Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

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Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
NAIT Logo
Motto Discere, Efficere, Praestare
Motto in English
 To Learn, To Do, To Succeed
Type Public
Established 1962
Endowment $45 million
President Dr. Glenn Feltham
Academic staff
 1,200[1]
Undergraduates 10,950 (Full Time)
10,000 (Part Time)
Postgraduates 1,230
Location
Edmonton
,
AB
,
Canada
Campus Urban Edmonton (main campus)
Other Locations Other locations in Edmonton, Calgary
Colours Teams:blue      & yellow      Institute: Dark blue (Pantone 288) & light blue (Pantone 299)
Affiliations ACCC, CCAA, AACTI, Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference, CBIE, CUP, Polytechnics Canada
Mascot Ook snowy owl, "ookpik"
Website www.nait.ca

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The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a polytechnic[2] and applied sciences institute located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. NAIT provides careers programs in applied research, technical training, applied education, and learning designed to meet the demands of Alberta's technical and knowledge-based industries. NAIT offers approximately 140 credit programs leading to applied degrees, diplomas and certificates. There are approximately 8,400 full-time students, 20,500 students in continuing education and part-time studies, 12,300 apprentices anticipated for 2012, and more than 20,000 registrants for customized corporate based training. NAIT also attracts international students from 77 countries.[1] NAIT is similar to an Institute of technology or university of applied sciences as termed in other jurisdictions. The university press, The Nugget, is a member of CUP.

NAIT is a member of the Alberta Rural Development Network.

Programs

The polytechnic confers certificates, diplomas, applied degrees and baccalaureate degrees. NAIT's new four-year baccalaureate degrees (Bachelor of Technology in Technology Management and Bachelor of Technology in Construction Management[3] and Bachelor of Applied Business Administration[4]) were launched in 2007.

Master Degree

Baccalaureate Degrees:[6]

Applied Degrees:[6]

  • Bachelor of Applied Business Administration - Accounting
  • Bachelor of Applied Business Administration - Finance
  • Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology

Diploma Programs:[6]

  • Alternative Energy Technology
  • Animal Health Technology
  • Architectural Technology
  • Biological Sciences Technology - Environmental Sciences
  • Biological Sciences Technology - Laboratory and Research
  • Biological Sciences Technology - Renewable Resources
  • Biological Sciences Technology - Year 1
  • Biomedical Engineering Technology
  • Building Environmental Systems Technology
  • Business Administration - Accounting
  • Business Administration - Finance
  • Business Administration - Human Resources Management
  • Business Administration - Management
  • Business Administration - Marketing
  • Business Administration - Year 1
  • Business for Journeymen Management Diploma
  • Captioning and Court Reporting
  • Chemical Engineering Technology
  • Chemical Technology
  • Civil Engineering Technology
  • Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology
  • Computer Engineering Technology
  • Construction Engineering Technology
  • Culinary Arts
  • Cytotechnology
  • Dental Technology
  • Denturist Technology
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Digital Media and Information Technology (IT)
  • Electrical Engineering Technology
  • Electronics Engineering Technology
  • Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic
  • Engineering Design and Drafting Technology
  • Forest Technology
  • Geological Technology
  • Geomatics Engineering Technology
  • Hospitality Management
  • Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology
  • Instrumentation Engineering Technology
  • Interior Design Technology
  • Landscape Architectural Technology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Materials Engineering Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering Technology
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Medical Radiologic Technology
  • Nanotechnology Systems
  • Network Engineering Technology
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Personal Fitness Trainer
  • Petroleum Engineering Technology
  • Photographic Technology
  • Power Engineering Technology
  • Radio & Television - Radio
  • Radio & Television - Television
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Wireless Systems Engineering Technology

Certificate Programs:[6]

