Vancouver University Worldwide

Vancouver University Worldwide is (1) a consortium of globally-dispersed constituent and affiliate member colleges and programs, and (2) conducts a collateral 'external' aggregate-learning degrees process. VUW thusly functions in two different but overlapping contexts:

(1) The locations-based programs are at constituent member or affiliate member colleges and institutes across Canada and around the world. They directly deal with students in their location and normally issue their own certificate or diploma for courses completed with them. These courses then additionally receive credit towards our relevant aggregate-learning ('external') degree, along with other learning accepted for degree credit purpose.

(2) The aggregate-learning degree process is also open to External ( 'off-campus' ) candidates who meet our criteria - such persons often, however, needing to take additional courses at an appropriate near-to-them institution, or on-line, in order to meet our degree completion requirements.

You may have arrived at this website from a Government of Canada directory. (The BC government education website lists only public institutions, and thus not TWU or Vancouver University). For other Vancouver Canada locational region universities (there being also a city of Vancouver in Washington State), see here.

Worldwide Vancouver University, although including century-old 1893-legislated Whetham College, has been since 1970 (and more so since 1983) a non-profit (Canada and USA) secular consortium university of globally-located public and private member colleges, with currently about 4320 students. Structurally it is an international non-governmental organization, with representation of globally-dispersed alumni, colleges, faculty, and staff. [For NGO context, see Rodgers, Facilitation Problems of International Associations, Union of International Associations, Brussels]. Vancouver University commenced its ongoing university name and presumptions, and its corporate governance, in British Columbia. Accordingly, the British Columbia government should enact for it the equivalent of BC Bill Pr 401 (2005) - or grandparent it under the 2003 BC DAA (and see the bottom of this present homepage) - as well as warmly appreciate the continuity of its long-standing consortium offices, located in downtown Vancouver BC near the big W skysign.

Worldwide Vancouver University conducts an aggregate-learning degree process, serving member colleges and external degree candidates since 1970, by assembly and consolidation of multi-sourced academic credit, documented work-place learning, special examinations, etc (i.e., Enhanced Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition). The resulting certificates, diplomas, and degrees are formally authorized or tactitly accepted in various collaborating jurisdictions.

We subscribe to the Principles of Good Practice of the WCET, and the Professional Standards of the AAUA, and we collaborate in the quality focussed and other academic organizations listed here. We accept a wide range of classroom or on-line courses, and other credible credit, into a coherent and complete degree in arts, applied science, business, education, general studies, technology, or other subject.

Our degree authority historically derived within Common Law precedents, upheld by various Commonwealth high courts [e.g., past BC example ] and privy councils, affirming that an entity with lawful university name is presumed to award credible degrees - in responsible manner, and striving at all times for excellence. Our degrees thus originated in customary and statutory context, and we collaborate in the quality concern and other academic organizations listed here. Some Common Law jurisdictions have enacted variances from the traditional principle. In November 2003 the BC government proclaimed a variance with regulatory options so narrow in structure and process as to hinder traditional academic freedom and challenge the operation of a globally-dispersed member colleges consortium university. Nevertheless, in post-2003 DAA context, Vancouver University Worldwide affirms it conforms with the variant Act’s criteria of having a proven capability track record and appropriate governance mechanism, and early in 2004 made an overall BC DAA application for so-called Exempt status.

We also have submitted a further exemplary BC DAA submission in the context of Business Administration programs. The BC DQAB has at hand our IFPAS-POD-CPPD-et al application for review. As mentioned above, worldwide Vancouver University also continues its long-standing other degrees, issued outside BC jurisdiction.

Worldwide Vancouver University also has a firm commitment to the quality of the on-line e-learning offerings of its member colleges. It is leading its on-line providers to earn the eQcheck certification mark of quality. The eQcheck is a certification mark of quality based on the most comprehensive, open-source international standard available – Open eQLs, the Open eQuality Learning Standards. Unlike other designations, the eQcheck is an external review of the quality of an institution as well as the distance learning it provides. We look forward to soon being able to display the eQcheck certification mark on behalf of the on-line e-learning offerings of our member colleges.

