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Students will have more opportunities to pursue their goals at B.C.'s colleges
and universities, thanks to government's commitment to add 25,000 new student
spaces to post-secondary institutions by2010. More information on the expanded
educational opportunities in your region can be found on the Achieve
BC Web site.
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"Right now, a high school graduate needs at least an 80 per cent average
to get into most university programs in this province. That's closing the door
on a lot of students who could be B.C.'s future innovators and leaders,"
said Premier Gordon Campbell. "I know that I - and many other prominent Canadians
- would have had difficulty getting into university at all if we faced the current
admission requirements."
The high admission requirements are caused by lack of student spaces to meet
a steadily increasing demand from B.C.'s large cohort of 18 to 29-year-olds. By
adding 25,000 new spaces to help meet that demand, government hopes an adjustment
in admission requirements will follow, ultimately accommodating students who achieve
a B average.
"We're adding those seats throughout the province as well," said
Shirley Bond, Minister of Advanced Education. "We want to increase opportunities
in every region, so more students can study close to home, and more choices are
available no matter where you live in B.C." Bond added that families save
an average $6,000 per year if a student can live at home while in college or university
versus moving to another city or town.
In addition to the new seats, government has announced the establishment of
two new institutions: UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College. It has also granted university
status to the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops, which will amalgamate
with the Open University and Open College to form a new, special purpose university
in time for the 2005/06 school year.
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