Kwantlen accepted by national universities association

Kwantlen’s battle for university accreditation finally ended last Thursday (Oct. 23) when the freshly inaugurated university was accepted as a member of the esteemed Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada.

The AUCC represents 92 of Canada’s universities, and university-degree level colleges, guaranteeing the quality of their diverse programs through a comprehensive evaluation process.

“This has been a long road for Kwantlen and we should all take a moment to celebrate this accomplishment,” wrote Kwantlen President David W. Atkinson in a notice announcing the acceptance.

Last April, the B.C. government announced it would be designating five existing schools universities, but that did not ensure their acceptance into the AUCC. This latest step should assure Kwantlen students that there is also substance behind the change.

Canada does not have a national accreditation system for higher education, but according to the AUCC website, “Membership in the Association coupled with the appropriate provincial legislation is generally accepted in lieu of institutional accreditation.”

The criteria for membership includes government by a senate, provision of a broad range of undergraduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, a proven record of scholarly activity and research, and graduate outcomes that meet or exceed high levels of quality.

The AUCC’s main services to members relate to public policy and advocacy, research and information sharing, and scholarships and international programs.

The University of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island University, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and Kwantlen are all currently members of the AUCC, while Capilano University has not yet been accepted.