Changes to the University Act introduced today will allow the Province to create new universities that will give students greater access to university degree programs, Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell has announced.

Government has announced three university-colleges, one community college and a provincial institute will become special-purpose teaching universities.

Under the proposed legislation, the mandates for each institution will be designated, which will include the types of programs they will offer and the region they will serve. The University of the Fraser Valley, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Island University and Capilano University will be regional universities, and will continue to offer a broad range of developmental, trade, career, technical and academic programs leading to certificates, diplomas, and baccalaureate and master's degrees.

As recommended in the Campus 2020 report, the designation "university college" will be repealed. A senate will be established for each university, with the same composition and powers as the university council of Thompson Rivers University, which became a university in 2005. TRU's university council will be formally renamed as a senate.