CAUT has asked a two-person commission to determine if Quest University Canada, a new, private university in British Columbia, meets the key requisites for a legitimate university.

Led by former University of British Columbia president David Strangway, Quest is a “select liberal arts and sciences University (that) goes beyond the boundaries of academic disciplines and geographic borders in the pursuit of knowledge and global understanding,” the school’s website says. Located in Squamish, an hour north of Vancouver, Quest opened in September with 160 students in its liberal arts program. Tuition at Quest is $24,000, plus $11,000 for room and board.

As it does with any new university, CAUT wants to determine whether the institution’s governance structure and provisions for academic freedom are suitable. Two recently retired academics, William Bruneau (above) from the University of British Columbia and Bill Graham (right) from the University of Toronto, will examine Quest’s policies and practices and will prepare a report for CAUT Council.

The commissioners will look at whether Quest has a senior academic body with the power to make educational decisions — comparable to the normal powers of a university senate. If there is such a body, they will determine if its structure and mandate ensures it is not a creature of the administration and if there are provisions so that the majority of members are non-administrative academic staff.

Also of interest will be the extent to which Quest recognizes and has policies to ensure the protection of academic freedom, along with a system of tenure — with appropriate procedures for peer-review in making all hiring, promotion and tenure decisions.

The commissioners also will examine whether there are bodies of academic staff that set curriculum, see to the creation and improvement of the library and evaluate teaching.

The commissioners hope to conclude their work this fall.

Quest received affiliate status from the American Academy for Liberal Education in December 2005 and approval from B.C.’s Degree Quality Assessment Board in September 2006.