2008 Year in Review
December 23, 2008
The past year saw UNBC achieve its best marks ever in national
rankings, produce the first graduates from the Northern Medical
Program, win a provincial basketball championship, and announce the
largest research project it has ever undertaken.
January
UNBC launches a new website design, which would later win second place in a national marketing competition for colleges and universities…. Premier Campbell announces the creation of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, the largest research institute ever created by the Province, involving UNBC, UVic, UBC, and Simon Fraser University.
February
Construction begins on the Northern University Student Centre, which will occupy the former UNBC Fitness Centre.
March
The UNBC women’s basketball team completes an unbeaten record at home by capturing the BCCAA basketball championship in front of 2000 spectators at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre…. UNBC holds its first annual Green Day.
April
UNBC students capture top awards at a western Canadian Geography conference and a national Model United Nations simulation.
May
23 students become the first-ever graduates of the Northern Medical Program during a celebration on campus…. As part of its pine beetle recovery program, the federal government funds UNBC projects related to terahertz energy, bioenergy, and community diversification…. UNBC hosts its largest convocation ceremony to date as 830 students graduate during the first grad ceremony on campus in a decade. Honorary degrees are presented to Peter Bentley, Rick Hansen, and Nisga’a elder Jacob McKay.
June
UNBC President Don Cozzetto steps down after nearly two years and is replaced on an interim basis by former President, Charles Jago…. Research funding received by the University since its inception tops $100 million.
July
The Government of BC invests $3.5 million from its Clean Energy Fund in the development of a renewable energy system at UNBC, citing the University’s research capacity and suitable campus infrastructure.
August
Students discover more than 200 artifacts during an archaeology field school near Fort St. James that was developed in partnership with the Nak’azdli Band.
September
Nearly 4000 students take classes in the fall semester, which features new majors in Human Resources Management and Forest Ecology and Management…. PhD student Cherisse Seaton of Prince George receives the largest scholarship ever received by a UNBC student: $105,000 over three years…. Undergraduate student Gareth Hopkins of Richmond wins the top prize in a national “Rising Stars of Research” competition for his work on a weevil that attacks young trees…. UNBC researchers are part of a North American research team exploring glacial melt in BC. They calculate that BC’s glaciers are losing enough water per year to fill BC Place Stadium 8300 times.
October
Both the Globe and Mail and National Post rank UNBC among the best small universities in Canada as part of annual surveys. The Globe report focuses on student satisfaction (with UNBC receiving an A- in overall satisfaction) while the National Post names UNBC a Research University of the Year for achieving the second highest rate of research growth among any university in Canada over the past five years.
November
UNBC scores its best result ever in Maclean’s magazine, finishing second in Canada – and best in the west – among 21 universities in the magazine’s “Primarily Undergraduate” category.
December
Following an 87% approval rating from graduate students, all UNBC students are now part of the U-Pass transit program…. UNBC professor Laurie Chan attracts $11 million in funding from Health Canada over the next decade to study the health effects of pollutants in 100 aboriginal communities across Canada. It’s the largest research project ever to be undertaken at UNBC.
Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
January
UNBC launches a new website design, which would later win second place in a national marketing competition for colleges and universities…. Premier Campbell announces the creation of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, the largest research institute ever created by the Province, involving UNBC, UVic, UBC, and Simon Fraser University.
February
Construction begins on the Northern University Student Centre, which will occupy the former UNBC Fitness Centre.
March
The UNBC women’s basketball team completes an unbeaten record at home by capturing the BCCAA basketball championship in front of 2000 spectators at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre…. UNBC holds its first annual Green Day.
April
UNBC students capture top awards at a western Canadian Geography conference and a national Model United Nations simulation.
May
23 students become the first-ever graduates of the Northern Medical Program during a celebration on campus…. As part of its pine beetle recovery program, the federal government funds UNBC projects related to terahertz energy, bioenergy, and community diversification…. UNBC hosts its largest convocation ceremony to date as 830 students graduate during the first grad ceremony on campus in a decade. Honorary degrees are presented to Peter Bentley, Rick Hansen, and Nisga’a elder Jacob McKay.
June
UNBC President Don Cozzetto steps down after nearly two years and is replaced on an interim basis by former President, Charles Jago…. Research funding received by the University since its inception tops $100 million.
July
The Government of BC invests $3.5 million from its Clean Energy Fund in the development of a renewable energy system at UNBC, citing the University’s research capacity and suitable campus infrastructure.
August
Students discover more than 200 artifacts during an archaeology field school near Fort St. James that was developed in partnership with the Nak’azdli Band.
September
Nearly 4000 students take classes in the fall semester, which features new majors in Human Resources Management and Forest Ecology and Management…. PhD student Cherisse Seaton of Prince George receives the largest scholarship ever received by a UNBC student: $105,000 over three years…. Undergraduate student Gareth Hopkins of Richmond wins the top prize in a national “Rising Stars of Research” competition for his work on a weevil that attacks young trees…. UNBC researchers are part of a North American research team exploring glacial melt in BC. They calculate that BC’s glaciers are losing enough water per year to fill BC Place Stadium 8300 times.
October
Both the Globe and Mail and National Post rank UNBC among the best small universities in Canada as part of annual surveys. The Globe report focuses on student satisfaction (with UNBC receiving an A- in overall satisfaction) while the National Post names UNBC a Research University of the Year for achieving the second highest rate of research growth among any university in Canada over the past five years.
November
UNBC scores its best result ever in Maclean’s magazine, finishing second in Canada – and best in the west – among 21 universities in the magazine’s “Primarily Undergraduate” category.
December
Following an 87% approval rating from graduate students, all UNBC students are now part of the U-Pass transit program…. UNBC professor Laurie Chan attracts $11 million in funding from Health Canada over the next decade to study the health effects of pollutants in 100 aboriginal communities across Canada. It’s the largest research project ever to be undertaken at UNBC.
Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622
