Education Matters

pg 13  top 10 milestones Review community achievements, including the grand opening of the Island’s newest Trades Training Centre.

 Investing in students

 get involved

Celebrate our record fundraising year, with over $400,000 generously donated to support college futures.

Discover a variety of ways to support or participate in the many activities going on in your community.

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Join us in celebrating some of the college’s unique achievements in 2010/11. Explore regional highlights. And discover ways you can get involved with your community college.

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working for our communities

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north island college 2011-2015 strategic plan: year one

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Education matters

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2011 report to our Communities

in your Community

top stories College wide

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NIC offers exclusive paths to university Local students kick off their university education from home with dual admission.

Campbell river

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Screenprinting dreams build employable skills Students spark business ideas one design at a time.

www.nic.bc.ca

comox valley

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Open house inspires college futures Over 700 high school students follow their interests and explore future career paths on campus.

Port Alberni

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Mount waddington 9 regional centres 11

We’re working on what matters to you Dr. Jan Lindsay, NIC President

Relevant education that supports local employment. Seamless pathways to learning throughout the education system. Greater access to education from remote locations. These are just a few of the priorities we heard from you, our community members, as we worked together to develop the college’s strategic plan a little over one year ago.

Since then, we have aligned our operations toward a unified vision for the future of North Island College, laying the groundwork for new opportunities to come. Through these pages, we are proud to share some highlights from the past year.

Q & A: How was the strategic plan developed?

The college planning process, which began in December 2009, brought together hundreds of community members from across the region, including elected officials, agencies, service providers, and industry partners as well as school districts, students, and parents. Together, your input led to a collective vision and six strategic directions that are shaping the future of North Island College.

What are the strategic directions?

As a publicly funded college, we are dedicated to providing relevant education, from upgrading, health care and trades to business, university studies, and industry training. Within these core areas, North Island College will concentrate its efforts to support the following six directions: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Developing responsive curriculum and services, Supporting student success, Increasing participation through active community partnership, Expanding opportunities through regional and international partnership, Promoting awareness of the value of education, and Enhancing employee engagement.

What’s new about this plan?

One of the key differences is our approach. For the first time, strategic directions are linked to every level of our daily operations across every division, from registration and education to facilities and payroll. Although we have very different jobs, we have become a highly coordinated team, all focused on delivering measurable results for the community.

What difference will it make?

We hope that communities will feel the biggest impact through our efforts in developing relevant and responsive curriculum.

With access to education and training, local residents can pursue education, stay in their home communities, and earn sufficient income to support themselves and their families.

Review the plan Visit us online

How can I find out more?

To review the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan, visit www.nic.bc.ca/strategicplan .

Front cover photo Port Alberni students learn world-class joinery and cabinetmaking techniques from instructor Steven McIntosh, Canada’s joinery chief expert at the WorldSkills Competition in London, England this year.

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College wide

New pathways, Big opportunities Strategic direction: Strategic partnerships We will strengthen and expand partnership opportunities with business, aboriginal communities, and educational organizations regionally and internationally to deliver outstanding results.

Degree opportunities Dual admission offers qualified students guaranteed admission to both college and university, with automatic course credit for up to two years. Current degree opportunities include: University of Victoria

Bachelor of Arts (22 majors) Bachelor of Science (14 majors) Bachelor of Engineering (3 majors) Bachelor of Child & Youth Care Vancouver Island University

Bachelor of Arts (17 majors) Bachelor of Science (3 majors) Royal Roads University

Opening Doors with Dual Admission

Bachelor of Arts (3 majors)

NIC pioneers new degree paths with exclusive university agreements

Bachelor of Science (2 majors) Bachelor of Commerce

North Island College is finding new ways for students to enter university without leaving home.

In 2010, NIC recognized that many North and Central Island students needed more choices on their path to a university degree. It introduced the college’s first dual admission agreements, giving students guaranteed admission to college and university at the start of their education. It also gives them peace of mind knowing that their first two years of study at NIC will automatically apply to their university degree program.

Offered exclusively through NIC, dual admission allows universitybound students to stay in North Island communities longer, keep their connections with friends and employers, and save money.

Your path to a university degree is guaranteed at the start of your education.

NIC’s agreements with the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Royal Roads University each carry their own student benefits and eligibility requirements, including year-round access to university facilities and recreation.

To date, 88 students are registered or qualified to enter dual admission, with many more expected. “University-bound students have a lot to gain from starting here,” said Lisa Domae, NIC’s vice president of student and educational services and planning. “And NIC is now their first choice.”

Dual admission gives university students access to NIC’s personal instruction, broad course base, and lower tuition with less academic risk.

and UVic. “Plus, I’ll have more money so I may not have to work and I’ll be more relaxed.”

