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University Document

University of Highbridge:
Special Curriculum for Adventuring Students

Draft updated March 4th, 2013 - Chancellor Atticus

BASIC INFORMATION

Overview of University Hierarchy

Chancellor - The formal head of the University, and the founder of the University, Atticus the Red. The Chancellor organizes the University, with the goal of delegating authority to the staff and coordinating the community. (Leadership by delegation and consensus, not by outright authority.

Professor - A teacher or administrator with a permanent position known as a �chair�. Typically both a teacher and administrator. These are senior positions, and a greater responsibility. Any lecturer who is also a Magus of the Realms will automatically be offered this title.

Professor Emeritus - A professor who has largely retired but maintains his chair as a formality. These professors are allowed to keep an office. This is an honorary role, but also allows respected mages to participate in the community without taking on more taxing roles. (The title is offered to all Magi of the Realms who are not active Professors.)

Lecturer - The standard title for a teacher at the University. (i.e. �Lecturer in Alchemy� or �Guest Lecturer�). Lecturers serve as faculty advisers for students. Must hold the degree of Mage (J.Mag).

Doctoral Student - These senior students undertake independent study, working with various members of the University community. Expected to already hold the title of Journeyman Mage (J.Mag). Graduates of the Order of the Magi, and other senior students, are placed at this level. Doctoral Students do not have an advisor, and may become student advisors.

Graduate Student - These senior students undertake independent study, working with various members of the University community. Expected to already hold the title of Apprentice Mage (A.Mag) or Journeyman Mage (J.Mag). Graduates of the Order of the Magi, and some senior Apprentices, are placed at this level. Those who are apprentices to a Magus do not have a formal advisor in the University.

Undergraduate Student - The vast majority of adventurer students begin their academic careers at this level. Full standing is usually achieved after one year of enrollment. Undergraduate students in full standing work with a faculty advisor and graduate student sponsor to complete a curriculum appropriate to achieve a degree of A.Mag.

First Year Student - Younger, less-experienced students. Some Undergraduates will be allowed to skip over this status. This is the typical starting role for students who are new to adventuring, and those who aren�t adventurers. First year students work with a faculty advisor to complete the first year of the curriculum.
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Degrees and Titles

The University bestows and recognizes the following degrees of magical study.

Apprentice Mage (A.Mag) - A fully qualified apprentice mage. Conferred upon graduation from the Undergraduate program. The University may also recognize some Apprentices in the Order of the Magi of the Realms as holding this title. Bearers of this degree have the right to use either �Apprentice� or �Apprentice Mage� in front of their name, and to make note of their degree in the format (A.Mag) after their name and other titles.

Equivalent option, College of Wisdom: Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy (B.A.)
Equivalent option, College of Divinity: Bachelor of Arts in Theology (B.A.)


Mage / Journeyman Mage (J.Mag) - A journeyman mage. Conferred upon graduation from the Graduate program. The University recognizes graduated apprentices to the Order of the Magi of the Realms, named as Mages by that order. Bearers of this degree have the right to use either �Mage� or �Journeyman Mage� in front of their name, and to make note of their degree in the format (J.Mag) after their name and other titles. The University may grant this title to experienced Mages upon conferring upon them a role as a Lecturer or Professor.

Equivalent option, College of Wisdom: Masters in Philosophy (M.Phil)
Equivalent option, College of Divinity: Masters in Theology (M.Theol)


Master Mage (M.Mag) - A master mage. Conferred but rarely, upon graduation from the Doctoral program. The University recognizes members of the Order of the Magi of the Realms as meeting but surpassing this level of education. Only members of that order may claim the title �Magus� which is considered senior to this degree. Other bearers of this degree have the right to use either �Lord,� �Master Mage,� or � Mage� in front of their name. Either may make note of their degree in the format (M.Mag) after their name and other titles.

