What it Means to be a University

Regional student demand* – increased access and capacity.
Credential and brand recognition – regional, provincial, national, international.
Recruitment/retention of students, faculty, and staff.
Educational, social, cultural and economic development of the mid and north Vancouver Island, Powell River and coastal regions – driving Nanaimo and regional prosperity.
Improved donor recognition – greater leverage of investments.
Increased access to federal research grants and private partnerships.
Expanded strategic alliance partnerships with business and industry.
Increased International Education activities benefiting local and regional economies.
Increased revenue generation – lessen dependence on government funding.
Reasonable cost/high impact for government.

* 94% of BC population growth expected in Lower Mainland, Thompson-Okanagan, and Vancouver Island. Malaspina Region will see steady increase in 18-29 age group until 2013.

source: Ministry of Advanced Education

Graduates Vancouver Island University was inaugurated as a community college in 1969 and was melded with the British Columbia Vocational School in 1971 to provide career, technical, trades and upgrading programs, as well as the first two years towards university degrees. In 1989, under the government’s ‘Access for All’ initiative, Malaspina was designated a university college and began offering selected four-year university degree programs in conjunction with the University of Victoria. Legislation passed by the provincial government in January 1995 allowed Malaspina to grant independent degrees, and in June 1998 Vancouver Island University conferred the first of its own Bachelor’s degrees.

Fisheries students Since its inception Malaspina has been committed to excellence, and former students have confirmed this reputation in Provincial Outcomes Surveys by ranking Malaspina first among B.C.’s university colleges for quality of instruction and usefulness of education for work and further study. Malaspina graduates have been accepted into Master’s degrees–and some directly into Ph.D. programs–and they have been successful in their various career choices.

Malaspina is already a ‘primarily undergraduate university’ in every way, except name. From being fully independent in granting degrees to creating new educational opportunities without restrictions from another institution, Malaspina demonstrates all of the characteristics associated with a primarily undergraduate university.

Culinary Arts student The greatest barrier to continued growth, reputation and prosperity is the reality that most people beyond the campus do not understand the term ‘university college.’ Nationally, a university college is often associated with a small, religious institution. Internationally, the name suggests that the institution grants degrees in conjunction with another university, or is a satellite of a larger university. To be fully understood as an institution that grants degrees, as well as a full range of career, technical, vocational and upgrading diploma and certificate programs, Malaspina needs to be known as a university.

Athletes Students, faculty, business leaders, foundations and politicians across Canada and around the world understand what a university is. Even though B.C.’s five university colleges have been around since 1989, they are not well understood by their various constituencies. During the debate on Bill 28 in the Legislature, MLAs made 22 incorrect references to university colleges. When approaching private donors or research funding agencies and foundations, Malaspina has to begin its presentation with a lengthy explanations of what a university college is.

As a university, Malaspina will not compete with traditional universities in British Columbia because these institutions are already well positioned as large, research-oriented universities. In Canada and North America, the majority of universities are smaller, teaching-centred institutions–just like Vancouver Island University. B.C.’s post-secondary system does not have primarily undergraduate universities in name; however, in actuality these institutions already exist, and it is important that they receive this recognition.

Water Test Malaspina will be known as a university that provides comprehensive programming leading to Degrees, 2-year career/technical Diplomas, 1-year trades/vocational Certificates, and upgrading and community education courses, offering laddering opportunities for certificate and diploma programs into degrees. This broad range of education and training gives the institution a significant competitive advantage, and gives our students a head start on employability.

Heavy Equipment Students Allowing Vancouver Island University and the other university colleges to change their names to university will allow these institutions to take a leading role in revitalizing the economic, social and cultural conditions within their respective regions. Malaspina is a university in everything but name, and all that is needed is for the B.C. government to officially declare Malaspina a university to allow the institution to reach its true potential and to be recognized for what it already is.

Positive impacts to the institution, its students, and the communities and economies of the Central Vancouver Island region and Powell River include the following.

For Malaspina as an Institution

Enhanced student recruitment, both nationally and internationally.
Expanded opportunities for partnerships with local, provincial and national business and industry, as well as international business relationships and training contracts.
Increased ability to access or attract federal research funding, private sector research partnerships, capital project partnerships, and major donations and gifts.
Enhanced competitiveness in retaining existing faculty and recruiting new faculty from across Canada.
Increased ability to generate revenues through contract or cost-recovery training, new partnerships and a growing student population.
Decreased dependence on government funding sources.

For VIU Students

Access to new programs, including graduate and professional degrees.
Higher credibility of credentials and greater job market access nationally and internationally.
Greater exposure to research and its applications in the local context.
More opportunity to stay in the region after graduation.

For the Community

Attraction and incentive to prospective investors, developers, and employers.
Opportunities for strategic alliance partnerships with business and industry.
Credibility and benefits of degree programs, expanded research, and access to high-calibre employees, as well as international exposure.

For the Economy

Expanded employment opportunities and dollar impact of new jobs.
Economic impact of an expanded Canadian and international student body.
Enhanced economic impact and social benefits of degree programs and research activities relevant to the region.
Increased incentives and economic impact of business and industry investment in the region.
Enhanced opportunities to promote Nanaimo and the mid-Island region to the world.

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