Thompson Rivers University has formally approved the acceptance of the new BC high school course, English 12 First Peoples, for admission to the university beginning in 2009.

The TRU Senate unanimously approved a resolution at their latest meeting to accept English 12 First Peoples as the academic equivalent of English 12, and the same resolution was endorsed last week by the Planning Council for Open Learning, for admission requirements to “open” courses and programs at the University.

The new course, introduced into the provincial high school curriculum for 2008-2009, provides students with the same language and literacy skills as English 12, but does so with a focus on aboriginal and First Nations authors and other works.

“What’s important about this course is that it provides an opportunity for students to achieve their English 12 requirement with a focus on First Peoples and First Nations issues” said TRU Vice-President, Academic, Mark Evered.

“This new course fits nicely with our ongoing collaborations with our local school district, as well as the goals we have outlined in our own Strategic Plan to better serve our aboriginal students and First Nations communities.”

Nathan Matthew, the Executive Director for Aboriginal Education at TRU, added that “the acceptance of this course further strengthens the respectful relationship between Thompson Rivers University and its First Peoples partners.”

English 12 with a minimum C+ grade is the most common admissions requirement in programs at TRU, and is required to register in first year university English courses. Any program with this stated admission requirement will accept English 12 First Peoples as the equivalent course.

For more information contact:

• Dr. Nathan Matthew, (p)377.6050 (c) 250.851.6054