Liberal Studies Abroad

Auxiliary Faculty Scheme

Liberal Studies Abroad programmes are open to students from Vancouver Island University and elsewhere, and to members of the community at large; they have consistently received excellent reviews from participants.

We are interested in increasing the accessibility of our programmes to students outside VIU. Faculty at other post-secondary institutions are invited to join the programme as auxiliaries by signing up a minimum of six of their students.

While the auxiliary faculty scheme is intended to apply primarily to our credit programmes, a parallel arrangement may sometimes be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for our non-credit programmes.

Benefits to Auxiliary Faculty

Auxiliary faculty will participate fully in the programme, whether, at their discretion, as teachers, audit students or some combination of the two. In the event that they wish to take a credit programme as a student, they will be charged tuition fees (at the moment approximately $1200 Canadian for the three courses, and subject to change).

The costs of inland travel, accommodation, books, curriculum materials, trip interruption insurance and admissions to cultural sites will be covered by the programme. Please note that air travel to the overseas destination, food and other living expenses will not be covered.

Responsibilities of Auxiliary Faculty

Auxiliary faculty can negotiate their own level of contribution to the offering of the programme. They will not be involved in evaluating students, nor in curriculum design, but are strongly encouraged to participate in seminars and to give guest lectures on suitable topics, as agreed with the VIU faculty involved. Auxiliary faculty do not enter into any contractual or employment relationship with Vancouver Island University and will not be paid for any contributions they may choose to make towards the teaching of the programme.

Auxiliary faculty will be responsible for dealing, in consultation with VIU staff, with any interpersonal issues which might develop among the group of students they have signed up, and for helping those students with any emergencies or logistical problems which might arise.

Where necessary and possible, auxiliary faculty will assist their students in negotiating transfer credit for the courses to be taken, so that they are recognised at the home institution. Liberal Studies Abroad courses are widely recognised for transfer credit within British Columbia, but in some cases such transfer must be negotiated on an individual basis. It is preferable that clear arrangements be established before students are committed to taking the programme, and VIU staff will assist this process in every way possible.

Auxiliary faculty must supply VIU with proof of insurance covering all medical eventualities which might arise overseas, and must sign a waiver discharging Vancouver Island University and its staff from all liability related to the programme.

Who is Eligible?

The scheme is aimed at faculty teaching at any bona fide post-secondary institution who sign up six or more student participants, provided these students pay all required fees by the relevant deadlines. Other staff at such institutions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that each programme is offered subject to enrolment, and may be cancelled because of low enrolment, or for other reasonable cause. If the minimum of six students required to confer auxiliary faculty status is not reached, any students who have enrolled may of course still participate. The decision date for our 2012 programmes is mid-January, 2012, by which time a sufficient number of students must have deposited $2500 with us. In order to give your students sufficient time to meet this deadline, you should apply for auxiliary faculty status as early as possible in the Fall semester of 2011, though not before October 1.

Liberal Studies Abroad reserves the rights to limit the number of students signed up by auxiliary faculty to six (if enrolment demand is high), and to limit the number of auxiliary faculty accepted.

Okay, I’m Interested!

We feel that this scheme offers an interesting opportunity of mutual benefit to Liberal Studies Abroad and to students and faculty from other institutions. If you are interested in qualifying for auxiliary faculty status, please explore this website to familiarise yourself with the programmes offered by Liberal Studies Abroad, and contact John Black at 250-740-6495, or by e-mail to john.black@viu.ca.