Why change when Malaspina is already doing well?
University status is the next logical step in our evolution – from a trades school in 1936, to a regional community college in 1969, a ‘meld’ with the BC Vocational School in 1971 and university college status in 1989, to a university. To the public, “university” means a degree granting institution, and students who complete our bachelor’s degrees deserve the recognition inherent in the word university. Malaspina is already a ‘primarily undergraduate university’ in every way, except name. In addition to granting university degrees in a variety of disciplines, Malaspina demonstrates all of the characteristics associated with a primarily undergraduate university: membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)*, a commitment to teaching and learning, research connected to teaching, smaller class sizes, more face-to-face contact with professors, and personal attention from service staff. Maclean’s Magazine already recognizes us as a university and includes Mala
