A Prince George man trying to earn the credentials to become a social worker is worried he won't be able to complete classes towards a certificate at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) because of the time it has taken to find a new instructor.
Greg Hoff, 45, has completed three of the five modules he needs towards a certificate in mental health addictions through UNBC's continuing studies department but the instructor was let go a year ago and a replacement has not yet been found.
"This was something that was supposed to take a minimum of five months and a maximum, if over a summer break, maybe seven or eight months, not into it for a year and then maybe having to wait for another year until I can get started again," Hoff said.
Hoff has applied to College of New Caledonia's social worker program in the meantime but maintains that's besides the point and added the certificate remains a key part of launching a career in the field.
"I count on that university to be just as responsible as I am," he said.
UNBC spokesperson Rob van Adrichem agreed Hoff has a legitimate complaint, it's just that it's been difficult to find a replacement.
The previous instructor, Christina Brazzoni, was no longer allowed to teach the program because she's married to the head of continuing education, Randal Brazzoni. She had been delivering the modules for about two years before UNBC put the kibosh on the arrangement because "appropriate procedure to identify any other potential instructors and acknowledge the perceived conflict of interest" was not taken, van Adrichem said.
"It's important to remember that, as a public institution, UNBC is bound to address areas of perceived conflict of interest," van Adrichem added.
Van Adrichem said 10 students in all were left stranded as a result and added UNBC remains in the process of trying to find the right person to deliver the program.
"We sincerely regret any inconvenience this has caused the students and we are committed to resolving the issue as quickly as we can," he said.
But Hoff maintains Brazzoni should not have been taken off the program in the first place.
"She definitely qualified for it," Hoff said. "Her majority of work is with the First Nations dealing with mental health and drug and alcohol addictions...she has the respect and even the tribal names amongst the different elders for the work she's done with the First Nations people. How could you get a better teacher than that?"
