By Cheryl Jahn

CNC releases new academic plan

Jan 27, 2023 | 3:40 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Millwright Workshop is just one of many such workshops at the College of New Caledonia. The trades and other disciplines at the college are now encapsulated in a new five-year academic plan. It highlights four overarching themes access and flexibility, quality, relevance and academic culture.

“Everything we do in any theme, in any area has to look at truth and reconciliation. It has to look at climate change and the impacts of that,” explains Chad Thompson, the Vice President of Academics for the College. “It has to look at equity, diversity and inequality, and it has to be looking at our big strategic enrollment management project.”

With the new five-year academic plan in place, the various different departments from trades to health care, now move toward identifying needs for those in industry.

“One point we’re working on, or actually we’re working on, is reestablishing our program advisory committees for all our programs right across the college, but especially in trades and technologies, to ensure that we have industry members on our program, advisory committees and community in order to better inform us about what their needs are with employees and how their trade is changing,” says Chris Montgomery-Hewett, Acting Dean, Trades.

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nd with many industries there is rapid revolution. Automotive has evolved from mechanics to I.T. and health care never stands still. The provincial body that oversees skills training, formerly called the Industry Training Authority, looks to accommodate.

“There are some changes that are happening by skilled trades B.C. to support the programs that transition fast with other ways to support the industry and develop programs that are cutting edge, leading edge right now that will be able to support current industry members and apprentices and employers as well as future,” says Montgomery-Hewett.

The goal amongst many was the academic plan now complete is to identify where there are gaps in programming for the college in this ever-changing academic landscape.

“So really looking at the relevance, what do we what does the employment sector, what do the communities want from our graduates? Not just in terms of we need this many medical laboratory technologists and we need this many performance artists, but what do they need in terms of abilities to work with others? Problem solve. Communicate clearly,” says Thompson.

The academic plan for the college dovetails with the strategic plan that was undertaken in 2019 and was approved in May of 2021.