Introducing Okanagan College 2010-11 Viewbook www.okanagan.bc.ca introducing okanagan college Hi, my name is Arianne and I’m a second-year Business Administration student at Okanagan College. I’m here to walk you through our viewbook so you can get a student’s perspective of Okanagan College. Before we get going let me tell you a little about my school. Okanagan College is a community college that offers more than 120 degree, diploma and certificate programs in business, university studies, health and social development, engineering technologies, continuing studies and trades. This school has been around since 1963 and it has a long history of providing education in the Okanagan, Similkameen and Shuswap-Revelstoke regions. After I finished high school I decided to go to Okanagan College because I’d heard really good things about the College and wanted to stay close to home. I also watched my older brother complete his business degree at the College and I could really see myself as an Okanagan College student. I’m from Kelowna, but lots of students come from all over to go to Okanagan College. It is a school with a solid reputation, great professors and is a great place to make new friends and have some fun…but not too much fun. Anyways, let’s get started. Quick Facts Okanagan College: • Is the largest community college in BC east of the Lower Mainland with 1000 employees serving more than 19,000 students. • Serves the Shuswap-Revelstoke, North, Central, and South Okanagan-Similkameen regions with major campuses in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton and education centres in Revelstoke, Summerland and Oliver. Page 2 www.okanagan.bc.ca mission statement You might not believe me, but before I applied to the College, I actually read their mission, vision and values statement. It’s right here on this page and I think it shows how committed the College is to supporting students and communities. our mission our values Okanagan College transforms lives Student success • Student success is our first Equity and accessibility • We encourage an and communities. We educate, priority. equitable and accessible environment which train and support our students promotes, involves and reflects our diverse to excel in the workplace, to Learning centred • Learning is at the centre communities. succeed in further education and of everything we do. We respect the diverse to become lifelong learners. ways in which our students and employees Respect for Aboriginal culture, tradition learn. and individuals • We embrace Aboriginal history and tradition and actively encourage the vision Ethical behaviour • We value a culture where participation and involvement by Aboriginal employees and students act ethically, conduct people and communities. We are the college of first choice; a themselves with integrity and fairness, and Access to education • We support access to college which students are proud to practice open communication. education for individuals from communities of attend, where employees are proud to all sizes. work, and whose graduates are highly Respect for each other • We cultivate valued in the workplace and at other a respectful, integrated and cooperative Responsibility and accountability • We are post-secondary institutions. learning community and value the responsible and accountable to our contributions each of us makes and the stakeholders in implementing, measuring and Our vibrant campus life supports an support we provide to each other. evaluating activities to ensure they are excellent education for our local, effective, efficient and learner-centred. national and international students. We promote the free exchange of ideas and the development and application of critical thinking skills. Our goal is to develop global citizenship in our community of informed learners. As leaders in the economic, cultural and intellectual growth of our communities we work collaboratively with all our partners to anticipate and meet education and labour market needs. Page 3 the regions If you live outside of the Okanagan Valley I bet you didn’t know that the College has campuses in the Central Okanagan, South Okanagan, North Okanagan, Shuswap and even in Revelstoke. Each of these campuses are stunning in their own way. Whether they’re nestled in some of the best ski mountains in the world, or overlooking one of B.C.’s most beautiful, turquoise-blue lakes, students have the opportunity to study in spectacular locations. All of the campuses are in great college towns and are close to everything you’ll need while you are at school. Depending on where you live you can either walk, bike or take the bus to get to classes. Shuswap Revelstoke Region Attending classes in Okanagan College’s Shuswap Revelstoke region means you can experience one of British Columbia’s most exciting adventure playgrounds while immersing yourself in a stimulating learning environment. Our Salmon Arm campus, located midway between Calgary and Vancouver on the Trans Canada Highway, and our Revelstoke Centre, nestled