Home| Get Info | Events

Kwantlen is now a university. This significant change in status validates its present mandate—core traditions, educational programs, and student services—and offers guidance for its future ambitions.

The adjective ‘polytechnic’ speaks to the integration of theoretical and applied learning that is a distinguishing feature of many existing Kwantlen programs, and the noun ‘university’ orients enhanced program possibilities yet to come. Together they signify that what we now do will continue to be important in our new university and help define our focus and differentiate us from other post secondary institutions in British Columbia.

Kwantlen currently offers a wide array of bachelor degrees and other credentials that are built upon a liberal arts and science core typical of universities. Kwantlen also incorporates leading edge programming in trades, technology, vocational and qualifying studies that are purposefully designed to bridge into degree programs. Kwantlen’s highly successful approach to curricular and programmatic design focuses on providing access pathways for students of varying abilities and providing opportunities for those who are willing to work hard to realize their potential.

As a polytechnic university, Kwantlen will build on its traditional strengths while pursuing new opportunities that university status offers to students, faculty, and staff. As a university, Kwantlen will have an expanded capacity to integrate research, scholarly activity, and external community engagement within a learning environment that places students at the centre of all that we do. Innovative certificate, diploma and degree programs in traditional and career-focused areas will provide distinctive focus.

Steeped in the Kwantlen tradition of valuing all individuals, the university will . . .

• be accessible to everyone with a desire and ability to learn…and willingness to work hard
• focus on serving the diverse people of the South Fraser region and meeting their education needs—including trades, developmental, and career and academic programs
• integrate these programs with undergraduate degrees designed to prepare people to serve their professions and their disciplines as well as, their region, their province, and the world
• enhance and integrate the mix of core liberal arts and science and polytechnic programs encompassing theory, critical insight and praxis (practice)
• expand research and scholarship activity by engaging students and faculty in the application of knowledge and by facilitating innovation
• remain dedicated to developing educated, engaged, and responsible global citizens.

Kwantlen’s change in status will also move the institution toward a bicameral governance system in which academic authority rests directly with a faculty-oriented senate and fiduciary responsibility for the organization as a whole remains with the Board of Governors. This centuries-old university governance model is built upon collegial decision-making by a professional community of educators. It calls all individual members of the university to the responsibility of governance.

Testament to Kwantlen’s credibility and status is the acknowledgement of the university by many national and international organizations:

• Kwantlen’s Business, Nursing, Interior Design, and Environmental Protection programs are accredited nationally and / or internationally
  • Business—Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
  • Nursing—Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing
  • Interior Design—Council for Interior Design Accreditation
  • Environmental Protection—Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists
• Kwantlen was recently advised that it has been welcomed into the International Association of Universities (IAU – affiliated with UNESCO).
• Kwantlen’s request for membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC) produced a positive site visit report, and its application will be voted upon this fall.
• Kwantlen’s application to the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has been accepted.