Aurora College is a public post-secondary institution in the Northwest Territories, operating three campuses and 21 Community Learning Centres.
Aurora College is a public post-secondary education institution established under the Aurora College Act in the Northwest Territories. Its mission is to demonstrate leadership in the delivery of relevant and meaningful education and research rooted in strong connections to Northern land, tradition, community and people. The college is located at PO Box 600, 50 Conibear Crescent, Fort Smith, NT, X0E 0P0. It is situated on the traditional territories and homeland of the Dene, Inuvialuit, Métis and Cree peoples.
The Heavy Equipment Operator program was offered in Fort Smith in 1968, and the Adult Vocational Training Centre was created after a teacher education program was introduced that year. In 1981, the adult training centre in Fort Smith was elevated to a fully accredited college with a governing body, called Thebacha College. In 1995, Arctic College became Aurora College, serving the people of the new Northwest Territories. In 2018, the Government of the Northwest Territories committed to transforming the college into a polytechnic university, with a goal of launching it in 2025.
The Northern Nursing Diploma Program was established in 1994 in response to a need for more nurses. In 2000, the college began delivering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree in partnership with the University of Victoria. Programs such as Business Administration, Environment and Natural Resources Technology and Office Administration became mainstays. The college also offers Mining Programs and Apprenticeship Programs under Trades, Apprenticeship & Industrial Training.
Aurora College has three campuses, located in Fort Smith, Inuvik and Yellowknife, and each has a Student Success Centre. Student housing includes dorms, shared units, apartments and row houses, along with laundry facilities and energized parking. Breynat Hall serves as the Thebacha Campus residence, and Aurora Campus Single Residence provides dorms. Community recreation is available at the Aurora Campus in Inuvik and the Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith.
The Science Advisory Board was created in 1975 to advise the NWT government on matters relating to science and research. In 1984, it became the Science Institute of the NWT.