OCTOBER 22, 2003 | News 6 New Quesnel Campus Formed Quesnel: UNBC and CNC (College of New Caledonia) stu- dents are getting a new campus. The provincial government has approved the $11.6 million North Cariboo Community College to replace the building that CNC and UNBC currently lease in down- town Quesnel. The new campus will double the number of full-time students spaces from 274 to over 400 and offer technologically advanced facilities. With a new campus, UNBC and CNC will be able to expand on the programs that they offer. Currently, UNBC is hoping to expand its nursing program in Quesnel In a press release, Minister of Advanced Education, Shirley Bond said, “We are giving stu- dents in all parts of-the province greater access to technologically advanced facilities and providing choices in the areas where they live and plan to work.” UNBC president, Charles Jago, says, “The new campus and the services it will provide are critical to offering and expanding UNBC programs - such as nursing - in the region.” The design phase for the North Cariboo Community Campus is underway. The campus is expect- ed to be completed by spring, 2005. Sa —_ —_ fy wo” SS = OUT OF INK? REFILL KITS UNBC STUDENTS SAVE... ON ALL OUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES! PINE CENTRE MALL NEXT TO THE KEY SHOP PHONE 563-4123 This offer is always in effect but cannot be combined with any other offer. Watch for coupons! Photo Contributed Breaking the ground at the new Quesnel site. Included in the pic- ture is UNBC president Dr. Jago, Shirley Bond and Quesnel resident Grant Johanson. REFILLS FROM ON-SITE REFILL SERVICE DROP & SHOP COMPATIBLE CARTRIDGES University Offers street Credit: U of O may include volunteer work with courses By Dorotea Gucciardo, The Fulcrum OTTAWA (CUP) — U of O stu- dents may soon have the option of taking their course work to the streets. Jeffrey Keshen, associate histo- ry professor at the University of Ottawa, has approached the administration with a proposal to include a service learning option within undergraduate courses. ‘It gives students a whole new way to learn what their classes are teach- ing them, but also a chance to learn a lot about them- selves.” “It will give students some experience outside of school and to help the community,” said Keshen. “It’s a great way to enhance the links between the university and the city of Ottawa. It gives students good links-they can gain a sense of self-confidence.” The inclusion of a service learning component within a course would mean students will have the option of complet- ing volunteer hours within the community that would comple- ment material taught in the classroom. “Tt enriches the learning expe- rience to apply things learned in books and in the classroom, in the outside world. Practical application and theory some- times require a certain compro- mise,” said Keshen. “Taking a theory that you learn and experimenting on a project that relates to discus- sions gives you a deeper and richer learning experience,” he added. Few Canadian universities have included a service learning option in their course offerings. The program has been imple- mented in universities across the United States and is being met with positive feedback from stu- dents. In Canada, St. Francis Xavier is one of a few universities that has taken this approach. The program was implemented in 1997 and includes two main streams of service learning: course-based and immersion. Course-based service learning refers to courses that offer a ser- vice learning option. Professors can require that it be a mandato- ry part of the course or be offered as an option; instead of writing an essay, students can do volunteer hours and prepare a report. Immersion service learn- ing refers to trips that students can take at their own expense during the February reading week to locations such as Cuba and Mexico, and work in place- ments such as hospitals and co- operative farms. Anne Sherman, coordinator for service learning at St. FX, believes the service learning option allows students to immerse themselves in service and get a cross-cultural knowl- edge beyond what their classes could offer. There were 48 service learning programs at St. FX last year. Over 900 of 3,300 students par- ticipated in the program. “Students love it. They talk about it to their friends and rec- ommend taking these courses to each other,” said Sherman. “It gives students a whole new way to learn what their classes are teaching them, but also a chance to learn a lot about them- selves,” she said. David Mitchell, vice-rector of university relations, sees Keshen’s proposal as a natural fit to the image of the U of O as “Canada’s university.” “What Keshen has proposed could fit very well within the context of the University of Ottawa being Canada’s universi- ty. It’s a way to enhance commu- nity connectedness. It has a real potential to complement that ini- tiative,” said Mitchell. “The inclusion of a service learning component within a course would mean students will have the option of com- pleting volunteer hours’ within the community that would complement material taught in the classroom.” A committee will determine how students will be evaluated, what type of funding is needed, and what directions the U of O can take with the inclusion of a service learning option in cours- es. It is hoped.that a pilot project will be implemented by the beginning of the 2004-05 acade- mic year.