Less than a year after its launch, Canadian Virtual University-Universit virtuelle canadienne (CVU-UVC) has expanded to include three new partners, 500 additional courses, and 50 more credential programs.

Less than a year after its launch, Canadian Virtual University-Universit virtuelle canadienne (CVU-UVC) has expanded to include three new partners, 500 additional courses, and 50 more credential programs.

The expansion makes it a truly national and bilingual university consortium giving all Canadians easy access to a university education, regardless of location.

CVU is an innovative partnership of chartered Canadian universities aligning their considerable resources and on-line and distance education expertise to give students across the country the choice of what, where, when, and how to complete a recognized university credential through distance education and the Internet, in English and in French.

University College of Cape Breton, Tl-Universit du Qubec, and Universit de Moncton have joined Athabasca University, BC Open University, Brandon University, Laurentian University, Royal Roads University, the University of Manitoba, and University of Victoria to allow students to complete 2,000 university courses and 150 recognized university credentials without stepping into a classroom.

CVU is also part of an emerging alliance of Canadian universities and colleges working with Industry Canada to provide programming complementary to the Canada's Campus Connection initiative (www.campusconnection.net), a pilot project of Canada's Schoolnet (www.schoolnet.ca) that provides a gateway to the on-line courses of 60 Canadian universities and colleges and promotes these courses to large, national and international learner markets.

At CVU, students point-and-click to www.cvu-uvc.ca to get to campus, enroll in programs, register for courses, and access services.

"The University College of Cape Breton has been searching for a good Canadian vehicle for marketing Canada's exceptional distance education products, and CVU fits the bill splendidly," says Dr. Jacquelyn Thayer Scott, president. "Through CVU, we hope to raise awareness, nationally and internationally, of the quality education available to university students at a distance." Scott is a member of the CVU Board of Directors.

"The Universit de Moncton has joined CVU because we believe that distance and on-line education is a key component of any modern university," says Truong Vo-Van, vice-recteur l'enseignement et la recherche. "With the development of information and communications technologies, the idea of a virtual university is more real than ever before. We should put our collective strengths to the task of building a major organization to do work in this important area.

"Our membership in CVU gives our students access to a wider range of courses," he adds. "And very interesting exchanges can take place between the universities involved in CVU."

"Tl-Universit is proud to contribute to CVU a significant francophone aspect," says Madame Anne Marrec, directrice generale of Tl-Universit du Qubec and a member of the CVU Board of Directors.

On-campus students who wish to fast-track their education or who find that the course they want is not conveniently scheduled can create their own schedule by selecting a distance education course offered by any of the 10 participating universities," says Vicky Busch, executive director, CVU.

"Learners can save money when they take courses from partner universities," she adds. "Generally, universities charge fees for students taking courses from other universities. For visiting students, CVU members waive fees for a Letter of Permission - typically $10 to $35 per request - as well as the application fee, which usually runs $25 to $70.

Busch says the number of programs and courses available through CVU will continue to grow as more Canadian universities sign on and as new programs are jointly developed by member universities to meet the changing needs of the Canadian marketplace. Other Canadian universities who are committed to CVU core principles are eligible to become partners by contributing complementary programs delivered on-line or through distance education.

CVU welcomes anyone 18 years or older, regardless of location, and is open to learners in Canada and around the world.

Contact:
Vicky Busch, executive director
T: (780) 6, advising students, and for grade notification and recording

- minimize selected non-tuition costs to students

NEW PARTNERS
University College of Cape Breton
Cape Breton brings an additional 40 distance courses to CVUin the areas of Educational and Environmental Technology, Community Studies, Public Administration, and Environmental Health. It plans to develop web-based courses in Manufacturing and Microelectronics, Community Economic Development, and Teacher Education for offer through CVU-UVC.

Tl-Universit du Qubec
Tl-Universit du Qubec brings to CVU-UVC more than 200 distance courses in the French language in Administration, Communications, Computer Science, Health, Distance Education, and Languages.

Universit de Moncton
Universit de Moncton adds 12 complete programs in the French language in the areas of Education, Business, Management, Accounting, and Gerontology.