On May 5, Quest University Canada reached a milestone: the school graduated its eighth class, and now has more alumni than students. The moment was significant because Quest started as an experiment, and in 10 short years has made its mark, claiming its stake as one of Canada’s important institutions of higher learning. Quest is the nation’s only independent, secular, not-for-profit liberal arts university. But that’s not really what makes it unique.
A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH
You won’t find traditional majors, departments or lecture halls at Quest. Students work closely with a faculty mentor of their choosing. They design their own major by crafting a personalized Question, and cap their education with a Keystone project. The topics span a wide range. This year’s Keystones included a study on how to prevent trachoma, a leading cause of blindness, in the developing world; the role of a specific protein in memory formation; the problems facing the Muslim community in France; the marginalization of women in the Sea-to-Sky corridor; and an artistic film depicting the lives of women in El Salvador. Keystone projects are unlike anything undergraduates do at conventional universities.
Quest issues only one degree: a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, which encourages critical thinking and broad learning while letting students delve deep into the issues they’re passionate about. “The degree offers exceptional flexibility,” says Dr. Doug Munroe, Chief Academic Officer. “It allows students to go on to graduate school and specialize if they want to, but it’s so adaptive that it can help students experiment with different careers and paths. It’s the ideal degree for this generation, stepping into an ever-changing economy.”
Alums agree. They have gone on to medical, law and graduate programs from UBC to Cambridge University, started their own businesses and taken jobs in a range of industries, from private firms to non-profits. “The Block Plan really helped prepare me for the rigors of law school,” says Katie Van der Sloot, a 2016 alum. “It gave me an advantage no one else has.” Zeeshan Rasool, who graduated in 2013 and co-founded the resource-sharing site Quupe, says: “I was exposed to a multitude of perspectives at Quest and was encouraged to think outside the box, which was invaluable when launching a start-up.”
In the first two years, students choose courses from an interdisciplinary core curriculum – known as the Foundation Program – which creates a wide base of knowledge and analytical ability. The next two years consist of the Concentration Program, where students gain depth on the subjects they most want to pursue.
Key to this unconventional approach is the Block Plan. Students don’t take five courses at once. Instead, they take eight Blocks per year, each consisting of 3.5 weeks immersed a single subject. Classes are limited to 20 students, making for personalized attention, and courses are designed to be highly interactive. Students can also take Blocks off, allowing for flexibility in their schedule. Most students live on campus. Built to honour nature, the Quest campus offers breathtaking views, trails, and a serene setting perched above town. Just down the hill are cafes, restaurants, breweries, and locally owned shops. An hour north, world-class skiing awaits at Whistler. Vancouver lies 60 kilometres south on the stunning Sea-to-Sky highway.
A CHANCE TO GO BEYOND
Quest includes Experiential Learning blocks, and students can also participate in Field Studies. “These classes turn the world into a classroom,” says Dr. Munroe. “From the politics of health in South Africa to environmental conflict in Clayoquot Sound, students can engage with topics in a way that doesn’t happen elsewhere.” Students can choose to study abroad or pursue internships, research or activism. “Our programs take them on a non-linear journey from student to self-directed learner. They develop essential transferable skills, and gain a confidence that serves them well beyond their degree.”
EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS
By what students say, is it’s working. The 2017 National Survey of Student Engagement places Quest at or near the top of most categories. From the quality of courses to interaction with faculty, and from learning diverse perspectives to feeling supported, students rate Quest 20 to 37 per cent higher than other Canadian universities. A first-year student described their experience this way: “My peers are globalized, collaborative, multidisciplinary thinkers who can navigate the world in the 21st century efficiently, effectively and ethically.” A full 99 per cent of fourth-year students rate their experience at Quest as excellent or good.
Quest is accepting applicants for fall 2018, and offers scholarships and financial aid.
