Living Principles

The New University Cooperative agrees the following PRINCIPLES will help define the New University:

1) Devotion to Ecology

We believe all people have an inherent responsibility to respect and protect the earth and all its resources. We believe more information and skills sharing must be provided regarding everyday and long-term ecological practices and how this makes our future healthy - now, for our children, and for future generations. Those who will attend the New U will be educated, trained and mentored in ecology and how it relates to current academic disciplines, responsible harvesting and utilization of renewable and non-renewable resources, social justice and global inter-dependence, and applied skills and training for sustainable communities and lifestyles.

2) Accessibility

We commit to include all learners in our university and seek to remove historic barriers such as race, gender, language, sexual orientation, literacy and different learning modalities, physical abilities, income levels, spiritual/religious beliefs and geographical location. Our commitment extends beyond inclusion statements and will demonstrate respectful outreach and recruitment strategies.

3) Interdisciplinary/Holistic Learning

We will ensure the curriculum of the New U goes beyond bio-diversity and environmentalism. We welcome local, political/financial, social, and global analysis. We welcome all of the Earth Arts such as healing/health, shelter, and food skills sharing. We welcome theological and spiritual discourse. We believe people learn experientially from wise people and therefore honour educators/elders who help others gather important life knowledge. We will include teachings that challenge and develop the whole person (intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually) in addition to the rigourous technical and academic criteria required for accreditation. All of these disciplines will help students of the New U become aware, connected and universally-responsible.

4) Open Learning Space

We recognize there are many means, tools and technology to transmit information, share knowledge, skills and best practices, evaluate learning results and develop alternate methodologies. The New University will strive to embrace all modalities including but not limited to establishing physical learning sites (permanent/borrowed), utilization of internet and communication technology, correspondence/distance learning techniques, affiliation with and usage of acceptable institutions, participating in special events (lectures, workshops, town-hall meetings and conferences) and by experiencing natural environments and eco-based communities. We will proceed on the concept that every space is or can be a classroom.

5) Diversity

We accept the definition of citizenship that is built on equal rights and responsibilities for all individuals regardless of gender, age, and race, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, wealth and health. Our student body, educators, support people and sponsors will reflect this value. We recognize the contributions of indigenous and earth-based cultures regarding sound ecological practices and environmental stewardship and will include a First People's perspective in any and all policies and activities.

6) Leadership

We assume and honour our founders’ commitment to ecological leadership and will inspire, educate, mentor and sustain people who will serve as catalysts, visionaries, and architects of change for positive environmental action in the global community.

7) Community

We are a university for the people and by the people. Only by engaging community can we ensure positive change in a world fraught with massive consumption of resources, globalization and constant military conflict The Working Group recognizes community as both a physical place and other entities that gather people who share our collective principles and vision.

8) Right Relationships

NUC is a post-secondary educational institution committed to providing a transformational educational experience arising out of a critique of the colonial experience, both historically and currently, which has giving rise and continues to support the ongoing exploitation evident in the land and peoples, and NUC recognizes and acknowledges the Eurocentric and Western nature of education at all levels and related institutional structures, NUC will engage in educational renewal through seeking to understand principles and societal directions that flow from indigenous and other non-Eurocentric world views. Thus NUC seeks to provide the foundational studies to enable citizens to deconstruct the colonializing impacts upon themselves as individual as well as within institutional realms of the social structure. The NUC sees these studies as the necessary precursor to building right relationships: relationships with Original Peoples, with settler peoples, and with the land.