We appreciate the support of those jurisdictions which understand and respect our standards and process. 106 Ministers and/or Parliamentary Secretaries for Education in the Commonwealth received an inquiry as to whether or not their jurisdiction is at variance with Common Law tradition. Only a handful of Commonwealth jurisdictions have enacted variances like that of BC. To see present BC Government MLAs, reflecting their Leader's pre-Election written support of us, and representing their party at past Convocations, click and scroll to the bottom here.

Until now, member colleges of Canada-based universities have been non-profit. Vancouver University - with registered charity status in both Canada and the United States - is now accepting a limited proportion of profit entities into membership, along with its other non-profit independent and public-institution affiliates. See further information about membership below.

No money is to flow from VUW to any profit-making affiliates. Flow will go the other way to provide support for less affluent programs such as Early Childhood Education.

Bursaries provided to Early Childhood Education degree candidates are - unless otherwise specified - awarded in honour of Elaine Cumley. In her relatively short life, she nurtured two adopted children and a struggling embryonic university. Bursaries in other disciplines are - unless otherwise specified - awarded in honour of Lillian M. Frizell. Prompted by a Montreal Star story about a student's need, she donated a helpful sum to a complete stranger who was thus encouraged to proceed to late 'Fifties post-graduate studies in New York.   Diana Young bursaries are awarded to assist a student, preferably from a developing country, to study at a member college in Singapore. (Criteria may later be expanded). Bursary fund donations in these names, and others, are appreciated. Grants: American-resident External Degree candidates please note that funds remitted by you are used to cover participation in US-based academic organizations.

Conversely, constituent and affiliate college offices - wherever located - undertake to provide local or sectoral representation for both the Vancouver and Worldwide universities consortia with respect to general provision of information, student and faculty exchanges, etc.

Governance:

All constituent and affiliate member colleges - Faculties and programs - are entitled to voting representation at meetings of Convocation or Board of Governors (i.e., of concurrently-meeting Whetham College and Vancouver University Colleges and Whistler College societies). Formally "collaborating" institutes (i.e., those which enter into a Memorandum of Agreement) are similarly welcomed to attend such meetings. Constituent colleges, and usually all affiliate colleges and collaborating institutes, have the option of membership in both the Vancouver University (Colleges Society) and Worldwide University (Association) consortia.

All officers are concurrent and the president - acting through trust corporation Geo.Vancouver University Colleges Corporation - has common authority for issuance of degrees, upon recommendation of faculty and - with respect to honorary degrees (infrequently awarded) - the governors. Whetham Trustees - the Chair, the President (Raymond Spencer Rodgers), and Secretary - likewise constitute the Executive Committee of the society Board and Convocation of Governors. They consult with other governors, faculty, and staff as various matters arise. Since 1983 there have been three long-serving chairpersons: Lila Chen (deceased), Grant A Lucas D.Hum. (continuing as senior USA-resident governor), and Thomas N Tong CGA CFP MA LL.D (Canada, originally in faculty representation category). Among other long-serving governors are former consular corps dean David Combe, Hideyuki Nagata, Lola Rodgers (alumnnus representation category); Mesalu Gebrehiwot (faculty representation category); Pei-ming Liu and Heather Rankin (originally staff representation category); Peter Chern (alumni and affiliate representations), Ted Gemberling (IHB); and Jill Emerson [BoA, WA], Mary Tai, and Paul Tai (public representation category). More recent Board members include Drs Dereck Clease (Chair) and Melanie Ho, Stephen Cassells, and Gwen Donaldson. The member colleges also each nominate a representative on the Board; and all alumni, students, faculty and staff are welcome to join the governing society as individual members. The AGM of the Society and the World University Association is, unless otherwise announced, held annually at 1pm on 15 August at 2-550 Beatty Lane.