Board of Governors approves tuition increase for 2008-09

Okanagan College’s Board of Governors voted on Tuesday to increase student tuition by the rate of inflation (approximately two per cent) in the coming year. The decision was made by the Board after consultation with students from each campus of the College. For more information about the tuition increase read the Public Affairs press release or visit the media section.

Province announces $302,000 to support Aboriginal students at Okanagan College

The Hon. George Abbott, Minister of Health and MLA for the Shuswap was at the Salmon Arm campus on Friday, Jan. 25 to announce the provincial government’s support of two initiatives focusing on Aboriginal programming and success. Minister Abbott addressed a group of College students, staff, Aboriginal community partners and media announcing $49,000 to be dedicated to a new program to promote Aboriginal participation in nursing. The second piece of news Abbott shared concerned $253,000 in funding to build a gathering place at the Salmon Arm campus for Aboriginal students (similar to those already in place in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon). For more information about the initiatives check out the province’s media release or visit the media section.

Home for Learning wins silver then gold at Tommies

The College’s award-winning Home for Learning project has done it again, winning silver and gold Tommies in the category of Outstanding Contribution to the Housing Industry. This year’s win recognized the concept of the program and included each of the homes built in Summerland, Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. Congratulations to Trades and Apprenticeship and to each of the projects on this industry coup.

Get it while you still can

Today is the last day to go online to order your copy of the Okanagan College internal phone book. Orders will close today at 4 p.m.

Okanagan College students tapped to lead grand opening event

Three Okanagan College business students have been independently hired by the Myra Canyon Restoration Committee to perform the execution of the Grand Opening on June 22 based on the exceptional work they did for the Restoration Committee while working with the group as part of their applied project in the Events and Sports Marketing course last semester. The students are Daryl Dunstan, Byron Johnson and Jillian Viera. The grand opening event for the Myra Canyon will be one of three BC 150 events recognized by the provincial government during our province’s 150th anniversary.

One-eyed one-horned flying global email eater

You may have seen a new monster around Okanagan College – only you have the power to stop him! Public Affairs is calling him the global email monster and he was recently brought to life on a poster designed by Amanda Penner. The posters have been placed in staff areas around our campuses and are meant to remind people that we are no longer sending global emails to spread internal news. The new venue for such news is Inside Okanagan College. This change has come as a result of recommendations by the Internal Communications Working Group, which found that staff were tired of receiving numerous emails  that didn’t necessarily pertain to them. At Inside Okanagan College we are trying to provide as much information as people need and want. By having staff submit brief pieces of news, notices and events we are able to post the information and then link to more information for those who want it. If you have a submission please email Public Affairs c/o Christine Ulmer.

Award-winning poet comes to Okanagan College

Award-winning poet, literary scholar, and sound artist, Christian Bök, will be visiting Okanagan College from February 14-17. Bök, a professor of English at the University of Calgary, is the author of Crystallography, a pataphysical encyclopedia nominated for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. He is also the author of the celebrated Eunoia, a bestselling work of experimental literature and winner of the prestigious Griffin Prize for Poetic Excellence. Bök has created artificial languages for two television shows: Earth: Final Conflict and Amazon. He is a fascinating fellow! Bök will be offering a public talk on Friday, February 15, at 2 p.m., in room B112 of the KLO campus. He will also be performing at the Mary Irwin Theatre (Kelowna) on Saturday, February 16, at 7 p.m. For more information please contact Jake Kennedy.

Summerland Home for Learning celebrates completion

An open house and VIP reception will be held today in Summerland at the site of the first South Okanagan Home for Learning project. The event will host project partners, sponsors, community members and media and will serve as the official celebration of the program’s success.


Tuition consultations with students and the Board meeting that followed earned a considerable amount of media over the past two weeks. Watch clips from CHBC and SHAW about this week’s Board decision to increase tuition or check out print media from: The Kelowna Capital News: Tuition set to increase at Okanagan College, The Kelowna Daily Courier: Students fail to stop tuition hike at college, Students protest college tuition increase, College students plan protest today, the Salmon Arm Observer: College students fight tuition hike,  Students need support, the Penticton Western: Students protest tuition hike, Students hit hard by rising tuitions.

The Home for Learning partnership in Summerland was featured in an article by the Penticton Herald. Read more about the program and find out when open houses will be held in, Carpentry students right at home.

The Kelowna Daily Courier was on hand to cover the celebration of 88-year-old Catherine Dyson’s birthday and 21-year history of volunteer service to the Adult Literacy program at Okanagan College, Celebrating 21 at 88 years young. CHBC was also at the event and their coverage will air tonight.

The Okanagan School of Business’ Kyleen Myrah appeared in the Kelowna Daily Courier after she was presented with the prestigious Senatorship honour by the Junior Chamber International Okanagan and the Junior Chamber International Canada. Read more in Kyleen Myrah earns JCI Senatorship award.

A development concerning Okanagan College’s partnership with Jamaica appeared in the Kelowna Capital News. Find out more about the possibility of BC’s Industry Training Authority administering red seal certification exams in Jamaica in Training authority looks at holding exams in Jamaica.

