July 25, 2013

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SPECIAL ISSUE AUGUST 2013

COLLEGE CONNECTION TOP STORIES The Fine Art of Woodworking

3

BUSINESS Business for the busy

FINE ARTS

& DESIGN

4

Refresh your tech skills

HIGHLIGHTS

KEY PROGRAMS Industrial Automation .... 2 Automotive ......................... 2 Global Tourism ..................3 Professional Cook ............ 3 PAGE 4

HOW DO I?

WWW.NIC.BC.CA

Student loan Q&A

KEY DATES

Come to talk to us this summer

Learn what you can do at your community college

UNIVERSITY TRANSFER

2

TRADES

Call us for details 1-800-715-0914

?

78% of all job

openings in BC over the next decade will require post-secondary education.

BC Skills for Growth

FOR THE LOVE OF SCIENCE

Science student graduates debt-free into her dream career To Laura Griffith-Cochrane, science is a verb.

When she was offered the position as the curator of Ucluelet’s new aquarium, she knew it was meant to be.

“In my wildest dreams, this was the kind of work I was aiming for when I started sciences but I didn’t think it was actually going to happen,” Laura said. “This is an amazing job for someone who has always been interested in the natural sciences.”

Growing up, Laura had a natural curiousity of all things biology-related. “I’ve always been interested in the relationships between species. Nutrient cycles between marine ecosystems and forest ecosystems are especially fascinating,” Laura explains.

After high school, she took a year off to travel, coming back to the Comox Valley ready to learn and low on funds. NIC was a perfect way to get all her first-year bachelor of science courses at a more affordable price.

“I looked at my options and NIC cost significantly less,” Laura said. “It was part of the reason I graduated debt-free.”

She credits her instructors who she found knowledgeable, engaging, and so approachable they eased her transition into the final years of her degree.

“Science will never be boring,” says former NIC science student Laura Griffith-Cochrane, the curator of the Ucluelet Aquarium.

“By the time I got to university, I felt more prepared for the years ahead.”

At UVic, she focused on courses with employable skills or those that contributed to a science career – likely, she thought, doing surveys and research in a national park, or maybe even as a park warden.

travelers and travel writers alike.

The aquarium’s focus on letting people touch organisms and wonder about science reflects Laura’s perspective on learning.

“Science will never be boring,” she said.

“There’s always something that challenges my understanding of the world around me.”

While still in university, Laura started volunteering as an interpreter for the Ucluelet Aquarium Society, knowing she’d have fun and it would look good on her resume.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/mathsciences

She soon discovered her new strength in communications. “I love interacting with people and sharing knowledge,” she said.

Academic Writing (ENG-117) Acquire university-level research and writing skills for the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Gradually, volunteer work led to paid interpreter and assistant curator positions. In October, she became the curator, five months after the aquarium officially opened its new permanent location to rave reviews from

UVIC TRANSFERABLE COURSES

Cell Biology (BIO-200) Explore the ultrastructure and function of cell organelles and membranes, chromosomes and DNA, cell movements and reproduction.

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NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE AUGUST 2013

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

THIS ISN’T YOUR CHILDHOOD LEMONADE STAND

JOINERY / CABINETMAKING

THE FINE ART OF WOODWORKING

In 2013, NIC’s Industrial Automation Technician diploma students were able to create a one-of-akind lemonade stand using industrial robots.

The robots, which are so large they required additional classroom space, were part of the students’ capstone project, where they designed, built, programmed, and bottled commercial lemonade — coordinating everything from squeezing lemons to labelling the bottles.

The project is considered the ultimate test, requiring students to work in teams and apply skills they’ll bring to careers designing and building electronic systems for industry.

Starts September, $2,690 approx + fees/equipment Watch the video: www.nic.bc.ca/trades

AUTOMOTIVE

INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED SKILLS FOR MECHANICS AT HEART

HB Creative Solutions owner Ben Emslie and Meghann Rader create beautiful custom cabinets and specialty pieces in Port Alberni.

At right, Meghann’s table with inlaid design, created as a part of class project last year.

Do you love working on vehicles and want an employable career that moves with you?

Pick up the essential skills you need to become an automotive service technician at NIC’s Campbell River and Port Alberni campuses.

The program teaches hands-on skills in an automotive shop setting. Plus, you’ll be able to work on your own vehicle and learn practical skills from instructors with strong connections to employers.

“What you can pick up from a foundation course versus just working in a shop or at home alone is substantial,” said 2013 graduate Jordi Bailey.

“Plus, I know I’ll get 450 hours of apprenticeship credit toward my Interprovincial Red Seal so I can work anywhere.”

