Okanagan University College
Encyclopedia
Okanagan University College (OUC) was a public, post-secondary educational institution (c. 1990 to 30 June 2005) based in Kelowna
, British Columbia
, Canada
. It evolved from Okanagan College
(1965 to c. 1990), and the college's predecessor, the B.C. Vocational School 1963-1965. On 30 June 2005, OUC was split to create two new institutions, a new Okanagan College
and UBC Okanagan
.
community group began a concerted effort, lobbying the British Columbia
provincial government for better access to undergraduate university programs. Their campaign, "Getting There By Degrees", facilitated a change in Okanagan College
's mandate, allowing the college to offer undergraduate degree programs to students in the Okanagan region. The college informally adopted the new name, Okanagan University College (OUC) in 1992. This name was adopted as the institution's legal name in 1995.
Although the degree programs were mostly based on a new, North Kelowna campus which opened its doors to students in January 1993, the first degrees were awarded earlier, on 11 June 1991. Initially, students completed their degrees through collaborations with the University of British Columbia
(UBC) and the University of Victoria
, and the degrees were granted in the names of the university collaborators (e.g., "a Bachelor of Science from University of British Columbia, at Okanagan University College"). In 1998 OUC began granting degrees under its own authority.
New faculty in the degree programs continued to lobby for changes in the institution's mandate, eventually helping to establish a new community group, "University 2000", with the slogan "OU? Oh yes! Full University Status for OUC". The goals of this group were to further expand the university college's postsecondary role, principally by adding graduate studies and research to OUC's mandate. The growth of the degree programs, the expansion of the North Kelowna Campus, and the activities of this lobby created some tensions between degree-program faculty, largely based at North Kelowna, and other parts of the institution. Some faculty favoured splitting the institution into a new university and a new community college.
Although OUC's initial progress had been hampered by not having a research mandate, and delays in obtaining recognition from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
(AUCC) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC), OUC faculty had rapidly developed a solid reputation in the research community. External research funding, for example, at OUC grew from less than $1 million in 2002-2003 to $6.8 million in 2004-2005. OUC research funding greatly outstripped that of the other university colleges in British Columbia (Cariboo University College (now Thompson Rivers University
), Malaspina University College, Kwantlen University College
, and University College of the Fraser Valley
). At the same time, OUC maintained an enviable reputation for the quality of its educational programs, and the commitment of its faculty to teaching.
In May 2001 OUC and the Okanagan University College Faculty Association signed a university-style contract for faculty, instituting rank, tenure and promotion. The contract was concluded in the window of opportunity made possible by the ouster of the NDP provincial government. The new Liberal
government fired the OUC board, but the new Liberal-appointed board reviewed the contract, determined that it was sound, and implemented the agreement.
In December 2002 the British Columbia Progress Board submitted a report to the provincial government, recognising the need to further expand postsecondary opportunities in the valley. The progress board, chaired by UBC president Martha Piper
, recommended that the province consider extending "the mandate of an existing provincial University to Kelowna...", and "the mandate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology
to Kelowna and Prince George..." (executive summary of the board report in pdf)
The provincial government responded by quietly beginning negotiations with the University of British Columbia. It was noted by many people, including opposition MLAs in the BC Legislature, that UBC President Martha Piper
was in a clear conflict of interest in using her position on the Progress Board to position her own University to take over OUC's university programs. On 17 March 2004, the province and the University of British Columbia
held a closed joint press conference at the Grand Hotel in downtown Kelowna, announcing that OUC would be dissolved, with OUC's North Kelowna Campus being transferred to University of British Columbia
.
OUC's degree programs were largely adopted, with minor modification, by University of British Columbia. UBC also introduced new degree programs that had not existed at OUC. The other components of Okanagan University College (including the entire business administration program, degree included) were allocated to the new college. The agreement allowed for a 15 month transition, before the changes would be formally adopted.
Although rumours circulated widely, OUC had not been formally informed in any way of the change in advance. The press conference was not open to the OUC community, including OUC's president. Never before had an AUCC member university secretly negotiated with a government to take over a sister AUCC member institution. The OUC board was dismissed, being replaced by a public administrator (initially Jim Soles, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Advanced Education; and later Dr. Peter Meekison). OUC President Dr. Katy Bindon
was dismissed, being replaced by OUC vice-president academic, Dr. Peter Ricketts, for the final year of OUC's existence.
On 1 July 2005 the North Kelowna campus became UBC Okanagan, a new campus of the University of British Columbia. Although OUC's applied degrees in Business and Computer Information Systems remained with the College, the new college resurrected the name Okanagan College
- this name reflecting the loss of most of OUC's degree programs.
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It evolved from Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
(1965 to c. 1990), and the college's predecessor, the B.C. Vocational School 1963-1965. On 30 June 2005, OUC was split to create two new institutions, a new Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
and UBC Okanagan
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
History
In the 1980s, a KelownaKelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
community group began a concerted effort, lobbying the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
provincial government for better access to undergraduate university programs. Their campaign, "Getting There By Degrees", facilitated a change in Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
's mandate, allowing the college to offer undergraduate degree programs to students in the Okanagan region. The college informally adopted the new name, Okanagan University College (OUC) in 1992. This name was adopted as the institution's legal name in 1995.
