Degrees granted at college
Jane Seyd
jseyd®nsnews.

com

T H E first graduates of Capilano
College's new bachelor degree programs celebrated a new milestone
for the college with cap and gown
this week.

Sixteen students became the college's
first graduating class with newly-minted
bachelor degrees at spring convocation on
May 21.
The ceremony came after a provincial
announcement May 16, giving the college
authority to grant four applied degrees.
Capilano College is the first college in the
province to receive degree-granting status
since the provincial government passed new
legislation expanding degree-granting
authority.
While the college has oflered baccalaureate degrees for more than a decade in partnership with B.C.'s Open University, the latI est move means the college now offers
I degrees in business administration, tourism
I management, jazz studies and music therapy
I in its own name.
I
Capilano College president Greg Lee
I called the move a great step forward for the
I institution.
I
He said the new bachelor degrees reflect

the high quality of education students
receive at the college.
Gary Johnston, member of Squamish
Nation and owner of an eco-tourism business, was part of the first graduating class
this week.
"It's quite a nice feeling of accomplishment," he said.
Johnston earned a diploma in tourism
management from the college in the early
1990s.
"At the time that's all there was," said
Johnston.
Later on, he worked in tourism for the
provincial government and started up his
own company. Sea Wolf Adventures.
When Johnston heard about the new
degree program, he decided it would be a
smart move.
Johnson completed part of his program
by attending classes at night while working
during the day. —
That's one of the benefits of a coITege*
degree program, said college spokesperson
Shelley Kean.
Kean noted it's flexible and very accessible to students. The college hopes to expand
its degree programs in the future, she added.
This year is the college's 35th anniversary. A total of 7,200 students take credit
courses at the college. An additional 7,000
students take non-credit courses annually.