April 2005
April 1, 2005
KAMLOOPS-Prime Minister Paul Martin visited the Thompson Rivers University campus in Kamloops, BC, today, as the new university’s first official visitor. Celebrations formally opening BC’s newest university were held on campus yesterday.
The Prime Minister visited the university’s Computer Automated Systems Technician (CAST) lab, where he operated a sophisticated, computer-controlled robotic arm, made available to the university through Western Economic Diversification funding, to deliver a TRU banner to the university’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Roger Barnsley. The Prime Minister spoke with faculty and national Skills Canada winning electronics student Greg Hibbert, who will represent the country at the World Skills competitions to be held in Finland in May.
The PM then proceeded to the front of the building, where he unveiled a plaque in honour of his visit. He congratulated Barnsley on the TRU campus and new status, and remarked that TRU is one of the most international of all Canadian institutions, and a model for post-secondary education.
He then proceeded to the university’s new International Building, where he met with TRU research chairs and millennium scholars, as well as members of the community representing business, the arts, ranching, and municipal government.
TRU Bachelor of Business Administration degree student called the meeting “a great opportunity.”
Today’s occasion marked the first visit to the campus by a Prime Minister since the opening ceremonies for the 1993 Canada Summer Games, hosted by the city of Kamloops, and held at various locations around the community, with the opening and ceremonies and other events held at the campus.
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First Capital Project to Support Open Learning at TRU
TRU breaks ground on new warehouse
KAMLOOPS-Provincial government and Thompson Rivers University representatives today broke ground where the new shipping/receiving warehouse is to be built on the TRU campus.
The 14,900 square-foot (1385 m2) warehouse, to be located behind the university�s Trades & Technology Centre, will be used to house and distribute the massive amount of distance learning materials required for the new university�s open learning component, formerly the BC Open University/Open College (BCOU/OC), which was acquired by TRU this year.
Local MLAs Claude Richmond and Kevin Krueger were on hand to announce $3.78 million in provincial funding and turn sod for the warehouse. Along with the added open learning operations, the institution requires more space with the increase of shipping and receiving, as well as the mail and delivery needs as it expands.
"TRU is a growing institution with added operations that need to accommodate new services that come with a larger campus,� said Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong. �The new warehouse will provide the space needed to help TRU meet its future needs."
"TRU is a growing institution with added operations that need to accommodate new services that come with a larger campus," said Advanced Education Minister Ida Chong. "The new warehouse will provide the space needed to help TRU meet its future needs."
"A bigger and better warehouse is just one more symbol of how TRU is growing into its new status as a full-fledged university," said Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond. "The new warehouse will improve the basic functions of the campus that are needed, and will support staff and students in an important way."
"The old warehouse was developed for a campus between 3,000 and 4,000 full-time students plus staff," said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. "The new warehouse will be able to support the enrolment equivalent of approximately 9,000 full-time students expected by 2010."
Construction on the new warehouse is expected to be completed in the spring/summer of 2006, followed by the BC Centre for Open Learning, which is currently operating out of former BCOU/OC headquarters in Burnaby.
TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Roger Barnsley noted, "This occasion marks the first facility to be built on campus in support of open learning," adding that he was "delighted with the initiative."
"This sod-turning marks the next phase of TRU, providing facilities for the orderly relocation of BCOU/OC," TRU Vice-President Finance, Cliff Neufeld added.
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April 8, 2005
KAMLOOPS-Thompson Rivers University has been awarded two international internships as part of the inaugural Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded Canada Corps program to allow young people who are still engaged in formal learning to better understand governance challenges in developing countries, and to participate with more experienced mentors in the search for solutions. The internships are valued at $13,000 each, and begin in early May, ending in August 2005.
This year's two recipients of internships at TRU are:
Devan-Maire Ritchie, a third-year Geography student who will be interning with the Centre for Social Forestry located in Samarinda, Kalimantan Timur Indonesia, focusing on marketing and coordinating an orientation programme and assisting with initiatives to strengthen the collaboration between the Centre for Social Forestry and major extractive industries.
Christopher Hodgson, a second-year Journalism student who will be interning with the Institute for Indonesian Tropical Nature (LATIN) located in Bogor, Indonesia. Chris will be involved in communications and promotion to enhance LATIN's profile in Indonesia and overseas and the collection of digital data regarding the nature and location of resources and activities by the community.
For more information, please contact: Geoff Wilmshurst, Manager, TRU Study Abroad Centre, at 250-371-5888 or 250-371-0233
TRU and ITA Plan for Building Degree
April 14, 2005
TRU and ITA announce plan to develop Canada's first Trades degree programs
KAMLOOPS - BC's newest university has unveiled plans to open the door to degrees for journeyperson trades and technical program graduates across the country.
Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, officially inaugurated as BC's newest provincial university two weeks ago, has announced a partnership with the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to develop Canada's first undergraduate degree programs for the trades.
The ITA will provide up to $246,000 in funding for TRU to begin analysis, planning and articulation with trades qualifications as part of a two phase program to develop three new programs over the next two years:
- Diploma in Trades & Technology
- Bachelor of Trades & Technology
- Bachelor of Technical Education (Secondary) (B.Ed)
TRU has already begun investing funds in the project, and will also fund the delivery of these programs once they have been through all internal and external approval processes.
The Diploma program will allow Journeypersons and those with other levels of trades training to complete a full two-year credential, as the first step towards their degree. Development will be undertaken in partnership with Kwantlen University College, through their Centre of Excellence in Trades.
The Bachelor of Trades & Technology degree will allow Trades Diploma graduates, as well as Technicians and Technologists who are graduates of other two-year diploma programs, to complete another 60 credits of study to earn their degree. The proposed new degree would provide a strong emphasis on leadership, and offer students the choice of a number of concentrations, from Project or Budget Management to Communications.
Ralph Finch, Dean of the TRU School of Trades and Technology is excited by the new initiative, saying that "I am very pleased that BC and Canada will have a degree dedicated to the advancement of Journeypersons, Technicians and Technologists who require an academic credential to advance their careers."
The Bachelor of Technical Education (Secondary) (B.Ed) would allow graduates of the new Trades degree to then complete a teaching credential, in a 12-month program, to meet the growing shortage of trained trades educators in the public education system.
Kathryn McNaughton, Dean of the TRU School of Education, says that "establishing a degree program to prepare secondary teachers of trades and technical areas has been a goal of the schools involved for several years. We are pleased with the support we are receiving from educational partners in the field, and appreciate the development funding provided by the Industry Training Authority."
These programs, which will make use of all forms of program delivery in order to be highly flexible and responsive, are designed to meet the needs of experienced skilled workers who are interested in expanding their education, without necessarily leaving their workplace responsibilities for any length of time.
The development process for these new programs will include the creation of a 14-15 member National Program Advisory Council to provide critical feedback and advice throughout the process.
ITA Chief Executive Officer, Brian Clewes, said the ITA is pleased about the partnership and the establishment of trades degree programs at TRU, because they will open new doors for people interested in careers in the skilled trades.
"Programs like this are proof of the career development potential offered by the trades. A journeyperson can go on to a management or teaching career, or choose to start their own successful small business."
Dr. Mark Evered, Vice-President, Academic and Provost of TRU, believes the new trades initiative is the first of it's kind in North America, and is an excellent example of how TRU is already responding to the economic and educational needs of the province, as the most flexible and innovative university in Canada today.
"In developing the new Bachelor of Trades & Technology degree for tradespersons and technical graduates, we envision using every possible means of delivery to create maximum flexibility for students. From distance education and on-line courses through our new Open Learning division, to the extensive use of Prior Learning Assessment and field-based practica, we will be working to create programs that truly meet the needs of our 21st century workforce and economy in British Columbia.
"Graduates of these programs will play key leadership roles as facilities or maintenance managers, training and development designers, educators, managers and owners in both heavy and light industry, and as leaders in the communities where they work and live."
Planning and development is already underway, and over the next year, TRU and its partners will work towards completion of program proposals for submission to both internal and external program approval processes, with a target date for implementation as early as the fall of 2006.
For information, contact Josh Keller, Director, Public Relations & Recruitment, Marketing and Communications: 250-828-5008
TRU Grad nominated for Canadian Enviroment Award
April 26, 2005
KAMLOOPS-Mary Ellen Grant, who graduated from TRU's Bachelor of Science degree program in 1999 and began work as manager of the Kamloops Wildlife Park's (KWP) education and volunteer centre the same year, has been nominated for a Canadian Environment Award (CEA).
The CEA, Canada's only national, bilingual, environmental awards program, was established by Canadian Geographic in partnership with the government of Canada in 2002. It features three awards categories: community, lifetime achievement, and green team challenge. Community awards categories include climate change, conservation, environmental health, restoration and rehabilitation, sustainable living, and environmental learning, the category in which Grant is a medal contender.
"To just be nominated to something as significantly national as this award has made me try to be an even better environmental educator, and has reinforced the need to continually improve,' she said.
