Vancouver University Worldwide was an unaccredited vendor of higher education credentials, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, which described itself as a "secular consortium university of globally located public and private member colleges".[1] It offered to evaluate "external learning". Vancouver University Worldwide claimed that its degrees were authorized under "various British Commonwealth Common Law precedents". Its website also stated that it had "registered charity status" in both Canada and the United States. The associated organization "Vancouver University Colleges Society" was registered in the United States Treasury's charity database [1]. Vancouver University Worldwide closed in 2007 upon the death of its founder Raymond Spencer Rodgers.
Vancouver University Worldwide was involved in controversy due to its external/distance education and was not accredited by any recognised accreditation body. As such its degrees may not be recognised by employers or other institutions and use of degree titles may be restricted or illegal in some jurisdictions.
In terms of the degrees being recognized by employers, the institution's FAQ stated that "we cannot advise you about such details".[2] In 2003, USA Today listed the institution in an article about diploma mills.[3] The United States jurisdictions of Oregon and Michigan list the institution among those whose awards are invalid because they lack accreditation.
Vancouver University was listed in a Canadian government online directory of companies [2] as a private secular non-profit institution. This should not be interpreted as an endorsement because the government website notes "Industry Canada assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the content." Vancouver University is not included on the online directory of public post-secondary institutions that is maintained by the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) [3] in consultation with the provincial/territorial ministries and departments responsible for education.
An application by the British Columbia government to enjoin the university's activities was denied by the Hon. Justice Maczko on January 9, 2002. [4] [5] This injunction application was denied because Justice Maczko said Vancouver University Worldwide ought to have the chance to defend itself in a full hearing rather than be forced out of business by am interim injunction. In his reasons for judgment, Justice Maczko said that he thought it unlikely Vancouver University Worldwide would be successful in its defense.
On May 2, 2007, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Kelleher ruled[6] that Vancouver University Worldwide and its associated legal entities had operated in violation of the province's Degree Authorization Act[7] and issued an injunction to stop it from granting degrees in British Columbia.
Raymond Spencer Rodgers served as the president of Vancouver University Worldwide until his death in 2007.
On January 21, 2011, The Straits Times reported that IFPAS was being sued for issuing unaccredited degrees from Vancouver University.