Vancouver is even closer to unlocking the possibilities to education as the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is slated to commence operations at its Vancouver office. The Grand Opening celebration, which also recognizes TRU’s 40th Anniversary, is on November 3 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm in the new office, located at 1030 West Georgia Street.

Construction of the office was completed in early September and is now ready for Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) students and Open Learning Faculty Members to utilize. Judith Murray, Vice President, TRU-OL, explained that the Open Learning Administration always intended to have a Vancouver presence for Open Learning in order to help fulfill its mandate to provide open and distance education to the province of British Columbia.

“The majority of our students and the majority of the Open Learning Faculty reside in the lower mainland,” Murray said. “The presence is important to keep TRU-OL top of mind for prospective students from the lower mainland and to best serve the needs of our Open Learning Faculty Members.”

The new office will have a limited complement of staff, according to Murray, who will be overseeing the facility which will be used for exam purposes as well as a space for Opening Learning staff and Open Learning Faculty Members to conduct meetings and training. TRU-OL’s new Vancouver-based office will also provide information and serve the needs of interested public looking for information regarding their options for online and distance education.

“This is a very exciting time for students around B.C. and the Lower Mainland, who will now have even more options as they pursue their post-secondary education,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Science and Universities. “The opening of the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University will provide a vital link for students to prepare for their future studies or meet personal goals.”

“This is a very exciting time for students around B.C. and the Lower Mainland, who will now have even more options as they pursue their post-secondary education” – Ida Chong, Minister of Science and Universities

Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning
Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) is the division of Thompson Rivers University (TRU) that specializes in providing learners with flexible learning options, open access to education and a wide variety of course and program choices. TRU meets the needs of its own students and helps other institutions and organizations meet the open and online learning needs of their communities.
TRU-OL is situated in the BC Centre for Open Learning located on TRU’s Kamloops campus, located in the Interior region of British Columbia, Canada.

TRU is a public institution and a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The Open Learning Division collaborates with BC Campus, other educational institutions, professional bodies, industries and businesses, and is a founding member of the Canadian Virtual University (CVU).

Mandated by government to provide the province with open learning programming and an open learning educational credit bank, TRU-OL opens the doors to accessible, recognized and quality post-secondary education, providing learning opportunities in a print, web, online or blended format, with programs tailored to each student’s personal needs.

Supported by approximately 165 highly respected faculty who telecommute from all over BC, over 16,000 students enrol in some of the over 250 TRU-OL online and distance courses and another 200 plus courses, delivered through consortium institutions, as well as a further 34 language courses that can be challenged. Most universities, community colleges, provincial institutes, businesses, industries and professional associations recognize the credits earned in programs and courses offered through TRU-OL.

Credentials awarded through TRU-OL include adult secondary school completion, certificates and diplomas (including advanced and post-baccalaureate), associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees. Students completing certificate, diploma or degree programs by online and distance learning through TRU-OL are awarded a Thompson Rivers University credential.