Mandate

Bow Valley College is a public, board-governed college operating as a comprehensive community institution under the Post-secondary Learning Act of Alberta.

Operating in Calgary and throughout the surrounding region, our multi-campus college provides broad programming, including certificates, diplomas, foundational learning, and upgrading programs. Our programs and services are learner-centred, outcome-focused, and designed to provide graduates with opportunities to improve their lives, prepare for further education, and advance their careers.

Bow Valley College responds to regional, community, industry, and learner demand. Our career certificate and diploma programs are primarily focused on business; administration; health; human services; legal and security; early learning and education; as well as on information, communications, and design technologies.

Our extensive foundational learning programs include adult literacy, essential skills, academic upgrading, and English as a second language, offered either independently or integrated with skills training and career development support.

As a comprehensive community college with regional stewardship responsibilities, we work with community-based adult learning partners to meet literacy and foundational learning needs and ensure access to a full spectrum of learning opportunities in the city and surrounding region. As a Campus Alberta partner, we collaborate with other educational organizations, post-secondary institutions, governments, business, and community agencies to contribute our organizational expertise to the economic and social well-being of our province.

Bow Valley College is committed to expanding access for adults of varied social, cultural, economic, geographic, and academic backgrounds. As an access college, we have a special focus on creating educational opportunities for immigrants, Aboriginal peoples, international learners, persons with disabilities, older workers, at-risk youth, and the unemployed and underemployed. Our curriculum and support services reflect the diversity of our learners. We emphasize small classes, high quality instruction, applied learning, focused work experience, and extensive learner support services.

Bow Valley College offers credit and non-credit instruction year round, on a full-time, part-time, and distributed learning basis, both independently and through partnerships and collaboration. To meet emerging workforce needs, our programs, curricula, and educational services are also customized to meet the specific requirements of industries, educators, communities and workplaces, locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.

Bow Valley College pursues applied research activities to enhance teaching and learning and foster innovation in support of industry sectors where our academic expertise enables such a contribution. The college is known for and engaged nationally in the research, development, and commercialization of assessment and training tools used to measure and enhance the essential skills of adults in educational and workplace settings.

Bow Valley College is dedicated to providing people in our city and region with access to high-quality, efficient and effective lifelong learning opportunities and to the responsible educational, fiscal, and environmental stewardship of resources.

Approved by the Hon. Doug Horner, MLA Minister of Advanced Education and Technology May 26, 2009