www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 16, 2013 | 4 Change will eliminate roadblocks for students continued from p.1 increased need for degree programs for our students and secondly, ensuring when our students graduate from here, they have the same leg up as any graduate from any university to go into grad study." Zabudsky said several issues are driving the change. More fields require a university degree for entry, such as nursing and accounting, where previously a college diploma sufficed. Most importantly, Zabudsky said Sheridan's degree graduates currently face roadblocks for higher education. Zabudsky said that because Sheridan is not an AUCC member of AUCC, universities often don't accept a degree from it for entry into a master's program. "I want to ensure that never happens to a student from Sheridan," said Zabudsky. The school already has nine degree programs and 10 others are set to launch soon -- with more coming. To achieve AUCC accreditation, Sheridan needs a minimum of 50 per cent of its students enrolled in degree programs. Professors, who teach in the bachelor's programs, would need a minimum of a master's degree. The school is already on its way to achieving both criteria. Sheridan now has 20 per cent of its students in degree programs, Zabudsky said. Besides launching new programs, others are not yet full and Sheridan intends to add capacity to its popular courses of study. Zabudsky is confident Sheridan will hit the 50 per cent enrollment mark, without reducing its college programs. Some college diplomas will be converted to degree programs, as specific industries require it. To meet the teaching criteria, all Sheridan's new hires must have a master's degree. Zabudsky said 70 per cent of current staff have a master's degree and the college is providing funding for faculty with bachelor's degrees to earn their master's so they will have the opportunity to teach in the degree programs. Frankly, it's just a word. The more important thing for me is to be Sheridan University in practice and then the word can follow. Sheridan College president Jeff Zabudsky Hidden Lake Golf Club WE'VE PAR'D AWAY THE COST FORE THIS VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND! LONG WEEKEND TEE TIME SPECIAL OFFER Friday May 17 - Monday May 20, 2013 All Day Friday - Saturday, Sunday & Monday After 10a.m. The Sheridan Journey, as the school calls its evolution to become a university, is unique in Ontario, but not Canada. Vancouver Island University and the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, and Mount Royal University and MacEwan University in Alberta have made the transition successfully -- offering college and university programs today. Sheridan does not intend to provide any graduate studies, only undergraduate degree programs. "We don't want to be a U of T, we don't want to be a Western or a Queen's," he said. "Those are fabulous institutions, but think about what they do. They spend a lot of their faculty time doing research, which is very important, but it's not something that we desire to do. We want to be a teaching-focused university. They do graduate programing. We don't do graduate programing. More of their programing is theoretical in nature. We will continue to be committed to applied, relevant, and what we call purposeful education that is connected to the field of practice or industry." The school's diploma students will also be able to move into degree programs. Sheridan currently has nearly 20,000 students and anticipates having more than 24,000 by 2020. Most of the growth, Zabudsky said, will be in the degree programs. Sheridan has campuses in Oakville, Brampton and Mississauga. Phase two of the Mississauga campus will open in September 2016, increasing its physical capacity. After the school receives AUCC accreditation, it hopes the Province will change its name to Sheridan University. "But, frankly, it's just a word. 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