I am very pleased to announce that Fairleigh Dickinson University has gained final approval from the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education to offer degree programs and operate as a university in Vancouver, Canada. We now are able to move more aggressively to secure the site we have identified to serve as the home of our Vancouver campus and begin recruiting the initial class of students for the opening term in September 2007. The new campus will serve primarily international students and will initially offer a BS in business management with multiple concentrations and a BS in information technology with a single concentration.

Following the endorsement of our applications by the British Columbia Degree Quality Assessment Board and a lengthy review process, the Minister of Advanced Education on May 8 formally signed letters confirming FDU’s degree granting authority. We are the first non-Canadian institution to gain approval under the new more stringent standards adopted by British Columbia in 2003.

It was more than five years ago when FDU officials first began researching and developing the concept of a branch campus to serve international students. Since then, many individuals have contributed their time and talents to this critical initiative, and I deeply thank them all for their immense contributions. I want to especially thank the Board of Trustees for its support and direction. I also want to applaud the work of Christopher Capuano and Carl Viola — who were active members of the Board’s Strategic Task Force, co-chairs of the Vancouver Working Group, and who chair the Academic and Administrative Steering Committees — and all the members of those committees, who continue to meet and build the foundation and infrastructure of the campus. 

The Vancouver campus will be an important part of our global mission and will greatly extend the University’s reach and reputation. I’m confident that we will attract international students from throughout the world, many of whom are unable to obtain visas to study in the United States, but seek the rigor of an American university degree program. I’m also confident that our new campus will generate substantial revenues and resources that will benefit all our campuses.

There is much work that remains over the next year to ensure a successful start; however, gaining the approval from the Canadian authorities is a significant milestone that we can all take pride in. FDU-Vancouver is a giant step closer toward becoming a reality.


Thank you,
Michael Adams