Emily Carr University

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Michelle Anderson agrees. “It means no debt, so that’s huge,” said the Emily Carr student. “But it also means I can do what I want to do and love to do, right here.”

Dual admission applications are still being accepted for September, 2011. For more information or to register, contact a student advisor at 1-800-517-0914 or visit www.nic.bc.ca/dualadmission .

In 2004, researchers found SFU students who attended college first performed as well or better in university than students with comparable high school achievements who attended directly from high school. Their grades also dropped less in their first year at university than their high school counterparts.

Students save about $10,000 each year they stay at home compared to universities in larger, more urban centres. It also allows them to stay focused on their studies without leaving the people and place they love.

“When I go to university, I expect to be more aware of my end goals,” said Emma Dubé, a dual admission student with NIC

Leah Hollmayer, dual admission student and mother of two, will start her Emily Carr degree at NIC this fall.

start a degree Browse all of your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

Have you always wanted to go to university? Are you looking to learn in a creative way? Interested in exploring design and art?

Discover our transfer plans and degree pathways in arts, sciences, fine arts, social work, criminology, and more. Call 1-800-715-0914.

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campbell river

Master Kwakwaka’wakw Carver Bill Henderson The college is proud to be working with Kwakwaka’wakw Master Carver Bill Henderson to create a First Nations Gathering Place at the Campbell River campus. Henderson is one of the most successful master carvers of his time and his works have informed people from France to Japan. Our hope is that Henderson’s passion for sharing his culture and art will help the college tell the story of the area’s First Nations, inspire future generations, and celebrate the region’s indigenous people and their history.

Screening dreams with employable skills NIC’s screenprinting program at the Vigar Road campus builds skills and sparks small business ideas for many of its students. Whether it’s putting original art on First Nations products, creating the Bute Bears’ first soccer uniform, or gaining marketable skills, the North Island Employment Foundation Society-funded classes have changed lives for many of its participants.

Program instructor Andy MacDougall (below) is one of a few screenprinters in the world inducted into an acclaimed group of master screenprinters called the International Academy of Screen Printing Technology. He says students, like Deanna Paul (below), come away from the class with undeniable confidence.“It’s about personal development and the opportunity to make the most out of life,” said MacDougall. “Take Deanna, she has finished with something specific—she has entry level training in a skill she loves.”

To learn about Andy MacDougall and his upcoming screenprinting courses, call 250-923-9728.

gateway to work Developing new job skills in Campbell River As many of our Island economies are shifting from traditional resource-based economies to knowledge-based or mixed economies, so are the education needs throughout the region. To strengthen our communities in changing times, we are working closely with local industry, agencies, and businesses to create training opportunities that will help residents support themselves and their families through local jobs.

learn screenprinting New 7-week Screenprinting Program Learn the basic applications of screenprinting for employment or starting your own creative business. Coursework includes occupational first aid and essential job search strategies.

Starts: September 12 in Campbell River For more information or to register, call 250-923-9728.

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Real education for real jobs Strategic direction: Responsive curriculum We will develop dynamic and responsive curriculum and educational services to attract, engage, and retain a diverse range of students, helping them to be successful in a rapidly changing world.

Building Carpentry Skills for a Stronger Community Working with industry partners to train for tomorrow With skill saws buzzing and framing hammers drumming, a walk on Campbell River First Nation land these days is anything but quiet.

First Nations students from Campbell River, Homolco, Bella Coola, Cape Mudge, and Kingcome are fast becoming the city’s newest carpenters.

Fourteen newly qualified carpenters are set to complete their program in August 2011.

With training dollars from the Industry Training Authority, First Nations students gain entry-level trades training in their community through the Carpentry Foundation program. In eight months, students upgrade their math and English at the Campbell River Learning Centre and learn to form and frame complete residential structures to BC Building Code standards.

“It’s a unique model where the college is working with the band off campus,” said Cheryl O’Connell, NIC’s director of continuing education and training. “We are teaching young men who are pursuing their careers in the trades.” The program, and others offered through the joint federal and provincial Economic

Recovery Training program, is designed to train people who are motivated to work but don’t have access to employment insurance or regular jobs. NIC knew that with the right mix of students, instructors and skills training, the programs could be the spark some city residents needed to return to full-time employment.

“When you think about the employment situation that existed in Campbell River, there have been challenging times with minimal jobs,” said O’Connell. “There was a segment of the population who typically weren’t given much opportunity.

This training program changed that. It is quite profound.”

In addition to economic recovery funds, NIC has also been working with the Employment Skills Access program to help students become childcare assistants.