Equivalent option, College of Wisdom: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Equivalent option, College of Divinity: Doctor of Philosophy in Theology (PhD)



Location

The University is based in the village of Highbridge, in the sub-nation Pax Tharkus in the Kingdom of Chimeron. The village can be found on a natural land bridge over a river gorge, near the eastern border of Pax Tharkus. Chancellor Atticus is also the Lord of Pax Tharkus.

Students and Staff are considered guests of the nation and Kingdom. They are not sworn citizens but are subject to all local laws. The crimes of Necromancy, opening Extra-planar Portals, and Subjugation of the Will are forbidden without special dispensation from the Crown or Lord, and are not offered as part of the curriculum. It is also expressly forbidden to harm the trees of Pax Tharkus by any means.

Colleges

By definition, a University is a collection of Colleges under a single administration. In the University, students enroll in a single college, which will determine the structure and focus on their curriculum, but are welcome to take part in classes in any college. Colleges are not particularly divided, and the University has a single academic community.

In other words, your College represents your type of enrollment, but students, teachers, and classes work across the colleges.

College of Wizardry: By far the largest college within the University. The focus is on studying the practice and wise application of magic. Open to any spellcaster who can perform arcane magic. (The Chancellor acts as Dean of the College of Wizardry until a separate Dean is named.) Confers degrees in Magic-- A.Mag, J.Mag, or M.Mag.

College of Wisdom: The focus of this smaller college is for people of all walks of life to learn critical thinking, cooperative research, logic, rhetoric, philosophy, and the practical application of magic by non-spellcasters. The curriculum includes courses specific to non-spellcasters. Open to non-spellcasters and spellcasters alike. (Professor Phoenix is the Dean of the College of Wisdom.) Also confers degrees in Philosophy-- B.A, M.Phil, PhD.

College of Divinity: This smaller college focuses on Theology, the intersection of Divine and Arcane magic, and fostering cooperation between Wizards and the Clergy. Open to any spellcaster, especially those who primarily cast Divine spells rather than performing Wizardry. (The role of Rector of the College of Divinity is currently open.) Also confers degrees in Theology-- B.A, M.Theol, or PhD.


The Rolls (and Roles)

Trustees:
Chancellor: Magus Atticus
Rector of the College of Divinity: (TBD)
Dean of the College of Wizardry: (Atticus, acting)
Dean of the College of Wisdom: Magus Phoenix

Professors:
Magus Malaki, Professor at Large
Magus Phoenix, Head of the Department of Combat Support

Inactive Professors:
Magus Rel, Professor of Inadvisable Application of Excessive Magic (Wizardry) - On Sabbatical
Magus Cecil, Professor Emeritus (Wizardry)

Lecturers:
Johanthanalas del Var, Lecturer (Wizardry)
Mage Janus, Junior Lecturer (Wizardry)

Graduate Students:
Mage Baledor (Wizardry)
Mage Ged (Wizardry)
Apprentice Laika (Divinity)
Apprentice Iawen (Divinity)
Apprentice Demetria Highwater (Divinity)

Undergraduates in Full Standing:
Cimone (Wisdom)
Indana Ward (?)
Kovaks (Wisdom)
Thomas Althorne (Divinity)
Kahlenar (Wisdom)

First Year Students:
Tara Harkon (Wisdom)

New Students or Staff: (placement and advisor to be determined):
Orion Mars
Wisakatchekwa
Sir Lucas Harkon
Alex Smith


ADMISSIONS

The University admits students based on their merits. The process includes the discretion of the Chancellor and staff, as well as formal qualifications of the students.

Students in the Special Curriculum will have a simpler admission process than other students, because of their greater real-world experience, and out of respect for their contributions to society. The minimum requirements are listed below.

Students must be in good standing with the adventuring community. Those compromised by nefarious influences may be suspended, and anyone found to be furthering the cause of evil will be expelled.

Student/Advisor Matching

The student-advisor relationship is the core of the University, especially in the Curriculum for Adventuring Students. The following process all occurs via the University of Highbridge email list.

Upon admission of a new undergraduate or postgraduate student to the University, their enrollment will be announced to the teaching staff. This will typically take place at the beginning of the term, or when a number of students need advisors.

