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The '''University of the Fraser Valley''' (UFV), (formerly known as '''University College of the Fraser Valley''') was founded in [[1974]] as the Fraser Valley College. The college was the response to the communities in the [[Fraser Valley]] needing expanded [[vocational education|vocational training]]. In 1988, it became a [[university college]], with degree-granting status.<ref>http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0010058 The Canadian Encyclopedia University College</ref> As the University College of the Fraser Valley, it grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest university colleges in [[Canada]]. The university press, The Cascade, is a member of [[Canadian University Press|CUP]].
The '''University of the Fraser Valley''' (UFV), (formerly known as '''University College of the Fraser Valley''' and '''Fraser Valley College''') is a [[Canada | Canadian]] [[public university]] with campuses in [[Abbotsford, British Columbia| Abbotsford]], [[Chilliwack, British Columbia | Chilliwack]], [[Mission, British Columbia| Mission]] and [[Hope, British Columbia | Hope]], [[British Columbia]], as well as a presence in [[Chandigarh, India]]. Founded in [[1974]] as Fraser Valley College, it was a response to the need for expanded [[vocational education|vocational training]] in the communities of the [[Fraser Valley]]. In 1988, it became a [[university college]], with degree-granting status.<ref>http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0010058 The Canadian Encyclopedia University College</ref> As the University College of the Fraser Valley, it grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest university colleges in [[Canada]].


In recognition of the growing needs for higher education within the region and in the province, the [[Government of British Columbia|provincial government]] granted full [[university]] status on 21 April 2008. Student enrollment is now over 14,000 students annually.
In recognition of the growing needs for higher education within the region and in the province, the [[Government of British Columbia|provincial government]] granted full [[university]] status on 21 April 2008. Student enrollment is now over 14,000 students annually.

In the 2010 [[Globe and Mail]] Canadian University Report, UFV earned the most "A Range" grades of any post-secondary institution in British Columbia, receiving A grades in quality of education, student-faculty interaction, and ease of registration. <ref>http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/G_M2010.htm</ref> <ref>http://www.ufv.ca/Assets/MarComm+images/G$!26M2010.pdf</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 07:36, 12 December 2010

49°1′43.69″N 122°17′8.44″W / 49.0288028°N 122.2856778°W / 49.0288028; -122.2856778

University of the Fraser Valley
TypePublic University
Established1974[1]
ChancellorDr. Brian Minter [2]
PresidentDr. Mark D. Evered [3]
Academic staff
661[4] (c. 2005)
Students21,500 (c. 2007)
Location
Canada Abbotsford, Agassiz, Chilliwack, Hope & Mission, British Columbia
,
Canada
ColoursGreen  
NicknameCascades
AffiliationsCIS, AUCC, CWUAA, CBIE, CUP, CASA.
WebsiteUFV Homepage

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), (formerly known as University College of the Fraser Valley and Fraser Valley College) is a Canadian public university with campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope, British Columbia, as well as a presence in Chandigarh, India. Founded in 1974 as Fraser Valley College, it was a response to the need for expanded vocational training in the communities of the Fraser Valley. In 1988, it became a university college, with degree-granting status.[5] As the University College of the Fraser Valley, it grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest university colleges in Canada.

In recognition of the growing needs for higher education within the region and in the province, the provincial government granted full university status on 21 April 2008. Student enrollment is now over 14,000 students annually.

In the 2010 Globe and Mail Canadian University Report, UFV earned the most "A Range" grades of any post-secondary institution in British Columbia, receiving A grades in quality of education, student-faculty interaction, and ease of registration. [6] [7]

History

Finding support

In the 1960s, citizens of the Fraser Valley demanded a post-secondary educational facility within the Fraser Valley. In 1966, a proposal was rejected by the provincial government to found a junior college. Not to be swayed by this early defeat, supporters who wanted post-secondary representation lobbied to have a vocational school built. The proposed site for this vocational school was to be near the geographical centre of the Fraser Valley, on Lickman Road in Chilliwack. This proposal passed, and plans for the school were put into motion. However, with the election of a new provincial government in 1972, the school's development was put on hold. Communities again lobbied for continuation of this project, and so a special task force was appointed by the government to study the feasibility of a college in the Fraser Valley.

The task force recommended a comprehensive regional college, providing university transfer, career and vocational programs. A plebiscite was proposed to ask for taxpayer support on this endeavour, and passed with 89% in favour. In reaction to this strong show of support, the provincial government announced the establishment of Fraser Valley College on April 4, 1974.

Early days

Only a few months of planning went into the new college before it opened its doors in September 1974. Since no new facilities had yet been built, classes were held in church basements, public schools, commercially rented spaces, and the Coqualeetza Education Centre. Offices were set up in store fronts, community centres, and designated sections of public schools and school board offices. During its first year, Fraser Valley College enrolled 183 full-time and over 2,300 part-time students.

Expansion

With student and community support, the provincial government approved university college status. Five community colleges were granted authority to offer baccalaureate degrees following a 1988 government initiative designed to increase access to degree programs in British Columbia. These five institutions: Fraser Valley, Kwantlen, Malaspina, Cariboo, Okanagan were renamed university colleges.

In September 1991, the administrative Board officially changed its name to the University College of the Fraser Valley. Initially, the university colleges offered degrees under the aegis of one or more of the three provincial universities (Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria). In 1994, the University College of the Fraser Valley established an undergraduate degree in adult education. In 1995 they were awarded the authority to grant degrees in their own right. [8]

University status

On April 21, 2008, the Provincial Government announced its intention to amend the University Act at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to upgrade UCFV into a full university, called University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).[9] The university officially began operation under the new name on September 1, 2008.