Through ECC 114, an early childhood education course, students can quickly qualify for entry level work at daycares and preschools in the community.

The money comes at a perfect time for the city—which had already set up a community initiative called the Campbell River Community Accord, to fill an economic and community need to explore emerging industries and develop skill-specific training.

The training is changing lives. Many have expressed interest in additional training or planned their next steps.

“It’s about these community members being afforded the opportunity to secure gainful employment,” O’Connell said.

Quickfacts

152

more students than last year completed professional training programs and/or courses at the Campbell River campus in 2010/11.

The increase can be attributed to the addition of the following programs:

24%

Commercial Screen Printing Occupational Skills Facilities Operations Occupational Skills Natural Resource Occupational Skills log scaling retail Occupational Skills Shellfish Occupational Skills

To learn more about training services, call 250-923-9723 or visit www.nic.bc.ca/trainingservices .

Award-winning skills and new opportunities Sharann Foote went from being unemployed to having one of the hottest culinary resumes on the North Island with the Professional Cook (Culinary Arts) program. Two years ago, Sharann entered the program on a Community Development Trust scholarship designed to provide tuition assistance to unemployed forestry workers. This year, she won her second consecutive gold medal from the BC Chefs’ Association Junior Hot Competition in the apprenticeship category, and completed her apprenticeship training at Courtenay’s prestigious Locals restaurant.

Explore trades Browse all of your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

Do you need to get back into the workforce quickly? Curious about how things work? Want to turn your passion into a career?

Develop your skills in technology and trades. For example, you could become an aircraft structures technician or a chef. Call 1-800-715-0914.

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c o m o x va l l e y

Open house inspires college futures In February 2011, NIC brought 700 Grade 11 and 12 students from Comox Valley high schools to campus for our first ever High School Open House.

Students chose classes to match their passions, from anti-gravity science experiments to cleaning wounds on mock patients. Hundreds of students got excited about what they can do after high school and discovered new ways to get there. Some of them took the next step, asking their counsellors how to meet their career goals or signing up for dual credit programs that enable them to earn college credit while still at high school.

To learn about dual credit programs, visit www.nic.bc.ca/dualcredit .

700 high school students get a feel for college and over 60 future career paths Adding courses and labs for science students NIC is opening new doors for science students with new transfer pathways and facilities designed just for them. The college’s first group of engineers started in September with new course options and guaranteed transfer into second year at UVic. And with a new biohazard lab and equipment, microbiology students in the Comox Valley can now complete advanced labwork at NIC and enter second and third year science classes at VIU or UVic with the same level of experience as their southern classmates. To learn more, visit www.nic.bc.ca/mathsciences .

Regional trades centre opens The face of the Comox Valley campus changed forever as the Trades Training Centre officially opened in February 2011. Among the building’s key features are a fully equipped 255m2 plumbing workshop, state-of-the-art marine training simulators, and the North Island’s first carpentry apprenticeship programs. To learn more about the new training centre and its programs starting in September, visit www.nic.bc.ca/trades .

gateway to education Preparing Comox Valley students for real-world success In today’s rapidly changing world, students need the latest skills and knowledge to excel in their chosen field. With expanding facilities, curriculum, and educational pathways in study areas from upgrading and trades to university studies, marine training, and business, North Island College students are well positioned for success. As educators, our hope is to also give students something more, to empower and encourage them to reach their potential, to make a difference in this world, and to leave the college truly inspired.

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vibrant learning community Strategic direction: Student success We will improve our ability to support the diverse needs of our students and their engagement in learning.

Quickfacts

4,294

students completed programs and/or courses at Comox Valley campus in 2010/11 in the following study areas:

26%

university studies

18% industry training

15% upgrading 15% health & community care 9% continuing education 8% business & tourism

4% fine arts 5% trades & technology Students from 19 different countries joined the college community.

International Exposure Creating global citizens through international education International student exchange is changing the face of education at North Island College.

From completing business projects with a classmate from India to working in medical clinics in Africa, NIC students are creating international relationships and broadening their education to prepare them for success in a modern world.

“Today’s students will interact with people from all aspects of life culturally and professionally.

To be successful in that world, students need experience in an international community,” said NIC President Jan Lindsay.

This year, the college welcomed over 100 international students from 19 different countries, including Japan, India, Nigeria Germany, Portugal, and France.

Most international students stay with homestay families in the Comox Valley, Campbell River, or Port Alberni. Many

students bring new language, business, and cultural skills which enrich diversity within our communities and deepen cultural understandings.

“It’s a great opportunity to experience each other’s culture. And many students form long-term community connections,” said Mark Herringer, NIC’s executive director of international education.