Teaching staff (Professors, Lecturers, and some Graduate students) will then announce the number of openings they have available, and what kinds of students they are interested in advising. Students may then respond to such an announcement, to apply to work with a particular teacher.

This process will continue until all students have an advisor. If a student finds they are having difficulty finding an advisor, they should contact a member of senior staff (probably Atticus, Phoenix, or Malaki) and ask for assistance.


Undergraduate Students

Spellcasting: Must have learned to cast at least one arcane spell. (This may include spells outside of the common paths of magic.) If the spell cannot currently be re-cast, a witness can vouch for previous experience.

Non-Spellcasters (Special): Students who are unable to use magic, including because of focus on the combat arts, can enroll in the College of Wisdom.

References: The student must obtain and provide a letter reference from a recognized Mage. (This can include references from Magi of the Realms, from Mages named as such by the Magi of the Realms, Mages recognized by the University as holding the degree of J.Mag or higher, or the High Mage of a nation in the known Realms.) A publicly recognized Priest or High Priest of a known religion is also an acceptable reference.

Honors: No titles or accreditation are required for undergraduate students.

Degree Rewarded: Upon completion of this program, the student is granted the title of Apprentice Mage (A.Mag) or equivalent by the University.


Graduate Students

Spellcasting: Must be able to cast at least one full path of magic from the standard paths, or at least one spell from an additional outside method of spellcasting. Exceptions are possible.

References: The student must obtain and provide a letter of reference from a recognized Mage. (This can include references from Magi of the Realms, from Mages named as such by the Magi of the Realms or the University, or the High Mage of a nation in the Realms.) A publicly recognized Priest or High Priest of a known religion is also an acceptable reference.

Honors: Graduate Students must have achieved the rank of Apprentice in an accredited magical guild, order, or institution. We will also consider exceptional applicants with equivalent titles from other disciplines (i.e. Knights, Priests, etc.)

Degree Rewarded: Upon completion of this program, the student is granted the title of Journeyman Mage (J.Mag) or equivalent by the University. It is the position of the University that this qualifies the graduate to make use of the title �Mage�.

FINANCES

The currency of the University is the Chimeronian Rowan. For the purpose of conversion from non-Chimeronian currency, one Rowan will be considered to be worth approx. 10-15 Gold Pieces. (Gold conversion and backing will be on a case-by-case basis.)


Tuition

Students are expected to pay annual tuition. Students who are not able to pay may apply for funds from the Scholarship Fund. Tuition may also be reduced for graduate students taking on administrative duties or exceptional teaching duties. Tuition is not currently collected in-character, but is presumed to have been paid.

Student Tuition (First Year) - One Rowan per annum
Student Tuition (Second Year and Later) - Two Rowan per annum
Graduate/Doctoral Student Tuition - Three Rowan per annum (See Stipend Below)

Tuitions fees will be reviewed on an annual basis.


Scholarship Fund

Students who are unable to pay their annual tuition may apply for a grant from the Scholarship Fund. The fund is supported by generous benefactors to the University.


Stipends

Chancellor - One Rowan per annum, to be donated to the Scholarship fund.
Professor - Three Rowan per annum
Professor Emeritus - One Rowan per annum, to be donated to the Scholarship fund.
Lecturer - Two Rowan per annum
Administrator - One Rowan per annum (in addition to above)
Graduate/Doctoral Student - One Rowan per annum (reduced from tuition)

Stipends will be reviewed on an annual basis, with the exception of Professors who will not take a reduction in pay unless they agree to.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students and Graduate Students in the Special Curriculum, as well as most Staff members, are understood to be active adventurers. As such, their course schedules will be flexible to account for outside activities.

While outside of the University, all Staff and Students are encouraged to share information and coordinate research efforts, even while actively adventuring. They are reminded that University titles only apply to such situations for organizational purposes-- They are superseded by other ranks and hierarchies.
Created by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee at 03-22-16 07:56 PM
Last Modified by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee at 03-22-16 07:56 PM