  • Applied Banking and Business
  • Auto Body Technician, Pre-employment
  • Automotive Service Technician, Pre-employment
  • Baking
  • CNC Machinist Technician
  • Computer Network Administrator (CNA)
  • Dental Assisting
  • Emergency Management
  • Graphic Communications
  • HVAC Specialist
  • Machining Technician Certificate
  • Medical Laboratory Assisting
  • Medical Transcription
  • Millwork and Carpentry
  • Motorcycle Mechanic Technician
  • Power Engineering Certificate (4th class & 3rd part A)
  • Power Sports Mechanic Technician
  • Professional Meat Cutting and Merchandising
  • Veterinary Medical Assistant
  • Water and Wastewater Technician
  • Welding Technician Certificate

Trades to Degrees Pathway:[8]

The Trades to Degrees flexible pathway allows certified journeyman tradespeople the opportunity to move directly from a trades credential to the third-year of a Baccalaureate degree Bachelor of Business Administration program.

History

In 1959, the Alberta provincial government decided to build an Edmonton facility to supplement apprenticeship and vocational training, which was at the time handled by the Provincial Institute of Technology (PITA) in Calgary. The new institution would be named the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and PITA would be renamed the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Construction of the new facility began in January 1962. The first class was enrolled in October, a group of 29 Communication Electrician apprentices. NAIT officially opened on May 27, 1963, with a ceremony led by Premier Manning. The first graduation ceremony happened in 1965, with a class of 326 graduates. In 1982, the government transferred control to the new Board of Governors, chaired by Allan McCagherty.[9] NAIT has been a leading polytechnic for more than 50 years. The school marked its 50th anniversary in 2012.[10]

Campus growth and development

The growth of NAIT is laid out below:[11]

1961

  • 21-acre site purchased near city centre.

1962

  • Campus construction begins in January.
  • On October 1, the first class of 29 electrician apprentices begin training four months before the Apprenticeship Division is supposed to open.

1963 On May 27, Premier Ernest Manning officially opens the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. The new institute has:

  • 53 shops
  • 39 labs
  • 77 classrooms
  • 109 offices
  • 155 service areas (including the cafeteria, library and gym)
  • NAIT’s first full-time students begin classes in September.

1965

  • NAIT expands beyond the original campus with the construction of an outdoor track and two other buildings.

1966

  • NAIT grows again as construction begins on a 55,000-square-foot addition.

1971

  • Construction begins on the new Activities Centre.

1975

  • Leased Patricia Building in northwest Edmonton opens to house 400 students.

1976

  • A number of land purchases are made to further expand campus. These expansions begin to open in 1977.

1981

  • NAIT’s first mobile classroom (a trailer) provides training in carpenter and wood trades.
  • Another expansion houses NAIT’s health sciences programs.

1984

  • Patricia Campus purchased.

1985

  • NAIT opens one of the first Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) labs.

1987

  • Property next to Main Campus is purchased for planned campus expansion.

1991

  • Partners in Tomorrow, NAIT’s first capital fundraising campaign, reaches its goal of $4.5 million.

1996

  • South Learning Centre officially opens.
  • Campus Reads and Needs store officially opens, becoming NAIT’s first permanent bookstore.
  • State-of-the-art multimedia lab and theatre officially open. David Frum gives the first public lecture in the new Shaw Theatre.

1997

  • Alberta Chamber of Commerce opens an office on NAIT Main Campus.
  • Patricia Campus expands.

1998

  • NAIT’s new Souch Campus opens on Edmonton’s south side. The campus is named in honour of Dr. Stan G. Souch, who served an 18-year term as NAIT’s fourth president.

1999

  • Videoconferencing capability links NAIT campuses with each other and the world.

2000

  • The $1.8-million IPSCO Centre for Welding Technology officially opens at Souch Campus. The addition features a 30-station multi-process lab, classroom and student lounge and offers training designed for self-paced learning.
  • Construction begins on the new Information and Communications Technology Centre.

2001

  • NAIT opens an office in downtown Calgary to serve more than 6,000 alumni in southern Alberta, communicate with prospective students and increase opportunities for business and industry liaison.

