Evolution

Building History

Since its inception, the University of the World has attracted educators, development practitioners, and technology experts who have honed the concepts. By-Laws were established and a state charter given September 1, 2010. A Board of Governors was created in 2011. The Advisory Council first met in June 2012. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service awarded educational institution tax-exempt status on September 21, 2012.

The University of the World is scheduled to start degree programs in late 2014. Three years of work has moved the concept through:  envisioning a new institution, planning, legal charter as an institution, tax-exempt status with the IRS, initial funding, and application to grant degrees. In making official submission for degree-granting status {link?} the basic frame for operations was locked in place. Now within that frame we launch degrees.

The University of the World is designed for sustained operations. Expense side costs are low—no campus, no sports, no entertainment—so funds concentrate on faculty salaries. On the income side, costs of student learning are reflected in the tuition and educational travel. If students cannot pay—though poor students often can as they know that higher education opens their lives—scholarship help will be raised. A student loans system will also be explored. Costs for the administration of this university will come from donors; students are being charged for their direct educational services.

One feature of the university’s approach needs emphasis: continuing refinement of decisions based on feedback. Following the soon-to-be taken decisions on starting points, the university will spend seven years growing its pedagogy and policies. These are also the seven years needed to move from authorization to grant degrees to full accreditation. Experiments will be set up during this period to test alternate options. This period to promote the concepts globally and to raise larger fund resources After the 2014-2017 phase a Self-Study will be done, adjustments made, and Candidacy status will be applied for, and after the 2017-2021 phase a second Self Study will be done with the intent of putting forward a tested framework for the fully accredited global university.