Grant MacEwan becomes a University, but do you know how?

The electricity and excitement can still be felt on every Grant MacEwan campus. MacEwan is finally recognized worldwide as a university. But as nearly all the students and staff of MacEwan are excited, many have no idea of the legal and bureaucratic efforts that took place before the official change on September 24.

Most students, like Jaimie Ironstone, were surprised to find out about the milestone as it happened with a special ceremony with Mayor Stephen Mandel and Premier Ed Stelmach on September 24.

"I had no idea until the day is happened and they started making announcements throughout the school," Ironstone said, who is a first year General Studies student.

Even Students' Association President Nils Holmgren couldn't comment on the change, because all though he is fully aware of what the transformation will mean for students, he was in the dark when it came to the official process.

Luckily for us, we have someone like David Beharry. Beharry, a major playing in the conversion process as the University Spokesperson for Grant MacEwan, said the ball was in motion nearly four years ago.

"In 2005, the province approved for us to offer full four year degrees," he said. "There was talk with the governance council and the Student's Association to change it into a university and there was resounding support to move forward."

With the support of both the faculty and the students in the form of the Students' Association, it was only a matter of time.

"Legislation was passed by the province in spring with an amendment to the post secondary act where Mount Royal and Grant MacEwan could add the word university," Beharry explained.

The majority of the student body, including third year Bachelor of Commerce student Shirley Wong, was completely unaware of the complete process.

"I heard about it last school year, but I had no idea it would happen like that," Wong said.

But as students like Ironstone and Wong may not know about the transformation, they do know that there are still some concerns with being a university student.

"I'm afraid to see higher tuition prices and larger class sizes," Ironstone said.

Wong's fears were along the same lines.

"I'm afraid to see a change in the teaching environment. If it's going to be a university, I would think that classes would be bigger too, and there won't be that much one on one interaction with students anymore," Wong said. "I'd hate for them to get rid of old programs and focus only on university degrees."

But Beharry strongly reassures students that there is little to fear.

"Grant MacEwan is a unique institution. We will offer four year programs, as well as many diplomas and certificates with the same value in teaching," Beharry said. "We have no intention to phase out any diplomas or certificates."

MacEwan first opened its doors in 1971 as a community college, but became Grant MacEwan College in 1999.