Students get experience automotive technology.

with

the

latest

This year, with support from local dealerships, NIC bought newer vehicles, including hybrids, for student work.

Starts September, $2,090 + fees/equipment Watch the video: www.nic.bc.ca/trades PAGE 2

Creating beautiful furniture & futures with NIC’s Joinery program Growing up, Meghann Rader never thought of woodworking as a career.

Though her dad was a professional cabinetmaker and she grew up surrounded by the smell of freshly cut wood, she was encouraged to go to university.

Her creative side drew her to a degree in visual arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where she developed a love of drawing wilderness scenes and creating intricate mixed media collages.

She came into NIC’s Joinery program with a desire to learn to work with wood, and came out with a steady income, industry connections, and an opportunity to expand her artistic portfolio in a field she loves.

She studied under Stephen McIntosh, an internationally recognized joinery

expert who came to Port Alberni from cabinetmaking programs at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary.

Halfway through the program, she was hired at HB Creative Solutions, a cabinetmaking shop in Port Alberni, whose owner Ben Emslie, is an NIC Joinery graduate able to supervise registered apprentices in his field.

When business picked up last year, Ben called McIntosh, knowing he would have students able to step into the job without a lot of additional training.

“I have two NIC graduates working with me now and I could sure use a third,” Ben said. “They come in with the knowledge and understanding of joinery which means we can get to work right away.”

Meghann’s fine arts background and attention to detail allowed the company to create additional specialty pieces and furniture.

“If someone wants a custom piece for an awkward corner, Meghann has a creative way

of looking at it in the environment and coming up with a great solution. It’s a huge asset.”

Meghann considers the job rewarding and creative. “Through joinery, I’ve learned skills that will be useful and relevant long term while allowing me to be creative at the same time,” she said.

She’s not the only student who sees joinery as a fine art, rather than a traditional trade.

Simon Ladell came to joinery from Vancouver, where he was a writer for a software business.

He moved to Port Alberni for joinery – eager to explore his love of woodworking and make beautiful, unique furniture.

He has no difficulty explaining his move to friends he left behind who wonder why he’s started trades school at his age.

“To me, I’m not in trades school, I’m in an art school in a gorgeous location,” he said.

“It would be almost criminal not to take advantage of it.”

Watch the video: www.nic.bc.ca/trades WWW.NIC.BC.CA

NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE AUGUST 2013

BUSINESS

GLOBAL TOURISM

BUSINESS COURSES & PROGRAMS FOR THE BUSY

New

Progr

am!

NEW PROGRAMS: GO GLOBAL WITH NIC THIS YEAR

101,430 JOBS

Number of predicted job openings in BC’s tourism industry by 2020 BC Tourism Labour Market Strategy

This fall, NIC introduces two new credentials for students wanting to add international tourism skills to their existing diplomas and degrees.

Study international hotel management, event planning, and more as part of the eight month advanced certificate or choose valuable industry experience as an intern during the two year advanced diploma. Either way, you’ll get the skills and knowledge to get hired in the growing tourism industry.

Flexible, online business certificate makes education possible

Starts September, $2,755–$2,915 approx per year + fees/equipment Learn more: www.nic.bc.ca/tourism

PROFESSIONAL COOK

Life happens, you get busy, and learning new skills or pursuing your education can sometimes take a back seat.

CREATIVE & CULINARY

But not anymore.

For Marilyn Touchie, NIC’s new online Business Administration certificate is helping her reach an important educational goal.

Marilyn is member of the Ucluelet First Nation and an employee in her community’s housing department. She’s responsible for rents, accounts payable, opening balances, and keeping track of some of the department’s finances.

She’ll be taking NIC’s Business 100 (Financial Accounting Fundamentals) online this fall to improve her skills and prepare for new job opportunities created through the implementation of the Maa-Nuulth treaty.

It’s something that wouldn’t have been possible a year ago.

Until this year, the certificate was only available in the classroom in the Comox Valley, Campbell River and Port Alberni, a two-hour commute away.

Starting this September, the entire certificate is available online for anyone who prefers to study on their own time with instructor support.

“I’m excited about being able to study online,” said Marilyn, who has taken many traditional distance education courses before.

WWW.NIC.BC.CA

Raged Anwar, an instructor with NIC’s online Business Administration certificate knows the new format will make starting a business degree possible for busy Island residents.

“I’ve been at this a long time, plugging away here and there, and doing it when I can. It’s been hard. I learn best when someone is talking to me, and it doesn’t always make sense when I read it on paper.”

In contrast, first-year business courses mimic how people already spend their time online. They include video, podcasts, and interactive group discussions.

