Effective September 1, NSAC will become the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University.

Backgrounder

On May 20, 2011, the Province of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University launched a process to merge NSAC and Dalhousie. After nine months of discussions and negotiations, an agreement in principle was announced on March 23, 2012.

NSAC has been operating as a division of the Department of Agriculture with the administration of the college largely performed by the government.

A merger with Dalhousie University is consistent with Dr. Tim O’Neill’s recommendation in the Report on the University System in Nova Scotia (September, 2010).

Dalhousie University and NSAC have had a close relationship for many years. Dal already grants NSAC degrees and NSAC is represented on the Dal senate.


Merger goals

Together, Dalhousie and NSAC will be able to offer students a broader choice of interdisciplinary programs of study and the two institutions will be better positioned to compete nationally and internationally.

A stronger linkage between Dalhousie and NSAC is intended to:

  • further develop a centre of excellence for research and innovation in agriculture, agri-food, and bio-resources,

  • give students at both Dalhousie and NSAC a broader choice of programs,

  • encourage more research collaboration and opportunities at two institutions; and,

  • seek efficiencies through shared services.

A merger offers exciting potential to build and enhance programs at both campuses. At the same time, it can support ongoing partnerships and other joint activities with other post-secondary institutions such as Acadia.

For more, read the Guiding Principles and Objectives of the merger. (link)

About the Merger process

  • The first phase of the merger discussion, through 2011, was a discovery process focused on exchanging information, understanding each institution’s processes and practices, and identifying both issues and opportunities related to merger.

  • The project entered its negotiation phase in January, 2012. Formal negotiations centred on budget, governance, human resources, property and assets, and high level operations.

  • The co-leads were Peter Underwood, Deputy Minister, Special Projects, Department of Agriculture; Susan Spence Wach, Associate Vice-President Academic, Dalhousie. Rod Burgar led the negotiation phase for the province.

What was accomplished?

  • Joint Dalhousie and NSAC working groups analyzed all aspects of the merger – including both opportunities and challenges.

  • The first phase of the merger discussion focused on exchanging information – understanding processes and practices and identifying gaps, issues and opportunities.

  • Hundreds of NSAC stakeholders provided input or otherwise participated in the merger discussion process, including staff, faculty, students, alumni, and industry partners.

  • Merger principles and objectives were developed over the summer of 2011, reflecting all parties’ shared vision for NSAC in future.

  • Dalhousie and government reached a tentative agreement as of mid-March 2012.