Media Release

VCC partners with Emily Carr University of Art + Design

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

The Creative Art Pathway program provides students the best of both worlds. 

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Students with a passion for art and design and a wish to improve their English language skills will benefit from a new partnership between Vancouver Community College (VCC) and Emily Carr University of Art + Design. The Creative Art Pathway (CAP) program, beginning this fall, provides international students the opportunity to strengthen English language skills while immersed in creative and critical studies at Emily Carr.

The innovative program allows students who have been conditionally admitted to Emily Carr complete English language proficiency requirements at VCC. Students will study at both institutions, which will be located within walking distance once Emily Carr University opens in its new location this fall.

The English components provided by VCC will include a customized course, English for Creative Practice, focused on the development of core foundational communication skills for creative and critical success. The program also includes up to four English for Academic Purposes classes.

"We are very excited about this partnership with Emily Carr" said Dr. Kathryn McNaughton, VCC's Vice President - Academic, Students & Research. "This initiative is the result of vision and hard work by many people at both partner institutions, and it will support students' success in important ways."

"Emily Carr is committed to supporting student success and we know that our international students are vital to our community" said Jennifer DeDominicis, Emily Carr University's Vice President, Enrolment and Student Services/Registrar. "Our partnership with VCC has been designed specifically to help English language learners develop a vocabulary to support their success in an art and design context."

Candidates who meet Emily Carr University's visual art portfolio and academic admissions requirement, but do not meet the minimum IELTS score and whose IELTS score is not lower than 5.5 in any skill area will receive a conditional offer of admission from Emily Carr University to attend the CAP program.

The CAP program will be offered in the fall and spring terms. Students may be required to take one or two terms depending on their skill level and academic progression through the program. 

- 30 –

VCC celebrates more than 50 years of inspiring students to reach their career and educational goals, offering post-secondary training in 125 programs including bachelor's degrees, diplomas, certificates and apprenticeships. With three campuses located on Broadway, Downtown and on Annacis Island, students can choose from hands-on instruction in culinary arts, business, design, health sciences, hospitality, transportation trades and music.

Founded as the Vancouver School of Art in 1925, Emily Carr University of Art + Design is the only specialized public post-secondary institution in British Columbia offering programs in visual arts, media arts and design exclusively - one of only four such institutions in Canada. Noted alumni include: artists Roy Arden, Douglas Coupland, Stan Douglas, Geoffrey Farmer, Brian Jungen, Terence Koh, Liz Magor, Jeremy Shaw, Stephen Shearer and Renee Van Halm; filmmakers Ann Aerie Fleming and Phillip Borsos, and many other renowned artists, designers, and media practitioners. A new campus for the University opens in September 2017.

Media can contact:

Karen Wilson
Director, Marketing and Communications
Vancouver Community College
T: 604.871.7000, ext. 7429
E: kwilson@vcc.ca

Carolyn Jack
Senior Project Manager, Communications
Emily Carr University
T: 604.970.3234
E: cjack@ecuad.ca