What's New?
New Degree Programs
The First Nations Applied Economics program will provide key foundational skills and knowledge to assist in the development of a First Nations economic infrastructure and support long term benefits in the development of residential and commercial enterprises on First Nation lands.
The primary goal of the Accounting Technician Diploma is to train accounting technicians, who generally work as supervisors in accounting departments or as para-professionals in public accounting firms.
July 16, 2010
TRU Walking a StraighterLine
The Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University has joined StraighterLine ― a provider of high-quality, low-cost, beginner-level online college-credit courses ― as its first Canadian partner university. StraighterLine partner colleges are all regionally accredited institutions that award post-secondary credit upon transfer for successfully completed online college courses from StraighterLine.
Through this partnership, students who successfully complete StraighterLine courses may now transfer these courses for full credit when they enroll with Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL). Students can then use these transfer credits towards the completion of their post-secondary degrees through TRU-OL.
“We are pleased to be the first Canadian University to partner with Straighterline,” Judith Murray, Vice President, Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning, said. “As a public university with a mandate to provide open access to quality higher education, TRU-OL supports Starighterline’s innovative model for reducing the financial barriers to higher education to the benefit to learners.”
Students can take freshman and introductory-level classes from StraighterLine and save thousands of dollars on a four-year college degree. With StraighterLine, students pay only US$99 per month plus US$39 per course started and can move as quickly or slowly through the material as they like.
StraighterLine courses have been evaluated and recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE)’s Credit Recommendation Service and have met or exceeded the Distance Education and Training Council’s standards for online course quality.
“TRU-OL will readily accept any StraighterLine courses that are listed in the ACE national guide, to the extent that the courses meet the requirements of the student’s TRU-OL program,” Christine Wihak, Director, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, TRU-OL, said.
Currently, StraighterLine offers nine entry-level college courses online, including College Algebra, Precalculus, English Comp I, English Comp II, Accounting I, Accounting II, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Business Statistics and two developmental courses, with more to be offered soon. StraighterLine partner colleges and universities include the following institutions:
- Charter Oak State College (www.charteroak.edu)
- Fort Hays State University (www.fhsu.edu)
- Jefferson Community and Technical College (www.jefferson.kctcs.edu)
- Kaplan University (www.kaplanuniversity.edu)
- Lake City Community College (www.lakecitycc.edu)
- Potomac College (www.potomac.edu)
- Thompson Rivers University (www.truopen.ca)
- Western Governors University (www.wgu.edu)
“By partnering with the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University, any student in North America can save thousands on the beginning of a college degree,” Burck Smith, StraighterLine’s CEO and Founder, said. “Because Thompson Rivers University’s credits are recognized throughout Canada, a student may choose whether he or she would like an American or a Canadian degree.”
July 09, 2010
Another opportunity to win!
$10,000 Investment in Students Marks 10th Anniversary.
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Canadian Virtual University (CVU), a consortium of 10 of Canada's leading universities in online and distance education, is offering 10 gifts of $1,000 each to Canadian students who successfully complete a distance course from a CVU member in 2010.
To be eligible, students must complete a course listed on the CVU website by December 31, 2010, and then enter the draw by January 31, 2011. Full details are available at: http://www.cvu-uvc.ca/10thAnniversary.htm
"The $10,000 investment in our students marks 10 years of CVU's leadership in distance and online education," says Dr. Lori Wallace, president of CVU and dean of extended education at the University of Manitoba. "It also highlights CVU's commitment to institutional collaboration and virtual student mobility. CVU's online catalogue of 2,000 courses and 300 programs allows students to easily find Canadian university distance education courses to complement their programs, and our visiting student policies help students save on administrative fees."
CVU was established in 2000 to increase access to higher education and facilitate transfer credit and collaboration in the marketing, development and delivery of distance and online education. In 2008-2009, students of CVU members registered in over 500,000 credit hours of distance or online degree courses.
Participating universities are:
- Thompson Rivers Univesity
- Athabasca University
- Laurentian University
- Memorial University of Newfoundland
- Mount Royal University
- Nipissing University
- Royal Military College of Canada
- TÉLUQ, l'université à distance de l'UQÀ
- University of Manitoba
- University of New Brunswick
May 21, 2010
New Degree Program
The Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program, designed and developed by Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning (TRU-OL) in collaboration with the School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria, will provide program students with the knowledge and skills required to become effective leaders and managers in both government and non-governmental/non-profit organizations.
May 05, 2010
TRU Convocation 2010 Schedule
Friday, October 8, 2010
2 p.m. Eligible graduates in all faculties and schools
For more information, contact Open Learning at 1.800.663.9711, or email student@tru.ca.
April 29, 2010
Prior learning increases likelihood of graduation
A new study published by The Council for Adult & Experiential Learning (CAEL) indicates that students who have been awarded academic credit for prior learning are more than twice as likely to graduate, or persist even if they did not graduate, than their peers who have not earned such credit. The study entitled Fuelling the Race to Postsecondary Success: A 48-Institution Study of Prior Learning Assessment and Adult Student Outcomes, examined the educational records of more than 62,000 adult undergraduates at 48 post-secondary institutions and reported that 56% of students enrolled who had some prior learning assessment credit went on to earn an associate or bachelor's degree compared to only 21% of students who did not receive any such credit. Other findings the study published include the fact that students who received prior learning credit earned their degrees more quickly than their peers, saving on average between 2.5 and 10.1 months for bachelor's degrees and up to 4.5 months for associate degrees.
For more information go to (PLAR) Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.
March 23, 2010
New Service Available for Open Learning Students
Are you struggling with the challenges of composition? Grappling with the peculiarities of grammar? Looking to resuscitate your footnoting skills? The OL Student Writing Help Line may be able to help.
There is no cost to you for the service, if you are an Open Learning student.
For more information go to http://www.tru.ca/distance/services/swriting.html
December 7, 2009