March 24, 2004 Page 4 ACTION: Moving the Strategic Academic Plan Forward From the Office of the Vice-President (Academic) & Provost UNBC is currently being guided by a five-year Strategic Academic Plan, ACTION (Answering the Challenge Through Innovation, Opportunities and Networks). The five-year plan is to carry us from 2002 through to 2007. The objectives, strategies and measurable outcomes defined in ACTION are the product of seven task force committees who worked collaboratively with many interest groups throughout the university to identify areas of priority for UNBC during the current five-year period. During the past year, numerous ad hoc committees have once again been established. This time, their mandates have changed. These groups have been addressing the objectives and moving the plan forward. They have been applying many of the strategies outlined in the document as well as developing additional strategies to achieve the objectives of ACTION. Their work has resulted in numerous recommendations for change, new networking partnerships and the implementation of initia- tives that focus on promoting excellence in teaching throughout the cam- pus community. Some of the committee highlights include; The Action Committee on Teaching and Learning hosted a First Annual Workshop on Teaching and Learning on August 28, 2003. Over 70 people took part including Grad Students, Senior Lab Instructors, new faculty members and existing faculty members. The event was extreme- ly well received and plans are currently being made to host another event in the Fall. As well, the committee has developed a series of monthly Brown-bag Discussion Sessions aimed at assisting our teachers in advancing their teaching potential. The Cultural Affairs Committee which consisted of faculty, staff, stu- dents and community representatives has made numerous recommen- dations for improving the cultural ambience that currently exists at UNBC. The recommendations will be forwarded to the UNBC Arts Council for consideration and potential implementation. In addition to the recommendations, on February 28, 2004, UNBC hosted together with the Prince George Conservatory of Music, an Atrium Concert which fea- tured the Capriccio String Quartet. Plans are in the works for an “Atrium Concert Series” for the 2004/05 academic year consisting of 3-4 concerts during the months of September to April. The Staying Focused on Technology Committee has made the recom- mendation that a task force be established to review Student Access to Computing. This task force will be struck during the summer months with the goal of completing a thorough report along with recommenda- tions by the Fall. The Committee on Committees has reviewed the many committees that currently exist on campus their mandates and their membership numbers. Asa result, numerous recommendations have been made for disbanding several committees and well as reducing the membership numbers of several. This task was undertaken due to the fact that many believe there are too many committees at UNBC taking up valuable time from faculty, staff and students. As the 2003/2004 Academic year draws to a close, the groups respon- sible for moving the plan forward will continue to meet and work towards reviewing and improving what is currently offered to the UNBC community of faculty, staff and students. It is our commitment to continue to do our best with what is available in order to achieve the objectives detailed in ACTION. We will continue to build an academic institute where quality is our number one priority and our reputation reflects this. If you would like to obtain a copy of the ACTION document or would like more information on the work being done by the Action committees, please contact-Liza Arnold (Executive Assistant to the Vice-President Academic & Provost) at 960-6518 or e-mail address arnoldl|@unbc.ca GO AUSTRALIA & suiney SIDS” wcsena e SLIGQ” ISLAND SUNTANNER Great tour of the #.$1,360: Ayers & ALICE Kiw1 EXPLORER Both Islands Book NOW! Prices go up on April ist 7% € Connections + Conditions /E&OE/ #847-0/*Ex.Vancouver “*« ass Northern Health Care Ministers announce $2.2 Million to fur- ther the Northern Medical Program building for the fucure of health care 15 Northern BC. Stephanie Wilson On March 16th, BC Health Services Minister Colin Hansen announced that the provincial gov- ernment will provide $2.2 million to further the suc- cess of the Northern Medical Program (NMP) while The NMP Community Action Group was developed to create sustainable initiative for rural and remote health care. visiting UNBC. The money will be used to attract specialists to practice in the area. When the NMP opens in September 2005, these specialists will teach students. Overall, this means that more patients in the north will be able to receive treat- ment in the north. According to Minister Hansen, 17% of northern residents had to travel outside of the north for medical care. Right now, the number has reduced to around 14%. The $2.2 million will “repatriate some of the care for residents in the north,” said Hansen. “It’s about building a centre of excellence for rural and remote heath care. It’s not just about Prince George, it’s about all of the north.” Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond was also on-hand and enthusiastic about the role of the NMP as a model to further rural and remote health care. “North America and in fact the world is watching this projectOwe will be successful.” While Premier Gordon Campbell did not attend, Minister Bond assured that the premier saw the Northern Medical Program as an “absolute must.” The funding announcement is in direct response to recommendations made in the Northern Medical Program Community Action Group’s report enti- tled “Building for the future of health care in Northern BC,” also released on March 16th. Recommendations in the report focused on the recruitment of medical practitioners to the north. Minister Hansen sees the report as a success. The report “really ties together all the loose énds,” said Hansen. The NMP Community Action Group was devel- oped to create sustainable initiative for rural and remote health care. The action group is chaired by Prince George Mayor Colin Kinsley and includes members of the Northern Health Authority, north- erm municipal leaders, northern health practition- ers, administrators from UNBC, CNC, and Prince George Secondary School, representatives from UBC, and members of the Ministry of Health Services/Planning and Ministry of Advanced Education. An indicator of the importance of the report is the number of recommendations that the government accepted. According to Minister Bond, the provin- cial government “has accepted all recommenda- tions in today’s report.” She also announced that The funding announcement is in direct response to recommen- dations made in the Northern Medical Program Community Action Group’s report entitled “Building for the future of health care in Northern BC.” fifteen new seats to train nurse practitioners at UNBC in 2005/06. “Nurse practitioners will have the advanced skills needed to deliver much-needed high-quality health services. As people often choose to work where they train, educating doctors and nurse practitioners in Northern BC will improve recruitment and retention of health care profession- als in the north,” said Bond.