TORONTO, ON and LAC LA BICHE, AB, June 7, 2021 – Portage College and Yorkville University today announced an agreement that provides a new pathway for Portage’s arts graduates to parlay their studies into a degree from Yorkville.

Under the new articulation agreement, students who complete both the two-year Artisan Entrepreneurship Diploma and the one-year Fine Arts Certificate at Portage will now be eligible to transition directly into Yorkville’s Bachelor of Creative Arts program without having to complete any bridging or other qualifying requirements. Those who graduate with just their Artisan Entrepreneurship, meanwhile, will be able to transition into the Bachelor of Creative Arts program via a 15-credit bridge.

“Finding opportunities to connect our graduates with pathways that further their studies is a priority for our community college. It is wonderful to have such a prestigious university recognize the value in our unique programs in the arts,” said Nancy Broadbent, President and CEO of Portage College.

Yorkville University’s Bachelor of Creative Arts is a degree-completion program aimed at advancing the careers of diploma-holding students who have mastered the practical creative skills associated with a wide range of artistic endeavours by teaching them about leadership and critical thinking in the cultural context of the creative arts.

“The great thing about the Bachelor of Creative Arts program is that it’s going to build on the foundation that you already have – what you’ve already learning in the classroom an in your experiences creating your own portfolio of work,” said Andrew Barnsley, the Emmy-winning incoming president of Yorkville’s affiliate, Toronto Film School. “You will be getting trained by industry experts who will be there to guide you along the way, who will speak from experience, and who will give you the head start you need to build a career in this business.”

Offered both online and on-campus, the five-term Bachelor of Creative Arts program teaches students a breadth of skills from fundraising and budget planning, to research and critical assessment, to the importance of ethical collaboration and personal accountability – all aimed at arming them with both the bachelor-level credential and the advanced skills necessary to create their own opportunities in as few as 15 months.

About Portage College

Portage College is a public board-governed college operating under the Alberta Post-Secondary Learning Act. The college has been serving the region for over 50 years and is proud to be the first choice for learners in northeast Alberta. Portage’s mission is to connect people with knowledge, skills and opportunities. www.portagecollege.ca

About Yorkville University

Yorkville University offers flexible, rigorous and career-focused degrees on campus and online to people of all paths in life in Canada. Founded in 2004, Yorkville University currently has more than 6,000 students across three campuses in Vancouver, Toronto and Fredericton, and equips graduates with the professional knowledge, skills and designation prerequisites that employers value. www.yorkvilleu.ca

For more information, contact:

Jaime Davies, Corporate Communications Manager, Portage College – 780-623-5581 or jaime.davies@portagecollege.ca

Erin Hatfield, Director of Communications, Yorkville University – 416-700-2569 or ehatfield@yorkvilleu.ca