Aurora College
Aurora College, formerly Arctic College, is a college located in the Northwest Territories, Canada with campuses in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife. They have learning centres in 23 communities in the NWT.[3] The head office for Aurora College is located in Fort Smith.
| Type | Community College |
|---|---|
| Established | 1981 (as Thebacha College) 1984 (as Arctic College) 1995 (as Aurora College) |
| President | Thomas Weegar[1] |
Academic staff | 50 |
Administrative staff | 200 |
| Students | 2,915[2] |
| Address | Aurora Campus #87 Gwich'in Road, Box 1008 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0; Thebacha Campus 50 Conibear Crescent, Box 600 Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0; Yellowknife Campus, 5004-54th Street, Northern United Place, Bag Service 9700 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2R3 , Box 1290, 50 Conibear Crescent Fort Smith , , Canada X0E 0P0 |
| Campus | small, remote communities |
| Colours | blue & White |
| Affiliations | Universities Canada Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Association of Canadian Community Colleges International Association of Universities Canadian Interuniversity Sport University of the Arctic Association of Commonwealth Universities |
| Website | www.auroracollege.nt.ca |
Aurora College is the only post-secondary institution within the Northwest Territories.[4]
Programs
Aurora College delivers programs at three campuses, 21 community learning centres and other community sites in the Northwest Territories. Aurora College delivers community-centred post-secondary programs that accurately reflect northern culture and the needs of the northern labour market. Aurora offers several certificate and diploma programs as well as the Bachelor of Education degree program and the Bachelor of Science in nursing program.
Athletics
Aurora College provides intramural sports, such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton and hockey and recreational programs. Before the new Aurora Campus was built the old gymnasium (now torn down) in Inuvik was the largest in the Northwest Territories.
Residence
Aurora College provides a limited supply of accommodation for single students and for those with families.
Aurora College Community Learning Centres
The Aurora College has community learning centres in several communities, which deliver academic upgrading and community-based courses and programs, depending on demand and funding. Community learning centres are located in Aklavik, Deline, Fort Good Hope, Fort McPherson, Ulukhaktok, Norman Wells, Tulita, Tuktoyaktuk, Tsiigehtchic, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Hay River, Lutselk'e, Fort Liard and Hay River Reserve, Behchoko, Whatì, Gamèti, Wekweeti, and Dettah/N'Dilo.
Partnerships
Aurora programs prepare students for further education through university partners.
Scholarships and 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. Aurora College scholarships for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students include: Gail Marie Jones Scholarship; ATCO Continuous Academic Effort Scholarships; Enbridge Pipelines (NW) Inc. Bursaries; Town of Inuvik Scholarship; Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. Trades and Technology Bursaries; ATCO Developmental Studies Scholarships; ConocoPhillips Scholarship; Aurora Research Institute Awards and Fellowships.[5]
History
In the 1970s, the Adult Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) was established. In 1981, the Adult Vocational Training Centre (AVTC) was declared a college and renamed Thebacha College. In 1984, Arctic College was established with campuses in Fort Smith and Iqaluit. The college grew to include campuses in each region of the Northwest Territories. The mandate was to deliver adult and post-secondary education.
In preparation for Nunavut's establishment as an independent territory, Arctic College was divided in January 1, 1995. Nunavut Arctic College was established to assume responsibility for Arctic College's operations in Nunavut with remaining Arctic College facilities in the western Arctic renamed to Aurora College. The Science Institute of the Northwest Territories was amalgamated with Aurora College in January 1995 and was renamed the Aurora Research Institute.
Research Institutes
The Aurora Research Institute, a division of Aurora College, has three research centres since science must be accessible to people and relevant to their everyday lives. Aurora Research Institute is dedicated to the advancement of indigenous knowledge and the joining of indigenous knowledge with western science. Aurora Research Institute offers licensing and research assistance in the Northwest Territories. The institute provides logistical support in the form of laboratory facilities, office space, storage, accommodation and equipment rentals for visiting researchers and promotes science in northern schools.
See also
References
- N.W.T. gov't appoints Thomas Weegar to lead Aurora College transformation
- "Annual Report 2015-2016" (PDF). Aurora College.
- http://www.auroracollege.nt.ca/pdf/AC_Calendar_09-10.pdf%5B%5D
- MNP LLP (4 May 2018). Aurora College Foundational Review (PDF) (Report). Government of Northwest Territories. p. 4. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
As the College is, for all intents and purposes, the only substantial PSI in the NWT, the GNWT commissioned a Foundational Review of the College’s governance and accountability structure, as well academic programming and supporting operations to ensure programs are managed effectively and efficiently, are meeting the diverse needs of students, and are responsive to changes in the labour market.
- Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool
All facts, unless otherwise stated, are from Aurora College's web site.
