Castlegar/Merritt – Selkirk College and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to enhance the educational experience for learners at the institutes through collaborative efforts that ensure learners have relevant and seamless access to support services, cultural resources, and academic pathways.
The three-year agreement signed today at Selkirk College’s Castlegar campus highlights how the institutes plan to work in partnership in the following areas:
• Transfer of students and articulation of courses and programs to encourage such transfers between the two post-secondary institutes;
• Development of collaborative programs or projects of mutual interest and benefit, particularly those intended to support Aboriginal students and strengthen services for these students;
• Exchange of information and expertise to strengthen and expand cultural resources, expertise, protocols, and events;
• Discussion of potential joint pilot programs and research partnerships.
“Today is about increasing opportunities for learners in the Province of British Columbia who have chosen to pursue their studies at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology or Selkirk College, said NVIT President Ken Tourand. “This agreement directly reflects goals within NVIT’s Strategic Plan related to building strategic relationships and ensuring learners have clear educational pathways. We look forward to working with Selkirk to enhance the learner experiences at both institutes while supporting Aboriginal education.”
NVIT is the home of Aboriginal public post-secondary education in B.C., with a student body that represents more than 70 per cent of the Aboriginal communities across the province. NVIT invites students from around the country to further themselves with over 300 courses and programs ranging from trades training to Bachelor of Social Work. With campuses in Merritt and Vancouver, online courses and community-based deliveries throughout Canada, NVIT serves approximately 1,400 students annually. NVIT is committed to strengthening communities, one learner at a time.
Selkirk College serves the West Kootenay and Boundary region of southeastern British Columbia with campuses in six communities including Castlegar, Nelson, Trail, Grand Forks, Nakusp and Kaslo. Selkirk offers access to over 60 programs along with a wide range of continuing education courses in both classroom and online environments.
The student body at Selkirk numbers over 2300 and includes a growing number of Aboriginal students from all over Canada representing 12 First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. Selkirk College’s strong commitment to Aboriginal students was most recently demonstrated with the completion and opening of an Aboriginal Gathering place on the college’s Castlegar campus.
“We are really excited to be working more closely with NVIT to collaborate on program delivery and transfer for Aboriginal students across the province. This partnership will improve post-secondary access and choice for Aboriginal learners and that makes Selkirk College a better college” says Angus Graeme, President of Selkirk College.