Canadian institutions of higher education have a dizzying array of titles, and with no centralized federal body to normalize institutional classifications there exists a convoluted mish mash of institutional titles and mandates across Canada’s ten provincial education authorities. With the recent naming of five new universities by British Columbia’s educational authorities, we thought it would be worth attempting to shed some light on institutional nomenclature and associated mandates in Canada’s western-most province.

British Columbia

Prior to the recent upgrade of five existing institutions of higher education to university status, the province of British Columbia (BC) had four research-intensive universities, two universities with specialized mandates, three university colleges, 13 community colleges, three provincial institutes and two aboriginal institutes.

Research Intensive Universities:

• University of British Columbia
• Simon Fraser University
• University of Victoria
• University of Northern British Columbia

Universities with Specialized Mandates:

• Royal Roads University
• Thompson River University (Open Learning)

University Colleges:

• Fraser Valley
• Kwantlen
• Malaspina

Community Colleges:

• College of the Rockies
• Selkirk College
• Capilano College
• Douglas College
• Langara College
• Vancouver Community College
• College of New Caledonia
• Northern Lights College
• Northwest Community College
• Okanagan College
• Camosun College
• North Island College
• Yukon College

Provincial Institutes:

• British Columbia Institute of Technology
• Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design
• Justice Institute of BC

Aboriginal Institutes:

• Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
• Institute of Indigenous Government (now part of Nicola).

New Universities

According to a late April announcement by the provincial government, BC’s three university colleges will soon be granted full university status, thus eliminating the ‘university college’ designation. These institutions were termed ‘university colleges’ to reflect the fact that they offered a mix of certificate, diploma, and undergraduate degree programs. The new designations are reportedly being introduced to better reflect the range of degrees these institutions offer.

University College of the Fraser Valley will become University of the Fraser Valley; Kwantlen University College will be known as Kwantlen Polytechnic University (an entirely new designation of undetermined significance); and Malaspina University College will become Vancouver Island University.

All three institutions began life as colleges, offering strictly vocational certificate and diploma programs, in addition to two-year associate degrees, which gave access to full degree programs at the province’s universities. Beginning in 1989, the three colleges and two others were renamed ‘university colleges,’ and they were awarded degree-granting status, at first in association with the province’s universities, and ultimately on their own. However, the institutions asserted that the term ‘college’ hindered full recognition of their degree programs among employers, university graduate departments and international students. University college students graduating from four-year baccalaureate programs in turn said they were not getting full recognition in the employment market and among graduate admissions departments at other Canadian universities.

The other two university colleges that were awarded degree-granting powers in the 1990s were Okanagan University College (since split into Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia-Okanagan), and the University College of the Cariboo which has since become Thompson Rivers University.

In addition to the upgrade of the three university colleges, two colleges have also been approved for upgrade to university status. Capilano College, which offers a handful of bachelor degree programs in jazz studies, business administration, music therapy and tourism, will become Capilano University, even though it has only been awarding its own degrees since 2003. Prior to 2003, it offered its degrees through Thompson Rivers University (formerly a university college).

The fifth institution to be upgraded in April was the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. It will be known as the Emily Carr University of Art and Design. The institute has granted undergraduate degrees for almost 20 years and recently began offering master’s degrees.

A Simpler Classification System

With the upgrade of BC’s three remaining university colleges to universities, the province now recognizes institutions as either universities or colleges, with nothing in between. That said, the true Holy Grail of university status – AUCC membership – is still proving elusive for Kwantlen, which is currently seeking membership. Malaspina University College and the University College of the Fraser Valley are already AUCC members, despite a heavy focus on teaching. Capilano College has not yet decided if it will seek AUCC membership, saying that the heavily teaching-focused nature of the college could preclude membership. Capilano is, however, seeking accreditation from the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, a U.S. regional accreditation agency, as a college that offers degrees. Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design gained membership in AUCC in December 2006.

The province’s remaining community colleges will continue to offer programs leading to certificates and diplomas in vocational fields, in addition to academic university transfer programs. The two remaining provincial institutes will continue to offer specialized instruction in technologies and trades, law enforcement and public safety and marine technology.

The following colleges also have charters to offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees: Camosun College, Douglas College, Okanagan College, North Island College, Northwest Community College, Selkirk College.

The province also plays host to approximately 16 private tertiary institutions that have legislative authority to offer and grant degrees in academic and/or theological disciplines. Over 500 private career training institutions offer certificate and diploma programs in trades, technology, and vocational fields of study. Several hundred private institutions also offer language, non-degree theological and other programs.

The British Columbia Council on Admissions & Transfer recognizes work completed at four private institutions for transfer: Columbia College, Coquitlam College, Corpus Christi College and Trinity Western College. In addition, select programs have been approved for transfer at the following institutions: Alexander College, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Vancouver Campus), Quest University, Sprott-Shaw Community College, University Canada West, University of Phoenix (Vancouver Campus).