For more than 40 years, Booth University College (Booth UC) has been a place where Christian faith, academic excellence and a passion for service come together. This commitment to Christ-centred, high-quality education and social justice is at the heart of Booth UC’s mission—one that continues to evolve under the leadership of Rev. (Dr.) Rob Fringer, who was appointed president and vice-chancellor in July 2023.

Sunday Olukoju, director of external relations at Booth UC, interviewed Rev. (Dr.) Fringer on behalf of Salvationist to learn more about the evolution of Booth UC, its new strategic plan and what’s to come for the institution.

As the president of Booth UC, what are you thankful for?

Rev. (Dr.) Rob Fringer: I am thankful for all that God has done, is doing and will do, and for an opportunity to use the gifts that God has given me to extend hope, mercy and justice to others through higher education. I am thankful for the Booth UC staff, faculty and board members who are committed to the mission, work and success of the institution. 

I am also thankful for the leadership of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, who continue to support and encourage us. And I am so grateful for our many students, past and present, who have grown alongside us and have become living examples of the potential impact of high quality, Christian higher education to transform individuals, communities and even our world.

In 2024, Booth UC released a new strategic plan. Can you tell us more about this?

RF: Booth UC has been and continues to be in a season of transformation. As a community, we have recounted our story, reinforced our mission, reclaimed our calling, reshaped our strategy and re-envisioned our goals. The result was our new strategic plan, which is a living document to guide us toward a flourishing future. Rooted in The Salvation Army’s Wesleyan tradition, we continue to blend faith, education and service, preparing students to live out Christian values of hope, justice and mercy, which we believe is the formula for “Education for a Better World,” which is our vision statement. This aim has been further delineated into four institutional goals: education for a better Booth UC; education for a better Salvation Army; education for a better Winnipeg; and education for a better Canada and beyond, each with four priorities under each category.

Pretty ambitious, isn’t it?

RF: On our own we would not be able to accomplish these goals. Nevertheless, with a deep belief in the calling God has placed on this institution and on its faculty and staff, and with great trust in the Booth UC community, these things and more are possible. For example, in the recent past, we celebrated the accomplishments of 88 of our amazing students at Booth UC’s 42nd convocation. We also hosted our first Chaplains and Spiritual Care Providers Conference with attendees from across Canada and abroad. On September 28, 2024, we held a grand opening for our two new locations—the Waldron Building at 290 Vaughan Street and the Union Station Campus at 123 Main Street—and officially opened our new Booth Bistro in the Waldron Building.

Building on last year’s successes, what’s on the horizon for Booth UC?

RF: Last year, we established the Academic Innovation Department (AID) and launched an accelerated academic program called ASPIRE, which is open to all students, but has specifically drawn in a lot of international students. While we are already a degree-granting post-secondary institution fully approved by the government of Manitoba, we have also begun two accreditation processes, which we believe will strengthen our quality, further validate our already respected programs, and extend our reach. These include professional accreditation for our social work program through the Canadian Association for Social Work Education, and institutional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

In keeping with our territory’s vision statement, how is Booth UC an “innovative partner”?

RF: We recently relaunched our Indigenous Advisory Council with four external leaders to guide our commitment to truth and reconciliation. We have developed a new personal support worker certificate in partnership with Toronto Grace Health Centre, which is recognized by Canadian Support Workers Association, and will launch in September 2025. In addition, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Asbury Theological Seminary, offering Booth UC graduates advanced standing in several master’s degree programs and access to exclusive scholarships for this education.

Before we sign off, do you have any final thoughts to share?

RF: I’m just amazed at all God has accomplished through Booth UC, and I am humbled by our incredible team. None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our stakeholders, led by The Salvation Army. The support of our stakeholders—through prayer, promotion and finances—has been key to fulfilling our mission. We look forward to an even greater impact as we take hold of our future and make it a reality. With so much more to do, I would like to ask readers to consider how they might further partner with and support the mission of Booth UC. When you support us, you are part of Education for a Better World. Thank you!

To read Booth UC’s strategic plan, visit boothuc.ca/about/our-story/mission-and-vision.