The Accidental Polytechnic University

Alan DavisCHET, UBC

February 27th, 2013

The Intuitive Polytechnic University

or….

Overview

HistoryKPU’s mission and mandateKPU’s region and studentsBragging IssuesThe Prognosis

History

I hate History: my idiosyncratic view

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas

College

Map

The Region

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas College1995: Kwantlen University College

(surprise)

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas College1995: Kwantlen University College

(surprise)1997: First degrees awarded in Design

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas College1995: Kwantlen University College (surprise)1997: First degrees awarded in Design2006: Pitch to Campus 2020: regional

universities

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas College1995: Kwantlen University College (surprise)1997: First degrees awarded in Design2006: Pitch to Campus 2020: regional universities2007: Campus 2020: “Kwantlen

University”: # 35

History

I hate History: so, my idiosyncratic view1981: Kwantlen, spawn of Douglas College1995: Kwantlen University College (surprise)1997: First degrees awarded in Design2006: Pitch to Campus 2020: regional universities2007: Campus 2020: “Kwantlen University”2008: AUCC membership, KPU announced

(surprise) “BC’s polytechnic university”

History: our response

But, no engineering or advanced technologiesThus, a confusing name, at best (BCIT, SAIT,

ITALs, Polytechnics Canada)So:Drop “polytechnic”Or, add flagship programs in engineering,

allied health sciences and architectureANSWER: NO

Mission and Mandate

• Regional, open• Teaching-intensive, “innovative and

interdisciplinary”• Broad based degrees in arts, science and

business• Plus more applied, laddered degrees• Focus on preparation for careers• Applied and relevant research• “Comprehensive”: keep doing everything, and add degrees, at roughly the same rate of funding• (We asked for it in 2006: “Tier 2”)

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

2008

FVC

UCFV*

UCFV

UFV

OUC*

OUC

UBCO

MUC*

MUC

VIU

UCC*

UCC

TRU+OL

Cap

* CapU

KC

* KUC

KPU

FVUS

TecUBC

SFU-S

VISION 2018

OUR MISSION: re-stated 2013We offer all learners opportunities to achieve success in a diverse range of programs that blend the theory and practice, critical understanding, and social and ethical awareness necessary for good citizenship and rewarding careers.

Map

The Region

Map

The Region

Map

The Region

Map

The Region

20% of region’s high school grads to KPU, a bit less than to RUs (directly from HS)

53% do not have an academic gpa (as for BC) (8% to RUs)

25% moderate gpa (7% RUs)20% high achievers (85% to RUs, 26% for TUs)50% English is second language

7.4% International and growing

The Students

30% seeking baccalaureate63% under 22 years80% live in the region67% are part time52% work more that 10 hours a week60% speak another language

The Students

In the BCCAT survey of movers:Movers from KPU• Higher % less satisfied that other TUs• More cited poor quality of instruction• More going to a “better” institution• Fewer planned to return• Location was less important, reputation

was more important

What happens?

In the BCCAT survey of movers:Movers to KPU• More from RUs (compared to other TUs)• Higher % moved because of lower grades or

ability to cope academically• More said they had changed their mind about

which program• More said location and small classes were

main factors to choosing KPU• More wanted better access to courses

What happens?

Bragging

Very high student satisfactionEducation: DASCO 91.0%, BGS 96.4%,

APPS 92.2%Instruction: DASCO 94.5%, BGS 97.1 %,

APPS 94.0%

Bragging

Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design

Bragging

Horticulture/Agriculture/Sustainability

Bragging

Wetlands: Burns Bog, Serpentine….

Bragging

Arts:• Creative, performing and fine arts• Social justice and community engagement• First CRC: Psychology

Bragging

School of Business• 2nd largest in western Canada• Accredited• Award winning teams: CASE IT at SFU this

month• Entrepreneurial Leadership

Bragging

TradesBest facilities, but under-utilized, plus land to expand to build KPU Tech, in line with City of Surrey’s plans for advanced, clean and green technologies

VISION 2018

Access• ABE• ESL• Students with Disabilities

Issues

Money: AVED $ per FTEKPU 7,406 (7,795 average for all TUs))BCIT 9,720, ECU 9,594LM CCs 7,188SFU 10,731

Issues

Money: AVED % of pse funding per sector

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/1344.0%

46.0%

48.0%

50.0%

52.0%

54.0%

56.0%

Research Intensive UniversitiesPost-Secondary Institutions

Issues

Money: AVED % of pse funding per sector

2000/01

2002/03

2004/05

2006/07

2008/09

2010/11

2012/1344.0%

46.0%

48.0%

50.0%

52.0%

54.0%

56.0%

Research Intensive Uni-versitiesPost-Secondary Institutions

Since 2007, RU’s have grown 12.7% in FTEs rest have grown 15.3%

Issues

Money: ITA Funding• Another planet• Annual, unpredictable, nowhere near

enough, big ideological and political issues

Issues

Money: Tuition• Limited to COL• Not kept pace with agreements and other costs• Can set higher fees for new degree, post-bacc

programs etc.

Issues

Money: TuitionKPU 3,780 (TU average 4,122)SFU 5,013BCIT 5,043College average 2,654

Issues

Money: Salaries• PSEC• Flattening of salaries• No merit pay, no rank, promotion and

tenure process

Issues

Identity• Internal hand-ringing while others make hay• Ignored the politics of our region• Still perceived as a “college”

Issues

Teaching Innovation“[we embrace]…emerging and

experimental teaching methods and research-driven pedagogy”

Mission and Mandate Statement

Issues

Retention4-year undergraduate programs:After 6 years, 42% have graduated(UVic: 61%)

Issues

Labor Relations

Vision 2018• Grow: 5% a year• Campus identity: reflect the 4 regions• Continuing and PE (20%)• More programs, at cost• Advanced, and Green Technologies at “KPU Tech”• Tell our story more boldly and directly• Internally: be less siloed, and be easier on each

other

Prognosis

2041 Scenario PlanningMost benign scenario:

• Student as learner • Social funding for education• Local emphasis for educational services• Technology as a core feature of education• UBC now private, graduate/research and professional

school.• School of Design is private.• Rest in the LM form the “Lower Mainland University”• KPU Tech is “BCIT South”

Prognosis

2041 Scenario PlanningMost awful scenario:

• All pse offered through a global corporation• Student as employee• Personal funding for education (through

employment)• Global emphasis for educational services• Technology as core feature of education

Prognosis

• Campus differentiation could lead to 4 separate campuses, each with regional satellite centres

• “Richmond U”, “Surrey U”, “Langley U”• KPU Tech either thrives or is assumed

as “BCIT South”.• “Kwantlen College” as a spin off entity

for Access programming?• Technology will be huge factor for how

students access their education

Optimistic Prognosis

Various university websites for historyCampus 2020: http://

www.aved.gov.bc.ca/campus2020/campus2020-thinkingahead-report.pdf

KPU Accountability Plan http://www.bccat.ca/publications/research/surveyofmovers/

Institutional Analysis and Planning: http://www.kwantlen.ca/iap/iap_aboutus.html

Survey of Movers http://www.bccat.ca/publications/research/surveyofmovers/

Personal Communications…..

Resources

Thank youalan.davis@kwantlen.ca

@presadavis