Although the degree programs were mostly based on a new, North Kelowna campus which opened its doors to students in January 1993, the first degrees were awarded earlier, on 11 June 1991. Initially, students completed their degrees through collaborations with the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
(UBC) and the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
, and the degrees were granted in the names of the university collaborators (e.g., "a Bachelor of Science from University of British Columbia, at Okanagan University College"). In 1998 OUC began granting degrees under its own authority.
New faculty in the degree programs continued to lobby for changes in the institution's mandate, eventually helping to establish a new community group, "University 2000", with the slogan "OU? Oh yes! Full University Status for OUC". The goals of this group were to further expand the university college's postsecondary role, principally by adding graduate studies and research to OUC's mandate. The growth of the degree programs, the expansion of the North Kelowna Campus, and the activities of this lobby created some tensions between degree-program faculty, largely based at North Kelowna, and other parts of the institution. Some faculty favoured splitting the institution into a new university and a new community college.
Although OUC's initial progress had been hampered by not having a research mandate, and delays in obtaining recognition from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- See also :* G13 * Association of Commonwealth Universities...
(AUCC) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada is a Canadian government agency that provides grants for research in the natural sciences and in engineering. Its mandate is to promote and assist research....
(NSERC), OUC faculty had rapidly developed a solid reputation in the research community. External research funding, for example, at OUC grew from less than $1 million in 2002-2003 to $6.8 million in 2004-2005. OUC research funding greatly outstripped that of the other university colleges in British Columbia (Cariboo University College (now Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University is a comprehensive university located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It offers students a broad range of courses, career streams, and the ability to ladder credits from diploma programs into full degrees...
), Malaspina University College, Kwantlen University College
Kwantlen University College
Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a public degree-granting undergraduate polytechnic university with four campuses located in the South Fraser region of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland...
, and University College of the Fraser Valley
University College of the Fraser Valley
The University of the Fraser Valley , is a Canadian public university with campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission and Hope, British Columbia...
). At the same time, OUC maintained an enviable reputation for the quality of its educational programs, and the commitment of its faculty to teaching.
In May 2001 OUC and the Okanagan University College Faculty Association signed a university-style contract for faculty, instituting rank, tenure and promotion. The contract was concluded in the window of opportunity made possible by the ouster of the NDP provincial government. The new Liberal
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
government fired the OUC board, but the new Liberal-appointed board reviewed the contract, determined that it was sound, and implemented the agreement.
In December 2002 the British Columbia Progress Board submitted a report to the provincial government, recognising the need to further expand postsecondary opportunities in the valley. The progress board, chaired by UBC president Martha Piper
Martha Piper
Martha C. Piper, OC, OBC was the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. She held the position from 1997 until 2006, and was the 11th person and the first woman to do so...
, recommended that the province consider extending "the mandate of an existing provincial University to Kelowna...", and "the mandate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology , is a public, coeducational, academic institution of higher education in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The polytechnic has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with the main campus in Burnaby...
to Kelowna and Prince George..." (executive summary of the board report in pdf)
The provincial government responded by quietly beginning negotiations with the University of British Columbia. It was noted by many people, including opposition MLAs in the BC Legislature, that UBC President Martha Piper
Martha Piper
Martha C. Piper, OC, OBC was the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia. She held the position from 1997 until 2006, and was the 11th person and the first woman to do so...
was in a clear conflict of interest in using her position on the Progress Board to position her own University to take over OUC's university programs. On 17 March 2004, the province and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
held a closed joint press conference at the Grand Hotel in downtown Kelowna, announcing that OUC would be dissolved, with OUC's North Kelowna Campus being transferred to University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
OUC's degree programs were largely adopted, with minor modification, by University of British Columbia. UBC also introduced new degree programs that had not existed at OUC. The other components of Okanagan University College (including the entire business administration program, degree included) were allocated to the new college. The agreement allowed for a 15 month transition, before the changes would be formally adopted.
Although rumours circulated widely, OUC had not been formally informed in any way of the change in advance. The press conference was not open to the OUC community, including OUC's president. Never before had an AUCC member university secretly negotiated with a government to take over a sister AUCC member institution. The OUC board was dismissed, being replaced by a public administrator (initially Jim Soles, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Advanced Education; and later Dr. Peter Meekison). OUC President Dr. Katy Bindon
Katy Bindon
Kathryn Bindon was the President of Okanagan University College between 1997 and 2004. She was the only woman to hold the position.Katy Bindon was born in Toronto, Ontario. She moved to Montreal in 1969 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in History at Sir George Williams University...
was dismissed, being replaced by OUC vice-president academic, Dr. Peter Ricketts, for the final year of OUC's existence.
On 1 July 2005 the North Kelowna campus became UBC Okanagan, a new campus of the University of British Columbia. Although OUC's applied degrees in Business and Computer Information Systems remained with the College, the new college resurrected the name Okanagan College
Okanagan College
Okanagan College is a public, post-secondary institution with over 120 certificates, diplomas, degrees and programs including Apprenticeship & Pre-apprenticeship Trades programs. It is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada...
- this name reflecting the loss of most of OUC's degree programs.