Campuses

Abbotsford campus library

Abbotsford

The Abbotsford campus was UFV's first permanent campus, which opened its doors in 1983. A new building, containing the main institution library, First Heritage Computer Access Centre, and other instructional and support areas, was opened in the fall of 1996. In 1997, a building with classrooms, laboratories and offices was opened, and in 2002, the student activity centre and gymnasium were opened. 2007 brought the opening of UFV's first student residence - Baker House, as well as an expanded gymnasium facility, with the ability to seat 1500 people.

In 1978, trades programs started with a carpentry program. Initially, this program was run from Portage Avenue in Chilliwack. At the time, the land belonged to the Chilliwack School District, and the Ministry of Advanced Education funded the building of the carpentry shop. Originally, this shop was supposed to be handed over to the Chilliwack School District after 5 years, but it took nearly 12 years to secure the funding to build a replacement shop in Abbotsford. In 1991, UCFV moved all trades programs to the Abbotsford campus. In 2007, UFV Trades and Technology programs moved in to newly renovated facilities on the former Chilliwack Canadian Forces Base - future home of the entire Chilliwack campus.

Agassiz

Although Agassiz is not actually a campus of UFV, it has an informational centre, run in cooperation with the Fraser-Cascade School District.

Chilliwack

Originally designed to last 5 years, a temporary campus was constructed in Chilliwack in 1975. This building is still in use today, having gone under a series of renovations over the years. In 1986, an agriculture technology centre was constructed. In 1992, a new health sciences building was opened. In the fall of 1996, a multipurpose complex and theatre was opened. Plans and funds to construct yet another major addition to the Chilliwack campus have since been put on hold, as UFV is in the midst of relocating this campus to the former Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack. This addition would have replaced the library, and added more science labs, classrooms and faculty offices.

The Chilliwack campus typically offers courses on theatre, agriculture, and nursing. For example, the Agriculture Technology Diploma is offered on the Chilliwack campus. Some courses in philosophy, computer information systems, early childhood development, and business are also offered.[10]

The theatre department, located on the Chilliwack campus, produces three mainstage productions every season with a mandate to produce one Shakespeare and one Canadian play every year. The department is also host to a Directors' Festival featuring shows from universities all over British Columbia. Since 1980, the FVC/UCFV/UFV Theatre Department has put on 90+ productions with over 2,000 performances attended by 190,000+. The current season is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Stephen Sondheim(November), Girl in the Goldfish Bowl by Morris Panych (January), and The Tempest by William Shakespeare (March).

Construction of the new Chilliwack campus on the former CFB Chilliwack finished in September 2007. Trades and Technology programs were moved to this location that year, with the first Chilliwack campus expected to move in 2009.

Hope

The Hope centre is a regional centre, run in partnership with the Fraser-Cascade school district.

Mission

In 1975, a temporary campus was established in Mission, offering continuing education and adult basic education programs. In 1996, UFV and the Mission School District partnered to open the Heritage Park Centre. This centre acts as a UFV campus, high school, community theatre and fitness centre, all contained within a single facility.

Abbotsford campus cafeteria

Chandigarh, India

UFV partners with Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College Chandigarh (SDCC), an affiliate of Panjab University, for the delivery of a Canadian Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program on a small campus in Chandigarh, India to Indian students.[11]

Expanding horizons

UFV's recent growth and expansion in the past decade can be very much attributed to its transformation from a two-year community college to a university college, which began in 1991. Starting in September 1992, FVC began to offer four-year degree programs. These programs were initially offered in collaboration with other nearby universities, including Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria. In 2005, UFV offered 12 different bachelor programs, including arts, adult education, child and youth care, criminal justice, business administration, business administration in aviation, computer information systems, general studies, kinesiology, science, social work and nursing. That year, UFV was approved to begin offering its first master's degree program, the master of arts (criminal justice).

UFV has remained to this day a comprehensive educational institution. In addition to the degree programs, over 70 programs are offered in applied and academic areas. These range from agriculture and aviation to nursing and applied business technology, TESL, as well as a range of other courses which are career-oriented. More and more UFV courses are becoming transferable for university credit at nearby universities. UFV is now also offering a limited selection of online courses, to better accommodate student schedules.

A snowy Abbotsford library

Students

Students at UFV are widely encouraged to participate through a large number of activities. The largest student union is the UFV Student Union Society, which oversees all other student associations and clubs. The board of SUS is composed of current UFV students, to ensure the needs of the students are respected. At the beginning of each educational year (September), SUS holds an event known as Dis-O, or Disorientation. Popular bands are booked to appear, and all students are encouraged to attend. Past bands have included Matthew Good, Finger Eleven, Bif Naked, The Tea Party, Swollen Members and Hedley.

All major departments are represented by one student association. These student associations are composed of members from that particular major.

The school maintains a campus radio station, CIVL-FM.

See also

References

  1. ^ An Overview of B.C.'s Public Post-secondary Institutions
  2. ^ UFV names Minter as first chancellor
  3. ^ UFV Board of Governors
  4. ^ VISION
  5. ^ http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0010058 The Canadian Encyclopedia University College
  6. ^ http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/G_M2010.htm
  7. ^ http://www.ufv.ca/Assets/MarComm+images/G$!26M2010.pdf
  8. ^ University College
  9. ^ BC Ministry of Advanced Education
  10. ^ http://tools.canlearn.ca/
  11. ^ UCFV launches industry-focused BBA degree in Chandigarh, India
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