Okanagan College Progress Report 2017

OKANAGAN

COLLEGE PROGRESS REPORT

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EXCEEDED PROVINCIAL ENROLMENT TARGETS FOR

2,450

GRADUATES

EARNED

12 YEARS IN A ROW IN 2017

CREDENTIALS

SECOND-LARGEST

TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTION

IN B.C.

20,434 STUDENTS TOOK A COURSE IN THE PAST YEAR

B.C.’S THIRD-LARGEST

COLLEGE

55%

GROWTH

IN FTE STUDENTS

SINCE 2005

SUSTAINABILITY OC continues to be a sector leader in sustainability. The College’s physical space has grown by 35 per cent since 2007 and despite growth, has decreased greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent. In 2017 the College saved $365,291 as a result of energy-saving initiatives.

David Sawatzky was among the first graduates of the Sustainable Construction Management Technology program in 2017.

CHOCOLATE LAUNCH A SWEET SUCCESS Okanagan College became the first post-secondary institution outside of Europe to have its own trademarked chocolate recipes. OC Chefs Danny Capadouca and Bernard Casavant traveled to France to the Or Noir tasting laboratories of Cacao Barry to develop the exclusive recipes - Okanagan Noir (dark) and Kalamalka Karamel (milk) – that were unveiled at a tasting event in January.

2017 HONORARY FELLOWS Three notable Okanagan residents were invested by the College in June as Honorary Fellows. Penticton’s Randy Manuel, an artist, writer, historian and public servant, was acknowledged for multi-faceted efforts in documenting and preserving the history and ecology of the region.

Sharon Shepherd has been engaged in improving the quality of life in the City of Kelowna for nearly 40 years as a volunteer, educator, mentor, long-time councilor and two-term mayor. Edna Terbasket, Executive Director of the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, has been a passionate proponent for education in the Okanagan for more than three decades.

COLLEGE RIPE FOR RESEARCH From devising new wrist-taping strategies to reduce injuries in the province’s tree planters, to designing better outdoor playgrounds for children, applied research projects by OC employees continued to make an impact in the region and beyond.

EMPLOYEE IMPACT Beyond the corridors and classrooms, Okanagan College employees were engaged in a wide range of initiatives that served to further the College’s mission of transforming lives and communities.

The College’s research initiatives were showcased collectively at the inaugural Research, Innovation and Partnerships Expo (RIPE).

Dr. Tim Walters embarked on a six-day walk from the Salmon Arm campus to the Penticton campus and back, logging 330 kms to support a former student who suffered a brain aneurysm. Walters’ efforts raised $13,750.

In Kelowna, Dr. Kyleen Myrah was appointed co-chair of Journey Home, a new task force charged with creating long-term strategies to address homelessness. Walters and Myrah are but two examples of employees who enrich our communities.

THE PATH TOWARD INDIGENIZATION In 2016-17, nearly 1,700 Aboriginal learners studied at OC. The College’s Indigenization Task Force, led by Dr. Bill Cohen, is forging ahead with important work aimed at meeting the College’s goal of working with and learning from the Indigenous community.

The na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden opened at the Kelowna campus on June 27. Grace Greyeyes, a renowned education advocate, mentor, volunteer and Penticton Indian Band Elder, received the Okanagan College Alumni Association’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS OC’s connection to its community is evidenced by the myriad partnerships and engagement with local businesses, industries, non-profit organizations and community members.

In 2017, the College boasted 37 Program Advisory Committees with more than 330 members, providing valuable advice on curricula, and more than 1,500 employers working with its co-op department. These connections help shape the next generation of community-builders and leaders who attend the College’s four campuses.

PROGRAM EXPANSIONS OC continues to expand its programming options for area students. In 2017, the first students began the Viticulture Technician diploma program in Penticton.

The two-year program was developed with significant input from regional wine industry experts.

In September, the first students started the inaugural offering of the Animation diploma, offered in a state-of-the-art lab facility within the new Okanagan Centre for Innovation in Kelowna.

Other new additions for 2017 included an Aboriginal Community Support Worker Certificate and an Arts program emphasis in Resistance and Revolution in Salmon Arm.

NEW SPACES FOR LEARNING 2017 saw shovels in the ground in Penticton and Vernon for major capital projects.

Penticton is now home of the Little Learners Academy, a child care facility operated in partnership with the Penticton and District Community Resources Society.

In Vernon, construction advanced significantly on the new $6.2-million Trades Training Centre. The LEED Gold project was supported by the federal and provincial governments with additional support from the community through a fundraising campaign.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING • 100 per cent of bachelor degree graduates said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their education. 90 per cent said they would select the same program again. 97 per cent are in the labour force, making an average of $53,000 per year.

• 94 per cent of apprentices surveyed said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their education. 96 per cent are in the labour force, earning an average wage of $27 per hour.

• 93 per cent of those who took diplomas, certificates or associate degrees said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their education. *Source: 2016 BC Student Outcomes Survey, Okanagan College.

“Being part of Okanagan College has been an amazing experience.

I have made so many friends here and have felt so welcomed.

I feel connected to the community and feel at home here.”

Mustafa Zakreet, Syrian Refugee and Salmon Arm student

2017 marked the first full year of operation for the Kelowna Trades Building

2017 has been a significant year in the evolution and continued growth of Okanagan College We’ve educated more students from the region; experienced significant growth in our international student contingent; added new diploma programs in animation and viticulture technology; and have constructed a new child care facility in Penticton. We are at work on a new trades building in Vernon and a trades training house in Kelowna.

We have built up a track record of success and excellence over the past 13 years and there’s more to come as we pursue our mission of transforming lives and communities.

We couldn’t do it without the support of the communities we serve, the dedication of our 1,100-plus employees, and the trust of our students in our commitment to first-rate education and training.

Connie Denesiuk

Chair, Okanagan College Board of Governors

Jim Hamilton

President, Okanagan College

Keep up with our current news, visit okanagan.bc.ca/news