KAMLOOPS-BC’s newest university now has a name, one that UCC President Roger Barnsley says, “effectively describes and will always remind us of our regional mandate as the Thompson River basin encompasses the vast majority of our region.”
Thompson Rivers University, chosen by government from a list of community nominations submitted for consideration by the UCC Board of Governors, was announced at UCC Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004.
“It is a thoughtful and bold choice. It is a name we can be proud of, a name with which we can move forward and take our place among the province’s, indeed, the world’s, universities. At Thompson Rivers University one will get a TRU education,” Barnsley said.
The provincial government announced in early spring that the University College of the Cariboo would become B.C.’s newest university and would assume the responsibilities and assets of British Columbia Open University and Open College. The new university shield depicts two rivers joining as one, which symbolically represents the foundational features of the new university, Barnsley explained.
“Our shield represents the amalgamation and the combined strengths of two important British Columbia institutions, The University College of the Cariboo and the British Columbia Open University and Open College. Through this merger TRU will offer instruction face-to-face and at a distance in a combined and unified fashion.”
Barnsley also noted the different streams of knowledge that will be combined at the new university are unique.
“No university in Canada will offer the comprehensive array of programs that will span developmental, trades, technical, career and academic educational programs,” he said.
The new university also offers master’s degrees in applied and professional fields, and some doctoral programs in partnership with other universities.
For more information, please contact Josh Keller, Director, UCC Public Relations, at 250-851-6843 or e-mail jkeller@tru.ca
