University looks at expansion

Powell River campus of Vancouver Island University (VIU) has a new administrator and he is facing interesting prospects as the school looks at expansion.

Greg Cran started his tenure as VIU campus administrator in Powell River on August 4. He previously served as dean of university and applied studies and research ethics board chair at North Island College.

Cran said VIU welcomes the opportunity to partner with Eton College in Dalian, China, owned by businessperson Shih-tao Lu, who recently bought a large parcel of land in Wildwood from Catalyst Paper Corporation and plans to build a university campus.

A public-private partnership could see the two schools running a joint facility, rather than trying to operate from the university’s current campus in Westview, said Cran.

“This is an interesting partnership because it not only involves our Chinese partner, but also the school district,” he said.

VIU is already looking at adding more dual-credit classes in the fall and a broader range of courses that lead local students and others to a degree, he said.

The move would allow more Powell River students to stay in town for their postsecondary education, he added.

Cran said Eton has already requested its programs be delivered at the VIU campus before the new campus is built.

“That’s the first step in a longer-term relationship,” he said.

Cran said he sees VIU Powell River becoming a destination for international and Canadian students.

“That, to me, would be the one contribution the university could make to enhance the local economy,” he said.

Cran’s resume includes working as an administrator at Royal Roads University and teaching conflict resolution at the University of Victoria. He also worked in treaty negotiations and policy analysis for the provincial government and as a consultant to the World Bank.