The 2008 Okanagan Short Story Contest received coverage as deadlines were announced in the Okanagan Sunday. Find out about the contest and entry requirements in Everyone has a story to tell.

Okanagan School of Business professor Lee Cartier was featured in an article after speaking at the Horticultural forum in Penticton. Read more in Too many farmers dwelling in the past. 

An article calling for nominations for Okanagan College Alumni Awards appeared in EVENT magazine – Nominations sought for alumni awards and in the Penticton Herald Awards to honour former college grads.

EVENT magazine profiled two Okanagan College professors in two different publications. Find out about Jake Kennedy’s addiction and Wilma van der Veen’s geekiest pleasure.

Students from Pearson Road Elementary will drop a time capsule into the lake to be attached to one of the anchors supporting the floating bridge. Okanagan College’s own Dean Nutter, chair of the welding trades department built the box with a group of his students. Read more in Time capsule to be sunk in lake.

Columnist Stan Chung wrote an editorial about social responsibility and decision making in his piece Shifting gears for a better way.

Jane Muskens' two columns tackled the ECE profession and the variety of learning styles for students. Read more in Early childhood education profession under-valued and Schools help students tap into their learning style.

Anne Cossentine retires from Education Council Chair

After more than 12 years of combined service to Okanagan College and Okanagan University College, Anne Cossentine has stepped down as Chair of Education Council. Anne is the longest standing member of Education Council, having served as an OUC Education Council member since 1995 including many terms as Curriculum Standing Committee Chair. She also served as Chair of the Interim Education Council that allowed the academic governance of the institution to transition to the College and as Chair of the new Okanagan College Education Council until the end of 2007. During her terms as Okanagan College Education Council Chair Anne was responsible for putting in place the structure and organization for the new Council and she credits College faculty, staff and administration for their commitment to the work of Council.  "Over 60 faculty, staff, students and administrators participate on Council committees. This is a strong commitment to ensuring high standards of curriculum and academic policy review."  Anne notes both experienced, long-term faculty as well as employees new to the College participate on Council and its committees.

During her term as Chair, Okanagan College introduced new and revised
programs and courses and added important new academic policies. Anne served as a member of the Board of Governors during her term as Chair and in that role provided Education Council advice to the Board of Governors on a variety of educational planning issues.  

When asked about her Education Council work Anne replied "I believe very strongly in the combined effort and knowledge of standing committee and Education Council members.  It is the good judgment, knowledge, and commitment from many Okanagan College employees and elected Education Council students that ensures effective academic governance for Okanagan College." 

Anne will continue to be a familiar face on Education Council, holding the position of elected South Okanagan Similkameen faculty member on Council.  She is returning to her full-time position as librarian for the south region and Penticton campus.

Rick Gee assumes role of Chair Education Council

Rick Gee, Chair of Computer Science and veteran member of both Okanagan College’s and OUC’s Education Council, has taken on the position of Chair, active as of January. Rick has devoted five years to Education Council and was also on Education Council subcommittees at OUC prior to joining Education Council. Rick looks forward to working with Anne Cossentine, who remains on Education Council as a faculty representative, and Alf Leimert, Vice Chair of Education Council. Rick will continue to Chair Computer Science but only half time as his new position demands a half-time release.

Administration Awards announced

Congratulations to Karen Needham (international) and Jennifer Aulenback (daughter of Lynn Grahame) who both received the Administrator Association Award scholarships. Karen and Jennifer both received $500 to be used toward their education - Karen is completing her Masters in Public Administration and Jennifer is completing a Bachelor of Arts.  The women received the awards from Pat Dandeneau and Gordon Shuster of the Administration Association.

Vernon’s Alysson Marshall to compete at world Nordic event

While many Okanagan College students represent the college well both on and off campus, Vernon’s Alysson Marshall was recently selected to the World Junior Championship Nordic team and will compete in Szczyrk, Poland. To find out more about Alysson’s accomplishment visit the Cross Country Canada website.

Happy Birthday to Catherine Dyson

On Thursday Jan. 31 volunteer tutor Catherine Dyson celebrated her 88th birthday with students, staff and a gathering of media in an AACP classroom at the KLO campus. Catherine was honoured and touched by the event, which included the reading of a poem written by one of her students. Catherine has spent the past 21 years volunteering in the adult literacy program, ever since retiring as a registered nurse in 1987.

February 1, 2008, Vol. 1 Issue 21

Commuters encouraged to carpool and win!

February 4 - 8 is Rideshare Week in Kelowna.  Thanks to sponsorship from ICBC and Carpool.ca, everyone who pledges to carpool at least once during the week has a chance to win $1,000 in prizes, including a $500 WestJet certificate. The City of Kelowna will be hosting three Transportation Fairs to provide the public with information on Rideshare Week and how easy it is to find a ride share match on Carpool.ca. One of the fairs will take place at Okanagan College’s KLO campus on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Visit www.carpool.ca for more information.

