University vs College?
The distinction between 2-year colleges and 4-year universities is becoming increasingly blurred, with the rise of polytechnics, collaborative and dual enrolment programs, postgrad certificates at university and applied degrees at colleges.\xa0 (Sheridan College has not been coy about its ambitions to eventually become a university itself.) \xa0This week, Ken Steele\u2019s conversation with Janet Morrison, president and vice-chancellor of Sheridan, concludes with an exploration of the differences and synergies between university and college.
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Janet feels strongly that \u201cthis bifurcated lens on PSE in Ontario\u2026 really isn\u2019t meeting the needs of learners today,\u201d much less the needs of learners or the workforce of the future. \u201cThe system has to evolve\u201d to ensure we are preparing students to be \u201cagile, change-adept, resilient, independent, creative thinkers comfortable in a morphing space.\u201d\xa0
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Sheridan offers 26 four-year honours baccalaureate degree programs, with exceptional quality and university-equivalent rigor.\xa0 All incorporate work-integrated learning, through co-op, placements, internships, capstone projects, and applied research \u2013 what a student called \u201cthe secret sauce\u201d of a Sheridan education. \xa0Faculty members are actively engaged with industry, community, and NGOs to stay current.\xa0 \u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is at the nexus of both a theoretical and a practical preparatory program, that positions students for work and life.\u201d\xa0
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Students already realize that they will be faced with an average of 11 career changes between ages 20 and 45; they will need skills and competencies to position them \u201cas lifelong learners and adept, agile change-agents.\u201d \xa0Higher ed will need to consider new approaches to credentialing and microcredentialing, to ease pathways for credit transfer between programs and institutions. \xa0At Sheridan, much attention is paid to pathways in, through, and out of the institution: fully one-quarter of Sheridan students arrive already having earned a university degree; there are 70 different pathways from Sheridan trades and certificate programs through degrees; and the Provost and Registrar often work with Sheridan grads to gain entry into graduate study.\xa0 For 40 years, Sheridan has developed pathway agreements with universities in Canada and the US, but \xa0even graduates of Sheridan\u2019s #1-ranked animation program still \u201cdon\u2019t have unfettered access to graduate programming,\u201d which suggests to Janet that the whole system needs \u201ca rethink.\u201d \u201cIf we expect students to navigate gray space\u2026 we have to do it too.\u201d Janet also emphasizes the growing need to better develop global competency, and recognize the prior learning and life experience of international students.
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Conversations about credit transfer, and a rethink of the PSE system, will be difficult and will demand courage and creativity.\xa0 But Janet asserts, \u201cif you position learning and learners at the centre, there\u2019s far more alignment than you\u2019d sometimes think.\u201d
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Dr Janet Morrison championed student success at York University for 17 years, ultimately as VP Students, before joining Sheridan College in 2016 as VP Academic, and 2 years later becoming Sheridan\u2019s President. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in History and Education. (If you missed the previous parts of our conversation, see \u201cCultivating Creativity\u201d at https://youtu.be/awH4WVFV-hcand \u201cMental Health & Student Success\u201d at https://youtu.be/u3fHpn2Pt4A).
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Every week, Ten with Ken shares innovations and bright ideas affecting higher education.\xa0To be sure you don\u2019t miss it, be sure to subscribe! \xa0http://eduvation.ca/subscribe/
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Special thanks to Sheridan College for the onsite videography.\xa0 (If you would like to host an onsite episode of Ten with Ken, please see http://eduvation.ca/twk/site-visits/for more information.)
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