Quest University

Infobox University
name = Quest University Canada
native_name =


motto = Our mission - your dream.
established = 2002
type = Private University
endowment =
staff =
faculty =
chancellor = Dr. David Strangway
president = Thomas L. Wood
city = Squamish
state = British Columbia
country = Canada
campus = 77-hectare (190 acre) site
colours = Green color box|#87A44C, Silver color box|#6C737A, white color box|#FFFFFF and black color box|#000000
mascot =
nickname = Kermodes
affiliations = AALE
footnotes =
website = [http://www.questu.ca/ Quest University Canada]

Quest University Canada (formerly Sea to Sky University) is a new private non-profit liberal arts and sciences university in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada. The first class began in September 2007 with an enrolment of 80 students; the university hopes to have 640 students by 2010.

History

Quest was created May 29, 2002, following the passing of the Sea to Sky University Act by the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and adopted its current name in October, 2005. The University has adopted "intimate, integrated, international" as a fundamental theme. The University was founded by Dr. David Strangway, former President of the University of British Columbia and funded primarily by Canadian Geologist Stewart Blusson. In September 2007, Thomas Wood, former President of Mount Royal College was appointed to succeed Dr. Strangway.

Partnerships

Quest has established 18 partnerships with universities around the world including Colorado College, McGill University and the University of Hong Kong and has signed an agreement with the Vancouver Olympic Committee which will permit the use of campus buildings for security during the 2010 Winter GamesFact|date=February 2007.

Buildings and Features

In the summer of 2007, construction delays meant that the student residences were not complete by the commencement of classes. The first three weeks of the semester were conducted at Red Mountain ski resort in Rossland, British Columbia. Students were then moved to a hotel in Squamish (Sea to Sky Hotel) for a month as construction continued. The students are currently living in residence on campus. The campus, which is being built on a 77-hectare (190 acre) site, will include academic buildings, a library, recreation centre, student residences, a significant concern for the environment including geo-thermal heating and cooling, and commercial facilities. Additionally, 960 market-housing units will be constructed adjacent to the campus. Construction on the units began in October 2006.

Academics

Quest's approach to academics is rooted in the liberal arts tradition, emphasizing breadth as well as depth. During the first half of the program, students will be required to take 16 "Foundation" courses, which are tied to four "signature themes": life and the natural environment; self, communities and the world; science, technology, and societies; and imagination and expression. The second half of the program is devoted to concentration (major) courses, and experiential learning, which emphasizes non-classroom-based learning, including work experience, study abroad, and a research project.

Students at Quest study on the block plan, taking one course at a time, each for 3 ½ weeks.

As a private institution with no direct subsidy from government, a Quest education is more expensive than all publicly funded institutions in Canada. The "Vancouver Sun" notes, "tuition of $24,000 a year might seem high by Canadian standards, but it's a bargain compared with similar schools in the U.S."

Athletics

In 2007 Quest introduced women’s and men's varsity basketball teams, which play in the British Columbia College Athletics Association. Quest announced the introduction of women’s and men’s varsity soccer teams for fall 2008. Martina Franko, a Canadian national soccer team player, joined Quest as the varsity women's soccer head coach in January 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.questu.ca/athletics_recreation/|title=Quest Athletics and Recreation|publisher=Quest University Canada|accessdate=2008-08-11]

References

External links

* [http://www.questu.ca/ Quest University Canada]
* [http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=5d658da3-3b9c-40b9-b946-a2d545757793 "The Vancouver Sun" "Alternative university offers students adventures in learning"]
* [http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/104277/The-Worlds-Most-Expensive-Universities World's Most Expensive Universities]