Province-wide, the British Columbia Council for International Education estimates international students bring in $1.8 billion annually, rivaling traditional resource-based industries such as agriculture and coal mining.

“That’s huge,” said NIC President Jan Lindsay. “Not only are those students enriching our educational experience, they’re also supporting our communities.”

field school, and study abroad programs. In recent years, nursing students have brought much-needed health care support to communities in Nepal, Uganda, and Mozambique.

“Today’s students will interact with people from all aspects of life, culturally and professionally.”

Dr. Jan Lindsay NIC President

And this year, more than 30 students in business, tourism, and humanities have travelled to Greece, Poland, France, Hawaii and Florida to make connections and gain experiences overseas.

To find out how you can host an international exchange student or see the world with NIC, visit www.nic.bc.ca/international .

NIC students have the opportunity to travel through NIC’s many outgoing exchange,

Business and university studies see record enrolments 2010/11 marked another record year for student enrolment at North Island College.

Comox Valley campus saw the largest growth, with an increase of registrations year over year (or 11.3%) in business and university studies. While much of this growth is attributed to high school populations transitioning to NIC, the increase also reflects NIC’s efforts to expand educational pathways. With programs like the new Criminology diploma and Engineering and Social Work transfer plans, students can more easily customize transfer pathways within the BC post-secondary system.

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Think business Browse all of your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

Have dreams about starting your own business? Are you satisfied by making it all add up? Do you like working as part of a team?

Discover a world of opportunity with degrees in marketing, accounting, management, or international business. Call 1-800-715-0914.

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port alberni

Science lives in port alberni 1,200 people welcomed Science World for Port Alberni’s first ever Community Science Celebration.

Explosions, experiments, and hair-raising exhibits capped off a week of zany science in Port Alberni as NIC worked with the community to bring Science World to the city.

Collaborative thinking Working with community partners to create new opportunities in Port Alberni North Island College is well known as a place for learning and developing careers.

But there’s more. As a community resource, we are also focused on celebrating culture, pursuing research, developing custom training projects, and expanding pathways throughout the education system. By sharing ideas and working with community members, from students and staff to local industry and business, we are expanding learning opportunities and enriching community life.

A home on campus The First Nations Gathering Place at Port Alberni brings an indigenous presence to the campus.

Designed to emulate a traditional longhouse, the Gathering Place was built with the permission of Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, who donated, delivered, and peeled the cedar logs.

It was officially opened in October 2010 with the blessings of elders who watched as young First Nations singers and dancers honoured its arrival.

The building will bring students together to celebrate, learn, and develop new friendships on campus for years to come.

Working with First Nations to fill health care needs In cooperation with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC), the college provided programming to bring eight new health care assistants to the community. Each student experienced enormous personal and professional growth through the NTC-funded program but the real changes are still to come. The new graduates, who completed their program in June, are looking forward to filling community needs in Toquaht, Ahousaht, or larger care centres in Parksville and Qualicum.

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Building Bright futures Strategic direction: Active community partnerships We will work with our communities as an active partner to increase opportunities for involvement and participation, and for proactively sharing resources for mutual benefit.

Research Our community through the eyes of the children

Over 20 ADSS students got a head start on college through dual credit.

NIC’s Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) program instructors and students started working with Port Alberni’s daycares and preschools in February to document the civic visions of some of the community’s youngest residents. What followed was an astounding collection of three-dimensional art that filled the city’s recreation centre, library, and city hall for two weeks in May. “The project increased the profile of early childhood care and education in the community and brought an awareness of how children think,” said ECCE instructor Alanna Miller.

Bridging the Gap from High School Dual credit courses give students the opportunity to earn university transfer credit during their Grade 12 year By the time Danielle Nichol graduates from high school, she will already have finished two university courses and saved enough money to pay for all her first-year books.

Nichol took two 100-level psychology classes as part of a dual credit agreement between North Island College and the Alberni School District. And she was motivated to do well.

“There are so many ways we can give students a head start on post-secondary with dual credit.”

Tom Weegar, Regional Director, Port Alberni & Alberni-Clayoquot

“If you pass the class, the school district reimburses you,” she said laughing. “So you want to do well.”

Dual credit courses are offered throughout the North Island to more than 170 students through the North Island Partnership, a collaborative agreement between NIC and school districts that allows high school students to get a head start in tourism, trades, and university transfer courses.

In Port Alberni, the program has expanded from trades to

discover health Browse all your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

criminology and psychology courses, giving students the opportunity to complete a semester of classes before they graduate from high school.

“I tell Grade 11 students to sign up for them,” Nichol said. “It saves money, it’s a good test of what’s coming before you enroll in full-time classes at college, and the higher level classes weren’t as scary as I thought they were going to be.”

