Thompson Rivers University

Thompson Rivers University
Motto	Quansem Ilep (To strive ahead)
Established	Cariboo College (1970-1988) *University College of the Cariboo (1988-2005) *Renamed Thompson Rivers University on April 1, 2005
Type	Public
Chancellor	Wally Oppal
President	Dr. Alan Shaver [1]
Provost	Dr. Ulrich Scheck
Academic staff	650[2]
Students	On campus: 13,072[3] Distance education: 8,964[3]
Location	Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Campus	Urban
Sport Teams	Thompson Rivers WolfPack
Colours	Royal Blue      Sage Green
Nickname	TRU WolfPack
Affiliations	CIS, AUCC, IAU, CVU, CWUAA, CBIE, CUP.
Website	http://www.tru.ca/

Thompson Rivers University is a comprehensive university located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It offers students a broad range of courses, career streams, and the ability to ladder credits from diploma programs into full degrees. The enabling legislation is the Thompson Rivers University Act. ^[4] While the main campus is located in Kamloops, there is a second campus in Williams Lake. Wally Oppal is the Chancellor of TRU.

Programs

Courses are both textbook based and offer hands-on experience through class and group projects that can involve community groups, businesses and non-profit organizations.

The "Study Abroad" programme allows students to travel while earning education credits through any of 30 countries. Some of the disciplines offering Study Abroad include Arts, business, computing science, nursing and tourism.

Students can gain paid work experience in their field of study through the Co-operative Education Program.^[5]

TRU offers graduate studies, including Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Environmental Science,^[6] and a Master of Nursing through the University of British Columbia. The Faculty of Law will offer a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree beginning in September 2011.^[7]

Other education options include baccalaureates, two-year diploma programs, trades training, certificates, continuing studies, teaching English as a Second Language, university preparation and adult basic education.^[8]

Scholarships & Bursaries

The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 680 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation. Thompson Rivers University scholarships for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis students include: Awards for Aboriginal Women; All Nations Trust Company/Bank of Montreal Bursary; MacMillan, H.R. – First Nations Training Trust Fund; Kamloops Indian Band Bursary; Interior Aboriginal Fund^[9]

History

Founded in 1970, TRU was initially a community college known as Cariboo College, with government funding and support.

Five community colleges were granted authority to offer baccalaureate degrees following a 1988 government initiative designed to increase access to degree programs in British Columbia. These five institutions—Fraser Valley, Kwantlen, Malaspina, Cariboo, and Okanagan—were renamed university colleges. Initially, they offered degrees under the aegis of one or more of the three provincial universities. In 1995, they were awarded the authority to offer academic degrees and college diplomas in their own right.^[10]

Also in 1995, the province of British Columbia enacted legislation changing the institution's name to University College of the Cariboo.^[11] In 1998 the institution began offering its first undergraduate degrees. The Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences (NRSC) was the first degree offered by the University College of the Cariboo.

Thompson Rivers University was established by the Thompson Rivers University Act,^[12] and the college was renamed effective April 1, 2005. From that point forward, the institution became a full degree-granting university. As part of the agreement with the province, all courses and programs administered by the former British Columbia Open University (BCOU) became part of the new university under the Open Learning Division. On July 1, 2007, all TRU, Open Learning (TRU-OL) operations relocated from Burnaby to the BC Centre for Open Learning building, which is located on the Kamloops campus.^[13]

The logo of Thompson Rivers University is a combined shield and logotype. The shield is composed of a sunrise representative of the Kamloops region, which averages over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually, and of the rising sun of enlightenment traditionally associated with higher education. The mountains in the shield represent the terrain of the region, which is located between the Coastal and Rocky Mountain ranges. The lines flowing from the mountains symbolize the meeting of the North and South Thompson Rivers at Kamloops. These lines also form a reference to the joining of UCC and BC Open Learning to become Thompson Rivers University. The colours, sage green and royal blue, reflect both the natural surroundings of the area and the boldness aspired to by the institution.^[14]

In 2010, while celebrating the school's 40th anniversary, the school had its 40,000th graduate—Josephine Gambaretto.

Aboriginal services

TRU provides services to Aboriginal people in more remote communities. Thompson Rivers University's Aboriginal Tourism Certificate provides training in Aboriginal tourism to meet specific needs within Aboriginal communities.^[15]

TRU-OL is assisting community-based First Nations Learning Centres across the province. At these learning centres, First Nations students study Adult Basic Education upgrading courses and programs, business and other college-level courses, and some university-level courses.

The campus is located in Secwepemc territory, and over 700 self-identified Aboriginal students attend the university. The Aboriginal Coordinator and the Aboriginal Transitions Planner provide a range of support services to all Aboriginal, First Nation, Inuit, and Metis students. TRU has stated among its strategic goals to become the University of Choice for B.C.'s Aboriginal students.

Space for enhanced Aboriginal programs and services will be included in the new $32-million House of Learning. A new Gathering House in the form of a traditional pit house will provide space for displays and ceremonies.

The Gathering Place is a resource centre for Aboriginal students. It is also the place to socialize, study, or find Elder support. The Gathering Place is home to the First Nations Student Association. The Gathering Place will be moving into the newly built House of Learning (HOL). HOL was opened May 26, 2011.

Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning

Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) (formerly Open Learning Agency) is TRU's distance education provider. The organization helped found the Canadian Virtual University, which operates in collaboration with other educational institutions and professional, industry, and business associations. Most of the over 550 courses offered through TRU-OL can be taken anytime at an individually determined pace and are offered continually. TRU-OL offers enrolment into more than 55 programs which can be completed through distance and online learning. Students have access to programs such as adult secondary school completion; certificates and diplomas, including advanced and post-baccalaureate; associate degrees; and bachelor's degrees.

TRU-OL offers Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), which awards credit for knowledge achieved through work and life experience.

Mobile web

Thompson Rivers University is the first University in British Columbia to develop and release a mobile website (http://m.tru.ca). This website enables students to access live computer lab usage information which will help to guide them to available computers, on campus, during peak computer lab times. The service provides access to current news, events and sports updates. The mobile website enables visitors and new students to better navigate the campus through its maps section, and offers information links about food services, wireless printing and security.

Student life

Athletics

TRU offers varsity sports (nine teams in six sports). Thompson Rivers WolfPack varsity sports teams include:

Women — badminton, basketball, volleyball, soccer. Basketball and volleyball compete in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canada West Conference and soccer in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association BC Conference.^[16][16]

Men — badminton, baseball, basketball, golf, volleyball, hockey, soccer. Basketball and volleyball compete in Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canada West Conference and badminton and soccer in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association BC Conference. Baseball competes in the Canadian College Baseball Conference.^[17]

The Thompson Rivers Wolfpack Cheerleading team is both a Spirit Squad and a competitive team as of Fall 2009. Facilities - Hillside Stadium, Tournament Capital Center, NorBorck Stadium.

Recreation

An on-campus gymnasium allows for fitness classes and intramural recreation opportunities. TRU is located next to the City of Kamloops' Hillside Stadium and Tournament Capital Center, which students can use for a fee of $300 per year.^[18] The campus of the university has parklike areas for students to spend time outside. An on-campus pub, Heroes, is open weekdays.

Student representation

The Thompson Rivers University Students' Union (TRUSU) advocates for students on a range of issues from affordable and quality post-secondary education to academic rights, and affordable public transit. TRUSU provides a number of services on campus from the UPASS and health and dental plan, to an online book exchange and campus coffee shop. TRUSU organizes social events and lectures throughout the year.^[19] Every student enrolled in a course at Thompson Rivers University is a member of the Students' Union.

Students at Thompson Rivers University are members of the Canadian Federation of Students (Local 15). This body advocates for high quality and affordable post-secondary education at a national and provincial level in addition to providing money saving services such as Studentsaver, Travel CUTS, and the International Student Identity Card (ISIC).

Daycare

Onsite daycare services are offered through Cariboo Child Care, operated by the Cariboo Child Care Society. Priority is given to children of TRU students and staff.

Residence

TRU hosts two residences, the TRU Residence and Conference Centre and the McGill Student Housing. Neither of these facilities are operated by Thompson Rivers University.

Buildings and features

The main buildings include the newly built House of Learning, Clocktower, Old Main, Arts and Education, International Building, Campus Activity Centre, BC Centre for Open Learning (BCCOL), Culinary Arts, and the Library.^[20]

The $32-million Brown Family House of Learning was opened on May 26, 2011, which will be the new home of the library, Aboriginal programs and services, and student commons designed to promote group work and interaction. The project has been approved by TRU to be built to LEED Gold Certified eco-friendly standards.

In the Summer of 2013, Old Main received a facelift, including a roof replacement, exterior redecorating, installation of a new Starbucks Coffee on Student Street.

On the grounds of the university are two residences, the 11-story Thompson Rivers University Residence & Conference Centre, and the McGill On-Campus Housing. They are operated independently of the university.

Accolades is a restaurant that has meals prepared by students from the Culinary Arts program and is staffed by students from the Tourism program.

Campus radio station and newspaper

CFBX is Kamloops's Campus and Community radio station and can be heard at 92.5 FM or online via streaming audio. Overseen by the Kamloops Campus Community Radio Society, CFBX receives most of its annual funding through TRU student fees. Other funding sources include on-air advertising, KCCRS membership dues, donations, and fundraising projects.^[21] CFBX offers programming in languages other than English. African, German, Italian, Pan-Asian, South American, and South East Asian are all offered.

The university press, The Omega, is a member of Canadian University Press.

See also

• List of universities in British Columbia
• Higher education in British Columbia
• Education in Canada
• Canadian university scientific research organizations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thompson Rivers University.

• Thompson Rivers University
• Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning
• TRU World

v t e Universities in British Columbia Public universities British Columbia Capilano Emily Carr of Art and Design Fraser Valley Kwantlen Polytechnic Northern British Columbia Royal Roads Simon Fraser Thompson Rivers Vancouver Island Victoria Private universities Canada West Fairleigh Dickinson Quest Trinity Western

v t e Distance education in Canada Public Post Secondary Athabasca University Memorial University of Newfoundland Royal Roads University Télé-université Thompson Rivers University Canadian Virtual University Private Post Secondary University of Fredericton Yorkville University K-12 Schools Abbotsford Virtual School Argyll Home Education Services Centre BC Online School Fraser Valley Distance Education School FutureSkills High School Independent Learning Centre North Coast Distance Education School Ontario Virtual School Ottawa Carleton E-School South Central Interior Distance Education School South Island Distance Education School Vancouver Learning Network Virtual High School (Ontario) Virtual School BC VLearn Distributed Learning Defunct Lansbridge University Meritus University