As of
2005, the University College of
the Fraser Valley (UCFV)
enrolls more than 10,000 students per year
and is larger than half the universities in
Canada. More than 1,500 students graduate each year.
UCFV started out as Fraser Valley College
(FVC) in 1974. Its roots, however, go
further back than that.
Early support for post-secondary
education
Demands for a post-secondary institution in the
Fraser Valley started in the 1960s. A proposal for a
junior college was rejected by the provincial
government in 1966. Supporters of education then
lobbied for a vocational school, choosing a site
near the geographical centre of the Valley, on
Lickman Road in Chilliwack. The school was approved
and planning was underway when the provincial
government changed in the 1972 election.
The provincial government put the vocational
school on hold. Community groups continued to
lobby, and the government appointed a task force to
study the feasibility of a college for the Fraser
Valley.
The task
force recommended a comprehensive regional college,
providing university transfer, career, and
vocational programs. A plebiscite, asking for
taxpayer support for the college concept, was held,
and over 89% of voters voted yes. The provincial
government reacted to this strong show of support by
formally proclaiming Fraser Valley College into
existence on April 4, 1974.
Several
months of frantic planning followed, and the many
doors of the new college opened in September. In the
absence of official campuses, classes were held in
church basements, schools, commercially-rented
spaces, and the Coqualeetza Education Centre.
Offices were housed in store fronts, community
centres, and sections of schools and school board
offices. During its first year of operation, FVC
enrolled 183 full-time and 2,300 part-time
students.
Hope/Agassiz:
UCFV has a regional centre
in Hope, in partnership with Free
Rein Associates, and an information centre in
Agassiz in partnership with the
Fraser-Cascade School District (#78.)
Much of
UCFV's recent growth and expansion is due to the
transformation from a two-year community college to
a university college which began in 1991. After a
round of community and student support rivalling
that of 1974, FVC was
given university college status by the provincial
government. In September 1991, the Board changed
the name of the institution to the University
College of the Fraser Valley.
UCFV began
to offer four-year degree programs in September
1992. Initially, these
degree programs were offered in collaboration with
partner institutions, including Simon Fraser
University, the University of Victoria and the Open
University. Under new legislation passed in 1996,
UCFV was able to offer all
its bachelor's degree programs under its own name.
UCFV now
offers 12 bachelor's degree 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. In 2005, UCFV was approved
to offer its first applied master's degree program,
Master of Arts (Criminal Justice), and the first
cohort of students will begin in September 2005.
UCFV
remains a comprehensive educational institution. In
addition to the degree
programs UCFV offers more
than 70 programs in applied and academic areas.
These include career and technical training in areas
ranging from agriculture and aviation to nursing and
applied business technology, training for several
trades, English as a second language, college &
career preparation, university transfer, and a range
of career-oriented, continuing studies courses and
programs. UCFV also offers many courses online each
semester.
