University of Tal Varisa

The University of Tal Varisa is the oldest seat of learning within the Distant Fringe, founded at the beginning of the 24th century and rivalled only by the University of Selasia. It has a particularly distinguished Astronomy department, which runs the Deep Sky Program.

Motto: Cultura Veritas et Sapientia

(Culture Truth and Wisdom)

• The official journal of the university is the Astra.

Welcome to the University

The University was founded around 2300AD as part of a formal plan for the settlement of Tal Varisa, and was allocated substantial territory and holdings. The first University buildings were constructed soon afterwards, eventually becoming the Old Main of the faculty. Over the centuries many additonal Schools, Halls, and Administrative Centers have been added, though the university still retains a large amount of undeveloped territory on the world.

The main Schools of the University of Tal Varisa are still located on Tal Varisa The University also maintains campuses on many of the member worlds of the Firstworlds and on a number of other worlds located within the coreward half of Far Home Sector.

Demographics

The University of Tal Varisa is diverse and cosmopolitan, with members drawn from a wide range of social, ethnic and racial backgrounds.

The estimated total population of the University is approximately 65,000. This includes undergraduate and graduate students, teaching staff and members of the faculties, administrative staff, variously retained individuals, and individuals engaged in research, expeditions, industrial associations or military ventures. The vast majority of these students are humans, largely originating from within Far Home Sector. There are notable communities of Edur, Temelik and Hoppers within the university, and smaller groups of Meroquan and far-flung Esaran.

Linguistic Topography

• Anglish is the official language of the University of Tal Varisa. It is the main language of the Firstworlds. Courses in basic Anglish are freely available to all students.
  • A significant number of students originate in the High Senate and the surrounding area and speak Teramil as their first language.
  • A substantial percentage of the students are refugees (or the children of refugees) fleeing the Protectorate or the Worlds of The Leader. Their first language is Orometi.

Studies

Students attend lectures and classes under the tutelage of academic staff and complete projects, assignments and research to fulfill the criteria of their academic commitment in order to earn their degree. This may take place entirely within the precincts of the University or it may involve working 'in the field', often with an outside group such as a business or an industrial concern, as part of a charity or a project, with governmental authorities and agencies, with the military, or more rarely by taking part in an expedition.

Throughout the course of their studies and academic activities, students are expected to produce a body of work and to be able to express a degree of understanding of their chosen subject. Their progress is continually monitored, assessed and evaluated by their tutors. Guidance and advice is provided when required.

Graduation Day

When students complete their studies they receive an academic degree and become Graduates of the University. Graduation Day includes a procession of the academic staff and candidates, the granting of academic titles to the graduate, and a valediction. It is traditional to wear academic dress at formal ceremonies. Post-graduation celebrations usually involve class pictures and throwing caps into the air, a formal banquet with toasts and speeches that acknowledge particular achievements, and a great deal of intoxicated partying.

Alma Mater

Alumni of the University share a particular fondness for their "alma mater". There are class reunions, an annual event during which alumni from all over the Distant Fringe return to their Hall and their School to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and sample intellectual fare. The alumni are grateful to the University, and generally wish to give back to the institution so that more people will benefit from it: a large majority provide direct financial support, with very substantial gifts made during the reunions.

• Many of the Halls and Schools include annexes and wings provided for by past alumni: these are generally named for the benefactor. Occasionally, an existing structure is donated. This typically becomes a new stand-alone extension to a Hall and is given the title 'House'. Rarely, a property may be redeveloped as a campus for one of the Schools.

Governing structure

The President and Fellows of Tal Varisa University

The President and Fellows of Tal Varisa University forms the smaller of the University's two governing boards, the other being its Board of Overseers.

Office of the President

The President of Tal Varisa University is the chief administrator of the institution. The incumbent is appointed by and is responsible to the other members of that body. The University is extremely decentralized, and is noted for the independence of its various constituent faculties.

Faculties Of The University

Faculty of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Departments:

• The Institute of Astrophysics
• The Saito Center for Astronomy
• The Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
  • Valeriya Egorov Institute of Mathematics
  • Chamber of Theoretical Astrophysics and Cosmology.

The Astronomy Department runs the Deep Sky Program, a long-running project to accurately map and catalogue the stars lying within the Empty Stars. It publishes the DSP Listing.

Department of Biology

Departments:

• School of Biological Sciences
  • Department of Biochemistry
  • Department of Genetics
  • Alavar Institute of Xenobiology
• Department of Flora Research
• Center for Psychological Study
  • Geliger Intitute of Psionic Research
• Department of Zoology

Faculty of History

Research groups:

• Department of Early History
  • Center for Last Armada Research
  • Dissident Fleet Research Group
• Association of Confederation-Era Studies
  • Civil Wars Research Group
• Scybrian Wars Research Center
• Tal Varisa Center for Dark Age and Renaissance Studies
  • Elspeth Spence Group for the Study of Dark Age Art
• Institute for Early Modern Trailing History

Non-School Institutions

The University of Tal Varisa includes a number of non-school Institutions.

Tal Varisa University Press

Tal Varisa University Press is the publishing business of the University of Tal Varisa. Its purpose is to further the University's objective of advancing knowledge, education, learning, and research. Its extensive peer-reviewed publishing lists comprise more than 250,000 titles covering academic research, professional development, over 3500 research journals, and a large raft of academic and educational titles. It distributes its products to nearly every world in the Distant Fringe.

Nabile Deep Space Fuel Cache

The Department of Early History funds the Nabile Deep Space Fuel Cache, a Calibration Point located in interstellar hex 1536 of Bourne Sector. The NDSFC provides access to the worlds of the Cauldron Cluster, lying beyond the Abbot Spur in Bourne Sector, where various Faculties and Departments conduct studies and research. The NDSFC project was initiated in 5575AD and was operational by the beginning of 5583AD. To date, a number of expeditions to trailing have been launched from the site.

Extra-curricular Activities

A huge number of extra-curricular activities are available within the University. These are divided into Clubs (generally involving sporting, physical or social activities) and Societies (generally involving intellectual or cultural activities). There are known to be secret societies, open only to the privileged or exceptionally talented.

There is an active Student Union within the University. It is involved in all aspects of University life and organises and promotes a wide range of social events.

The University maintains extensive NOTC and ROTC programs. These are run in conjunction with the Navy and the Armed Forces and graduates automatically receive a commission as an officer in the appropriate service.

The University of Tal Varisa is known to have a radical, active Mantlerist movement.

References & Contributors / Sources

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• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master Scout Emeritus Adie Alegoric Stewart of the IISS
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science