost of more than $300,000. About 170 new computers have been installed in Prince George, plus another eight for student computer labs in Quesnel and Terrace. The computers run on the Windows 2000 operating system with the brand-new Office XP suite and are equipped to handle an array of multimedia teaching materials.
• The number and value of scholarships and bursaries has risen dramatically. This year, 476 awards (up 30% over last year) have been presented to students and the value of those awards is nearly $900,000 (up 66%).
• The number of UNBC students on international exchange has nearly doubled this year. A total of 27 students are on exchange and the University has about 85 international students this year (up from 67 last year).
• The are no new programs this year, but planning continues for new bachelor’s degree programs in Education, Health Sciences, and Environmental Engineering. Those programs, plus a new master’s in Disability Management, are expected to begin next Fall.
• Former BC Cabinet Minister Paul Ramsey will be teaching two courses for the University’s Political Science program this semester. His “behind-the-scenes” experience will enrich the courses on Health Policy and British Columbia Politics.

Orientation week activities will continue throughout the week, culminating with the Northern Backyard BBQ concert on Saturday, September 8th.