The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
For decades, Flin Flon youth have moved to cities hundreds of kilometres away each September in the name of their futures. For them and other northerners, attending university has meant uprooting their lives and heading for the often unfamiliar confines of Winnipeg, Brandon or Saskatoon. But times are changing. After being talked about for some three years Ñ and desired by northerners for much longer Ñ the proposed university for the North is beginning to take a more definite shape. Last week, legislation was introduced in the Manitoba Legislature that would establish the University College of the North, commonly abbreviated UCN. "Through this proposed legislation, our government is moving forward with a commitment to ensure Aboriginal and northern people are the primary decision-makers in post-secondary education for the North," Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford said in a statement. "UCN will make post-secondary education more accessible and viable by serving northerners closer to home." See 'Range' P.# Con't from P.# UCN would replace and expand upon Keewatin Community College, and utilize current KCC facilities in The Pas, Thompson, and, reportedly, Flin Flon. It's likely that some renovations would have to be done to the buildings to accommodate the school. The institution would offer a range of post-secondary education options including developmental, trade, career, technical, and undergraduate degree programs. McGifford said students would benefit from an integrated approach to programming, including opportunities to take a two-year diploma that could lead directly into a four-year degree program. Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin feels the North's lack of a university is an equity issue, commenting that UCN would improve the standard of living for northerners. "Northern Manitoba has had a chronic shortage of professionals for decades," he said in a statement. "UCN will give northerners opportunities to get training in the North. This will result in long-term benefits for our province as we will see many more northerners working as professionals in their home communities." Q and A Here are answers to some common questions regarding UCN, as they appear on the official Web site of the UCN Implementation Team: Q: What will be the time line for development? A: The official opening of UCN will take place sometime in 2004. It is also expected that some initial programming will begin to be offered in September, 2004. All Keewatin Community College programming will continue as part of UCN. Q: Will UCN have the power to grant degrees, including graduate degrees? A: The proposed legislation that will create UCN as a legal entity states that it will be empowered to grant university degrees. The intent is that UCN will grant Bachelors degrees and Honourary degrees as well as certificates and diplomas. Q: Will there be buildings? A: In her announcement on May 2, 2003, Minister McGifford indicated that "the status of existing facilities will be examined to determine infrastructure requirements". In the meantime, no new large campus will be built in Northern Manitoba. Instead, UCN will rely on the existing facilities of Keewatin Community College in The Pas and a smaller campus in Thompson, plus satellite centres in smaller communities throughout Northern Manitoba. It is also anticipated that there may have to be work done to some existing buildings. Q: How many students will be enrolled at UCN? See 'Institute' P.# Con't from P.3 A: There are currently 1,334 students enrolled at Keewatin Community College. This includes both part-time and full time students as well as students enrolled in regional centres and community-based programs. It is also estimated that there are many Northern students enrolled in post-secondary institutions in Southern Manitoba. It is expected that some of these students would be enrolled at UCN if it were already in operation. Q: What will happen to KCC once UCN becomes fully operational? A: KCC and its college programming will become a part of UCN. Q: What is UCN not going to be? A: It will not be controlled by non-Northerners; it will not be exclusively a university or a college; it will be a blending of both types of programming; it will not be restricted to granting certificates and diplomas; it will also grant degrees; it will not be restricted to offer those programs currently offered by Keewatin Community College; it will not be a substandard institution; it will offer quality post-secondary education programs Q: Will students from UCN be able to transfer credit to other post-secondary institutions? A: Students from UCN will have the same transfer credit privileges as those students from Keewatin Community College currently do. Q: What kinds of programs will UCN offer? A: UCN will begin by offering those programs that are currently offered by Keewatin Community College. It is also anticipated that UCN will initially offer a Bachelor of Aboriginal and Northern Studies degree program. As UCN evolves, additional college and university programming will be offered. Q: Will joint degrees be offered by UCN? If so, in what areas? A: Initially, the Joint Keewatin Community College/The University of Manitoba Baccalaureate Nursing Program will continue to be offered. It is also anticipated that as UCN evolves, a number of additional joint degree programs will be offered. Q: How will UCN differ from other universities? A: It will be characterized by a strong Aboriginal presence since it will be serving a catchment area that is 70 per cent Aboriginal. It will also deliver programs that are unique to the population and economy of Northern Manitoba. Q: What residence accommodations will be provided for students of UCN? A: It is acknowledged that there are issues concerning the adequacy of existing residence facilities in both The Pas and Thompson. These will need to be considered as part of UCN's development.
