Students
À¦°óSM sets tuition rates for 2025/2026
December 13, 2024
Tuition rates for the 2025/26 program year have been approved by the À¦°óSM Board of Governors. Domestic student tuition will increase by two per cent, and international student tuition will increase by 4.8 per cent, effective September 2025.Domestic student tuitionThe increase to domestic student tuition complies with B.C.’s tuition limit policy and will come into effect in September 2025. The tuition limit policy applies to domestic tuition only. Post-secondary institutions receive funding from the provincial government&nb...
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OC students push their limits at the IEEEXtreme challenge
December 1, 2024
When it comes to testing their knowledge limits, À¦°óSM (OC) students are a willing bunch! Mental dedication and endurance were on full display as students participated in the IEEEXtreme Programming Competition this past fall—a grueling 24-hour, worldwide computer coding event. Sixteen OC students in the Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Engineering programs from the Vernon and Kelowna campuses took on the challenge this year. The event, organized by the À¦°óSM IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engi...
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A message to our community on International education
November 29, 2024
From OC Provost Sam Lenci and VP of Enrolment Jenn Goodwin:Dear students, alumni, colleagues, partners, donors and friends,Over the past several weeks, you have likely become more aware of enrolment challenges facing many post-secondary institutions in Canada, including here at À¦°óSM, following recent policy changes by the federal government.While the current situation is concerning, it is important our whole À¦°óSM understands and feels confident in our college and our future together. À¦°óSM is today and will co...
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Triple threat À¦°óSM alum inspires the next generation of women in trades at Jill of All Tradesâ„¢
November 22, 2024
When À¦°óSM (OC) alum Cassidy McEown took on the challenge of restoring a 1969 Roadrunner on the show Rust Valley Bros, she wasn’t just buffing out dents—she was proving her mettle. Tasked with handling the car’s bodywork, paint, and polishing entirely on her own, Cassidy rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless finish on a tight deadline. Her reward? A well-deserved, newfound respect, and the confidence to achieve her Red Seal certification. Much like the Roadrunner itself, Cassidy has been unstoppable ever since, cruising pas...
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À¦°óSM students lead the charge with EnactusOC’s project on renewable energy education
October 28, 2024
For À¦°óSM students Reece LeGuilloux and Kayla Warner, their involvement with the student business club Enactus À¦°óSM (EnactusOC) is about more than just extracurricular activities, it’s about making a real difference.The two second-year business students recently achieved a major milestone when the EnactusOC project, “Revive,†was awarded $4,300 in funding by 100 Women Who Care in the South Okanagan/Similkameen area. This funding will help expand their renewable energy education program to middle schools across th...
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Health grads and more set to enter the workforce after OC Convocation and Commencement ceremonies
October 4, 2024
When OC student Vaneet Verma steps to the podium on Saturday to speak to his colleagues at À¦°óSM’s Fall convocation, he will be representing more than 450 graduates, including a large proportion that will enter the workforce in different health care fields. More than 130 graduates are from health care programs including Health Care Assistant, a program Verma graduated from earlier this year. The course teaches the skills necessary to work in continuing care such as in home support, adult day care, assisted living and comple...
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Madison Padgett: Thriving in À¦°óSM's School of Business
September 3, 2024
À¦°óSM student Madison Padgett knows full well the reason her and her business school colleagues work so hard to attend and compete at business competitions as part of their OC education.As Madison works towards her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a specialization in Marketing and a concentration in Communications, her journey at OC is nothing short of inspiring.Madison chose À¦°óSM for her post-secondary education because it stood out as one of the highest-rated business schools in Western Canada. Her dec...
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Premier Eby officially opens OC student housing in Vernon, Kelowna
August 23, 2024
À¦°óSM (OC) students now have access to more on-campus housing with the opening of new student housing at the Vernon and Kelowna campuses, reducing housing pressures in both communities and making it easier for students to focus on their studies.“The first day of school is a time when students should be focused on their studies and their future, instead of worrying about where to live,†said Premier David Eby. “These new residences for À¦°óSM students in Vernon and Kelowna allow students to concentrate on their classes w...
