The idea of Bermuda College becoming a university is not a new one — but president Duranda Greene believes the time is still not right to make the change.

Ten years ago, former president George Cook pushed for it to become a university college but the plans fell through when the college board voted against it.

Now the proposal is being looked at again, after a series of forums and focus groups last year to gauge the opinion of faculty, students, industry and the wider public on the future direction of the college.

Dr. Greene told The Royal Gazette: "In almost every group, the question about access to a four-year degree came up. We decided we would explore that. One way is the university college model. I personally feel that we should look at partnerships."

Dr. Greene became president two years ago and has since developed a ten-year strategic plan for the college, which includes looking at the university issue.

Other goals already in the pipeline include the capital development of the Paget campus to improve facilities, making the college more environmentally friendly and encouraging an active alumni association.

"It's not something I would wish for every new president to have to do in their first year in office but it was a rewarding thing to do," she laughs.

The Bermuda College graduate — who has a handful of degrees from overseas institutions — says she's still relishing the challenge of being the college's first female president.

A major focus for Dr. Greene at the moment is helping the board weigh up all the available options for the college's future. At a public meeting last month, she detailed a series of alternatives to the university college route, offering ideas on how the college could extend its current partnerships to offer more four-year degrees.

She says: "In 2000, we hosted an international conference that was called New Approaches in Higher Education. After the conference, it was decided that we would not become a university college.

"The board and the Government felt that we would remain a two-year institution with our focus being a community college philosophy."

Her belief is that Bermudians must be given access to baccalaureate degrees on Island — but that for the college to go it alone at this stage remains unrealistic.

The size of Bermuda would make it difficult to attract a big enough student body, she argues, plus there would be the hefty cost of converting to become a university college and bringing in a large number of overseas faculty members.

The college is on course to get its accreditation as a two-year degree awarding institution from New England Association of Schools and Colleges next year.

Becoming a university, points out Dr. Greene, would mean another lengthy accreditation process and a massive library upgrade.

Dr. Greene adds: "There is another side of me that says also that if a student can afford to go overseas, they should go. I would suggest that you get off the Island and go overseas. That's the other part of this, it's not just economics."

She believes she benefited hugely from studying in Canada and the States. "I was 17 when I went. I think it opened up my eyes, especially from a cultural standpoint, as well as when it came to diversity and all of those things that we didn't experience here."

At Acadia University in Nova Scotia, for example, she discovered that black students were in a minority. "I wouldn't say it was a culture shock, but it was a shock. It was different."

She says of going abroad to study: "I think there is just a wealth of information that people, especially young people, can get. To go and immerse yourself into a different country and culture, it's a different story."

Dr. Greene was instrumental in introducing degrees in business and child and youth studies from Mount Saint Vincent (MSV) University — one of her former places of study, also in Nova Scotia — to the college.

Students on the courses receive an associate degree from the college after two years and then transfer to MSV. They have the option to do all their studying on the Island — by way of teleconferencing, internet sessions and classes at the Paget campus — or do some of their degree in Canada.

She hopes the college can expand on that success and play a huge role in providing degrees for what she describes as "non-traditional students" — those with family or other commitments or constraints that prevent them going abroad.

"I think we have to move with the times," says Dr. Greene, who did some of her doctorate from Argosy University, Florida, through distance learning.

"At this point in time I think the next step is for us to partner with other institutions to provide affordable access to a baccalaureate degree.

"Ten to 20 years down the road, maybe we will have that option of becoming a four-year institution. The demand may get so much that we can outright offer our own degrees."

The president says the MSV scheme could be replicated with other universities, giving Bermudian students degrees on their doorsteps, particularly ones relevant to the international business sector.

She says the college is unlikely to ever offer a vast array of academic degrees. "I think we need to look at what's needed to sustain our community. Those things that are needed, I think we need to concentrate on those things first: teaching, health care and international business."

The college board will begin considering the options this summer and Dr. Greene says it will be a while before any decisions are made.

She added: "The ball is rolling. We have opened up the exploratory process, not knowing which way it's going to go. We have no preconceived ideas. I think it's important that the board knows all the options.

"The board will discuss it at their board meeting and they will decide which model or models we wish to explore further and then we'll go do further research and the decision will be made by the board."

If the board supports the university route, subject to government approval, Dr. Greene says she'll be happy to start the process.

"I think it's something the whole country has to be supportive of, either way we go," she says. "The baccalaureate degree is the new high school diploma for many jobs.

"We have to offer it here and it has to be accessible and affordable. Expecting people to pick up and go overseas to do it is not affordable for many and not accessible for some. Let's make an informed decision, rather than one out of passion or expedience."

• A new college website will be launched in the next few weeks at www.college.bm.