University of Prince Edward Island president Wade MacLauchlan is upset about a P.E.I. government plan that would allow other post-secondary institutions the ability to grant bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees.

The province plans to introduce a degree-granting act in the fall sitting of the legislature to allow for the changes.

UPEI and the Maritime Christian College are the only degree-granting institutions in the province.

The UPEI president said he first heard about the idea in a letter a few days ago from Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allan Campbell.

Campbell said the change will allow the P.E.I. post-secondary learning system to evolve and expand.

The minister notes that in the future some of the degree-granting institutions will likely have online training as a key part of their programs.

In a letter to the minister, MacLaughlan said, contrary to Campbell's claim, the experience of other provinces in approving new institutions has been 'closer to fraud than to innovation.'

Deadline extended

MacLaughlan said it should be a prime objective of government to safeguard and expand UPEI's name and reputation, not to diminish the idea of a university.

MacLaughlan has released his correspondence with the minister to the media but said he will not speak publicly about it until next week.

"I can assure you there is nothing fraudulent about the process we've undertaken here," said Campbell, adding that he isn't surprised by MacLaughlan's concern.

"I understand the pride he has in what he has been able to accomplish at UPEI," said Campbell. "You know, it's change. And change can be difficult for sure, but what we're doing is just to provide more opportunity. But we do have a very, very stringent process in place."

Campbell originally gave UPEI until Nov. 15 to respond, but extended the deadline after MacLaughlan said he didn't have enough notice to properly respond before the bill was introduced this fall.

The province releases the speech from the throne on Friday.