North Island College
- Country Canada
- Founded In 1975
- University Type Public
- Phone Number +18007150914
- Email [email protected]
- ZIP Code 2300
- Website https://www.nic.bc.ca
- Size of Campus 0
Home
Established in 1975, North Island College’s mandate was to provide post-secondary education to 157,000 people spread across 80,000 km2 on Vancouver Island.
In the 1970s, Dr. Dennis Wing and a handful of college administrators created BC’s first open college, hiring tutors to guide students through open learning courses in converted school buses, an ex-whaling boat— the Samarinda, and 24 learning centres across the region. Without Internet, satellite, or large-scale computer networks, students had opportunities to learn new skills and complete university degrees. NIC instructors, Dr. Michael Catchpole, Roger Albert, and others took to the airwaves delivering psychology and sociology courses to all of BC on the Knowledge Network while tutors such as Nigel and Adele Bailey drove the bumpy road to Woss Lake to tutor loggers and their families.
In the 1990s, Dr. Neil Murphy and a small team of administrators developed infrastructure as NIC’s larger communities demanded local campuses and trades workshops. In 1990, the process of building physical campuses to serve the regions began. The Comox Valley campus on Ryan Road opened in 1992, followed by the Port Alberni campus in 1995, and the Campbell River campus in 1997. Fine arts, health, and trades programs were established to meet local demand, the first student association was formed, faculty and staff organized unions and full-time enrolment grew exponentially.
In the 2000’s, Dr. Lou Dryden was tasked with strengthening NIC’s financial stability and forging new partnerships. Dryden established NIC’s first regional Indigenous advisory councils in consultation with 35 First Nations, allowing communities to identify their own program priorities, from bookkeeping and aquaculture to early childhood education. In 2019, Dryden’s contribution to NIC was recognized with the naming of the Dr. Lou Dryden Trades Training Atrium at NIC’s Comox Valley Campus’ Trades Training Centre.
In 2009, Dr. Jan Lindsay arrived with a vision of NIC as a premier community and destination college. NIC’s international enrolment grew rapidly, creating new programs and degree pathways for students world-wide and opening doors for domestic students to travel abroad while earning NIC credentials. Under her leadership, the college created new university partnerships and developed research facilities. John Bowman became NIC’s President in 2013. Through his tenure, NIC focused on further expanding the College’s facilities to increase the number of programs it could offer and the number of students it could serve. Of particular note are the $18-million expansion and renovation of NIC’s Campbell River campus, the signing of the agreement to make use of the former St. Joseph’s Hospital site for health and human services programs (NIC @ St. Joe’s) and the renaming of the Mixalakwila campus in Port Hardy.
The College is currently led by Dr. Lisa Domae, who became President & CEO on April 12, 2021.
Location
2300 Ryan Rd, Courtenay, BC V9N 8N6, Canada
Programs
All Courses offered
Diploma in Human Services
Full Time Canada
Duration
2 year
1st Year Tuition Fees
CAD 17795
Exams Accepted
No Exam RequiredDiploma in Social Service
Full Time Canada
Duration
2 year
1st Year Tuition Fees
CAD 16390
Exams Accepted
No Exam RequiredDiploma in Criminology
Full Time Canada
Duration
2 year
1st Year Tuition Fees
CAD 14045
Exams Accepted
No Exam RequiredCertificate in Culinary Business Operations
Full Time Canada
Duration
1 year
1st Year Tuition Fees
CAD 14200
Exams Accepted
No Exam RequiredCertificate in Web Design Fundamentals
Full Time Canada
Duration
1 year
1st Year Tuition Fees
CAD 14045
Exams Accepted
No Exam RequiredGallery
Accomodation
Finding a suitable place to live will be a top priority for you. Currently, North Island College does not have student dormitories.
Off-Campus Housing
We have partnered with Places4Students to help you find a place to live, a roommate or a sublet – all you need is your NIC email address to register. The service is free. Helpful features include a distance calculator to NIC campuses and detailed listing of amenities.
Landlords can post listings online or call 1-866-766-0767 (toll free) to speak with customer service staff. This service is free.
Rental listings for Comox Valley
Rental listings for Campbell River
Rental listings for Port Alberni
You must live in the same community as the campus you are attending. Transit systems do not allow you to commute between campuses.
The average rent in our campus communities can range from $1,300 to $1,600 for a 1 bedroom suites/apartment; rent does not include WIFI and utilities such as electricity.
We highly recommend all students become familiar with the BC Tenancy Act before committing to an rental/lease agreement and become educated to identifying potential rental scams.
Steps to follow before moving in:
- Sign a Residential Tenancy Agreement (a rental or lease agreement)
- Pay the deposit (usually first and last month’s rent)
- Inspect the property and do a condition report (write down if anything is damaged or not working)
We highly recommend making temporary arrangements to stay a local motel for one to two weeks after you arrive. For more information about affordable local motels in your campus location, please see information below. Please budget accordingly.
Short-term Accommodation
If you are looking for a temporary accommodation when you arrive, you can stay a local motel or Air BnB. Check the web links below to search for options:
Be careful to check map and location carefully — you want to be sure your accommodation is close to campus and on a bus route to get to the college)
If making a motel reservation, be sure to reference that you are an international student attending North Island College. Some motels such as the Super 8 in Courtenay may have discounts available for students who stay a minimum of 28 days, pending availability.
Additional Search Options:
NIC international students looking for a shared accommodation or students who have are seeking a roommate can post on the International Students of North Island College. This is a private group hosted by NIC students and not monitored by Office of Global Engagement (OGE).
Craigslist and Kijiji in your campus community are also options for finding private rentals. We strongly recommend that you do not enter into a rental agreement or send any money until you have seen the space for rent in person and have met the landlord and feel comfortable. Beware of scams or who will request your money up front without providing you with a tour of actual rental unit or a contract.
Disclaimer:
North Island College provides this information as a service to its students but does NOT take responsibility for the agreements made between students and landlords. North Island College does not screen, inspect or approve any landlord, student or accommodation.
To protect yourself, always visit the accommodation in person before signing a rental/lease agreement and before giving the landlord any money.
