# Yukon University

> public university in the Canadian territory of Yukon

**Wikidata**: [Q16211981](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16211981)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukon_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yukon-university

## Summary
Yukon University is a public university located in Whitehorse, within the Canadian territory of Yukon. Established in 1963, the institution has evolved from a vocational school to a college, officially achieving university status on February 20, 2020. It serves as a charitable organization and a member of Colleges and Institutes Canada.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** 500 University Drive, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada (Coordinates: 60.7503° N, -135.099° W).
- **Inception:** Founded in 1963.
- **Status Change:** Transitioned from "Yukon College" to "Yukon University" on February 20, 2020.
- **Type:** Public university, charitable organization.
- **Former Names:** Whitehorse Vocational and Technical Training Centre (1963–1965), Yukon Vocational and Training Centre (1965–1983), Yukon College (1983–2020).
- **Membership:** Digital Research Alliance of Canada; Colleges and Institutes Canada.
- **Employee Count:** Recorded as 805 employees in 2019.
- **Identifiers:** ROR ID: 040w4gz36; GRID ID: grid.422912.e; Charity Registration: 121937502RR0001.
- **Website:** http://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/

## FAQs
### Q: When did Yukon College become a university?
A: The institution officially changed its name from Yukon College to Yukon University on February 20, 2020.

### Q: What was the institution's original purpose when founded?
A: Founded in 1963 as the Whitehorse Vocational and Technical Training Centre, it originally functioned as a vocational school until 1988.

### Q: Where is Yukon University located?
A: The university is located at 500 University Drive in Whitehorse, the capital of the Canadian territory of Yukon.

## Why It Matters
Yukon University represents a critical educational infrastructure shift in Northern Canada. By transitioning from a vocational center founded in the 1960s to a full-fledged university in 2020, it reflects the growing academic and research needs of the Yukon territory. It plays a significant role in the local economy not just as an educator but as a major employer, with staff numbers fluctuating between 700 and 921 over the 2003–2019 period.

As a charitable organization, it manages substantial assets and revenues to support its mission. Its membership in the Digital Research Alliance of Canada highlights its participation in national research computing and data management, distinguishing it as a research-capable institution in a remote region.

## Notable For
- **Territorial Significance:** It is the public university serving the Canadian territory of Yukon.
- **Institutional Evolution:** It is one of the few institutions to have evolved through four distinct naming and structural phases (Vocational School → Training Centre → College → University) over six decades.
- **Financial Growth:** The institution demonstrated significant revenue growth in the early 2000s, increasing from approximately $20.5 million CAD in 2003 to over $45.7 million CAD in 2011.
- **Research Integration:** As a member of the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, it is integrated into the national advanced research computing infrastructure.

## Body

### History and Evolution
The institution was established in 1963 as the **Whitehorse Vocational and Technical Training Centre**. In 1965, it was renamed the **Yukon Vocational and Training Centre**. It underwent a significant transformation in 1983 to become **Yukon College**, a status it held until February 20, 2020, when it officially became **Yukon University**.

*   **1963–1965:** Whitehorse Vocational and Technical Training Centre
*   **1965–1983:** Yukon Vocational and Training Centre
*   **1983–2020:** Yukon College
*   **2020–Present:** Yukon University

### Operations and Finance
The university operates as a charitable organization in Canada (Charity ID: 121937502RR0001). Financial records from 2003 to 2012 show a trajectory of growth and fluctuation:
*   **Revenue:** Rose from 20.5 million CAD (2003) to a peak of 45.7 million CAD (2011).
*   **Donations:** Gifted revenue varied significantly, hitting a high of 10.3 million CAD in 2009 before dropping to lower levels in subsequent years.
*   **Assets:** Total assets hovered around the 20–28 million CAD range between 2003 and 2012.

### Employment and Size
The university is a significant employer in the region. Employment numbers have historically ranged:
*   **2003–2008:** Maintained approximately 700 employees.
*   **2012:** Reached a peak of 921 employees.
*   **2019:** Stabilized at 805 employees.

### Identity and Networks
*   **Location:** Main campus is at 500 University Drive, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 5K4.
*   **Memberships:** Includes the Digital Research Alliance of Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada.
*   **Digital Identifiers:**
    *   **DOI Prefix:** 10.22584
    *   **ISNI:** 0000000096056404
    *   **ROR ID:** 040w4gz36

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20221214213749/https://alliancecan.ca/en/membership/our-members)
4. [Source](https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/colleges-and-institutes-in-your-community/our-members/)
5. [Source](https://www.charitydata.ca/charity/yukon-university/121937502RR0001/)
6. [Source](http://api.crossref.org/members/9877)
7. GRID Release 2015-12-14
8. GRID Release 2016-12-06
9. Quora
10. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
11. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
12. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
13. Canada Revenue Agency