Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university president and vice chancellor Joanne MacLean as the chair. They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic: approving new courses and programs, approving changes to programs, setting entrance requirements, and setting the academic calendar. The Board of Governors, which looks at the business side of the university, is advised by Senate on matters of mutual interest.
All at the university are welcome to attend Senate’s public meetings, held once a month at either the Abbotsford or the CEP campus, but most do not. Regardless, Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty.
Update on Building A renovations
Nicolle Bourget, project manager for the ongoing renovations to Building A, gave a presentation on the progress of the improvements and the impact they will have on students and staff. Building A has been damaged by rainwater infiltration, so the exteriors all along the building are to be removed and replaced with aluminum cladding.
Renovations have begun on the eastmost wing, which primarily houses geography, biology, and criminology classrooms and offices. The work done so far has been low-impact, but Bourget said that noisier work would begin the week of Oct. 21; disruptions to classes will be monitored as contractors begin chipping away concrete. Around 35 parking spots in front of Building A are currently cordoned off and will remain unavailable until August 2020, when it is estimated the work will be completed, but the parking spots which are currently blocked off in front of Building K will be released when renovations there are finished. Biology and geography staff have already been moved into Building T, the portable outside of the gym, and criminology staff will join them Nov. 4.
Some classes will be moved from Building A to Building K starting Nov. 4. Students affected will be contacted via email by the registrar.
Creation of a new research centre approved
Senate approved the creation of a new research centre which, as a working title, is called the Health and Social Innovation Hub. The centre will be a collaboration with Fraser Health and the Fraser East Divisions of Family Practice, and will be focused on health challenges faced by Fraser Valley East, which runs from Abbotsford to Hope.
The documents containing the full description of the proposed new centre were not attached to the meeting’s agenda in time for Senate members to review them, but to avoid risking the loss of a significant grant, the motion to approve the centre’s establishment was left on the agenda and approved. Senate will be able to fully approve the hub itself at the next Senate meeting on Nov. 15, after members review and discuss the documents.
Academic Misconduct Report
The Office of the Registrar presented a summary of reported instances of academic misconduct from the Fall 2018, Winter 2019, and Summer 2019 semesters. The report found that 26 per cent fewer instances of academic misconduct were reported than over the same period last year, but the number is slightly higher than in 2016-17. The Chandigarh, India campus did not document any instances of academic misconduct in 2018-19.
This report is the last that will be published under the former Student Academic Misconduct policy (70). The previous policy was in place until Aug. 31, 2019. The new Policy 70 may have an impact on how much academic misconduct is counted toward further reports as it contains clearer definitions of academic misconduct, and separates it into seven categories.
Image: UFV Flickr
