The Board passed the motion at its public meeting on Wednesday, May 2 at the Mission campus at Heritage Park Centre. A week earlier the University College Council (the education council responsible for academic matters at UCFV) passed a similar motion.

Support for this initiative has being growing among community groups and advisory committees as information about the need to press for legislative changes has begun to spread throughout the community.

"UCFV has served a very successful 10-year apprenticeship," said President Skip Bassford. "The time has come to meet the evolving needs of our region through new growth and development. I am very pleased that the Board has taken this leadership position. Now we will be looking to our communities to add their support."

"Decisions about the legislative changes that have to take place will be made by politicians," said Bassford. "What better time than during a provincial election to challenge all of the candidates to review their thinking about post-secondary education and to recognize what a logical, efficient, and effective development that this would be."

Bassford emphasized that although the proposed legislative changes and possible name change to the something like the University of the Fraser Valley, will allow the institution to meet new needs, it does not mean that it would abandon any of the programs and services it currently offers.

"UCFV must continue to offer a comprehensive range of programs and services, including upgrading, trades and technical training, and one- and two-year applied programs," said Bassford. "We will not abandon our college roots or our community connections. We will use these strong foundations to build an even better post-secondary institution for our region."

Becoming a regional university would benefit the community in a number of ways. It would help to ensure funding of UCFV's undergraduate university programs at a level equal to undergraduate university programs at traditional universities. It would help to recruit and retain well-qualified faculty in the face of looming shortage of college and university instructors in the near future. 

It would enhance research activity that would attract more provincial and national research grants and project funding and promote economic, social, and cultural development in Fraser Valley communities.

It would assist with development of post-degree professional certificates and graduate programs required by the growth of the undergraduate student body, along with the rising demand from the professional sectors of the community. Such programs could attract new business and industry to the region, and create new international opportunities.

It would create a more attractive environment for increased international contracts and development work and assist with the recruitment of international students.

It would increase awareness of the institution in the Fraser Valley and beyond, and add to the sense of community pride and prestige for its graduates.

Two other university colleges recently announced that they too would be pressing the provincial government for similar legislative changes. Both the University College of the Cariboo and the Okanagan University College have opted to lobby for changes that would allow them to become universities.

At its meeting the Board of Governors passed the following motion.

"The UCFV Board of Governors, recognizing that the institution has reached a moment in its evolution when it has outgrown the confines of the legislation which governs it, believes that our ability to meet the growing educational needs of our region requires a change in our legislative mandate. Such a change should accord with the following goals and principles: 

• That UCFV will remain a comprehensive educational institution.
• While continuing to develop its very successful university programs, the institution will maintain its college roots and community connections.
• That people in the UCFV region have access to the same educational opportunities as those in other areas in the province.
• That UCFV have the appropriate autonomy to respond to the changing educational needs of the region.
• That UCFV be in a position to continue to attract highly qualified faculty and staff.
• That UCFV continue to develop the basic and applied research and teaching activities that are essential to the institution and the economic, social and cultural development of the region."

Hence, the Board of Governors seeks legislative changes which will enable UCFV to become a fully comprehensive, regional university, one which continues to blend the best elements of the community college and university traditions."