What's New at BC Colleges: May 12, 2011
Message from Jim Reed - President, BC Colleges
Spring is a time of renewal and this is certainly evident in this month’s news from our 11 member institutions. On a leadership note, Selkirk College welcomed new President Angus Graeme and Jan Kubli Carrie joined North Island College as their new Vice President Education. Camosun College opened a new aboriginal gathering place named Na’tsa’maht - the Salish phrase for “unity or working together”. The College of New Caledonia launched a new Leadership Centre to offer expanded leadership courses, workshops and retreats to help local organizations and businesses improve their leaders and employees. And, the new Primary Care Paramedic program at College of the Rockies was happy to receive a new-to-them, ex-BC Ambulance Service ambulance to help students train in a “fully stocked” vehicle. All this certainly signals the onset of Spring, now if only the weather would cooperate.
Later this month, Vancouver will host the 2011 NAFSA (Association of International Educators) Annual Conference & Expo. In addition to involvement by many of our colleges, BC Colleges will host a luncheon to share information about the breadth of international programs available at our 11 public colleges. On that note, read below to discover how Vancouver Community College is rolling out the welcome mat for international students. And, how eight Douglas College students are off to Zambia to work with non-governmental organizations as part of the college's strategic plan to give students more international experience.
Finally, during the coming month a number of our institutions will host one of the 11 HST Public Forums. These public sessions will give those in favour and those opposed to the HST an opportunity to explain their views to citizens throughout the province. For more information about the forums, visit the HST Public Forums site.
Please read on to learn more about how our colleges are partnering, collaborating and creating new programs to prepare British Columbians for the future. As always, I welcome your feedback. You can reach me by e-mail at whatsnew@bccolleges.ca. To read all of this month's news please check out "In the News".
Sincerely,
Jim Reed
President, BC Colleges
Douglas College sends eight students to Zambia to bolster international experience
Douglas College Media Release, May 10, 2011
Douglas College is sending eight interns to Zambia today to work with non-governmental organizations as part of the College's strategic plan to give students more international experience. As participants in the Global Leadership Program, a new initiative set up by Douglas College's Centre for Campus Life, the students will spend three months volunteering in community development, health care, social enterprises, and other areas that mesh with their chosen fields of study. "One of the main focuses of the College's strategic plan is internationalization," says Scott Fraser-Dauphinee, Campus Life Coordinator. "So we're starting to provide opportunities for students to get work-related experience through community service." Read more.
Respected researcher, top-ranking RCMP member and community-minded entrepreneur are College’s 2011 Honorary Fellows
Okanagan College Media Release, May 09, 2011
On the day it honours and celebrates the accomplishments of the graduating class of 2011, Okanagan College will also recognize the contributions, careers and service of three community-minded leaders that include a world renowned researcher, Canada’s highest-ranking female RCMP member, and an entrepreneur whose fabric stores dominate the Canadian textile industry. Okanagan College will bestow the title of Honorary Fellow on Dr. Tom Landecker, Principal Research Officer at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), Beverley Busson, former Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Mel Kotler, founding owner of Mel Kotler Consultants Ltd. and working partner of the Fabricland Company, Western Canada.Read more.
Na’tsa’maht: Camosun officially opens the new Aboriginal Gathering Place
Camosun College Media Release, May 4, 2011
It’s official. Camosun’s newest building – resembling a huge cedar hat and perched on top of the slope overlooking Lansdowne Road – has been named Na’tsa’maht. This Salish phrase, announced at the grand opening ceremony on April 19, means unity or working together as one. "Na’tsa’maht is a physical manifestation of the philosophy, beliefs, and mission of the Aboriginal Education & Community Connections (AECC) department," says Stephen Parkhill, board member of Camosun’s Board of Governors. "People will meet and engage as diverse communities." The event drew nearly 300 people including: numerous Aboriginal Elders; Ida Chong, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, First Nations drummers and dancers; Camosun officials, staff and students; and a row of rapt preschoolers. Read more.
CNC to launch new Leadership Centre
College of New Caledonia Media Release, May 4, 2011
The College of New Caledonia will officially launch its new Leadership Centre during the Leadercast event Friday at the Civic Centre. CNC has expanded its leadership courses, workshops and retreats under the auspices of the new CNC Leadership Centre, which will work directly with organizations and businesses to improve their leaders and employees.“We have a wide range of courses and workshops that will help professionals with everything from leading others to developing the leader within themselves,” said Randall Heidt, CNC director of communications and development. “We can also work with companies and organizations to develop customized offerings around establishing teamwork, leading change, improving communication, reducing stress and much more.” Read more.
