Learning and access to learning is important to all Canadian adults. An
individual can expect to change careers or career direction at least three times
within his/her working life. This will require the ability to constantly acquire
new knowledge and skills. The Community Access division endeavours to meet these
lifelong learning needs of adults using traditional as well as innovative
delivery methods. Delivery methods such as computer-mediated instruction, onsite
training, and contract training options are currently used in Community Access.
Innovative methods of assessment such as laddering and PLAR (Prior Learning
Assessment and Recognition) are also used throughout the division’s programs.
The division also tries to alleviate the barriers to access
to learning opportunities faced by people needing high school completion and
upgrading to continue with their post-secondary education goals, through the
College and Career Preparation department.
Dean: Karen Evans, BAdmin (Athabasca), MIR (Queen’s)
Phone: 604-854-4518
Administrative Assistant: Jo-Anne Trevelyan
Phone: 604-854-4541
Website: www.ufv.ca/cs
Website: www.ufv.ca/cs
The Continuing Studies department offers a wide range of courses and programs from personal development to professional training and upgrading as well as special events. Continuing Studies courses are offered at UCFV’s three campuses, in many other locations around Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Mission, and in community facilities in Hope and Agassiz. The courses are offered on a short-term or part-time basis during evenings, daytime hours, and weekends.
UCFV aspires to serve residents of all ages and in all parts of the community, and therefore looks to local groups and individuals for course ideas and for assistance in program planning. It cooperates with community agencies in organizing co-sponsored courses and events, and encourages participation by interested individuals and community groups.
Continuing Studies issues program booklets twice each year, before the beginning of each semester in September and January. The booklets are delivered free to every household in the UCFV region. They list and describe all the full- and part-time Continuing Studies courses offered by UCFV, and contain all the information necessary for you to enrol.
The Continuing Studies department has an extensive instructional program, offering non-credit courses in many employment-related fields.
Continuing Studies programs are offered in the following categories:
Part-time Vocational/Business courses and programs
Many business, trade, and occupational courses are offered on a part-time basis for both upgrading and pre-employment training.
Continuing Studies program and course categories include: certificate programs, access programs, agriculture & horticulture, business development, career & educational, planning, career & job training, community health education, dental professions, education & instruction, fashion, fine arts, first aid & CPR, information technology, human & social services, languages, personal & professional development, sports & recreational leadership, tourism & hospitality, trades & technology, workplace wellness, WCB Worksafe Training program, and writing. For more information visit www.ufv.ca/cs
Many part-time vocational courses are offered in response to special requests by business, industry, and labour. UCFV can respond quickly to requests for specialized training.
Continuing Studies certificate programs
Continuing Studies offers a number of certificate programs in a variety of employment sectors.
Each program may have its own set of entrance requirements. Applicants should contact the person listed with the program for more information.
Bookkeeping for Small Business — This part-time certificate program is designed to train persons working in, or for small and home-based businesses. The training will enable them to organize and summarize the books of these companies using the current business-standard computers and software.
Career Development Practitioner — This program has been designed as a post-basic program for individuals already holding professional or paraprofessional credentials and/or individuals who have paid work or volunteer experience in settings which offer employment counselling.
Community Pharmacy Technician — A part-time program designed to train individuals seeking employment in community pharmacies.
Community Support Worker. This program prepares people to work in a variety of roles with children and adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. Please see the School of Social Work & Human Services section for additional details.
Computer Assisted Drafting (CAD) — A part-time program that provides training at a basic skills level and also skill development in specialty areas and functions.
Computer Training — choose from a variety of computer courses to complete the 150 hours needed to earn a certificate. See Micro-Computers in the Workplace.
Dental Office Receptionist — This program is designed to provide students with the skills to work as a dental office receptionist.
Family Child Care — This program provides training for licensed family daycare providers, nannies, and parent aides. Both practising and potential care providers can attend this part-time program. Please see the Early Childhood Education/Child and Youth Care section for additional details.
Floral Design — This program focuses on mastering correct mechanics and basic shapes of floral design using fresh materials as well as treated and dried floral products. Students will receive practical, hands-on experience, and course content that is current with the floral industry.