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OC Community Fridge
August 14, 2024
In an effort to help ease food insecurity, a campus fridge is now available to anyone who needs access to food at À¦°óSM’s Kelowna campus. Located in the hallway outside the OC Student Union office (Room A148), the Kelowna campus fridge is based on the community fridge concept and is available to students during regular building hours. The fridge is volunteer operated and stocked with donated food and is a great example of a collaborative effort to support students with a group of OC instructors known as the Breakfast ...
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More people will benefit from training grants
July 26, 2024
People training for good paying, in-demand careers will be able to access grants that cover most, or all, of their tuition thanks to the next intake of the StrongerBC future skills grant.This popular grant covers as much as $3,500 in eligible short-term skills training at public post-secondary institutions.“Because B.C.’s strong economy is growing, we now have more job openings than people with the training needed to work in high-demand fields,†said Premier David Eby. “We need to give people the opportunity to build a good life – and help ...
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Student housing project in Salmon Arm impacted by weather, trades availability; will open in January 2025
July 18, 2024
SALMON ARM - You can’t miss the new 60-bed student housing building at À¦°óSM’s Salmon Arm campus. Nearing the end stages of construction, it will soon be home to people pursuing education and training in everything from Arts, Science, and Business to careers in trades and health care.However, the unexpected cold snap that hit the region last winter had a cascading impact on the construction schedule, and while efforts were made to make up the time, the College has now announced the building won’t be ready for the fall semester.“W...
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OC Student Joshua’s experience at the 2024 Human Security in Southeast Asia Conference
July 11, 2024
Joshua Lee, an À¦°óSM Associate of Arts student, had a special opportunity this April. He attended the Human Security in Southeast Asia Conference, which was a big step for him as it was his first serious trip outside of vacationing.The conference wasn't just about attending talks. It was a chance for Joshua to learn firsthand about global issues like human security. He was so interested that he wrote a detailed rapporteur's report about what he learned, which he's excited to share with everyone at À¦°óSM. His achievemen...
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Student housing coming to À¦°óSM Penticton campus
July 10, 2024
PENTICTON - À¦°óSM Penticton students will soon have access to affordable, on-campus housing for the first time with funding approved for a 101-bed student-housing project.“This government is acting quickly to build more homes for post-secondary students,†said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “À¦°óSM’s first student-housing beds in Penticton will allow more students to live on campus and focus on their studies. This project is another step towards building 12,000 student beds...
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Rachel’s Adventure: A Métis Student's Journey Through Study Abroad
June 21, 2024
The following story was submitted by OC’s International Education team:An À¦°óSM student has returned from the trip of a lifetime.Rachel, a Métis student at À¦°óSM (OC), recently participated in a Discovery Camp in Surabaya, Indonesia. This program, which included 11 OC students (three of whom were Indigenous), focused on sustainable development goals and local government initiatives.Rachel's journey was made possible because OC is part of the University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP), which helps students’ stud...
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Hundreds graduate in first of four À¦°óSM campus convocation ceremonies
June 17, 2024
This past weekend, Kelowna witnessed a momentous event as over 500 proud students from À¦°óSM walked across the stage on Saturday, beginning a stretch of convocation ceremonies at OC campuses across the Okanagan Valley.Students will attend convocation ceremonies in Vernon today, Salmon Arm Tuesday and Penticton on Wednesday.On Saturday in Kelowna, graduates from the Arts, Business, Health, Science and Technology, Trades, and Continuing Studies programs gathered with friends, family, and community members to celebrate their achieve...
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Student finds a home in Computer Sciences at OC
June 10, 2024
When À¦°óSM student Kristina Cormier was searching for post-secondary schools to attend, she had some criteria she was looking for.She researched the benefits of different industries she was interested in and the programs that were available. She heard good things about OC alumni and the work they were doing. She loved the location in the Okanagan Valley and the small class sizes OC is known for.But it was OC’s Computer Science Department that really caught her eye. She was soon enrolled in the Bachelor of Computer Info...
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