The birth of Capilano University
Critics question whether Capilano will truly be a university
Malaspina University College and the University College of the Fraser Valley are already AUCC members, but though they are teaching focus they have stated research mandates. Kwantlen is currently in the process of seeking AUCC membership.
In 2004, however, Capilano began seeking accreditation south of the border with the Washington state-based North West Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and the college expects to be accredited as a college that offers degrees.
Robert Clift, executive director of the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia, questioned whether the government is acting responsibly when designating new universities mere weeks after millions of dollars was siphoned out of post-secondary education. “There’s no new funding. It seems to me if this was a serious commitment to providing educational opportunities to [these] communities . . . that there would be some funding that would come along with that,” he said.
Clift says that he is puzzled with the choice of Capilano because with only four degree programs, their offerings are limited. “They have a few good degree programs there, but they are nowhere near the level of academic programs of the other the institutions [renamed this week],” he said. “The question has been as with all the other institutions, is how we are defining universities. Obviously the government of B.C. has decided that the definition of a university is broader than the one we used to use.”
Sigh. It’s been one of those weeks.
Again, no slight to Carson.
When I said “few good degree programs” and “level of academic programs” I was referring to the number and range of degree programs, not the quality of the programs, which might be implied from the quote.
Robert is correct, in the context of our conversation he was referring to the range of programs offered by Capilano. I have edited the setup to the quote to make that point clearer.
These smaller institutions are a better choice for many students because of the teaching-focus and emphasis on academic-applied work, which is increasingly important. Most people don’t intend to become profs after they go to school, so why bother with an undergraduate degree that is basically a finishing school for life as a full-time academic? There are so many other possibilities for four years of post-sec!
Capilano I think is in the process of developing several such applied degrees (combining academic and applied work) so the new University status will certainly help to raise the number and profile of these degrees.
Let’s just hope the govt. stands up and puts its money where its mouth is…