2002

  • Official opening of the Centre for Chemical Studies, a renovation and upgrading of 11 laboratories used by more than 1,600 chemistry students each year.
  • Official opening of the $50-million NAIT-HP Centre for Information and Communications Technology.
  • The NAIT Campaign: Opening Doors successfully concludes with a total of $24 million raised — $10 million over target, with $3.8 million raised for scholarships and student awards.

2003

  • NAIT and Fairview College announce a partnership to increase the number and diversity of programs offered to post-secondary students in northwestern Alberta.
  • NAIT launches a $4-million Aboriginal Student Success Initiative, which includes creation of an Aboriginal Student Centre on Main Campus and two mobile classrooms to deliver NAIT trades training to remote communities.

2004

  • Fairview College and NAIT become one organization as NAIT assumes responsibility for the administration of campuses in High Level, La Crete, Peace River, Fairview, Grande Prairie and St. Albert.
  • Responsibility for the northwest campuses was transferred to Grande Prairie Regional College in July 2009.
  • The Duncan McNeill Centre for Innovation (DMCI) opens. DMCI provides business incubation and development services to help entrepreneurial start-ups become high-growth companies.

2006

  • The $15.5-million Waiward Centre for Steel Technologies, a state-of-the-art training facility for welders, ironworkers, boilermakers, structural steel fitters and platefitters is officially opened on Souch Campus.

2007

  • Official opening of the new $40-million NAIT Petro Canada Centre for Millwright Technology and NAIT Spartan Centre for Instrumentation Technology.
  • Official opening of the NAIT Shell Manufacturing Centre, a $14.6-million one-stop shop for leading manufacturing technology education and service.

2008

  • Official opening of NAIT’s Sandvik Coromant Centre for Machinist Technology. The updated facility will increase machinist apprenticeship training capacity by 50%.
  • NAIT exceeds its $50-million Building on Demand fundraising goal by $30 million.
  • NAIT puts a focus on applied research with the opening of novaNAIT, which now includes the Duncan McNeill Centre for Innovation. *The centre provides applied research, business development and technology transfer services to industry, entrepreneurs and NAIT staff and students.
  • NAIT Calgary starts offering training in areas including Information Technology, Project Management and Leadership.

2010

  • NAIT Gateway Mechanical Services Centre for Building Environment Technology officially opens. The centre allows NAIT to increase capacity for Building Environment programs more than 95% over historical capacity.

2012

  • NAIT celebrates its 50th anniversary as a leading polytechnic.
  • NAIT launches Trades to Degrees, which allows certified tradespeople the opportunity to move directly from a trades credential to the third year of a degree program. The pioneering Trades to Degrees pathway is a response to workforce demand for tradespeople with managerial, leadership and entrepreneurial skills.[8]

2016

  • NAIT Anticipates completion and grand opening of the new NAIT Centre for Applied Technologies in fall 2016 on the Main Campus located near Blatchford Field (Former City Center Airport lands).

Campus

The Hewlett-Packard Centre on NAIT's Edmonton campus.

The institute has three campuses in Edmonton: Main Campus at 11762 - 106 Street, Patricia Campus at 12204 - 149 Street and Souch Campus at 7110 Gateway Boulevard. The institute also has incubation facilities in St. Albert and, at its Calgary site, offers a selection of part-time and customized corporate training.[12]

On April 10, 2012, The Government of Alberta announced a three-year capital project funding commitment that included $200 million towards the NAIT CAT building.[13]

Mascot and colours

NAIT's mascot is the Ook. This is a shortened version of the Inuktitut word for the snowy owl, ookpik. NAIT was presented this mascot in 1964 by the federal Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources,[14] now Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. Most of NAIT's sports teams are now called the Ooks as well.

