The Grand College of Greater Arcana and Higher Spellcraft

Found in the capital of Ellcria, the Grand College of Greater Arcana and Higher Spellcraft, otherwise known as the Grand College, is an important part of Ellcria and the magic society as a whole. In fact the founding of the Grand College is so important that it is seen as one of the major events that ended the Fall of Magic thus ushering in the new age. As the largest and foremost magical institution in the Known World, Grand College takes in thousands of students from ages 5 to 125. Anyone can become a student by simply paying for the classes you wish to take. The exception to this being students who have been scouted by one of the Grand College's deans, masters or the headmaster himself. There are also students who enroll in classes and get scouted after the fact. All students of the Grand College are given one dorm room as part of the price for their courses. One other unique aspect of the school is that one's progress is not measured by age or time of enrollment but rather by their skill and knowledge. It is because of this that you can find 50 year olds in the beginning rudimentary classes and 7 year olds in rather advanced classes some spend lifetimes trying to reach. It all comes down to ability.
The Grand College boasts an impressive 224 departments or majors, each one lead by a Dean, as well as a general studies program. To enter a department or major a student must chose to join, be chosen by a professor, or discover a gift for the field though it is not mandatory. The number of students enrolled in the departments or majors varies from 10 to 4000. Every department or major once started out as a club or organization of students and faculty until they were accepted by the headmaster and the masters. As such many of the clubs and organizations compete with one another for attention and praise of the masters and headmaster. Any club or organization that is recognized not only becomes a department or major but they also receive funding from the Grand College, a permanent lab for their research and any professors involved have the chance to become the Dean and recieve the benefits that come with the job.
The Grand College, while being a crucial part of Ellcria, receives no funding from the government. Instead they are funded through a number of different means. The first of which is that every course there has a price. The cheapest course offered costs one gold and is about 10 weeks. the more advanced the classes become the more expensive and time consuming they are. The most expensive coarse at the Grand College costs over 35,000 gold, lasts years and goes over 10th level and higher magic, though the spells of such have been lost the knowledge that they exist as well as the hope of creating new ones still exist. The second is by renting out space for the students and citizens of Ellcria to conduct experiments. The price of which depends on the size of the space being rented, the type of experiments being conducted and who is renting the space. Students of the Grand College receive a discount on renting space. The last and largest source of funding for the college comes from the school's various stores. There is a large market where magic items, potions, spell scrolls and various services all made and performed by the staff and students of the school is sold. The results of experiments conducted here is often turned into goods that are sold as well though the profits of which are split between the researcher and the Grand College.

Administration and Faculty

The Grand College is designed like a massive pyramid of sorts. At the top of which is the current Headmaster Raistlin, a native Ellcrian. Beneath him are the Masters, individuals that were once students, professors or deans that were chosen for their exceptional skill or knowledge. While the Headmaster handles larger and more important matters, the Masters deal with the various departments and majors. Each of the Masters is responsible for dealing with a certain number of departments and majors. One master could have only two departments under them while another could have 40 majors, it is all decided by the Headmaster. Beneath the Masters are the Deans. Each Dean is in charge of a department or major and the professors within. The deans are responsible for managing their professors and are able to hire or fire any professors they see fit so long as they belong to department or major. It is not uncommon for students to attempt to gain their deans favor in hopes of becoming one of their professors. Every dean also must also give permission to every students taking a class from one of their professors as well as those joining the department or major. At the bottom of the totem pole are the professors. With the exception of the ones in the general studies they are all chosen by the two hundred plus deans. Professors can be asked to teach a vide variety of courses if needed as well as handle other responsibilities. Each Master, Dean and Professor is also allowed to hire any number of assistants and helpers so long as the person directly above them approves.

Dorms and Labs

Through the ingenious use of magic items and spells, all dorms and most labs are held in convenient demi planes and pocket planes. For the dorms various doors are enchanted or set up so that when they are opened their either open to a room or in many cases there are doors that open up to magical created outdoor spaces where towers, manors and houses may sit. The lab doors all lead to pocket planes as well though those are typically just rooms and not whole buildings. In the event of escaped or out of control experiments, attacks from outside forces or other such disasters all the dorms and labs become disconnected from the Grand College thus leaving those inside safe or any dangers locked out from the Grand College until they can be dealt with. In the event that the Grand College becomes damaged or too dangerous to return to, after a period of 72 hours the dorms and labs will automatically reconnect to a hidden facility so those inside can escape.

Purpose / Function

The Grand College was established as a place where any and all who seek to learn the secrets of magic may gather and uncover that which was lost during the Fall of Magic. Nearly every wizard in the Known World is either trained at the Grand College or trained by someone who attended the Grand College. In addition to that, other magic users such as Bards, Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, Warlocks, and more attend the Grand College to further their knowledge, answers and power of their magic. 
In addition to teaching magic to those who seek it, the Grand College also serves two additional purposes. The first of those is as a stronghold capable of defending the sum of magical knowledge that survived the Fall of Magic as well as the knowledge that has been rediscovered since the Fall. It is the hope of the founders as well as many within the Mage Isles that if another time like the Fall comes once more, the College will stand tall and safeguard the knowledge of magic and the lives it represents. The second, or rather the third, purpose the Grand College serves is as a secure place for research and experiments. Many magic users within Ellcria are capable of renting out a space for research to be conducted. The results of any and all research conducted in the Grand College is partly owned by the Grand College.

Alternative Names

The Grand College

Type

College / Academy

Parent Location

The Mage Isles

Owning Organization

Ellcria