“I’ll be able to see and hear the instructor, and it will be like I’m in the class. I like that.”

children, jobs, and busy lives across our communities,” said Cran.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re working in Comox, raising a family in Campbell River, or want to take an online course from where you live in Ucluelet. The online business certificate makes education possible for so many more people. It’s the right thing to do.”

As for Marilyn, she’s already thinking about a bachelor’s degree and hopes the online format does the same for friends and family who might not otherwise consider continuing their studies.

The online format also lets Marilyn study on her own time, whether that be after work, on weekends, or at night when she’s not busy spending time with her two daughters. “This could really work,” said Marilyn. “I For Gregory Cran, the Dean of NIC’s School can see it taking off in my community. of Business, that flexibility and ease of People need education to get jobs today. learning is why the online certificate It’s especially important for young people who can keep studying and stay in their exists. communities longer.”

“We created the online certificate for Marilyn, and all the people who have Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/business

Love to cook? Want a creative career that can take you anywhere?

Whether you’re just starting out or want to specialize your skills, you’ll gain highly respected, employable skills with NIC’s Professional Cook programs.

“North Island’s instructors have developed a really strong curriculum and are able to produce students with excellent knowledge,” said Chef Ronald St. Pierre of Courtenay’s Locals Restaurant at the Old House. “I hire NIC’s Professional Cook students every year.”

Plus, you’ll learn hands-on skills in Campbell River’s Third Course Bistro and graduate ready to work in your new trade.

Starts September, $2,090–$880 approx + fees/equipment Watch the video: www.nic.bc.ca/trades PAGE 3

NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE AUGUST 2013

HOW DO I?

FINE ARTS & DESIGN

REFRESH YOUR TECH SKILLS Learn to create apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Android market

Quick answers to student loan questions

New r

Prog

am!

You can’t walk downtown, attend a meeting, or go to a movie without seeing (or using) a smart phone.

And if you’re a web professional, chances are, your clients are asking for a more mobile web presence.

How do I apply for a student loan?

Apply online or download an application at www.studentaid.bc.ca.

Online applications are processed faster than paper forms, which may also be available through your NIC financial aid advisor.

When should I apply?

Now! Even if you are not admitted or fully qualified, applying for a loan is the first step to knowing you’ll be financially ready to start in September. If you’re not admitted, you can always cancel your loan while you upgrade your skills tuition-free.

How do you update your skills and address the needs of a changing tech world, on the North Island? NIC’s new Mobile Application Development certificate may be right for you.

Is there someone I can talk to?

Absolutely. Call 1-800-715-0914 today to make an appointment with a NIC financial aid advisor or call StudentAidBC at 1-800-561-1818.

Learn more: www.nic.bc.ca/financialaid

Designed by student Karina Kudryavtseva.

KEY DATES

This September, NIC offers two new app development programs designed to accommodate a growing technology sector.

Consultants, web developers, and local businesses can acquire a broad range of marketable skills over eight months with the new certificate.

“This technology is really, really new,” said instructor Susanne Sampson. “Give the programs a couple years and they will be everywhere but right now we are the only school outside of BCIT offering it as a technology-based program.”

“Responsiveness is key because NIC’s Interactive Media programs support an emerging digital economy here and on Vancouver Island,” said Gregory Cran, the Dean of NIC’s School of Fine Arts and Design.

“This program allows local developers and designers who have been out of school for a few years to learn the skills needed to address an increasing consumer demand right here, on the North Island, in less than a year.”

Industry professionals can also take individual courses to develop new skills in areas of interest to them.

New courses include: • IOS Application Development (IMG-214) • Android Application Development (IMG-215) • Emerging Technologies (IMG-240) • Introduction to Programming in Objective C (IMG-204) Students who require broader skills, or who are just beginning their careers, can sign up for the two-year Web and Mobile Application Development diploma for additional skills in game development, e-commerce, and more.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/finearts

Aug 19 Are You Ready for University?

Get grades you want, with less effort. Get organized, learn study skills, and more in University 101.

1 - 4 pm in Campbell River & 9 am - noon in the Comox Valley.

Aug 22 Animal Care Aide Free Information Session Find out more about NIC’s Animal Care Aide program Thursday, Aug. 22 at 6:30 pm, at the Comox Valley campus. Registration required.

Sep 3

Orientation Day. No classes.

Sep 4

Fall Term 2013. Classes begin.

1-800-715-0914 | questions@nic.bc.ca

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WWW.NIC.BC.CA

NIC’s Mobile Web Application certificate was developed in consultation with local industry and employers, who raised the need in the last two years. NIC developed the program and brought it back to industry for feedback and refinements.

Maggie Ziegler at work in NIC’s Mac lab, dedicated to Interactive Media students.