CALGARY - Members of Calgary's business community joined Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College, Dr. David Allwright, founding Dean of the Bow Valley College School of Business, and George Penny, Treasurer of the Canadian Institute of Management - Southern Alberta Branch, on campus yesterday for the launch of the School of Business at Bow Valley College and to celebrate accreditation of the Business Administration Diploma Program by the Canadian Institute of Management.

"The School of Business is an acknowledgement of our rapid growth and strong reputation in Calgary and beyond," said Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College. "It's also a commitment to our community stakeholders and industry representatives." 

Bow Valley College has been part of the Calgary landscape for nearly 50 years and the business community has been a steady partner in the development of the College and its programming.

"The School of Business at Bow Valley College is excited to begin this new chapter as part of a growing institution," said Dr. David Allwright, founding Dean of the Bow Valley College School of Business.  "We are looking forward to working with our industry partners to enhance the educational pathways for our students"

At the launch of the School of Business the College also announced accreditation by the Canadian Institute for Management of the Business Administration Diploma Program.

"It's an honor to present this certificate to Bow Valley College as I believe this speaks volumes about not only the quality of the program but the quality of the teaching staff and the eventual learning outcomes for its students," said George Penny, Treasurer of the Canadian Institute of Management - Southern Alberta Branch.

This accreditation is one additional way Bow Valley College is helping business graduates attain recognition for their academic credentials and workplace experience. After gaining experience in the workplace, graduates of the College's Business Administration Diploma program will be able to apply for Canadian Institute of Management (CIM) and Professional Manager (P.Mgr) designations.

For more information about the School of Business at Bow Valley College and the Business Administration Diploma Program visit:

 http://www.bowvalleycollege.ca/programs-and-courses/business.html

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Bow Valley College - Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College - with more than 12,500 full- and part-time students, is a leader in business, health, justice, and human services career training, adult upgrading, and English as a Second Language. BVC's Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES), workplace training for immigrant professionals, and employment services provide a wide range of services for businesses and professionals. Established in 1965, Bow Valley College is in the midst of a multi-million dollar expansion, creating state-of-the-art facilities and doubling its student capacity by 2013.