Thompson Rivers University is a public, learner-centred university in Kamloops, British Columbia, with campuses across the southern interior.
Thompson Rivers University was established in 2005 by an act of the British Columbia Provincial Legislature, the Thompson Rivers University Act. It is funded as a public post-secondary institution by the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills. The university describes itself as a comprehensive, learner-centred, sustainable university that serves its regional, national, and international learners and their communities through high quality and flexible education, training, research and scholarship.
TRU is a full member of Universities Canada, which represents public and private not-for-profit universities and university degree-level colleges nationally. The university holds an Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation from the Province of British Columbia for meeting or exceeding the quality assurance standards set by the province.
The name comes from the junction of the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers, which the main Kamloops campus overlooks. The Kamloops campus is located in the Sahali area on the city's southwest slopes and is next door to Tournament Capital Centre, Kamloops' largest recreational facility. The campuses host conferences and events such as the Canada Summer Games and the Kamloops Marathon.
TRU's Kamloops and Williams Lake campuses are located on the traditional territory of the Secwepemc peoples, in British Columbia's southern interior. Nearly 14,000 students study on campus in Kamloops, Williams Lake, or at one of the regional centres in 100 Mile House, Clearwater, Barriere, Ashcroft, and Lillooet. Students at the Williams Lake campus begin their studies in academic programs or in various career and trades programs. Another 17,000 students learn exclusively online through TRU Open Learning.