TERRACE – CUPE 2409 says that the comprehensive range of accredited first- and second-year university level Arts and Science courses available at Northwest Community College (NWCC) are important for residents and northern communities.
“Offering these courses not only allows students who live in the northwest to live at home while they are gaining a university degree, it attracts and keeps qualified, educated people in our communities,” said the local President Marja Burrows. “The provincial government must properly fund post-secondary education.”
Burrows said that NWCC is open for business and CUPE 2409 is happy to promote the community college. “Students can get a top notch education right here in their own backyard,” she said. Despite recent cuts, programs are still running in all locations.
The breadth of courses offered in both Arts and Sciences includes courses from one end of the spectrum to the other: Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Literature, First Nations Studies, Women’s Studies, and Applied Coastal Ecology, to name a few.
“My experience at NWCC as a social work student was exceptional, a great time of learning with instructors that challenged my own personal ideologies, and allowed thought provoking class engagement,” said student Sean Rutsatz. “Taking courses here was a big help in keeping my costs down and made things a lot easier for me.”
CUPE 2490 represents 50 members who are college professors, teaching university credit courses. Students can transfer Arts and Science course credits to all post-secondary institutions in B.C. They can complete a collaborative Bachelor’s degree, an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree at NWCC.
Northwest Community College has campuses in Smithers, Prince Rupert and Terrace but also offers course in other northwest locations like Haidi Gwaii. NWCC has expanded to nine regional campuses serving 34 communities where the College provides students with innovative programs that lead to sustainable careers for people in the North.
“Northwest College is important. It’s important for northerners,” said Burrows. “Northerners have access to quality university-level courses taught by exemplary teachers. And it’s right here in our own communities.”
