Okanagan College is a public, comprehensive, post-secondary educational institution that was established under the provisions of the College and Institute Act (2004). Okanagan College offers a wide variety of career, continuing education, degree, developmental, trades and technologies, university studies, and vocational programs. The region served by Okanagan College covers 37,750 square kilometres, and extends from Osoyoos and Princeton in the south and west to Mica Creek and Revelstoke in the north and east.
Governance
Okanagan College is governed by the Board of Governors and the Education Council, and is operated in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
History of Okanagan College
Established in 1965, Okanagan Regional College enrolled its first university studies and career transfer students in 1968. During the period 1970 to 1974, the College was melded with the B.C. Vocational School, and Okanagan College assumed responsibility for Adult Education programs.
In response to the Minister's Access for All initiative in 1989, the mandate of Okanagan College was expanded to provide baccalaureate degrees, in partnership with established universities. During the next two years Okanagan College introduced third and fourth year courses leading to degrees in Arts and in Science in partnership with the University of British Columbia, and in Education and in Nursing in partnership with the University of Victoria. To reflect this new mandate, the name Okanagan University College was adopted in 1992.
In June of 1994 the provincial government introduced Bill 22, the College and Institute Amendment Act, which was brought into force by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, effective January 15, 1995. The principal aims of the amendments were to give university colleges and provincial institutes the power to grant baccalaureate and honorary degrees; to include internal institution members on the boards of colleges, university colleges and institutes; and to create an education council within each institution. A bicameral system of governance, similar to the type of governance found in Canadian universities, was established.