ECE program recognized for First Nations curriculum shift
Northwest Community College Media Release, April 29, 2011
Northwest Community College’s (NWCC) Early Childhood Education (ECE) program has recently obtained recognition from the Province of BC Early Childhood Education Registry for providing First Nations perspectives throughout its ECE curriculum. The ECE program at NWCC has been steadily adopting teaching practices to better integrate First Nations knowledge and philosophy, a move initiated by Joan Turecki, the program’s longtime coordinator who retired in 2010. As a result, the ECE department has embraced an educational approach that is mindful of the traditional people in the Northwest and their way of living and caring for their traditional territory. “We encourage mindful thinking about the ways of learning,” says Jessica Hrechka Fee, who replaced Turecki. “Rather than being an ‘add-on’ to previous ECE curricula, First Nations knowledge has shaped the program’s core content curriculum, a shift that is in step with Northwest Community College’s values and operating principles that encourage departments to not only be aware of but to commit to embracing First Nations heritage and culture.” Read more.
Langara College and Rethink launch new video for $18,000 scholarship
Langara College Media Release, April 29, 2011
For the third year in a row, Langara College has teamed up with Vancouver’s award-winning ad firm Rethink to offer an $18,000 scholarship for aspiring art directors and designers. The lucky winner will receive full tuition to Langara College’s two-year Communication and Ideation (CID) program as well as a three-month internship at Rethink. Last year’s video was a huge success, with over 500,000 views, pickup from major media, and even a tweet from Ashton Kutcher. Read more.
Academic Dual Credit a popular option for secondary school students
Northern Lights College Media Release, April 29, 2011
Secondary school students in the Peace River and Northern Rockies districts are taking full advantage of an expanding range of Dual Credit learning opportunities at Northern Lights College.Dual Credit allows high school students to get a head start on their future by earning post-secondary credits at NLC while they are still in secondary school. Dual Credit programming started in 2002, with an initial focus on trades and technology program areas. Since 2009, Dual Credit opportunities have expanded into University Arts and Sciences subjects including Biology, Business Management, Criminology, Early Childhood Education and Care, English, Information Technology, Math, and Psychology. Read more.
College of the Rockies Paramedic program acquires ambulance
College of the Rockies Media Release, April 20, 2011
The new Primary Care Paramedic program at College of the Rockies has acquired an ambulance for its students to train with. Instructor Aileen Boyd explains, "It's an ex-BC Ambulance Service ambulance that was put out to pasture as it had more than 250,000 km on it. It's fully stocked just like a 'real' ambulance so our students can get a feel of what it's like to actually drive and work in an ambulance. It's decorated with graphics that are photographs of actual PCP students in the program." Read more.
VCC rolling out new welcome mat for international students
Vancouver Community College Media Release, April 20, 2011
Vancouver Community College is rolling out a new welcome mat for international students, with plans for new programming, streamlined admission processes and enhanced support to better appeal to this important audience. Find out more on VCC’s international website "VCC has outstanding programs and an outstanding reputation for its applied education, including vocational and career programs," says Judy Turner, the interim vice-president overseeing the college's programming for international students. "We have tremendous potential -- and we've seen considerable success over recent months, witnessed by the increasing number of international students applying to and studying at VCC." Read more.
Selkirk College announces new president
Selkirk College Media Release, April 14, 2011
Angus Graeme After many months of diligent work by a Search Committee, the Board of Governors and Davies Park executive search firm, Selkirk College has found the person with the experience and the leadership attributes necessary to lead it successfully into the future. Angus Graeme has been appointed as President and CEO of Selkirk College. “A Board of Governors has many important responsibilities in providing leadership to the college, but none surpasses that of hiring a President and CEO,” explained Selkirk College Board of Governors Chair, Stefan Lehmann. “Selkirk is a very special institution in a unique part of Canada. We entered into this search believing that it would take an extraordinary person to assume the leadership role at our college. We believe that we found exactly what we were looking for.” Read more.
Jan Carrie Welcomed as NIC’s Vice President Education
North Island College Media Release, April 13, 2011.
North Island College is excited to welcome Jan Kubli Carrie as NIC’s new Vice President Education. Ms. Carrie comes to North Island College from Douglas College, where she most recently served as Dean of the Faculty of Child, Family and Community Studies, a position she held since July 2005. As Dean, Jan oversaw the development of eight new programs, including two new degrees. She was instrumental in creating a number of educational pathways and options for students including collaborative degrees, flexible delivery options, transfer pathways, and prior learning assessment and recognition opportunities. During the 2009-2010 academic year, Jan served as the Acting Vice President of Education at Douglas College, where she was responsible for the overall administration, development, implementation, and effectiveness of all educational programming and faculty professional. Read more.
BC Colleges is a consortium representing BC’s 11 public, community colleges serving almost 200,000 students annually with campuses in close to 70 communities throughout British Columbia. BC’s colleges offer a comprehensive range of programs from university studies and baccalaureate degrees to career, technical and trades education. All of BC’s colleges offer programs that are designed to be accessible, affordable and responsive to the evolving needs of BC communities and industry. For more information, visit our website.