between the spectacular Selkirk and Monashee Mountains, attract people from around the world. Whether you are training for a new career, studying for a university degree, learning English as a Second Language, or seeking professional or personal development, you can achieve your goals here with us. Along with our many traditional programs and courses, we offer specialty programs in a wide variety of fields including residential construction, geographic information systems ARMSTRONG (GIS), early childhood education, and avalanche safety. www.okanagan.bc.ca/salmonarm LAKE COUNTRY North Okanagan Region WESTBANK At the hub of Okanagan College’s North Okanagan Region is the CAMPUSES & OTHER spectacular Kalamalka Campus that overlooks the emerald-hued PEACHLAND FACILITIES Kalamalka Lake and the pastoral Coldstream Valley. The campus CENTRES offers a beautiful, tranquil setting to obtain your education and PRINCETON training. But don’t let the peaceful environment lull you into thinking this region isn’t a hive of activity. The campus in Vernon HEDLEY offers a wide range of programs to help you achieve educational goals. OLIVER KEREMEOS Whether you want to go to university, get a business diploma, OSOYOOS complete a diploma in writing and publishing, pursue a trade, begin a career in aircraft maintenance or obtain your practical nursing designation, this region can provide you with these opportunities. www.okanagan.bc.ca/northokanagan Page 4 www.okanagan.bc.ca Central Okanagan Region In the heart of Kelowna is the vibrant birthplace of the College. It was here that the B.C. Vocational School opened its doors in 1963 and the traditions of training, teaching and excellence have been building ever since. A wide variety of academic, career, and vocational programs compliment a range of professional and personal development courses to answer your education and training requirements. The Kelowna campus is home to the new Centre for Learning, which opened its doors in July 2009. This new state-of-the-art facility includes an education and technology centre, a Centre for Dialogue, increased library space, classrooms, and offers students many more amenities. In the heart of one of Kelowna’s industrial parks is the Penno Road Trades campus where electro-mechanical building trades programs are located. Whether you are interested in a trade, technologies, a business administration or computer information systems degree, a career in health care, or want to pursue first- and second-year university studies, the Kelowna campus has it all. www.okanagan.bc.ca/centralokanagan South Okanagan Similkameen Region Encompassing the grape-laden hills of B.C.’s wine country, the majestic peaks of the Cascade Mountains, and with an abundance of lakes, rivers, and rich forests within its boundaries, the South Okanagan Similkameen region is a recreational and tourism hotspot on the global map. In the heart of the region lies the College’s main Penticton campus, as well as a centre downtown, plus education centres in Summerland and Oliver, which have established a leading reputation for providing quality education and training for the wine and hospitality industries. The Penticton campus offers a host of program options including university transfer, diplomas in Business Administration, Human Kinetics and Criminal and Social Justice, vocational certificates, and adult upgrading. The downtown facility is home to business vocational programs and trades and apprenticeship. www.okanagan.bc.ca/penticton Page 5 studying at okanagan college When choosing the college you want to attend it’s really important to find a school that fits who you are. I picked Okanagan College because it’s a school that focuses on teaching, learning and staying connected with the community. I’d like to use my business degree to start my own company one day and the College was the perfect choice for me because I want to develop close relationships with my professors and fellow students. The small class sizes and opportunities to participate in business competitions will really help me gain the experience I need. But you may be interested in pursuing a totally different educational path, so, I’ve put together my top 10 reasons for studying at Okanagan College. Check it out. For the past four decades Okanagan 1. A friendly, comfortable, learning 5. Modern facilities with state-of-the- College has been a driving force in the environment at all of our art equipment, including wireless growth and success of the people who campuses with personal attention access at all campuses. and support from instructors and live and work here. We are a vital part staff. 6. Affordable tuition. of communities from Revelstoke to Osoyoos, anticipating and responding 2. Learning support to help you 7. An extensive student financial aid to growing educational and training along the way. program. needs by developing world-class programs and delivering skilled 3. A wide variety of nationally 8. Above-average graduate recognized programs taught by employment rates.