The University of Northern B.C. will renew its contract with Daniel Weeks to serve a second term as president to continue his work increasing the number of attending students, improving research support and bringing to the north key programs and facilities.
Weeks, who has been in the position since 2014, has highlighted the university in the north for the north and will now attempt to push its influence beyond northern B.C.
"I thank the many people in the university community and beyond who reached out and encouraged me to consider taking on another term," said Weeks, whose new contract goes to August 2023. "People indicated a desire for stability and told me that they were enthusiastic about the progressive and positive steps this institution is taking. Building and developing a university takes a tremendous amount of effort. I'm proud of the work I've done in my first term, but even prouder of the relationships I enjoy with a great many students, faculty staff, alumni donors and champions. Support from them is critical to UNBC's continued presence as one of Canada's premier small research universities."
A 12-member committee evaluated Weeks' past performance. The head of the committee was UNBC Board of Governors chair Tracey Wolsey
"Under Dan's leadership, the university community has been encouraged and empowered to re-think the way we do things and to strengthen our commitment to Northern B.C. while expanding our reach across Canada and around the world," Wolsey said. "We are emerging as a globally-recognized destination university and this is due to Dr. Weeks' determination and the tremendous support from the entire regional community."
The committee cited several points of progress led by Weeks, including student recruitment, Aboriginal relationships, academic planning, strategic and financial planning, donor support, a new engineering program, research and facility improvement and growth.
