Yukon College will change its name to Yukon University once it officially becomes one, the territorial government announced on Wednesday.
Last year, then-Education Minister Elaine Taylor announced the school would offer its first bachelor’s degree - in policy studies in indigenous governance - in 2017.
It will build on the First Nations governance and public administration certificate program currently offered at the college.
The degree was designed to help build capacity for First Nations governments in the Yukon, and grew from a partnership with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
The new program is part of an effort to move Yukon College closer to being a university, a promise made by the Yukon Party leading up to the 2011 election. It remains unclear when this change would actually happen.
“Having a name for the future institution will help Yukon College staff with planning for and developing the next iteration of post-secondary education in the territory,” said Yukon College President Karen Barnes.
The college is currently preparing for a site visit from Universities Canada in 2016/17, with the hopes of becoming a member of the organization.