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, Sept. 20, 2024.
A presentation of UFV’s new AI Principles was delivered by Katie Tuck, chief information officer of Information and Technology Services, and Dr. Awneet Sivia, associate vice president of teaching and learning. An AI taskforce was assembled to explore how other universities, institutions, and organizations are implementing AI, and to determine a set of principles that would be beneficial to the unique needs of UFV.
Dr. Sivia explained that the AI taskforce considered the impact of AI and took “an opportunity to gather diverse perspectives across the institution because everyone’s AI needs and challenges were different.”
Sivia asserted that there are “four domains at the institution where we felt AI was having significant impact.” They include the areas of administration, pedagogy and research, student experience, and overall technology.
Sivia and Tuck also introduced seven principles to “help UFV be both consistent and flexible in its response to AI in a manner that is aligned with other post-secondary institutions.” The principles consist of: 1. Integrity and Innovation; 2. Flexibility, Adaptability, and Effectiveness; 3. Informed, Balanced, and Appropriate Use; 4. Data, Content, and Governance; 5. Ethics, Digital Literacy, Regulation; 6. Inclusion and Accessibility; and 7. Positive Mindset, Forward Learning Approaches.
A motion was made by David Johnston, university registrar for the Senate, to approve the changes made to the Inclusive Education Assistant certificate, recommended in a memo from Samantha Hannah, undergraduate education committee chair. One of the major adjustments included a name change from the School and Community Support Worker certificate to the Inclusive Education Assistant certificate.
According to a memo from Dr. Sheryl MacMath, director of the School of Education, the reasons behind this decision include a response to the need for inclusive educational assistants in Fraser Valley schools and maintaining a singular focus as the program previously catered to “both future education assistants (EAs) and those hoping to work as community support workers.” The creation of courses EDAS (Education Assistant) 181 and 182 are set to replace SOWK 110 and HSER 195, while PSYCH 250 will be replaced with EDUC 200. The motion was voted on and approved. These changes are set to take place in September 2025.
In Dr. Joanne MacLean’s President’s Report to the Senate, she included the UFV Community Report that commemorates 50 years of service as an institution to the community. The report gives an overview of some of the projects currently underway, such as the Peace and Reconciliation Centre (PARC)’s partnership with BMO in funding the BMO Collaboratorium, which seeks to bring critical research opportunities to Indigenous communities. The report also outlines the goals UFV has for the next 50 years, which includes campus renewal projects in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, and Hope to create “environments that invite creativity, connection, and innovation,” and visions for student readiness, indigenization, internationalization, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). MacLean mentioned in her report that the upcoming student housing is set to be six storeys in height and will accommodate 398 students.
Dr. James Mandigo, provost and vice president academic, wrote in the Provost Report that not only did 2024 signify UFV’s 50th anniversary, “It also marks the largest ever fall class at close to 11,300 total students! That total number includes the highest number of returning students ever during a fall term at just over 8,700.”
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.