Grad Students Settle In At UNBC

By 250 News

Students outside Teaching Laboratory on PG Campus      courtesy of UNBC

Prince George, B.C. - It's a segment of the University of Northern B.C.'s population that has been growing consistently over the years -- the number of graduate students.

Speaking with Opinion250 when classes began last week, the university's Vice-President of External Relations pointed out that student body has changed quite a bit in the almost two decades UNBC has been around.  As is the case within School District 57, UNBC, too, is feeling the decline in the younger demographic in our region.  Rob van Adrichem says, "Now, it's only about 50-percent -- maybe just under -- who come here directly from high school."

But, he says, graduate programs have been an area of growth because there's a demand from professionals in the region, wanting to enhance their skills.  "(They're) people in good careers, their familes are rooted here, they're people with a vested interest in the north," van Adrichem says.  "They're incredible graduate students because they're prepared to apply their education and skills to the region."

To meet this growing demand, UNBC is offering a new program this year:  a Master of Science in Business Administration (MScBA).  The two year degree builds on the foundation of the university's undergraduate Commerce program by providing post-graduate education in concentrations such as accounting, finance, and human resources.  The MScBA differs from the already well-established MBA program at UNBC in that it is more research-based.

An orientation for new graduate students was held on Thursday.  Classes for undergraduate programs began on Wednesday.

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