Over 100 students arrived for the first day of class at the UFV Mission campus on Monday (Aug. 19).
UFV education dean Allyson Jule presented to council about the new-look campus at the Aug. 19 meeting.
“The parking lot is packed and the rooms are full,” Jule said.
UFV now boasts the fourth-largest teaching institute in B.C.
The first floor features the education library, the dean’s office and a community gathering space. UFV Mission Library s located adjacent to the main doors and is the third full-service library branch in the university's system. It will act as the "de facto welcoming space" for the campus.
"Our mission at Libraries is to support the teaching, learning, and scholarship needs of the University's diverse community of learners and scholars," the presentation power point reads.
Meanwhile, the second flood contains the classrooms and faculty offices. Per the presentation, the classrooms reflect the active learning and experiential approach of the Teacher Education Program.
"Our student teachers will be learning in large, bright classrooms. Spaces will be accessible with Indigenous principles flowing through the building," the power point reads.
Architect Ray Wolf said the two-storey facility is being re-imagined both functionally and aesthetically, with the goal of promoting connectivity for staff, students, and the community.
"The design draws inspiration from the local Stó: lõ First Nation's history, geography, and materiality to create long house type elements in public spaces. Specific design elements include a circular ceiling element, a green wall, and Douglas fir long house walls adorned with Stó:lo artwork," Wolf said.
The Bachelor of Education program is now underway for prospective teachers for elementary, middle, and secondary schools. After the August start, it will finish in mid-June each year with candidates completing 17 weeks in local schools.
"Thank you so much for investing in our community, and it's amazing to see UFV solidify that partnership. So we're we're super excited for that," Coun. Jag Gill said.
Mission Mayor Paul Horn said he's excited to have the school in the community.
"I've always said that there is no cleaner and more productive industry than education and it particularly, in this case, fits because we're teaching people to teach people. So we're reinvesting our dividends and doing it in a way that is so closely matched with the principles of reconciliation, in a way that's so collaborative," Horn said.
The campus will host an open house for the community on Sept. 14 from 12-2 p.m.