The case of the missing tablecloth

Jamie Basran from Business in Kelowna is trying to track down a see-through plastic bag containing one of the new Okanagan College white tablecloths with a red runner. The tablecloth was last seen on December 10, 2007 and has been missing ever since.  If you have seen this tablecloth please contact Jamie…as extra incentive Jamie is offering a free DeBeans coffee to whoever finds the tablecloth first!

ACE to host business gala

ACE Okanagan (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneur) is hosting the first annual ACE Fundraising Business Gala on February 5 at the Hotel Eldorado’s Sun Room. The focus of the evening is to educate individuals on what ACE Okanagan represents as well as what community projects our organization is currently involved with. We are also delighted to present a guest speaker from a prominent local business. For more information contact Kyleen Myrah or to order tickets email Mike.

Visit the Global Café

The Global Café will take place every Wednesday in the Pit at the KLO campus from 3:30 – 5 p.m. The Global Café is an international event and offers students the chance to meet others from around the world. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served.

Spread the news

If you have information you would like to share about programming or events happening at Okanagan College and you think the rest of the community should know, email Michelle Lowry to post your message on the digital reader board. There are some guidelines as to what can be posted so contact Michelle and spread the news.

College gets greener

As of last week Okanagan College began recycling clear plastic shrink-wrap. We should all be proud that the College has added another commodity to the list of recyclable materials. To find out more about what the College can and cannot recycle, contact Graham Kershaw.

College hosts Educational Technology Workshops

Mike Minions will host Educational Technology Workshops at three campuses. Topics include: WebCT, PowerPoint, Wikis, Web conferencing, Classroom Technology and Digital Video. For details and registration visit the website.
 
 Workshops will take place in Salmon Arm on Feb. 11 and exact dates for Vernon and Penticton have not yet been set. Contact Mike for more information.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships available

The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program supports the vision of the Rotary Foundation to advance world understanding, good will and peace by sending ambassadors of good will to study in another country. Scholarships are provided to students who qualify to study in a different country. Rotary also offers grants for higher education faculty to teach at the university or college of their choice in low-income countries. For more information about these scholarships, deadlines and applications procedures visit: www.rotary.org/foundation.

The trouble with keys

The trouble with keys is: we carry too many, they are easily misplaced, we never have the key we need and they are very difficult to manage with a system of control that is 30 years old, on and on. Unfortunately keys are a necessary evil and the cheapest access control available, so we will always have keys for access to some areas. To find out more about the College’s key policy and how to better manage your keys read this submission from Arch Doody.




Feb. 1 – The South Okanagan Home for Learning project in Summerland will hold a VIP reception for students, project partners and sponsors to celebrate the completion of the region’s first Home for Learning.
 
Feb. 1 – The OK Activist Club in Kelowna will feature The Corporation: a documentary about big business as sociopath at its regular Friday Night at the Movies event. The film begins at 6 p.m. in the lecture theatre – admission is by donation.

Feb. 5 – ACE Okanagan will host a gala reception in the Hotel Eldorado’s Sun Room beginning at 5:30. Tickets are available through ACE members or contact Mike.

Feb. 7 – Celebrate the Chinese New Year and join in the fun at International Night at the Pit in Kelowna. The event will feature booths, exhibits, a fashion show, dancing and various performances. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner served (buffet style) during intermission (6:45 – 7:30). For more information contact Quentin Hughson.

Feb. 8 – Join the OK Activist Club for a screening of End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the US Dream, a documentary about peak oil and impacts on society. This movie begins at 6 p.m. in the Kelowna lecture theatre and is by donation.

Feb. 11 - Join Dr. Terence Day, professor of geography at Okanagan College as he headlines the Kalamalka Lunch and Learn series with a presentation entitled, First year students: Improving the experience. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. in the lecture theatre.
 
Feb. 12 – The Penticton campus Speakers’ Series will feature a presentation by Ryan Ransom, physics instructor and research scientist at the DRAO. Ryan will explore Einstein’s theory of relativity, which predicts the existence of black holes. Do these holes really exist? Find out at this free public event at 7 p.m. in the lecture theatre. Contact Kaya Forest for more information.

Feb. 15 – Take in a presentation by award-winning poet Christian Bök at the KLO campus at 2 p.m. in room B112. Contact Jake Kennedy for more information.

Feb. 15 – The OK Activist Club will present The Devil on Horseback, a documentary about the horror of the Darfur genocide and the doubly horrifying shrug of the international community. The film starts at 6 p.m. in the Kelowna lecture theatre  – admission is by donation.

Feb. 25 – Join Johann Funk, retired Okanagan College professor of sociology, as he presents “Verse from an unholy land,” a discussion based on his two years of volunteer work with Christian Peacemaker Teams in a violence reduction program in the West Bank. Johann will offer glimpses into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in verse and photos from his work in the city of Hebron and the rural village of At-Tuwani.  This event begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Kalamalka lecture theatre.




Do you have comments, questions or a submission for INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE? Please email Public Affairs c/o Christine Ulmer.

The next edition of INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE will be issued on February 15, 2008.

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