Universities Canada, the representative body for Canadian universities, may soon add Yukon University to its roster. As a sign of acceptance and validation in the academic sphere, Yukon University has recently submitted an application for membership. Universities Canada serves as a unified voice for higher education concerns at the federal level, providing scholarships on behalf of private firms and fostering collaboration among universities, government, and the private sector.
The Whitehorse-based university’s application is currently under review and the outcome is yet to be determined. Glen Jones, a professor of higher education at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, commented on the situation, “Universities Canada has become the kind of national club. It’s the club that you want to become a member of, partly so that you have recognition from your peers and partly because I think it also provides some broader international recognition.”
Universities Canada is not a regulatory entity, and the duty of accrediting post-secondary institutions in Canada falls to the territorial and provincial governments. The territorial government of Yukon passed legislation in 2020 allowing Yukon College to become a university. For the university’s officials, gaining membership in Universities Canada is a crucial step towards maturation as an institution.
Lesley Brown, Yukon University’s president, conveyed her desire for the university to join Universities Canada to CBC News last month. She explained that membership would allow students to access more funding, as Universities Canada administers over 120 scholarship programmes. Furthermore, she wished for Yukon University to have a seat at the table during discussions about the role of universities and education in addressing some of Canada’s most pressing issues, adding that Yukon University brings a unique northern voice to those discussions.
If the application is successful, Yukon University, with only two undergraduate degree programs, would be the smallest and one of the most distinctive members of Universities Canada. The university, according to Jones, is challenging to compare with other Canadian universities due to its small student population, diverse course offerings, relationship with Indigenous communities, and unique northern context.
However, acceptance into Universities Canada is not guaranteed. Jones noted that membership requires maintaining standards in line with those of typical universities, and it remains to be seen if Yukon University’s unique offerings and limited range of undergraduate liberal arts degrees will meet these standards.
Even if the current application fails, Yukon University can reapply after three years. Meanwhile, the university continues to evolve, with plans to transition partnered degree programs to YukonU programs and develop new degree programs. Moreover, a committee is currently examining the feasibility of introducing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.
As of now, the timeline for a decision on Yukon University’s application to Universities Canada remains uncertain. Regardless, this move marks a significant step forward for the university, reflecting its aspirations to gain broader recognition and offer its students more opportunities.