Legal Administrative Assistant — This advanced program is intended for experienced office workers who wish to increase their career options or candidates with successful completion, within the past two years, of a business office training program at the post-secondary level, equivalent to the UCFV Applied Business Technology certificate. This comprehensive, five-month, full-time program prepares students for employment in a variety of organizations including: law firms, real estate companies, financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, and government agencies such as court services and Crown Counsel offices.
Life Skills Coaching — This part-time program is designed as a professional development program for people who work in the Social Service field. The model of training couples experiential and theoretical learning. Participants will have direct experience with life skills exercises, will understand the insights gained through participation in them and will know how to appropriately coach individuals who need to learn personal effectiveness. Contact Cheryl Isaac at 604-854-4576.
Literacy Tutor — This is a 160-hour part-time certificate program consisting of five modules and two practicums. It is designed for volunteers and professionals wishing to develop or advance their knowledge of tutoring adult learners in a college or community setting. For additional details see the Literacy Tutor section, also part of this Faculty.
Managerial Leadership — This program is designed for people who would like to advance in their career in sectors such as business, education, health, recreation, social services, and the volunteer sector. The program examines models for effective leadership practice. The models explored empower individuals to fulfill their responsibilities and embrace new ideas by capitalizing on diversity and by guiding work teams while remaining open and responsive to change.
Medical Office Assistant — An intensive 14-week (including two-week practicum) program designed to prepare students to work in medical offices.
Micro-Computers in the Workplace — choose from a variety of computer courses to complete the 150 hours needed to earn a certificate.
Nursing Unit Clerk — This program prepares individuals to work in hospitals as nursing unit clerks.
Substance Abuse Counselling — Designed for people working in the human services, social work, education, and corrections fields. Contact Gloria Wolfson at 604-854-4560.
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) —
This certificate program
prepares students for careers as teachers of English to speakers of other
languages. It can be taken either after completion of a bachelor’s degree
program or while completing one. See TESL section for additional information
or contact Catherine McDonald at 604-864-4650 or email mcdonaldc@ufv.ca
Other subject areas
Agricultural courses
Offered primarily for people currently employed in agriculture, part-time courses include subjects such as pesticide use and dispersion training, horticulture, cattle nutrition, and a variety of crop courses. UCFV is able to set up short-term agriculture courses to suit the needs of specific groups in the area, and your inquiries are invited.
UCFV and community sponsored cultural events
UCFV supports and promotes, with other community groups, a variety of non-traditional educational activities. These events or activities are usually co-sponsored and can range from major events like citizens’ forums to the organization of speakers and discussion groups.
Regional centres
UCFV administers a regional centre in Hope as well as the Agassiz information centre. The centres offer these services:
Regional centre staff invite your suggestions, ideas, and comments. These people are the liaison between UCFV and the communities it serves, and they welcome your input. Please drop in!
Course co-sponsors
UCFV would be unable to operate effectively without the cooperation of many agencies and organizations in the region. More than 30 groups are actively working with UCFV in co-sponsoring educational and activity programs of many types.
UCFV is grateful to these organizations for the assistance they provide in bringing more effective programming to the people of the Fraser Valley.
Contract training
UCFV is community oriented, and organized to provide educational opportunities in an extremely diverse range of subject areas, from agriculture, arts and aviation to university transfer, welding and word processing. Through its Continuing Studies department UCFV is able to make available this broad spectrum of instructional and professional expertise, on a cost-recovery basis, to organizations, agencies and other clients within the UCFV community whose special requirements cannot be met through our regular calendar of offerings. Examples of contracted courses and services include:
For more information on contracted UCFV services, contact a Continuing Studies representative at the UCFV centre nearest you.
Program directors
Harvey McCullough, Journeyman — Carpentry,
Instructor diploma (UBC), Technician
— JAS, Japan
Catherine McDonald, BA Gen. Studies (OLA/UBC)
Barbara Harms, Adult Education diploma (UBC)
Cheryl Isaac, BA (SFU), MEd (Western Washington)
Staff
Vera Carswell, Adult Ed. certificate (UVic), Program Coordinator
Laura Larson, Program Coordinator
Bonnie Sigaty, Provincial Instructor diploma (VCC), Program Coordinator
Mandy Watts, Program Coordinator