II• . • I% °!-Iu4u0 emcLi.0 DLO& i -- I IM
V Senior College Status Progress Report
by N. 0. Matthews, President Canadian Union College
A recent Hansard Report on the question-answer period in carefully thought out. It would be fair to say there's a fair amount the Alberta Legislature on April 12, 1978 will undoubtedly be of anxiety at the college to know whether the province of Alberta of interest and encouragement to the Canadian constituency. and our government is prepared to give the permission required for university status. They're extremely anxious to know their position; In part, it reads as follows: because you know, in private institutions, as has been said, they Mr. Thompson: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask the minister a cover all their capital costs. That indicates to me extreme dedication. question about Canadian Union College in Lacombe. I understand Recently the Canadian Union College constructed a very large they have applied for degree-granting privileges. It's been held up, athletic centre, built it to the standards required at the university and this puts extreme pressure on this college. I wonder if he could level. It was built by a group of, I think, 100 who are so committed give us some idea of the cause of the holdup on degree-granting for to the work they're doing that they have committed funds for the the Canadian Union College. capital costs of that operation. Naturally, until we can assure Dr. Hohol: An excellent question, Mr. Chairman. It will be of students who attend that campus that the courses they take will much interest to the Legislature, I am sure. . . .The officials of the qualify them in the different faculties and areas, Mr. Minister, they department are and, as you properly suggested, have for quite some hesitate. And in the process of hesitating it's causing some concern. time been working with the college on the criteria, conditions, and In conclusion, Mr. Minister, could you indicate briefly what is circumstances that may cause us to permit them, not in the negative required in terms of legislation to qualify Canadian Union College? I sense but in the sense of being clearer, that it's a reasonable thing to know you'll word this carefully. You did suggest there was some do in terms of predicting that everything that goes into an education time frame, hopefully within the term of office of this government. for a degree is there: money on a long-term basis for financing the Could you give some reassurance in the area of that comment? So college: that professorial component in terms of recognized require- there are two points to the question. ments by peer groups, by other academics like PhDs and others from Dr. Hohol: I'd be happy to do that, Mr. Chairman. In recalling doctoral programs, masters and so on in certain programs; libraries. that one of my officials and I made a tour of some of the We're working at that. institutions of this denomination in the United States, I'd forgotten The request of Canadian Union College is to add at least two and that the honorable Member for Lacombe was on the trip with us. I Possibly three degrees. I have an open mind, and if I may say want to indicate my appreciation of his support on behalf of that without any of my officials falling over the rail, a positive mind, college. because they agree with me in any case. I believe, Mr. Chairman, that The requirements for the change at Canadian Union College were an important kind of principle is involved here. You know, we have those I mentioned in discussion with the House on a question from a plural society, and it seems reasonable to me to have a plural the honorable member from Carstairs. But specifically on the last society underpinned by a plural educational system. In the conduct one, it would have to be a change to The Colleges Act. That in itself of our discussions with Canadian Union, we must also speak to the would not be difficult. What is difficult is to get in place the institutions, not because it's required but because it's reasonable to logistics, criteria and conditions for additional degree-granting talk to those institutions that presently present and offer degrees, to circumstances. On behalf of his constituents, including this college, assist us to ensure that that college or any other college has the kinds the honorable member has fairly and properly asked me in this of components in place that would make us predict that beyond any portfolio to make a commitment, or at least where this commitment question the quality of the programs, the services, and the product is. would be the kind we would be proud of and not the kind that we In terms of the commitment of the college people, and my would feel we helped Canadian Union make a mistake. examination of the professorial capacity at the university in the I have an intuitive feeling, a fairly cognitive one. I've been there. United States, it's of a very high order, the kind of order that the One of my officials and I travelled to the United States to look at a federal government in the United States has certain contracts with university and at a college that's denominational in the same way that university to train people in some of the professions. We walked Canadian Union is. To say we were impressed would be an through it, talked to the professors and students, looked at the understatement. We were very impressed! For the record, I want to equipment, the research capability, the library. I haven't any doubt say that my judgment and that of other members of the Legislative that this college could meet those conditions, and our people will Assembly who have been to Canadian Union is universally that they continue to work. are doing excellent work. There is a commitment there. There is a As I said some time ago, there are certain things that, one way or feeling for the human condition, for education and for service that is another, each of us in our portfolio sets as priorities to conclude, something to behold. You're not quite the same after you visit and not have a new minister face a complex problem in the middle. I Canadian Union College. want to assure the Assembly and in particular the honorable Member In a human sense, I'm very open and positive. In the criteria for Lacombe, that that is one of the top six or top dozen priorities sense, the department officials are working with the college and that we will address and conclude before this term expires. other institutions. I hope that during this term of office it will be So that's my commitment, Mr. Chairman." possible to make a definitive statement one way or another on the Although the Minister has not as yet reached the stage at matter of Canadian Union College. which he is prepared to present a bill to the House amending Mr. Cookson: . . . Mr. Chairman, I would briefly say to the members of the Legislature, many of whom have had an opportunity the Alberta College Act or the Alberta Universities Act, or to attend the operation of Canadian Union College at Lacombe, both, to enable Canadian Union College to attain degree- which is a Seventh-day Adventist church-operated institution, a granting status, it would be fair in summary to state that: private institution: they are extremely proud of their operation. I 1. The Minister and other members of the Government are think they're doing an excellent job. I have visited their grounds a number of times. I'm really impressed again with the dedication they very favorably impressed with Seventh-day Adventist have, in particular to their young people. higher education. They have negotiations going on with the minister with regard to, 2. The Minister believes that the Canadian constituency can hopefully, university status. I know these areas have to be very, very Cont. on p. 18
Official Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Address all inquiries to: 1148 King Street East, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 1H8. Editor, A. N. How, Associate Editor, June Polishuk, President, L. L. Reile; Secretary, A. N. How; Treasurer, R. W. Wilmot; Auditor, L. D. Dunn. Departmental Directors: Communication, L. R. Krenzler: Education, N. 0. Matthews, Ph.D., Associate, M. S. Graham; Health, R. Matiko, M.D.; Lay Activities and Sabbath School, L. A. Shipowick; Ministerial, L. G. Lowe; Public Affairs, D. L. Michael; Publishing, Walter Ruba; Revivalist, J. W. Lehman; Stewardship, G. E. Maxson; Trust Services, R. A. Matthews; Youth and Temperance, ISSN 0702 5084 Bill Edsell; Consultant to Health Care Institutions, A. George Rodgers. Issued semimonthly. Annual subscription price $2.00. Second-class mail registration number 0912. Printed by Maracle Press Limited.