Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the acting university president and vice-chancellor James Mandigo as chair. They are responsible for making decisions on everything academic, including: approving new courses and programs, approving changes to programs, and setting entrance requirements and 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. Senate makes decisions that impact the daily lives of both students and faculty. This article will recap the main agenda items of the hybrid Senate meeting on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023
David Johnston, university registrar, motioned for the senate to approve the revisions made to the Dental Office Reception Certificate program. The program was reviewed with changes made, most notably “separat[ing] the program topics modules into courses, each with their own learning outcomes.” These changes were done to help better administer the program and enable students to keep track of their learning and make sure they pass all areas of the program.
Another change was made to make sure the program offers up-to-date content for employment purposes. There is no longer a speed requirement for typing and “dental offices do not require a criminal record check from each student participating in the practicum.” The senate voted favourably on approving the changes made to the Dental Office Receptionist Certificate.
A presentation on UFV’s Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs) was given to the senate board by Dr. Awneet Sivia, associate vice president of the Teaching and Learning Centre, which outlines the ILOs that UFV abides by. Sivia explained that the ILOs were first created in 2012 by former provost, Dr. Eric Davis, over a two-year period. More than a decade later, Sivia presented a newly revised version of the ILOs that she and her team came up with for the senate to vote on.
“As a teaching-intensive post-secondary institution focused on developing high-quality graduates poised for success, the need to update the language of UFV’s ILOs was timely,” said Sivia in a memo to Mandigo.
According to Sivia, a significant change made to the learning outcomes is moving from nine to eight values. One of the comments Silva and her team received was to work with fewer ILOs, which inspired the team to have only eight.
There are eight revised ILOs, which include: Apply Knowledge and Competencies Proficiently; Examine Criticality and Holistically; Communicate Effectively; Lead Collaboratively; Engage with Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Contribute Locally and Globally; Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; and Engage in Reflection for Action. The senate voted in favor of the revised ILOs, and they will come into effect July 1, 2024.
Acting president, James Mandigo, wrote in his report that back “in 2021, UFV’s Board of Governors and Senate unanimously approved our Integrated Strategic Plan called Iyaqáwtxw (house of transformation). This document clearly lays out our commitment to being an institution where EVERY PERSON is welcomed and celebrated.”
“At a time where education is under attack in our local communities and around the world, UFV’s strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to being known as a gathering place for learners, leaders, and seekers,” said Mandigo. He added that “Our Integrated Strategic Plan provides us with the foundation to ensure that UFV is truly Iyaqáwtxw. And we must not waiver.”
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.