Media Release |
Nov. 30, 2004
UBC Okanagan, New Okanagan College Job Offers Set Stage
for Growth
Every faculty and staff member at Okanagan University College
received a job offer today from either the new Okanagan College
or the University of British Columbia ensuring highly qualified
workforces will be in place when the two new institutions
open their doors in September 2005.
"I am extremely proud that my OUC colleagues have contributed
the planning processes that will create the two new organizations,"
said OUC President Peter Ricketts. "I am delighted that
all continuing faculty and staff will be employed in either
the new Okanagan College or UBC Okanagan when OUC ceases to
operate after June 30, 2005. I am sure everyone will be relieved
at this very positive outcome."
Today's job offers follow months of institutional and academic
planning since the provincial government announced in March
2004 that OUC would evolve into a new Okanagan College and
UBC Okanagan. The new institutions are designed to meet the
region's need for vocational and university transfer education
on the college side, as well as rapid establishment of a research-intensive
university with an international reputation. The new college
will be based at OUC's campuses in South Kelowna, Penticton,
Vernon and Salmon Arm, while UBC Okanagan's campus will be
in North Kelowna.
Job offers were made to 777 employees who hold continuing
positions at OUC. The offers were the result of a collaborative
process headed by a Transition Management Committee. Chaired
by OUC Public Administrator Peter Meekison, the committee
includes UBC Okanagan Deputy Vice Chancellor Barry McBride
and new Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton.
Offer letters have gone to 480 OUC employees on behalf of
the new Okanagan College (227 faculty, 194 staff, and 59 administrators).
Offer letters went to 297 employees on behalf of UBC Okanagan
(181 faculty, 81 staff and 35 administrators). Review of term
and auxiliary positions will follow as part of the transition
process.
In September college and university programs were allocated
to the new institutions. Then, operating on the principle
that "people follow programs," an initial allocation
of positions required to support programs at each of the new
institutions was formulated in October.
"I want to thank my colleagues at OUC for their hard
work and dedication," said UBC Okanagan Deputy Vice Chancellor
Barry McBride. "And I want to acknowledge my profound
admiration for their collaborative spirit and gracious goodwill
in a time of uncertainty."
"I want to warmly welcome the faculty and staff who
will be in the vanguard of this exciting new chapter in UBC's
history," said UBC President Martha Piper. "I firmly
believe that the student-centred, research-intensive university
we create together will be a source of pride for the Okanagan,
a model for the country, and an inspiration for the world."
"I have the advantage and great pleasure of having worked
beside many of the people who will become the first employees
of the new Okanagan College," said Hamilton, who was
formerly principal of OUC's Kalamalka Campus in Vernon. "That
gives me tremendous confidence in the college's rapidly successful
development."
"Coming through the allocation process without job loss
has been an important goal, and it speaks to the rigour and
fairness of the process," Meekison said. "We now
have a firm foundation on which to build these two institutions.
"We believe that the vast majority of OUC employees
will find their job offers appropriate, as people were allocated
to jobs that most closely matched their current position,"
Meekison said. "If we come across situations where people
have been matched inappropriately, there will be an opportunity
to review those situations."
The new Okanagan College will grow from approximately 4,400
students to 5,200 students by 2010. That will mean adding
about 100 more employees as the College broadens program choices
for students. It has already announced two new programs for
2005, with more changes and growth ready to be announced in
the months ahead.
The two new institutions are actively recruiting students
for September 2005. It is expected that faculty and staff
of the new organizations will officially become employees
on July 1.
UBC Okanagan will grow from 3,000 students to 7,500 (including
500 graduate students) by 2010. The university estimates that
an additional 250 faculty members will be hired in this period.
Last month, philanthropist Irving K. Barber donated $12.25
million to establish the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and
Sciences at UBC Okanagan. Third floors will be added in 2005
to the Arts and Science buildings to accommodate 900 additional
students. Planning is underway for the first of 1,000 new
student residence spaces.
The provincial government estimates the annual economic impact
of the two new institutions at $500 million.
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