Two universities joined the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada in October – the Canadian Mennonite University based in Winnipeg and Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Vancouver.
Kwantlen has four campuses serving 9,500 full-time students pursuing degrees in the South Fraser region of B.C. Established in 1981, it gained official university status this past September (it was previously a university-college). Kwantlen offers citation, certificate, diploma, and degree programs in liberal arts and science disciplines, in trades and technology, and in career and professional fields.
Canadian Mennonite University, or CMU, is a Christian faith-based university that offers degrees in the arts, music, music therapy, theology and church ministries. Its full- and part-time enrolment of about 1,600 students is spread across several campuses in Winnipeg.
The two institutions bring to 94 the number of members in AUCC. The Ottawa-based association advocates for higher education with the federal government on behalf of its member universities. It is also the publisher of University Affairs. To become a member of AUCC, institutions must meet a number of criteria in areas including academic freedom, governance and curriculum and must have a track record in teaching, research and scholarship.