Names, Statutory Authority, etc, Vancouver University

Names Identification and History

VancouverUniversity.edu WorldwideUniversity.edu
VancouverUniversity.ca WorldwideUniversity.ca
Montessori.ca - all five redirect (fwd) to this website.

Vancouver University Colleges Society and Corporation have long encompassed constituent BC Montessori Teachers College, International House Bellingham WA, New Summits University College, Whetham College (BC c.67 1893), Whistler Institute (now College and Institute), and some other "Sutqulus" and "Cascadian" (regionally-located) affiliates and collaborating institutes. Often previously identified as simply University Colleges - e.g., as recently so listed in the Government of Canada National Guide to College and University Programmes 1996 p.618 - because until fairly recently there were no other university colleges in BC. Vancouver University, perceived as a geographical descriptor, does not reflect the fact of more affiliates and collaborating institutes outside Vancouver BC, and BC generally, than within same. Think about the global explorations of George Vancouver, rather than the cities in BC and WA named after him!

Worldwide University describes the wider consortium of the foregoing Faculties and programs plus others outside Canada. It broadens the older-established World University Colleges Association, which had members ranging alphabetically from Algoma University College (Ontario) to Vancouver University (formerly New Summits University College).

Vancouver University Colleges Worldwide, or Vancouver University Worldwide, is a convenient identifier of both Vancouver University - Worldwide University consortia. Either reference may be used in context, and with either a hyphen (-) or slash (/) as contextually preferred by writer or editor.

Statutory Authority (re US "accreditation" system, etc)

Member colleges of the consortia are variously and appropriately evaluated for quality assurance, and our consortia degrees are authorized in statutory context. American (and some media-confused Canadian) readers please note: outside the United States, universities are authorized in various ways - Royal charter, Papal charter, historic Common Law and/or Parliamentary statute. Although having long-standing recognized presence in Washington State, and additionally authorized within the Alberta Universities Act, we are primarily constituted by British Columbia statutes and various British Commonwealth Common Law precedents. There is no federal Department of Education in Canada. While Canadian university departments sometimes participate in particular North American or global "subject matter" evaluation processes, the universities of Canada and other countries are obviously not part of the US regional institutional accreditation structure. There presently is no appropriate Canada-wide quality-assurance agency willing or able (by its own present criteria or mandate) to "accredit" us. Like BCIT, Kwantlen University College, and Technical University of BC (all three public), we (non-profit secular) are not a member of the AUCC - nor (unfortunately) is it a comprehensive quality assurance process. The AUCC does make an evaluation visit upon application for membership. But we have been advised, on a number of occasions, that our consortia - and particularly our aggregate-learning (external degree) - context is not a singular "campus" lending itself to visitation. Our situation thus is different from that in the US, where programs like those of Regents, Thomas Edison, Charter Oak, etc have the choice of seeking US-context accreditation.

We have constituent member colleges, affiliate member colleges (consortia context), and an aggregate-learning degree process which serves constituent and affiliate college students as well as entirely External candidates. Because of the 1970 founding of our Point Roberts Institute (actually earlier in that year than the founding of VIPS), and our presence in Washington State ever since, we have from time to time raised the question of umbrella participation in the regional agency there. NASC, however, treats us like Antioch and Pacific Oaks - Ohio and California institutions with long-standing programs in Washington State - and says that we have in Washington whatever we have elsewhere. NASC (and likewise DETC) also declines to evaluate an External degree process.

The present alternative to US-style institutional "accreditation" in Canada is statutory authority. Except for the satellite branches of non-BC universities operating in British Columbia, no domestic-BC educational institution (or consortium of institutions) is provincially permitted use of "university" name except pursuant to legislative statute. In 1983 Vancouver [then New Summits] was specifically granted "university college" status in such statutory context - and, in 1992, full university context. Its statutorily-derived constitution specifically authorizes it to conduct "university work". When placed in "university" (not just junior college) name/context this quaint historic term conveys - in Common Law (with decisive British Commonwealth precedents) - the presumption of degree authority, whether relating to classroom-based programs or external (proctored examination etc) credentialing. These name presumptions were specifically authorized by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education to the Registrar of Companies and Societies. [Because of an anomaly in the BC Societies Act, a collateral entity was simultaneously incorporated in 1983 to formalize award of degrees and other diplomas]. The statutory basis for secular non-profit Vancouver University's award of degree historically thus included its constitution; the presumption arising from its statutorily awarded descriptive name; and the fact that such name and presumption was specifically authorized by the Ministry of Advanced Education in 1983 and (enhanced) 1992. 2004 Update .

In the 20th Century, in the early decades of our basic local-region programmatic expansion, we customarily notified the BC Minister of Advanced Education and/or WA offices of Governor and Secretary of State, and others, as relevant, at each intended stage of substantial enhancement of our programs - to secure matching funding, receive suggestions, facilitate liaison with other programs within various jurisdictions, etc. In the 21st Century, we now more effectively reflect the spectrum of activities of our constituent, affiliate, and collaborating colleges and institutes, globally and telespherically located, while retaining consortia administrative facilities and various programs in BC and WA.

Exemptions

Consequent to its degree authority, derived in part from a BC statute and in part from Common Law, all BC-located classroom-based and field-based experiential programs (and, of course, all external degrees) of VUCW's constituent Faculties - past or presently including BC Montessori Teachers College [Education], New Summits University College [Arts and Science, BREL program], Whetham College (c67 1893)[ESL and Management], Whistler Institute [BREL] and Whistler College (1998)[location etc tbd] - are exempt from inappropriate and dangerously intrusive (even if dormant) sections of the BC trade school act; and traditional non-profit university academic freedom is maintained and upheld. [Constituent colleges/faculties are those directly subject to the VUCW Board of Governors, or to a collateral Board of which a majority of members are also Governors of VUCW.

Counsel for the establishment of Vancouver University was Art Lee, distinguished lawyer, former Member of Parliament, and onetime Leader of the BC Liberal Party. A broadening of scope and status - from New Summits University College (singular) to Vancouver University Colleges (plural) - was authorized in l992 by the BC New Democratic Party government - Mike Harcourt then Premier.