"I'm really community oriented, and this community has helped me achieve national recognition. They say it takes a whole village to raise a child. Well, it also takes the collective community to create an adult, and this community has helped me to become an achiever."
Since 1999, Grant has instituted a number of successful environmental education programs at KWP, including its very vital docent program, which has seen a volunteer corps of university students and community members contribute to visitors� understanding of wildlife and habitat issues.
Grant will join David Suzuki, who is being recognized with a Citation for Lifetime Achievement by the CEA, at an awards gala to be held in Toronto June 6th. The KWP docent program will also be highlighted in a special supplement to be distributed in Canadian Geographic's May/June issue.
For more information, please contact Mary Ellen Grant at 573-3242 ext 226 or 377-3277. Information, about the CEA can be found at:
www.canadiangeographic.ca/cea2005/en/pressdesk.asp
TRU Open for Masters of Business Degree
April 26, 2005
KAMLOOPS-Less than a month after it was inaugurated as BC's newest provincial university, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has announced the launch of its first independent graduate degree, designed to produce managers and others who are well prepared for careers as corporate executives, consultants, or entrepreneurs in an increasingly competitive and global economy.
The first cohort of students aiming to earn the university's Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree will begin the 16-month, continuous program in September, 2005. The degree is unique in that while most traditional MBAs require two years of work experience before entry to the program, TRU�s allows students to proceed straight out of the BBA program, or other degree programs.
"We are really excited about the opportunities that this new MBA program will open up for students and the possibilities for enhanced interaction with the community through their applied projects," said TRU School of Business Interim Dean Brock Dykeman.
In keeping with the university's global vision and practical mandate, the TRU MBA incorporates a strong international focus and will make considerable use of the case approach along with business simulations, company visits, guest speakers, and consulting projects to further develop students' management skills. The final stage of the program will be followed by an applied management project in which students will apply their skills to solve business problems for companies in BC and around the globe.
"The local demand for the program, from banks and business organizations, is huge," said TRU business professor and MBA director Shahriar Hasan. "It will also benefit the community indirectly by creating a pool of qualified graduates, by keeping businesses, and businesspeople, in the community, and by attracting others here."
The program is targeted at entrants with limited or no business experience. Graduates of any degree are encouraged to apply, with some potentially receiving some course exemptions. All applicants must also successfully write a graduate management admissions test (GMAT). Enrollments for the program will be capped at 50 to allow faculty and students to maintain a close, supportive relationship throughout the program. A limited number of students will be accepted into the program on a part-time basis, so these candidates are encouraged to contact TRU as soon as possible.
For more information, please refer to the TRU MBA website at
www.tru.ca/mba or contact Dean Murray Young at (250) 828-5217,
myoung@TRU.ca.
From Lego to Lap Joints
April 27, 2005
KAMLOOPS-Provincial Skills Canada gold medal winner Graeme Herman started his joinery career early.
"I've always been into creating stuff and using my imagination, from when I was little playing with Lego," he said.
"When I got to high school, I took shop class, and discovered I really liked working with wood."
It's not the first time the TRU joinery student, who graduates from the six-month trade entry program this June, has been involved in Skills Canada competition. As a Valleyview Secondary school student, he placed second in the province in cabinet-making, and last year as a TRU student, he placed third in construction.
This year's first place finish in joinery means that he'll be traveling to Edmonton at the beginning of June to compete in the national competition.
"I wasn't expecting to place first," he said. "Jeff was confident in me, though, and that helped. I'm nervous about competing in the nationals, but I'll just do my best, and try to have fun."
Herman is currently employed at Top 40 Woodworks. His future plans include completing his joinery apprenticeship, and then starting his own business, probably in Kamloops.
"Graeme is destined for a long and productive career in the joinery trade," commented his instructor, Jeff Collett.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.
Small Cities Book Features Kamloops
April 28, 2005
KAMLOOPS-A new book which explores aspects of small-city lifestyle and logistics will be launched next week.
New Star Books will be hosting a book launch for The Small Cities Book Tuesday, May 3rd at 6:00 pm at Merlin Books on Victoria Street.
The new book, which includes 25 essays, stories, and visual pieces, explores what it means to live in a smaller community during the era of global megacities.
Using Kamloops as their example, the authors of The Small Cities Book explore notions of home and homelessness, ideas of space and a local sense of place.
Drawing upon the work of the Small Cities Community-University Research Alliance (CURA), the book contains writing and artwork by 12 TRU faculty, an equal number of community research partners, and 15 students. It is co-edited by TRU English professor and CURA grant-holder Dr. Will Garrett-Petts and CURA's Lon Dubinsky.
For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.