RDC's New Name Revealed

“What will RDC be called?” Since learning that the College would become a university, the most frequently asked question – and a source for online speculation and social media polls – has been the institution’s new name.

On March 5, that question was answered in the RDC Arts Centre, when the Government of Alberta announced that Red Deer University would be the official moniker of the future.

“Red Deer University reflects not only our College’s 55-year history, but also the resonating pride people have in RDC and the community in which we live,” says Morris Flewwelling, Chair of RDC’s Board of Governors. “This name is grounded in our institution’s past, while also providing a focus for our future evolution.”

“Certain themes started to emerge, such as inclusive, growth and opportunity. But the biggest and ultimately most important word was community...”

RDC’s future name reflects feedback that the College heard from more than 400 people who attended community sessions in Red Deer, Ponoka, Stettler and Rocky Mountain House. The sessions were attended by a wide range of people, from students to alumni, Indigenous leaders to business owners, who shared their thoughts on what the College is and what they hope it will become. Participants identified a strong emotional connection with RDC, sharing what it means for them personally, and what it means for them professionally as they grow and expand their careers.

“During the sessions, people were asked what words they felt best represented RDC today,” says Joel Ward, RDC President & CEO. “Certain themes started to emerge, such as inclusive, growth and opportunity. But the biggest and ultimately most important word was community – the relationships we have with each other and what we share in this region cannot be underestimated.”

Expanding on this feedback, College leaders were able to see an evolution in themes for what people hope to see in the future. While community is still an important attribute, other words emerged, such as leader, transformative, recognized and, with the highest prominence, innovative.

Armed with the information from the community feedback sessions, College staff and external consultants, Will Creative and Stormy Lake Consulting, conducted extensive research to help establish options for the new name and brand. After reviewing best practices for post-secondary naming from across three continents, along with nearly 100 workable options, Red Deer University emerged as the outstanding option to capture the legacy of RDC and its future as a comprehensive regional teaching university.

“The comprehensive aspect is a very important part of the vision for our future university,” Flewwelling says. “We have a legacy of offering students a wide range of credentials, and that won’t stop when we become a university. We will still offer everything from Trades programs to our own degrees, and we will work with our partners to forge a university that offers innovative, practical education with sought-after programs.” This work on program development and other aspects for RDC to transition to a university has been happening

behind the scenes since 2018, and it will continue in the immediate future.

And when will the College officially be known as Red Deer University? Not just yet, but once all of the requirements for RDC to become a university are met, the new name will be official. Ward believes this process will take approximately three to five years.

“Knowing our new name is a huge win for the College, because it provides a fixed point and a target for us to work towards as we become the institution of our future,” he says. “The name Red Deer University connects to our proud legacy, it’s memorable and emotional, and it signifies our change. We couldn’t have even imagined this change without the incredible support of our entire community. You’ve helped us to shape our name, and you’ll help us to create the story of what we will become.”