Those comments are welcome words to Tom Weegar, NIC’s regional director for Port Alberni and Alberni-Clayoquot. He has been working with Brian Laviolette, counselor at Alberni District Secondary School (ADSS), for two years to create more options for Grade 12 students who had already completed their graduation requirements.

Together, they combined their efforts to tailor some of NIC’s popular university transfer courses for ADSS’s fall and spring semesters.

In Port Alberni, the classes have been well received with additional criminology classes opened up to Comox Valley and Campbell River students this spring.

“There are so many ways we can give students a head start on post-secondary with dual credit,” Weegar said.

To learn more about dual credit opportunities for high school students, contact a student advisor at your nearest campus or visit www.nic.bc.ca/dualcredit .

Quickfacts

2,077

students completed programs and/or courses at Port Alberni campus in 2010/11. That’s an growth year over year.

18%

1,756

2009/10

2,077 total number of students 2010/11

Interested in a new career in your community? Looking for a secure job with a future? Do you enjoy working with people?

Maybe a career in health care, human services, or early childhood education is right for you. Call 1-800-715-0914.

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m o u n t wa d d i n g to n

Health care education on the North Island, for the North Island Mount Waddington’s newest health care assistants (HCA) know first-hand the demand for skilled health care workers in their communities—it’s their home. With so few HCA’s working in local health care facilities, their training means more seniors have local access to the health services they need. “Five new health care assistants might not be a big deal in larger communities but it makes a huge difference to places like Port Hardy and Sointula,” says Laurie Bird, NIC’s department chair for the Health Care Assistant program. “In rural communities, where there is less of everything in health care, they become a real resource for the communities they live in.”

“They become a real resource for the communities they live in.”

RELEVANT EDUCATION Supporting economic and community well-being in the Mount Waddington Region Education opens new doors for people and gives them options in life.

This is especially true in the North Island, where residents are developing new skills locally to become the communities’ next nurses, health care assistants, and childcare providers. By working to deliver programs that meet local demand, we are creating opportunities that allow people to qualify for new careers in their home communities.

Laurie Bird, Department Chair, HCA & Practical Nursing

five new health care assistants make a huge difference to communities like Sointula

Practical Nursing Access—a First for BC In 2010, NIC received one-time funding for a Practical Nurse Access program in Port Hardy to improve the quality of care in the Mount Waddington region. The specially designed program allows the area’s health care assistants to further develop their skills as licensed practical nurses in hospitals and care facilities in a stream-lined format. Developed in partnership with the Vancouver Island Health Authority, the program is an example of how NIC works with industry to fulfill community needs. NIC also worked with the Ministry of Advanced Education to bring the program start date to 2011 to allow more students the time to complete entry requirements before classes began. In turn, practical nursing students from the region are already serving practicums in North Island communities.

new faces Mount Waddington welcomes new assistant regional director Karsten Henriksen is returning to his roots in Port Hardy. As the grandson of a commercial fisherman who worked in North Coast waters, Henriksen knows what it’s like to live in resource-dependent communities. NIC’s new associate regional director for the Mount Waddington Regional campus came to NIC from Yukon College in Whitehorse, where he helped develop and deliver programs with 13 self-governing First Nations. At Northern Lights College, Karsten also worked with industry to create relevant and affordable training programs in remote north-eastern BC communities.“I’m excited to be here,” said Henriksen.”I have a sense of family connection to this community, and I’m ready to work with its people and industries to find the solutions they’re looking for.”

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Putting new skills to work Strategic direction: Responsive curriculum We will develop dynamic and responsive curriculum and educational services to attract, engage, and retain a diverse range of students to be successful in a rapidly changing world.

Love working with children?

Become a childcare assistant this fall With ECC 114, Partnerships Part 1: Child Guidance, you can qualify for work as a childcare assistant in your community.

This introductory course will take place on Mondays from October 3 to December 12, 6:15pm to 9:15pm at Mount Waddington Regional campus in Port Hardy. No previous study is required. Registration is open to the public.

For more information or to register, call 250-949-7912.

Sara Campbell is one of 12 newly qualified early childhood educators who graduated in June.

Tailoring Programs for Student Success Early childhood care and education in Port Hardy When Sara Campbell and her classmates received their Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) certificates this June, it was a long time coming.

The full-time waitress and supervisor at Port Hardy’s Quarter Deck restaurant has been taking classes part-time for three years to fulfill her dream of working with children.

She is one of 12 early childhood care and education students from the Mount Waddington area who commuted to class from Alert Bay or Port McNeill, finished homework on ferries while working full-time or caring for their families, to earn their ECCE credential.

