UNBC Registration

UNBC registration open

Jun 2, 2020 | 4:02 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Yesterday was a remarkable day for the University of Northern BC. It was the opening day of registration for the fall semester.

“Registrations, we’re up to 1,300 in one day! We actually almost broke the system, there were so many students that wanted to get online and register,’ explains Dr. Geoff Payne, Interim President of UNBC. “And to give you some perspective, 1,300 is what we would normally do in a two-month period. So that’s exciting.”

The College of New Caledonia has yet to open registration and that is, in large part, due to the fact many of its courses are hands-on, like dentistry.

“What we’re doing right now is figuring out how we can safely do those things,” explains Dennis Johnson, President of CNC. “Until we have those, we won’t have details like class capacity, times, whether we have to stretch the day to make sure everybody can get their lab times. all those details are being worked out.”

It is anticipated many of the courses in September will be delivered online. There has been a national movement among students, questioning post-secondary institutions increasing tuition in light of that fact.

“There’s sort of this misnomer that online and alternative delivery is sort of cheaper,” says Dr. Payne. “It really isn’t. There’s a lot of behind the scenes going to support that.”

He says a degree acquired online carries just as much weight as one acquired in the classroom. in fact, the Northern Undergraduate Students Society feels that by having access to online education at comparable or better tuition to other institutions may even attract more students from places, like the Lower Mainland.