Vancouver University Worldwide

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 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. 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 the annual deficit of International House Bellingham WA and participation in US-based organizations.

Representation: As summarized in our Names document, this website serves the inter-related Vancouver and Worldwide universities consortia. The Office of President and University-affiliates Services (OPUS) provides representation, for both consortia, to external parties with respect to common interests. Group participation in the National Graduate Registry, and membership in various collaborations of universities and other organizations, are examples. OPUS and Registry/LCCB - the Learning Credentials Credits Bank registry - likewise administer and recommend issuance of degree.

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 - Chair, 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 (originally staff representation category); Peter Chern (alumni and affiliate representations), Ted Gemberling (IHB); and Jill Emerson [BoA, WA], Mary Tai, Paul Tai, Dr Dereck Clease, Dr 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 government society as individual members. The AGM of the Society and related entities is, unless otherwise announced, held annually at 1pm on 15 August at 2-550 Beatty Lane.