Ready, set, ORDER!

Public Affairs has now completed a print version of the Okanagan College phone book! Out of concern for the environment, all staff are asked to go online to order their copy of the publication. Those that wish to continue using the online phone book do not need to request a printed copy. Orders will be accepted for the next two weeks and will close at 4 p.m. on Feb. 1.

Communications student's project hits YouTube

The Department of Communications is taking seriously the College’s mandate to be as learner-centred as possible. Instead of instructors assigning the criteria for every project, instructors have been asking students to design some of their own assignments as a way of allowing them to tailor their learning to their own needs and interests and strengths. 
 
Students have been encouraged to develop projects that offer both a creative and a critical perspective on course content and as a result, some really interesting projects have emerged. Students have produced poetry chapbooks, collages (one done on paper the student made out of dryer lint!) and short videos.  One such example of these projects was recently posted to YouTube. Follow this link to view a video produced by Vernon student Jamiey Kelly.

Library asks, students answer

The Library has begun a “Question of the Month” feature for students. The question is posted in each library, and on the library web page.  December’s question of the month was a trial run: “What would be your one wish for the Library?” Each campus had different requests ranging from grace periods for fines to better lighting in carrels to a quick-print computer station. The library is doing what it can to respond to these requests, some changes have already been made, while others have yet to be decided on. To read a summary of the requests at each campus, follow this link.

Campus health and wellness expands to Penticton, Salmon Arm and Vernon

Two new Nurse Clinicians have joined Campus Health and Wellness to establish service in Penticton, Salmon Arm and Vernon.  They are Pene Berthelsen and Barb Lohnes. Pene comes from Public Health in Penticton and a background of maternity nursing at Penticton Regional Hospital. Barb has a background in Community Health Nursing and has worked in many locations throughout B.C. Both Pene and Barb are looking forward to providing health information and supporting students through population health activities and the promotion of a healthy campus. Jean Bryans is the contact for Kelowna’s Health and Wellness department, where she has worked for the past five years.

To contact your regional campus nurse:
Vernon – Barb Lohnes 545-7291 ext. 2269
Salmon Arm – Barb Lohnes 832-2126 ext. 8230
Penticton – Pene Berthelsen 492-4305 ext. 3263
Kelowna – Jean Bryans 762-5445 ext. 4279

Home for Learning hands cheque to Foundation

The Kelowna Home for Learning project raised $165,725.72 for the Okanagan College Foundation through the construction and sale of the 2008 home in the Village of Kettle Valley. The project partners (Vintage Design Ltd., the Village of Kettle Valley and Okanagan College) presented the Foundation with a cheque earlier this week.




Okanagan College’s tuition consultations with students up and down the valley have gotten significant media coverage. Read more about the meetings in the Penticton Herald’s Fee hike opposed at OC, the Kelowna Capital News’ OC students oppose tuition increase and stories by J.P. Squire of the Kelowna Daily Courier: Tuition tension and Fee hike opposed at OC.

Jim Hamilton was featured in a Kelowna Daily Courier article that focused on the College’s $210-million expansion throughout the region. Read more in Okanagan College undergoing $210-million expansion.

December saw Convocation ceremonies for Practical Nursing programs in Penticton and Kelowna and January followed with a Winter Convocation for a variety of programs. Read about the ceremonies and some of our graduates in the Kelowna Daily Courier: College gives boost to health-care workforce and Grads urged to change world, the Kelowna Capital News: Practical nursing grads needed, the Penticton Herald: Nursing program graduate fulfills dream after life took a different path and the Penticton Western News: Nursing graduates enter job market.

The South Okanagan Home for Learning project and its builders, Vicki and Eric Gerrits of Homescape Building and Design, were profiled in an article by the Business Thompson Okanagan. Read more about the Gerrits and their Tommie nominations in Tommie award winning tradition going.

A short piece announcing the arrival of Okanagan College’s new Director of Finance, Chi-Fui Chong, appeared in the Kelowna Capital News: New director of finance hired for OK College.

The Business Thompson Okanagan published a press release by Public Affairs about a new endowment fund and scholarship program set up by the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society, B.C. Chapter (CHES). Read the article, College targets health care or link to the full press release.

While much of the College was on winter break, regular columnists Jane Muskens and Stan Chung were busy writing. Read Jane’s education columns: Adults often scared to face going back to school and Never too old to learn new tricks, trades or skills. Stan published three columns: Lessons in love learned from my son, On the road in Saskatchewan (page 1),  (page 2) and Are we there yet? (page 1),
(page 2)
A short article about a new student representative on the Okanagan College Board of Governors made headlines in the Kelowna Capital News.

