September 14, 2006 Source: :
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/september2006/community-report/ University issues call for Urban Campus building partner 5,600 new spaces; 1,000 "gateway" seats for students having trouble finding places The University of Calgary will issue a request for proposals (RFP) this month for a building partner for the $235M downtown Urban Campus, President Harvey Weingarten said today in his annual Report to Community. (Read the full Report to Community) In addition, the University announced that it has set aside 40 per cent of total enrolment growth in the Urban Campus – 1,000 of 2,500 new U of C student spaces – for students from across Alberta who would not otherwise be admitted to University based on their high school averages. "The programming we envision at the Urban Campus, and the partnerships we have developed around this initiative, have been fashioned to provide a gateway for students who are having some of the most trouble accessing university and who would be unlikely to succeed if they were required to go to University by being at our main campus full time," said Weingarten. "Access for all qualified Alberta students must be a top priority for all post-secondary institutions and the province," said Weingarten. "We do not turn away these students because we don’t want them or think they are unqualified. Rather, we simply do not have room. We are not setting higher standards for admission. We are simply seeing greater competition for the limited number of spots. We are not talking about buildings for the sake of buildings. We are talking about increased access for students." The Urban Campus Partnership includes Athabasca University, Bow Valley College, Calgary Board of Education – Chinook Learning Services, SAIT Polytechnic, and the University of Lethbridge. Last March the Partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to work toward creation of the campus. The Urban Campus learning precinct will support over 15,000 students (FLEs) from the partner institutions involved; 5,600 of those will be new learning spaces and of those the U of C will create 1,000 "gateway" spaces for students with entry averages in the mid-70s. The estimated cost of the Urban Campus Partnership to the province is $235 million in 2006 dollars. The proposed location is in the block immediately east of City Hall. Last May, the City of Calgary of Calgary City Council unanimously passed a motion directing its administration to being negotiations with the UCP on the land subject to the support of the province. The University is currently negotiating with the City for acquisition of the land. The City has valued the land at approximately $10 million. While technology will eliminate geographic barriers, the Urban Campus will break down institutional barriers. Through technology and the SuperNet, the Urban Campus will connect students across Alberta. This "Opportunity Portal" will use the most advanced educational technology to help ensure that every student has an opportunity to learn. The University is seeking the funding commitment from the province in 2008/2009, following funding approval for the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy and the Experiential Learning Centre expected in 2007/2008. A detailed business plan was submitted to the Province in June. The Urban Campus Partnership is one of four major infrastructure projects that make up the university’s $1.5-billion capital plan. The projects – the Experiential Learning Centre, the Urban Campus Partnership, the Digital Library and a building for the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy – are the cornerstones of the University’s goal to enrol 7,000 additional students by 2010.
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