Helen Hughes named Hon. Doctor of Laws
 Victoria BC November 30, 2007: Six Masters of Business Administration and nine Bachelor of Commerce students were granted their degrees as University Canada West celebrated its second convocation since starting in 2005. This represents a significant increase in graduates over the institution’s first convocation in the fall of 2006.
In their remarks to the graduating class UCW President Dr. David F. Strong and Chancellor Dr. Myer Horowitz noted growth had met expectations at UCW with current enrollment tripling from 51 to 151 registered students. January 2008 enrolment is also expected to be on track.
Dr. Horowitz said he was particularly pleased that this year’s graduates included students who had earned Bachelors degrees, as last years graduates were all MBAs.
 Of these, in keeping with UCW’s unique Finishfaster curriculum that allows students to complete their degree in just two years, several were ‘degree completion’ students transferring from other institutions. Most completed within a year, others took up to two years depending on the time they had to devote to study.
Congratulations to our students earning Bachelor degrees:
| Habib Obatoyinbo |
Nathan Schumacher |
Ranko Telebak |
| Wen-Ju Chou |
Hsin-Ying Chung |
Yih-Ren Hung |
| Yan Xiao Wei |
Xiao Lei Zhong |
Chien I Wu |
Of the graduating Master of Business Administration students, those who wished to earn their degrees in a year did so successfully. Others, who were running a business or had other commitments while they studied, finished in from a year to two years. All had completed their Bachelors degrees at other institutions, including UVic and York University, before coming to University Canada West to earn their Masters degrees.
Congratulations to our MBA Graduates:
Reza Afkari
Yen Kuo Joe Chiao
Kristi Ann Honey
Dominic Loiacono
Luis Fernando Orellano Castillo
Halinka Zofia Szwender
Click here to view a recording of the Convocation.
Of the new students registered to begin in January 2008, Ontario college graduates continue to choose UCW to complete their degree. To-date the institution has signed twelve articulation agreements with Ontario colleges and agreements with seven others are near completion. Negotiations are underway with many colleges throughout Canada, as students seek the advantages of UCW’s Degree Completion program which enables college graduates to gain a degree in as little as one additional year.
Hughes encourages graduates to get involved in their communities
 In her introduction to Councilor Hughes, Neena Chappell, a member of UCW’s Academic Council and Canada Research Chair in Social Gerontology at the University of Victoria said, "I rather like the word 'maverick' when referring to Helen, depicting independence of thought, an unwillingness to necessarily conform, a word that fits especially well coming from University Canada West."
"But Helen is not just a maverick; she is a maverick with compassion. Compassion is a hallmark of her contributions to society."
In her remarks to the graduates, and in her inimitable fashion, Hughes encouraged them, "to be active in your communities" and observed that "indifference to the plight of others is a worse transgression than hating them."
Dr. Strong noted that UCW has become, "a significant business in Victoria", with 42 full-time employees and 75 professors and learning coaches.
Built around the theme of Finishfaster, UCW provides an educational experience quite different from that of other Canadian universities. Finishfaster has three main components: get the help you need to succeed; small class sizes; a curriculum that allows you to complete your degree in just two years, compared to the Canadian average of five years.
While most university calendars state a 65% high school average as the entry threshold…that is seldom the case in practice. UCW is committed to a 65% entrance requirement.
In 2002, Dr. Strong brought together a group of academic and business leaders and outstanding individuals from Canada and around the world to create University Canada West.
UCW operates with the authority of the BC Minister of Advanced Education, and exceptional academic integrity is assured by the UCW Academic Council, chaired by past President of the University of Alberta, Dr. Myer Horowitz, now UCW’s Chancellor.
UCW’s Finishfaster Website can be accessed at - www.finishfaster.ca
UCW’s Board of Directors – Academic Council – Management and Faculty can be reviewed at: http://www.universitycanadawest.ca/about/about_governance.html
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