to undertake and maintain research and scholarly activities, and to provide an open learning educational credit bank for students. The university must promote teaching excellence and the use of open learning methods. In carrying out its purposes, the university must serve the educational and training needs in the region specified by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and the open learning needs of British Columbia. Governance at TRU is divided into three bodies responsible for corporate and academic decision-making, as legislated by the province in the University Act and the Thompson Rivers University Act. The Board of Governors is responsible for budgetary, operational and administrative matters. The Senate makes decisions on such academic matters as curriculum, credentials, admissions and educational policies. The Planning Council for Open Learning is similarly responsible for academic matters relating to the Open Learning Division. Provincial legislation mandates the composition, powers and duties of each governing body as well as the degree-granting powers of the university. Individual degree programs are approved by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. The University Act also legislates the leadership of the university, including the powers, duties and offices of the president. The president holds the offices of vice-chancellor, member of the Board of Governors and chair of the Senate. The president and vice-chancellor is the chief executive officer, responsible to the Board and Senate for the supervision of TRU's administrative and academic work. Advising and reporting to the president are the provost and vice-president academic, the vice-president administration and finance, the vice-president university relations, the vice-president international, the vice-president research, the associate vice-president marketing and communications, and the executive director Indigenous education. TRU offers 140 on-campus programs, and about 60 distance or online programs through its Open Learning Division, in the following faculties and schools: Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism Faculty of Arts Bob Gaglardi School of Business and Economics Faculty of Education and Social Work Faculty of Law School of Nursing Faculty of Science Faculty of Student Development School of Trades and Technology TRU also has two divisions: Open Learning, offering distance, online and blended learning options to students in all faculties and schools; and TRU World, serving international and study abroad students. See also List of universities in British Columbia Higher education in British Columbia Education in Canada Canadian university scientific research organizations Open Learning Institute of British Columbia Open Learning Agency References External links