“It’s been hard at times, especially during my practicum when I worked Monday to Friday during the day and then worked at the restaurant six nights a week,” Sara said. “But I had a lot of support around me.”

When the industry asked NIC to find a way to train more certified educators in the community, NIC worked with potential students to make the program affordable and flexible enough to fit their schedules.

“We asked them what they needed to commit to the program, how fast or how slowly they wanted to do it and how they wanted to map it out,” said Dr. Jocelyne Van Neste-Kenny, NIC’s dean of health and human services.

Many students were already working in community day cares and preschools but needed certification to meet provincial licensing regulations; others needed to keep their existing jobs to pay for living expenses while attending class.

NIC worked with students and employers to create flexible course payment schedules and offer two initial classes, qualifying students to work as

childcare assistants first, so they could earn higher pay and work in the industry part time.

“It also helped that we paid for the program on a course-bycourse basis and not a lump sum,” said Campbell. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to pay for the program.”

Program instructor Leighann Ruel moved deadlines to keep stressed-out students in the program and rescheduled classes when winter storms cancelled ferries or made the road to Port McNeill too dangerous to drive.

“The program is such a wonderful example of what NIC is all about,” Van Neste-Kenny said. “It’s such a student-centred program.”

As for Sara, she’s already accepted a job offer at L’il Amigos Day Care, where she did her practical training. “I’m just excited to finally be certified,” she said. “I really like working with children and contributing to their learning.”

Quickfacts

1,097

students completed programs and/or courses at Mount Waddington Regional campus in 2010/11 in the following study areas:

33%

First Aid

15% Upgrading 15% Continuing Education 15% Industry Training 8% Business 7% University Studies 4% Marine Training 3% Health & Community Care

new programs New trades program to start this fall Get ready to become one of Mount Waddington’s future carpenters with Carpentry Access, a new 10-month trades program starting on October 3rd in Port Hardy. Blending upgrading with carpentry, the new program will give 12 students a strong start with trades math, reading, and study skills plus training to become certified carpenter apprentices.

For more information or to register, call 250-949-7912 or visit www.nic.bc.ca/mountwaddington .

Start upgrading Browse all of your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

Are you longing for a career change? Or looking to expand your employment options? Take the first step with us.

With upgrading and financial aid options, our student advisors can help you get started on a new path today. Call 1-800-715-0914.

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regional centres

Certifying skills on coastal waters In 2010 and 2011, NIC provided specialized marine training courses in remote coastal communities to allow mariners to meet Transport Canada licensing requirements without leaving home. The courses gave 43 residents in three communities (Alert Bay, Bella Coola, and Ahousaht) certified skills and more flexibility to work in key community industries. “The cost of delivering services in smaller communities is typically double or triple the price,” said Cheryl O’Connell, NIC’s director of continuing education and training. “But we made it a priority and were able to secure sufficient funds to deliver it locally.

The majority of those individuals would not have been able to access the training if it wasn’t available in their community.”

“We are delivering cost-effective, relevant training in remote communities, and we’re helping source the funding for students, too.”

Cheryl O’Connell Director, Continuing Education and Training

In-community access Working to bring learning opportunities to our smaller communities No other college in British Columbia serves a region as vast and diverse as North Island College. And for many remote areas, the time and cost of travel present genuine barriers to education. That’s why we’re working to find new ways to deliver training on site that is tailored to the unique needs of each community, making education accessible where it wouldn’t otherwise exist.

Bridging Programs to Help Build Communities North Island College prides itself on responding to community training needs, and nowhere is that more evident than in the small coastal community of Ittatsoo.

When the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council looked for ways to renovate houses in need of repair with locally trained residents they came to North Island College to set up the Residential Building Maintenance Worker program. In a unique partnership with community, program funding came from the Nuu-chah-nulth Employment Training program and the North Island Employment Foundation Society, allowing NIC to bring instructors and curriculum to students.

In six months, 10 students gained enough drywall, carpentry, plumbing, flooring and electrical skills to graduate. Plus, students have laptops from Computers for Schools to layout blueprints and college-provided tools to use during their six-month term. Each student graduates with entry level apprenticeship skills and information to enter a Red Seal trade program.

“Without NIC offering the course in the community, many of the students simply wouldn’t have access to training and the jobs that can arise from them,” said course instructor Stephen Dalley.

“The community would have lost out on locally trained people to fix some very poor housing.”

Students range in age from 25 to 51 and came to the class with a variety of academic backgrounds.

Through it all, students have upgraded their math and English skills while taking on the technical trades.

