Mount Royal College Now Has University Status

09/04/2009

(Calgary) -  Alberta’s post-secondary system celebrated an important day as Mount Royal College will now be known as Mount Royal University. The institution was officially renamed by the Alberta government.

 “For nearly 100 years, Mount Royal has served the needs of Calgary and area learners while providing Alberta with generations of professionals who have given back to our province’s communities making them strong and vibrant,” said Premier Ed Stelmach. “Being named a university confirms the essential role that Mount Royal plays within Campus Alberta for its students and our province.”

Mount Royal will continue to provide a broad array of programs, including certificates, diplomas, applied degrees, and baccalaureate degrees. Using the term “university” recognizes the high level of baccalaureate degree programs that students receive at Mount Royal, and helps those students better transition to higher learning in graduate programming.

“Mount Royal University’s programs are key to our province’s ability to meet the needs of learners, taxpayers and society while building our knowledge-based economy,” said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. “I support and commend Mount Royal’s role in offering undergraduate degrees and the wide range of programming they’ve built over the past number of years.”

“I thank Premier Stelmach and Minister Horner for the vision in allowing Mount Royal - a baccalaureate and applied arts degree institution - to call itself a university. The support of the Alberta government will enable Mount Royal to create a very special university,” said Mount Royal President, Dave Marshall. “This announcement recognizes the quality educational experience we offer and validates our efforts to be the best at what we do.”

To commemorate the event, Lieutenant Governor Norman L. Kwong received the University’s first-ever honourary Bachelor of Arts Degree. Kwong attended Mount Royal in the late 1940s and studied courses in the Commercial Program, which was a precursor to the University’s business program that exists today.

Mount Royal University’s mandate will remain the same, and they will continue to be a Baccalaureate and Applied Studies Institution under Campus Alberta’s six-sector post-secondary model. As such, they will continue to be a teaching focused institution. Comprehensive Academic Research Institutions (University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge and Athabasca University), have the mandate to conduct pure research and, therefore, have a higher degree of research intensity.

The name change was made through an Order in Council, which amended Section 36 of the Post-Secondary Learning Act.

For more information on Mount Royal University, visit: www.mtroyal.ca

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Media inquiries may be directed to:

Kevin Donnan
 Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
 Communications
 780-427-0405
To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000.

Fred Cheney
 Media Relations Officer
 Mount Royal College
 403-440-5195
fcheney@mtroyal.ca


September 3, 2009

Mount Royal University

 Established in 1910, Mount Royal University is Calgary’s oldest post-secondary institution and will celebrate its centennial in 2010. Mount Royal remains a distinct institution by offering a full range of learning opportunities, from diplomas and certificates to applied degrees, university transfer and baccalaureate degrees, as required within Campus Alberta. In 2007-08, Mount Royal had 8,941 FLEs (full-load equivalent) students.

Programs Offered:
 A range of programs are offered at Mount Royal University, including:
    •     7 baccalaureate degree programs (first one offered in 2007)
    ◦      Bachelor of Nursing
    ◦      Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
    ◦      Bachelor of Arts (with seven majors)
    ◦      Bachelor of Science (with four majors)
    ◦      Bachelor of Business Administration (with four majors)
    ◦      Bachelor of Communications (with three majors)
    ◦      Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
    •     8 applied degrees
    •     4 university transfer programs
    •     12 diploma programs
    •     5 certificate programs

Campus Alberta
    •     Alberta’s publicly funded post-secondary system is based on a Campus Alberta approach that enables Albertans to participate in quality and innovative learning opportunities - where and when they need them - to enhance their social, cultural and economic well-being.
    •     The Government of Alberta, working in consultation with post-secondary institutions, developed a Roles and Mandates Policy Framework to meet the needs of learners, society and taxpayers, making the system more collaborative than ever.
    •     The Framework identifies six types of institutions based on programs offered, type of research conducted, and geographic area served.
    •     This ensures institutions focus on their areas of expertise, while also encouraging collaboration among institutions by providing greater access for learners.
    •     The Framework also proposes better planning mechanisms that are based on demand forecasting and regional coordination.
    •     For more information on Campus Alberta, visit  www.advancededandtech.alberta.ca