Capilano University (CapU) is a teaching-focused public university based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located on the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, with programming that also serves the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and the Sunshine Coast. The university is named after Chief Joe Capilano Sa7plek (Sahp-luk) who was the leader of the Squamish people (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) from 1895 to 1910.
Capilano University's degree programs are approved by the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The degree-granting powers of the university are legislated by British Columbia's University Act.In 2012, CapU became Canada's first university to receive accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (or NWCCU) in Washington, one of six major regional agencies in the U.S. that are recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Capilano University's sports teams, The Blues,have won 15 national titles in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and 61 provincial titles in the Pacific Western Athletic Association.
The university was originally founded as Capilano College by school boards and residents of the North Shore and Howe Sound in 1968 based on the need for a public institution serving the local communities immediately northwest of Vancouver. Initial enrollment was 784 students.In 2008, the province changed Capilano College's designation to a university and, as of 2019, it has grown to enroll approximately 12,700 students per year.Capilano University's academic offerings include nationally and internationally recognized liberal arts, professional, and career programs which lead to degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