A South Okanagan speakers’ series was featured in the Oliver Chronicle. Find out more about who will present at the Penticton lecture theatre in the coming months in: Okanagan College speakers’ series set to run in the new year.

A variety of Continuing Studies courses running in Summerland made the pages of the Summerland Review. Hear from Lorrie Forde about what will be offered and how the public can now register online in College offers continuing education courses.

Kathy Hamilton appointed Acting Associate Dean

Robert Huxtable, Dean of Arts and Foundational Programs, is pleased to welcome Kathy Hamilton as Associate Dean. Kathy brings 24 years of College teaching experience with 18 years at Okanagan College, where she has served since 2002 as Chair of Adult Academic and Career Preparation (AACP). Kathy will serve as Associate Dean from January 7 to May 2, 2008, engaging in the full range of portfolio business with the special expertise generated from her experience in Foundational programs.

While Kathy is acting in the capacity of Associate Dean, Rick Shea (Vernon) is assuming the acting role of Chair of AACP.  Joining the College in 1987, with his experience as Coordinator (Kelowna AACP) Rick will maintain the high level of institutional perspective necessary for the role of AACP Chair.

Michael Douglas assumes Associate Dean role on term basis

Michael Douglas has been seconded from the Human Service Work Department and will be filling the position of Associate Dean of Science, Technology and Health on a term basis with primary responsibility for Health and Social Development programming. Michael will be working out of the Lab building and can be reached at local 4345.

Linda Spence

The Finance department has reconfigured slightly since acquiring Director Chi-Fui Chong and will now include Budget Officer Linda Spence within the department. Chi-Fui and the rest of the department would like to welcome Linda to the team.

It’s a jungle out there

Leaving the safety of college and entering the working world can be challenging for graduates. Adjusting to employers, colleagues and working a regular schedule are normal challenges for Okanagan College graduates. However, one Okanagan College grad is tackling far greater obstacles…obstacles that include rescuing sloths, mapping out mining areas and beating the heat of the Guyanese jungle.

Allan Jacobs completed the ARC/INFO GIS program in Salmon Arm last summer and was hired almost immediately to work as a GIS Technician for StrataGold Corporation– a gold exploration and development company based in Vancouver with major projects around the world. Allan went to Guyana in November where he was based in Tassawini – a camp in the middle of the jungle, roughly one hour’s flight from the capital city Georgetown.

While the terrain, climate and food may be different than what he is used to, Allan says his training at the College prepared him well for his current job.

“Okanagan College’s devotion to maintaining up-to-date ArcGIS software, along with the required hardware, follows in line with the advances in the GIS industry. This was very beneficial to my quick employment with StrataGold, as they hire individuals who are qualified in using current GIS software. Secondly, the program’s instructors’ (Mitch Krupp and Nolan Clark) knowledge and experience in the GIS industry was of great advantage.”

For Allan, the best part of the experience has been two-fold. He is excited to be working for a company that is using his expertise in the field in which he trained, and feels lucky to be able to travel to a country that is so totally different than anything else he has experienced in Canada. He is currently at StrataGold’s headquarters in Vancouver preparing for another six-week stint at Tassawini.

More CS staff receive CPP certifications

Congratulations go out to Continuing Studies’ Andrea Bradley, Jill Panton and Helena Jordo-Zieske for successfully completing LERN's Certified Program Planner exam.  Continuing Studies now has several staff who are Certified Program Planners – well done!

January 18, 2008, Vol. 1 Issue 20

24 Hour Relay

The 24 Hour Easter Seals Relay for the Boys and Girls club will take place June 7 & 8 in Kelowna. Okanagan College is looking to build a team to raise even more money than last year’s dedicated team (the College finished in the top five fundraising groups). The fun starts on Friday night with great entertainment and ends on Sunday morning. The College needs a team of 20 people in order to take part. Sign up by emailing Angie March or calling her at ext# 4501. This is truly a fun filled weekend that provides the opportunity to give back to the community. For more information, follow this link to the Newsletter.

50/50 winners announced

Congratulations to Nancy Darling from Trades and Apprenticeship who won today's payday draw for $422.50 and to Shelagh Donnelly from IT who won $375 for the pay period that occurred during the holiday break. The Okanagan College Foundation 50/50 Staff Lottery is open to all employees of Okanagan College. If you wish to sign up for the lottery, registration forms are available from: Advancement & Alumni/Okanagan College Foundation office (P103, KLO Campus), Human Resources (Landmark V, Kelowna) or  online.

