Senate is the academic governing body of UFV, with the university President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Joanne MacLean 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, which are 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 which occurred on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.
David McGuire, associate vice-president international, presented on where UFV is regarding international students amid the recent changes the provincial and federal government have made to the International Student Program. This change directly affects UFV, as it includes setting a limit on the number of international students accepted into Canadian universities. According to the government of Canada, it is expected that the percentage of temporary residents will go down from 6.5 to 5 per cent by 2026.
According to McGuire, UFV has an approval rate of 87 per cent for international student study permits. He mentioned that according to a recent freedom of information request “that compared every designated learning institution in Canada,” UFV ranked third of all Canadian universities that are “legally able to accept international students.” McGuire added that the number of international students who graduate within a six year period at UFV is 88 per cent.
Dr. James Mandigo, provost and vice-president academic, made a motion to discontinue the criminology extended minor. According to a memo from Mandigo to President Dr. MacLean, there is no longer a need for the program, due to the changes made to the criminology minor. The motion was voted on and approved.
Dr. MacLean wrote in her President’s report about the annual Open House that took place at the Abbotsford campus on Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She emphasized that “a university open house plays a crucial role in student recruitment and fostering community understanding of the university’s academic mission and facilities.”
President MacLean added that an open house offers the opportunity to talk and get to know potential students and their families, while also providing them with information about UFV programs, student life and support, giving advice, and answering any questions they have.
Dr. Mandigo wrote in his Provost report that the recent revisions by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are supposed to be the last ones made to the policy. Mandigo added that “For fall 2024, UFV received 5,960 domestic and 1,300 international applications leading to 2,196 new domestic students and 393 new international students.”
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.
