“HeadlineslJune 12, 1997

Future Now update

A donation of $25,000 from
the Royal Bank Financial
Group will provide more
books and other learning
resources in the UCFV
libraries. This donation is in
addition to an earlier donation
of $1,000 to the Theatre
project in Chilliwack and a

‘donation of $15,000 to the

‘Heritage Park Centre project
in Mission. *

In recognition of its most

_Tecent gift, the Royal Bank
name has been engraved on a —
glass door to one of the group
study rooms in the new library
at the Abbotsford campus. In
accepting the gift UCFV

President Peter Jones noted

. that the group study room —
represents “new ground” in in

- the nature of education.

-“These rooms are used by
students working ‘on team

7

New Royal Bank donation to support library.

’ A cheque for $25,000 was presented to UCFV by representatives -, ..
of the Royal Bank Financial Group recently. Royal Bank Vice

~ President Ben Langelaar (middle left),-and Royal Bank Area
Manager Terry Kehler (middle right), presented the donation to .
UCFV Library director Betty Harris and UCFV president ;
Peter Jones. The gift to the Future Now campaign will be used to :
purchase more library books and materials for the UCFV libraries. °

assignments in which they:
must sort out their various:
~ roles and expertise, and work
: together to produce a
successful project,” said .
Jones.
an Royal Bank Vice President a
Terry Kehler said that the
~ Royal Bank was thankful.
‘ “for the opportunity to
support this very worthwhile -
~~ cause.” He noted that the.
Royal Bank is Canada’s
~ largest corporate donor. and
that a large portion of its
donations is in the form of
.. support for education.
The Royal Bank donation
is part of the UCFV Future
_. Now fundraising campaign
~ which has raised more than ~~
- $1.8 million to support more
“ students and provide more
learning resources.

Redesigned Office Careers | program to be offered in Chilliwack and ‘Abbotsford |

A major redesign of the UCFV Office Careers program will
enable it to be offered at both the Chilliwack and Abbotsford

__ campuses. Budget cuts to the university college earlier this year, “

made it necessary to cancel the program at the Mission campus

_and threatened the ability of the Office Careers department to

offer a full-time program in Abbotsford. By redesigning the
program, the department will be able to continue to offer both —
full-time and part-time training on two campuses.

'“The faculty in the department have done some very innovative

: thinking to revise both the curriculum and the way the department

will offer courses,” said Dean of Applied Programs Dick Bate.
“The result will be a more flexible program for students.”

_The main changes will be to focus more ‘ttention on the kind
of computer training that will help graduate’ find jobs quickly.

New course options will be added such as desktop publishing and |

Windows 95. Other skills such as business communications and
mathematics will be integrated into the other regular courses.

Another major change will allow more flexiblity for part-time

students. Students will be able to complete the program at the

same timé they may be working or looking after a family.
Students will be allowed to take courses on a part-time basis to
attain an Office Careers certificate. :

“The revised program will also be more attractive for part-time
students who are interested in a modularized, short-term
package,” says instructor Bonnie Anderson. “Students will be
able to complete some courses in seven to eight weeks. This will

“give them new skills that they can use immediately and allow
~ : them to build credits towards a complete certificate on'a schedule oo

that is more convenient for the student.”

As well, the department will offer a new Office Careers Prep ;
course in the Winter term for students who wish to upgrade their .. “
basic skills i in typing, math and English, to be ready ( to enter the
program the following September.

By making these changes, the department believes it will be

- able to offer. a very successful program for both full and part- -time.:

students on the Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses. |
“We believe strongly that this program will meet the needs of

~ students. They will get the skills they require to compete ©

successfully for the many good jobs that are’ available i in this

field,” says Anderson.

The revised Office Careers program will accommodate

approximately 30 students on each campus starting in September ae
1997. Some spaces are still available for both full and part-time
students.

For more information on the new UCFV Office Careers

. program, contact Bonnie Anderson at at local 4228.