New product hits Campus Store shelves

The Campus Store has responded to customer requests for an alternative to the traditional plastic water bottle and is now carrying a Stainless Steel Water Bottle for $ 16.99.  This alternative to plastic makes a great gift for the sport enthusiast, or pick one up for yourself today. Available at all Campus Stores: Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon. To reserve yours, e-mail Carla Macfarlane, General Merchandise Buyer .

Activate Yourself

Join the OK Activist Club Teach-in with workshops on transforming education, racism, militarization & peacekeeping, and consumerism. The event takes place in Kelowna on Saturday, Jan. 26, 9 - 4:30, in the Pit. For more info, contact Wilma Van der Veen or call ext. 4296.

Friday night at the movies

The OK Activist Club will feature two movies in the Kelowna campus Lecture theatre. Go Further will air tonight, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 25 will feature a film as part of Amnesty International film night at 7:30 p.m. Admission rates are by donation – contact Wilma van der Veen for more information.

Nominations open for Civic Awards

The 33rd annual Civic and Community Awards will be held in Kelowna in April and nominations are now being accepted. The award categories cover a wide spectrum of accomplishment and recipients are chosen by committee, based on nominations. Link here to find out more about the available awards, nomination process and applicable form. For more information, contact 469-8467 or email hcrawford@kelowna.ca



Nominations for Alumni Awards

Do you know of an Okanagan College or Okanagan University College graduate who is making an exceptional impact in our communities? Why not nominate him or her for one of the Okanagan College Alumni Association awards? Nominations are now being accepted in two categories, the Distinguished Alumni and Young Alumni awards. For more information about the award criteria follow this link or contact Katerina Hay.

Okanagan College Family Awards

This is a reminder to all Okanagan College staff that applications are now being accepted for the next round of the Okanagan College Family Award. Applications must be date-stamped at the Welcome Centre in Kelowna or the Campus Administration office at your campus by  Jan. 25. This round of applications is for programs starting between Jan. 1 - April 30, 2008.  Full award criteria and the application form can be found in "My Okanagan," under "OC Express - Forms" and "Foundation." Contact Financial Aid and Awards for more information at 862-5419.

Register now for Momentum

The ninth annual Therapist Assistant Conference will take place at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College on Friday, April 25 and registrations are now being accepted.  The one-day conference is sure to be a vibrant event, with registrants and speakers from all over BC and other provinces. In addition to the conference and poster presentations, the event will include a job fair, vendors, and student project displays. To find out more, follow this link to the conference brochure and registration form.

'Pledge to Pool' Campaign

If you are interested in reducing congestion and greenhouse gas emissions by increasing carpool trips in your region, why not take part in the 2008 Pledge to Pool campaign from Feb. 4 – 8. The carpool challenge is taking place in Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops and the goal is to increase program awareness and encourage commuters to try carpooling for one week. You can make an online pledge and your name will be entered into a draw for prizes including a $500 WestJet coupon. Visit www.carpool.ca/rideshare.asp for more information.

Great Canadian Smoke Out Competition

Campus Health and Wellness wants to help you quit for good! If you are interested in quitting smoking you can join the Great Canadian Smoke Out competition beginning Jan. 23. Just visit your local Campus Health and Wellness office to get your free quit kit and two weeks worth of nicotine patches or gum. If you manage to stay smoke-free until March 19 you could win cash prizes or a trip for two to Alaska. For more information contact: Barb Lohnes in Vernon or Salmon Arm, Pene Berthelsen in Penticton and Jean Bryans in Kelowna. 



Jan. 18 – Join the OK Activist Club for a film presentation in the Kelowna campus lecture theatre. The film Go Further airs tonight at 6 p.m.

Jan. 25 – A feature film will be shown at 7:30 p.m. in the Kelowna campus lecture theatre as part of Amnesty International film night, brought to you by the OK Activist Club.

Jan. 26 - Join the OK Activist Club Teach-in with workshops on transforming education, racism, militarization & peacekeeping, and consumerism. The event takes place in Kelowna from 9 - 4:30 in the Pit. For more info, contact Wilma van der Veen.

Jan. 31 - Suds ‘n Slides will kick off at 4 p.m. at the Pheasant and Quail with a presentation from award-winning poet and professor Jake Kennedy. 

Jan. 31 - Okanagan College and the Canada Council for the Arts welcome writer, painter, and First Nations scholar Neal McLeod to the Penticton campus lecture theatre at 7 p.m. Neal will read from his book, Songs to Kill a Wîhtikow.

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.



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 1, 2008.

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