They have already begun work on three bus shelters; added sinks, counter space and wheelchair accessible washrooms to the community hall; and created a healthy list of residential repairs. Three of the students are interested in starting their own small businesses in the community, while others will have marketable skills to find work with established businesses.

The key to the program’s success, says Tom Weegar, NIC’s regional director for Port Alberni and Alberni-Clayoquot, is being able to run the program in the community.

“When you offer programs in the community, barriers to education such as transportation, childcare, and living allowances are erased,” said Weegar.

11

Ten new graduates will begin housing improvements on the West Coast.

“When you offer programs in the community, barriers to education such as transportation, childcare, and living allowances are erased.”

Tom Weegar Regional Director, Port Alberni & Alberni-Clayoquot

regional centres

Learning where you live Strategic direction: Raising awareness Working with our communities, we will explore new and innovative ways to effectively promote post-secondary education throughout the region.

Blending Coastal Culture, Stories, and Tourism Mowachaht/Muchalaht students enrich local industry and First Nations culture NIC’s Cultural Heritage Resource Management program in Tsaxana may be small, but it’s already making big changes in the lives of its students.

The year-long program, created at the request of the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht people, has allowed students to appreciate their culture in ways that blend personal experience with applied skills and academic study.

Students upgrade their math, English and science skills while learning about Aboriginal mythology, local marine life, and First Nations political history in the area, as well as business and tourism. The program concludes with students completing their 80 required practicum hours at the BC Museum of Anthropology, the Campbell River Museum, or cataloguing and scanning photos for publication at the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations Resource Centre.

Quickfacts

741

students completed programs and/or courses at NIC centres in 2010/11 in the following study areas:

60%

first aid

14% Upgrading

8% Continuing Education

Most importantly, said program instructor Margarita James, it allows students to examine First Nations values and relate them

7% marine training

6% University Studies 5% Industry Training Margarita James (2nd from left) stands with pride among four of her Cultural Heritage Resource Management students at the community’s new Big House in Tsaxana.

to their own lives and create a critical awareness of their own culture that will help them and their community move forward.

“It’s going to make a difference in building our capacity as a nation and making this a better place to live.”

Margarita James Instructor, Cultural Heritage Resource Management Program

“All I can say is that they’re getting it,” said James “It’s going to really make a difference in building our capacity as a nation and making this place a better place to live.”

Students are encouraged to take more active roles in the area’s growing tourism industry, with a focus on sharing their stories and culture. While some of them dream of opening a restaurant or selling First Nations artwork, others expect to play host to

guests as they visit the area by boat, stay in tourist cabins, hike the Nootka Trail, or attend Summerfest, an annual celebration of the area’s rich cultural history.

With the opening of the Big House at Tsaxana this June, students will be busy with interpretive programs and exhibits, using their new knowledge and skills to build awareness of Mowachaht/Muchalaht culture for years to come.

To learn more about training services for your group, call 250-923-9723 or visit us online at www.nic.bc.ca/trainingservices .

Reaching goals from any distance Catching up with Sarah O’Shannessy, a featured student in our 2010 Community Report

Sarah O’Shannessy loves teaching. So when VIU began offering a Bachelor of Education degree at NIC, Sarah jumped at the chance.

With access to NIC’s distance education courses, the Cortes-based youth and literacy instructor was able to complete her university studies entry requirements in her island community. Today, she is a VIU student completing her degree coursework at NIC’s Comox Valley campus. Through NIC, both Sarah’s university education and dream of teaching are much closer to home. To learn more about distance and online learning, visit www.nic.bc.ca/distancelearning .

learn online Browse all of your options at www.nic.bc.ca/programs

Ready to get started on your bachelor’s degree? Or follow your passion with a writing, photography, or web design course?

Check out university transfer and office assistant programs, plus over 200 www.ed2go.com/NIC courses available online. Call 1-800-715-0914.

12 13 12

Year one The first year of our four-year strategic plan has been a building year, putting the right structures and policies in place to guide and encourage entrepreneurial work. With a solid foundation, growing enrolments, and an ambitious team, we are well positioned for new opportunities. top 10 milestones

Financial statements, March 31, 2011

In addition to laying new groundwork for future initiatives, we are proud to have expanded partnerships, learning opportunities, and facilities through the region. Here are a few highlights from 2010/11:

Province of BC

1 Opened the $8.2 million Trades Training Centre, creating the North Trades Training Centre

Island’s first Carpentry Apprenticeship program, providing access to trades programs and cutting edge marine training equipment.

2 Confirmed dual admission agreements with four

67%

Student Fees

18%

New dual admission options

universities, giving qualified local students an exclusive pathway to university through NIC.