Athletics

The NAIT Ooks compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. Ooks team sports include badminton, basketball, hockey, soccer, and volleyball. NAIT's official colours are blue and yellow.[15]

Students' Association

The South Learning Centre on NAIT's Edmonton Metro campus.
Edmonton campus of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
NAIT Activities Centre in Edmonton Alberta

The NAIT Students' Association comprises all NAIT students. It is led by a four-person elected Executive, and governed by an eighteen-person elected Senate (two from each school). NAITSA is responsible for running the Nest Taphouse Grill, The Nugget (campus newspaper), campus events, a student health and dental plan, the U-Pass and various other services aimed at enhancing student life.

Techlife magazine

Techlife is the polytechnic's official magazine, focusing on people, technology and innovation. It is published twice yearly, in spring and fall, with new content added regularly at techlifemag.ca[16]

Organization

NAIT is organized into eight academic schools:

  • JR Shaw School of Business[17]
  • School of Health Sciences[18]
  • School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts[19]
  • School of Information Communication and Engineering Technologies[20]
  • School of Sustainable Building and Environmental Management[21]
  • School of Trades[22]
  • Faculty of Undergraduate Studies[23]
  • Department of Continuing Education[24]

Notable alumni

Controversy

As far back as March 2005, NAIT student counselors have identified recurring incidents of bullying, racial slurs, and harassment at NAIT. David Appell wrote:[25] “Verbal threats, racist slurs, swearing, harassment (both from students and staff) are problems that we are apprised of in our roles as counselors at NAIT”. The same student counselor wrote:[25] “I have been dumbfounded by some of the student conduct that is permitted at NAIT. For example, a student was allowed to stay in a program after assaulting an instructor. This is indeed a rare and dramatic occurrence but it illustrates the absurd levels of 'tolerance' that some will accept in order to keep a student in a program and therefore maintain higher program completion rates and funding.”

David Appell recommended back then: “Objectionable behavior needs to be corrected firmly and fairly. The longer it goes uncorrected, the harder it will be to correct, and the more likely the attitude that the behavior is deemed as acceptable.”

More than ten long years has passed since David Appell wrote that article, and still recurring incidents of assault, bullying, and harassment are being reported happening inside the confines of NAIT. There is a report of an instructor who was bullied and assaulted by two associate chairs of a NAIT department.[26] There are also reports of a student who was racially discriminated by a NAIT instructor and associate chair; in addition to the reports of sexist treatments towards students; and discriminatory treatments which has affected future employment chances of a certain group of NAIT students.[27] There are also numerous reports of vulgar and profane behaviors observed among the staff and students. An affected instructor wrote to the President Glenn Feltham:[28] "Is it okay for your associate chair to say to next unwitting new Instructor that a cabinet lock is like the female reproductive organ and its key is like the male reproductive organ, moving the key in and out of the key hole simulating sexual act in the most obscene manner?". The same disgruntled instructor wrote:[28] "Is it okay for one of your instructors to flash a box of condoms to the female employees in my department for joke?”. It seems from the reports that the NAIT board of governors and its members of executive management are made well aware of the above mentioned issues but have decided to ignore or to cover up and to intimidate the complainants.[29]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 NAIT (2013). #NAIT Quick Facts". Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ NAIT. Bachelor of Technology
  4. ↑ NAIT. Bachelor of Applied Business Administration
  5. ↑ Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Find a Program
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Applications Under Review
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 NAIT Trades to Degrees.
  9. ↑ NAIT. History milestones
  10. ↑ NAIT. 50-year anniversary.
  11. ↑ Campus growth and development
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Investing in our Future: Building Alberta's Post-Secondary Institutions
  14. ↑ Individuals Responsible for Indian and Northern Affairs in Canada, 1755 to 2006
  15. ↑ Ookpik Mascot (the Ook) and official colours
  16. ↑ NAIT techlife magazine.
  17. ↑ JR Shaw School of Business
  18. ↑ School of Health Sciences
  19. ↑ School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts
  20. ↑ School of Information Communication and Engineering Technologies
  21. ↑ School of Sustainable Building and Environmental Management
  22. ↑ School of Trades
  23. ↑ Faculty of Undergraduate Studies
  24. ↑ Department of Continuing Education
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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