Senate is UFV’s academic governing body. That means it’s responsible for managing academic policies and advising the Board of Governors on policies of mutual interest. Some of Senate’s recent work has been the approval of new courses, degree programs, and reviewing existing courses. Senate is also responsible for approving the academic calendar and setting curriculum content for courses.
“There are lots of issues that might well be of concern to students that are discussed at Senate. There’s very few things discussed that wouldn’t be,” said Eric Davis, provost and vice president, academic, who is a member of Senate.
In B.C., the University Act stipulates that a university (more specifically a special purpose, teaching university, such as UFV) must have a senate. The differences for a special purpose, teaching university, are minor — they are mainly requirements regarding who sits on Senate; the number of students on Senate and various other positions.
While Senate is concerned with academic affairs, they are also required to advise the Board of Governors which is largely focused on fiduciary issues, issues of property, and finance and reputation. In regards to the Senate / Board relationship, the University Act says “senate must advise the board and the board must seek advice from senate on various issues.”
The business of Senate is conducted via standing committees. Just like Senate, students can be elected to a standing committee to participate in decision making.
According to the Universities Act, UFV, a special purpose, teaching university, must have on its senate the following positions:
-the chancellor
-the president, who is senate’s chair
-the academic vice president or equivalent
-the deans of faculties
-the chief librarian
-the registrar
-two faculty members for each faculty, elected by faculty members of the faculty
-four students elected by the students
-one alumni member who is not a faculty member, appointed by the president on nomination by the alumni association
-two support staff elected by the support staff
-one non-voting member of the senate, if appointed to the senate by the board to serve for one year
Standing Committees:
Faculty Standards Committee has the responsibility to advise Senate on matters related to standards for faculty promotion through rank and tenure. They establish the principles that govern faculty standards.
Senate Graduate Studies Committee provides the Senate with advice and recommendations concerning graduate program development, and policies and standards that relate to graduate studies.
Undergraduate Education Committee is responsible for advising Senate on all matters related to the undergraduate educational programs of the university, including policies, practices, and criteria for admission, evaluation, and promotion of undergraduate students.
Academic Planning and Priorities Committee is responsible for advising Senate on the mission, goals, objectives, strategies, and priorities of the university.
Indigenization Committee of Senate is responsible for advising Senate on the alignment of academic, budgetary, and other priorities as they relate to Indigenization plans and initiatives at UFV.
Senate Committee for Student Appeals deals with the creation of impartial tribunals to hear student appeals for matters of academic misconduct, non-academic conduct, and final grades.
Senate Budget Committee has the responsibility to provide advice on the university’s annual budget, budgetary policies, guidelines, processes, and models.
Senate Governance Committee is responsible for advising Senate on matters on how to conduct the business of Senate and its committees, meetings, and proceedings.
Research Committee has the role of advising Senate on policies and programs that promote and support research and scholarly work.
Things Senate has done:
March 2016: Senate passed a policy revision that would standardize the grading format across the institution. Previously, the same percentage in different departments could mean different percentages.
March 2016: Senate approves the new bachelor of science, biochemistry major.
March 2016: Revisions to undergraduate admission requirements were approved.
April 2016: A report on academic misconduct at UFV was presented by the office of academic integrity and appeals. The report summarized the findings of the office on what academic misconducts were most common. It also included what the office intends to do to reduce academic misconduct.
May 2016: An annual review of Senate’s bylaws was conducted. Revisions were made to the procedures for membership on senate standing committees as well as to the senate standing committee rules for the conduct of business.
June 2016: Senate approved the strategic research plan 2016-20 and recommended approval to the Board of Governors. The plan will integrate research with teaching and to increase research opportunities for students.
September 2016: First annual report on the academic success centre was provided to Senate for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of the centre.
October 2016: Approved course load revision.
October 2016: Senate approves a master’s degree program for integrated science and technology.
Some things Senate does:
-Sets criteria for awarding certificates, diplomas, degrees, and honorary degrees.
-Set curriculum content for courses.
-Set qualifications for admission
-Policies concerning examinations and evaluation of student performances
-Residency requirements
-Policies regarding student withdraw from courses or programs
-Criteria for academic standing, academic standards, and the grading system for awards. Any kinds of student awards
Questions and answers with Eric Davis:
What does Senate do?
Senate is the chief academic governance body at the institution. When new programs are coming through, they have to be approved by Senate ultimately. If new academic policies are coming through they have to be approved by Senate.
What is your role on Senate?
I’m a member like anybody else, I have one vote. In my position I know a lot about certain things so I have an education role to play. There might be a number of issues that are discussed where I will say something based on my experience or I might give advice to Senate.
Why is Senate important?
It’s how a university governs itself and it’s how students and faculty self-govern. It’s like a parliament for a university. It’s how a university functions like a democracy and it’s called a form of collegial governances because colleagues elect colleagues on Senate. There are no other institution in society that are like a university. Senate is one of the things that distinguishes a university from other institutions.
How many positions are there for students?
There’s four on Senate and there are student positions on each of the standing committees of Senate. More students can addend, you can always attend as a guest, and in the past for some issues, students did come as guests but there are four, and this is set by the legislation.
