Guest Comments by H. Wade MacLauchlan

Editor's Note: The writer is president of the University of Prince Edward Island, the only degree-granting institution in Canada's smallest province.
 
CHARLOTTETOWN, Canada – Recently, I received a letter from Allan Campbell, the minister of innovation and advanced learning, disclosing plans to introduce a new Degree Granting Act and amendments to the University Act in the fall session of the Prince Edward Island Legislature. The effect will be to “allow for the establishment of new institutions that offer programs of post-secondary study leading to an academic degree”.

Promptly I wrote back to request that the provincial government not proceed with this matter in the fall session. I expressed concern that there is much at risk in this proposed initiative and that it requires extensive reflection, consultation and study.
 
I encourage all members of the University of Prince Edward Island community and all who care about what we have achieved through UPEI and in post-secondary education to follow this situation with interest and concern. There should be an informed, intelligent debate about the proposals and what is at stake.

In a newspaper comment, Campbell indicated that the period for “consultation” would be extended by “another week”. With respect, this remains a far-from-adequate time to consider a matter of such significance for Prince Edward Islanders and for UPEI.

This is a time for the UPEI community and the broader community of concerned citizens to engage and be heard. I expect that many people, like students, alumni and colleagues, will have considered views and make them heard.

This is truly an historic moment for UPEI. The proposed legislation reopens questions that most people thought to be wisely and courageously settled about the architecture of post-secondary education.

Ironically, it appears that the main argument for introducing a Degree Granting Act is that every other province has similar legislation. There is a simple reason why other provinces have such legislation – they have multiple universities. Most people knowledgeable about post-secondary education across Canada are envious of Prince Edward Island for the economy and good sense of our institutional structures.