UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks to serve second term

UNBC has announced that it will be renewing the contract of President Dr. Daniel Weeks following the success under his term.

Dr. Weeks has accepted a five-year term that runs through Aug. 2023.

“I thank the many people in the University community and beyond who reached out and encouraged me to consider taking on another term,” said Dr. Weeks.

“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”

During spring, UNBC’s Board of Governors set up a committee to evaluate Dr. Weeks’ performance and potential for re-appointment.

The 12-member committee was made up of the Chancellor, Board members, a regional First Nations representative, faculty, students, and staff, and was chaired by 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,” says Wolsey. “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 University has made significant progress across a wide range of areas during Dr. Weeks’ first term including student recruitment, research, facility improvement and growth, donor support, financial planning, academic planning and Aboriginal relationships.

“We can use the great work done by the University community as a launch pad, to encourage us to think about the kind of University we want to be in 2040, the occasion of our 50th anniversary,” explains Dr. Weeks.

“We are big enough to be a relevant, global, research institution, but small enough to care passionately about our students, a competitive advantage that not many other Universities can claim. It’s an exciting prospect.”