3 Provided 3,978 residents from Ucluelet to Port Hardy with

8%

4 Welcomed over 27 per cent more international International growth

3%

Expenditures

education students, increasing diversity and economic activity in North Island communities.

5 Celebrated the opening of NIC’s first dedicated Gathering Place New Gathering Place

58%

Contract Service

4%

revenues

12%

Industry training skills

employable skills needed to access jobs in their communities.

Other

Interest & Income Benefits

30%

Salaries & Wages

Other Expenses

to honour First Nations culture, learning, and friendships.

6 Guaranteed a new pathway for first-year engineering New Engineering transfer option

nic board of governors

students to start their UVic Bachelor of Engineering degree at NIC in the Comox Valley.

Judith Round, Chair / Marriage Commissioner, Comox Valley

7 Celebrated the achievements of Albert Balbon, NIC’s Increasing education access

supervisor of distributed learning, who earned a national award for his work providing NIC students with remote and online access to on-campus instruction.

8 Launched NIC’s Alumni Association to reconnect past graduates Alumni Association launch

with colleagues and instructors and create networking opportunities.

9 Created Criminology diploma with seamless pathways

Bruce Calder, Vice-Chair / Retired, Comox Valley Jan Lindsay, President / North Island College Jasmine Badrin / Student, North Island College, Comox Valley Chris Castro / Student, North Island College, Port Alberni Patricia Corbett-Labatt / Chair, Education Council, North Island College Allyson Hamilton / Pateman & Company, Comox Valley Scott Kenny / City of Port Alberni, Port Alberni David Kruyt / Vancouver Island Insurance Centres, Campbell River Sharon Larade / Executive Assistant, Board of Governors

New Criminology diploma

Vi Mundy / Chief Councillor, Ucluelet First Nation, Ucluelet

to degree completion through VIU and SFU.

Cathy Reyno / Finance Clerk, North Island College

10 Hosted career fairs in Campbell River and the Comox Valley, Career Fairs Success

connecting hundreds of students with local employers.

Michael Schnurr / Community Representative, Port Hardy Don Sharpe / Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Comox Valley Betty Tate / Department Chair, North Island College

nic foundation Investing in our future

$400,000

Last year, the NIC Foundation presented more than 300 students with $192,000 in scholarships and bursaries to celebrate excellence and ease financial need. With over $400,000 raised, 2010/11 was a record fundraising year that successfully increased financial awards in the much-needed area of trades. Special thanks go to our many sponsors, donors, and community members for their generosity and commitment to student success.

To learn more about giving opportunities, visit www.nic.bc.ca/foundation .

Kristy Heller receives the JGM Luckhurst Bursary in Campbell River toward her University Studies program.

13

moving forward with you With plans to further expand partnerships, create blended upgrading options in health and trades, and increase programs that serve local needs, the coming years will present many ways for community members to get involved. We invite you to reach out and share your ideas with us.

North Island College Senior Leadership Team

Ken Crewe Director, Human Resources

Lisa Domae Vice President, Student & Educational Services & Planning

Susan Auchterlonie Director, College & Community Relations and Executive Director, NIC Foundation

Mark Herringer Executive Director, International Education

Carol Baert Vice President, Finance & Facilities

Sue Bate Executive Assistant

Jan Carrie Vice President, Education Jan Lindsay President

get involved We’re your community college

Whether you need a training program for your business or a great location for your community event, we’re your community resource. Come talk to us.

Become a student

1-800-715-0914

lindsay.barks@nic.bc.ca

Suggest a community partnership

250-334-5270

jan.lindsay@nic.bc.ca

Request training services

250-923-9723

tracy.parker@nic.bc.ca

Donate to the NIC Foundation

250-334-5271

susan.auchterlonie@nic.bc.ca

Join the Alumni Association

250-334-5000 ext. 4267

alumni@nic.bc.ca

Hire a Co-op student or graduate

250-334-5076

treena.nadon@nic.bc.ca

Get involved with applied research

250-334-5071

jan.carrie@nic.bc.ca

Host an international student

250-334-5036

mark.herringer@nic.bc.ca

Join our Board of Governors

250-334-5275

sharon.larade@nic.bc.ca

Request a course in your community

250-334-5071

jan.carrie@nic.bc.ca

Host an event on campus

250-334-5271

susan.auchterlonie@nic.bc.ca

Ask any question

1-800-715-0914

questions@nic.bc.ca

want more info?

stay informed President’s blog online www.nic.bc.ca/blogs

Review the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan: www.nic.bc.ca/strategicplan

14

“Now, more than ever, we are focused on working creatively with industry, organizations, and educational partners to meet community needs.”

Dr. Jan Lindsay, NIC President

Sustainable Futures

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