Vancouver Island University

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Vancouver Island University
Motto	Enjoy the journey, Love where you learn
Established	(1969-1988 as Malaspina College); (1988-2008 as Malaspina University-College); (September 1, 2008 - Now) Vancouver Island University
Type	Public University
Chancellor	Chief Shawn Atleo
President	Dr. Ralph Nilson
Students	19,124[1]
Undergraduates	available
Location	Nanaimo, Powell River, Duncan, Parksville-Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Colours	blue      & green     ;
Affiliations	AUCC, Canadian Colleges Athletic Association, CBIE, CUP.
Website	http://www.viu.ca

Vancouver Island University (formerly known as Malaspina University-College) is a comprehensive, four-year, postsecondary institution serving Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia. Established in 1969 as Malaspina College, it has grown into a thriving institution that plays an important role in the educational, cultural, and economic life of the region. The main campus is located in Nanaimo, and there are regional campuses in Duncan and Powell River, as well as a campus centre in Parksville.^[2] The university press, The Navigator, is a member of CUP.

Contents 1 History 2 Buildings and facilities 3 Core programs 4 International programs 5 Master of Business Administration (MBA) program 6 Aboriginal 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

Vancouver Island University was founded in 1969 as Malaspina College, named after Captain Alexandro Malaspina, who explored Vancouver Island. Following a 1988 government initiative designed to increase access to degree programs in British Columbia, five community colleges in BC were granted authority to offer baccalaureate degrees, and these five institutions — Malaspina, Fraser Valley, Kwantlen, Cariboo and Okanagan — were renamed university colleges. Initially, they offered degrees under the aegis of one or more of the three provincial universities. In 1995 they were awarded the authority to offer degrees in their own right.^[3] In 1995, the province of British Columbia enacted legislation changing the institution's name to Malaspina University-College and allowing it to begin granting academic degrees and college diplomas.^[4]

Malaspina University-College was upgraded to a university under an amendment of the University Act and officially began operation as VIU on September 1, 2008. ^[5]

International students: 817.96 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 2007-2008 ^[6].

Vancouver Island University's first president was Dr. Carleton Opgaard. The first chancellor was Shawn Atleo, who in 2009 became the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

[edit] Buildings and facilities

Several renovations have been made in the past few years to accommodate VIU's growing student body. Among them is a new 294-seat theatre; renovated library and bookstore; gymnasium and fitness facilities; art and music studios; science and computer labs; research centres; campus career centre; cafeterias; and student centre on 110-acre (0.45 km²) campus.

VIU’s new main library in Nanaimo offers over 230,000 books/journals, online resources, viewing rooms and multimedia computer stations. Much of the campus has wireless capability.

VIU has a 20,000-square-foot gymnasium that features a fitness and weight room and multipurpose room. A four hundred-room Student Residence Village is also available on campus.

Facilities within a five minute walking distance include an indoor aquatic centre with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, wave pool and water slides; dual indoor ice rinks for skating and ice hockey; a 400 metre track, soccer and baseball fields; and an outdoor basketball and sand volleyball court (located in the Student Residence Village).^[7]

[edit] Core programs

Vancouver Island University has four year bachelor degrees, two year diplomas, and one year certificate programs in a range of areas.

• Business (M.B.A./M.Sc, post-graduate diploma, Bachelor of Business Administration)
  • With eight streams for students - Accounting, Economics, E-management, Financial Services, Human Resources Management, International Business, Marketing, and Management
• Tourism and Hospitality
• Science and Technology (B.Sc.)
• Art and Design, and Performing Arts
• Humanities (B.A.)
  • With 17 majors and minors including Anthropology, Economics, History, Global Studies, Media Studies, and Psychology
• Career/Vocational
• Health and Human Services Programs including degrees in Nursing and Child and Youth Care

In addition, VIU also offers English language certificate programs for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students.

[edit] International programs

Vancouver Island University offers exchange programs that allow students to study for one or two semesters overseas while remaining registered at Vancouver Island University. Current partner institutions are located in Australia, England, Finland, France, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, and the USA. Vancouver Island University also offers short-term study abroad options in some program areas; destination countries include Belgium, Belize, the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Italy, USA (New York), Tanzania, Korea, France, and Spain. Additionally, Vancouver Island University supports field schools, co-ops, practicum placements and development projects, has sister-school agreements with Japan, Korea and Thailand and educational alliances with schools in Taiwan, China, Mexico, India and Turkey.^[2]

[edit] Master of Business Administration (MBA) program

VIU’s Faculty of Management offers graduate business programs that provide an enriched learning experience and prepare graduates to be leaders in a world where demands are constantly changing and expectations rising. The programs appeal to recent graduates and those individuals who require higher education for career advancement or specialized training to broaden their educational background.^[8] VIU School of Business is one of the three Canadian business schools that have been internationally accredited by ACBSP. ^[9]

VIU, along with the University of Hertfordshire in UK, offers a joint post-graduate program of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in International Business (MSc). This dual Canadian/British program is designed to give students an opportunity to combine new knowledge and practical experience through the integration of theory, research and practice that can be applied at regional, national and international levels.^[10]

The 2007-08 class enrolled 102 students out of 280 applicants from all over the world, including: Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turkey. ^[11]

[edit] Aboriginal

VIU developed governing board and senate policies as well as aboriginal governed councils within the university structure. Aboriginal elders are present on campus at VIU to provide social supports. VIU has developed an Aboriginal Shellfish Aquaculture Training Program to meet specific needs within aboriginal communities.^[12] VIU also offers a Bachelors degree in First Nations Studies. The B.A. Major and Minor in First Nations Studies are products of a collaboration between Vancouver Island University and the First Nations of Vancouver Island and Coastal British Columbia. Their purpose is to provide comprehensive, high-quality education respectful of the cultures of Aboriginal peoples, while meeting their diverse needs. The Child and Youth Care Diploma Program based at the Cowichan Campus (Duncan)works with Elders and Firsts Nations leaders from the Coast Salish tradition to prepare graduates to work with children, youth, families and communities in a manner that is described as bi-cultural. The Child and Youth Care Degree program offers an Aborignal child welfare focus which explores and supports both Aboriginal and non Aboriginal students to work with Aboriginal families and communities.

[edit] See also

• Education in Canada
• Higher education in British Columbia
• Higher education in Canada
• List of institutes and colleges in British Columbia
• List of universities in British Columbia

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Nanaimo Campus
• Cowichan Campus
• Powell River Campus
• Parksville-Qualicum Campus
• BC Government announcement
• The Navigator Newspaper
• MBA Program

Coordinates: 49°09′27″N 123°58′01″W / 49.15759°N 123.96696°W / 49.15759; -123.96696

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