PRINCE GEORGE – KAMLOOPS – The College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Prince George and Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement that will expand access to university degree completion and other post-secondary studies for residents across the CNC college region.

Under terms of the agreement, which has been in development for several months, the institutions will work together to create new post-secondary opportunities that will include:

• The ability for many CNC certificate and diploma students to ladder credits into TRU degrees through clearly articulated transfers between programs
• A ‘dual admissions’ process for university studies in Arts, Science and Business that would give first- and second-year CNC students and their parents greater assurance of a seamless transfer from the college to these TRU degrees
• Establishing CNC as the focal point for local and regional access to a wide range of TRU degrees that can be completed without forcing students to leave the community or disrupt current employment, through ‘open learning’ programs with maximum flexibility in program admission, laddering of college credits and credit banking, prior learning assessment, and by taking CNC courses and/or TRU distance and online courses.

“As a primarily undergraduate, teaching-focused university, TRU is unique among universities in Canada because of our comprehensive range of programs, our ability to ladder credits from certificates and diplomas into degrees, and our flexibility in creating degree access through our open learning mandate,” said TRU President, Roger Barnsley.

“This partnership complements and expands on existing degree completion opportunities in the northern part of our province. As well, several exciting programs now under development at TRU, including a degree for trades and technology teachers, and a leadership degree for journeyperson tradespeople, will add to the opportunities available from TRU fro students in northern BC.”

Along with ‘open learning’ degrees in Arts, Science, Business, General Studies, Technology Management, Tourism and Health Sciences, TRU also offers a variety of certificates and diplomas, including a new program in Water Treatment Technology program, and a growing selection of graduate-level studies for a wide range of professionals and other degree holders, through distance education.

Over the next several months, officials at CNC and TRU will work to establish the details by which CNC will become a focal point for students of all ages across the region who are interested in furthering their post-secondary education through this partnership.

Josh Keller – Director
Marketing & Communications
Thompson Rivers University
Kamloops, BC
250-828-5008
jkeller@tru.ca