Plans for Future Growth

Alexander College is at an exciting time in its growth and development as a BC post-secondary institution. Looking ahead to the next few years, we anticipate many new initiatives that will enhance our commitment to educational excellence.

Here are some highlights:

Our program development work is guided by student interests and needs, economic and social benefits, and the future of work in BC and Canada. Relying on these criteria, we are developing new associate degree concentrations and new bachelor degrees.

These program development initiatives will be supported by the opening of a new downtown campus in the fall of 2024 that will become the future home of Alexander College science and business centres. The new campus features a Science Centre supporting lab sciences, computer programming and concentrations and degrees in health science.

This campus will also serve as a hub for business programming in downtown Vancouver. The campus will be equipped with the latest technology for staff and students and provides enhanced services and attractive environments for students. And . . . splendid views of the harbour and mountains!

Meanwhile, degree-level programming and all related student services will continue to be offered at our new campus in Burnaby, which opened in fall 2021, and our original downtown campus on West Hastings Street.

Looking ahead, we have identified key learning themes that will shape program and extra-curricular activities for our students. As part of our commitment to social justice, we have formed working groups that will advance initiatives related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

In our efforts to serve the full scope of our students’ needs, we are also dedicated to providing an experience that addresses the needs of a modern educated public. Our curricula feature essential skills valuable for modern life, while our Career Advising Centre is enhancing its capacity to help students find meaningful work.

We envision Alexander College as a home for students from many cultural backgrounds. To that end, our marketing and recruitment activities are focussed on attracting students from all nationalities around the world. We understand that diversity contributes to our shared roles as global citizens, and that Alexander College has even greater potential to provide a rich environment for intercultural exchange and awareness.

Ultimately, all of our future plans for growth serve student well-being. From free tutoring and career advising to personal health and wellness, we are intent on strengthening an institutional culture that places students first. We invite you to look at the “Student Support Services” directory with links to all of our services designed to assist students in their college educational journey and beyond.

Check out our new Housing Accommodations department as well as other well-established services such as Academic, Career and Immigration Advising and the Writing and Learning Centre.

Ongoing growth in post-secondary and industry partnerships, continuation of carefully selected online learning opportunities, and new developments in educational technology all help to shape our overall vision of a bright future.

What Students Say about Succeeding at College

Students have found that early improvement in English skills is one of the strongest means of succeeding in all of their courses at college and university. Strong English fluency is also a highly valued skill that is important to life in Canada and success in the workplace.

Indeed, Alexander College statistics show that students who take university-level English soon after they arrive at AC get higher marks all through their post-secondary careers. Therefore, we are committed to encouraging early access to post-secondary English courses for our students.

Further, our graduates say, “do not just choose the easiest courses. Think ahead to where you want to be and take courses that fulfill your interests and your dreams for the future.”

Our Vision for Alexander College Students

Building on what our graduates say, we recognize that our students are lifelong learners who are engaged in their own unique journeys toward fulfillment.

Make sure that you visit Academic Advising early in your program of studies to efficiently plan your sequence of courses for your desired results. Check in with Career Advising in order to take advantage of their workshops, programs and career fairs prepare yourself for work life after graduation.

Students need to become familiar with working on computers rather than just cell phones. Computer work is a feature of many occupations.

Intercultural communication is highly valued for global citizens. While language skills are an important part of all communications, intercultural communication also requires an understanding that different cultures have different customs, standards, social values, and even thought patterns.

Good intercultural communication requires a willingness to accept differences with respect and adapt to them. Effective intercultural communication is a vital skill for anyone living in a multicultural country such as Canada, for those who hope to work across countries or continents, and for those who hope to work for multinational companies either in their home country or abroad.

Many of our graduates have talked about a common pattern of growth and development in which a study permit leads to college studies and part-time work, followed by a post-graduate-work permit and eventual attainment of permanent residency, which then allows individuals to fulfill their goals by returning to university to complete bachelor’s and post-graduate degrees at domestic rates, improve their employment prospects, and fulfill their dreams.