Housing Funding Sees NWCC Offer New Business Programs in Smithers
New housing provided by the provincial government will allow Northwest Community College (NWCC) to offer two new business programs in the region.
The Business Administration and Post Degree Business programs are two-year programs and have not been offered face-to-face in Smithers in the past. By bringing in students from outside the region, it means that students in the Smithers region can register knowing the programs will proceed. Today, students enrolled in the program participated in their orientation activities at the campus.
The new housing is under construction and students are scheduled to move in May 14, 2018. The temporary housing is made of modular trailer units that include rooms for 20 students, cooking facilities, laundry and washrooms.
“The vacancy rate in Smithers is extremely low and we know it is a challenge for students who are not from Smithers to find accommodation,” says NWCC President and CEO Ken Burt. “In order to build capacity for new program offerings in Smithers it is important that we have student housing available for students from outside of Smithers who wish to register.”
The temporary student housing units in Smithers are already fully subscribed, demonstrating the need for housing in that community.
NWCC is grateful to the Town of Smithers for granting the appropriate permits and for working with college officials to bring this innovative housing solution to the community.
NWCC has received $350,000 from the Province of British Columbia to develop the temporary student housing in Smithers.
The new housing facility will be located at 4034 Mountainview Drive, a short walk from the Smithers campus.