Avondale College becomes Avondale College of Higher Education

Sonja Larsen
Editorial assistant, Connections
Avondale College of Higher Education
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

As any new parent knows, choosing a name for newborn is a difficult but important job. So it was with Avondale’s change of name from Avondale College to Avondale College of Higher Education.

Avondale College Council voted to the change of name late this past year after receiving a recommendation from the Executive Committee. The transition began at the beginning of this year.

So, why a new name? It is to reduce confusion, says president Dr Ray Roennfeldt. A variety of educational institutions, including secondary schools, vocational training institutions, higher education providers and residences on the campuses of universities, use the word, “college,” to identify themselves. “Until we can use the word, ‘university,’ we should clarify our position in the Australian higher education sector,” says Ray.

What will the change of name mean for students? Not a lot, yet. Ray says it is an interim step toward achieving university status. The next step will be self-accrediting status, which is the plan for this year.

Despite the continual upgrading of government requirements, Ray says Avondale continues to work with confidence toward university status. “We are constantly responding to the government’s requirements, and it is clear to us what we have to do to get to where we want to be.”