Welcome Back!
Happy Academic New Year!
This is my favourite week of the year at a university. The energy and enthusiasm of a new semester is palpable across campus. It is impossible to not be buoyed by the spirit of RockVIU. I hope that you were able to find time for some R&R over the summer and feel ready to welcome our new and returning students.
I am delighted to launch a regular newsletter for the Office of the Provost. We expect to circulate this update a couple of times per semester. The intent is to share the most current information on VIU’s academic affairs. We welcome your comments and suggestions on content – ProvostCommunications@viu.ca.
This marks the beginning of my second year as your Provost and VP Academic. My first year was one of learning about VIU and gaining a better understanding of the BC post-secondary context. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of you and I look forward to continuing to learn more about the great work happening on our campus. As always, I welcome invitations to visit classes, labs or events.
VIU is uniquely positioned to create a vibrant future. We will continue to evolve as a university that provides a world class teaching, learning and innovation environment. Guided by our Strategic Plan – People, Place and Potential, we have an opportunity to shape our activities and programs in a manner that ensures academic excellence and financial sustainability. Our success will be founded on all of us working together as outlined in our People Plan (watch for the upcoming update).
The current academic year will require continued focus on addressing the challenges of our budget. It is imperative that we address the current deficit situation and balance our books. We all have a role to play in making the required changes. The primary focus of my office is ensuring that our mix of academic offerings is attracting enough students to ensure long-term sustainability. In 2022-23 I initiated standing meetings with the Deans to review our program mix. We selected a suite of key metrics and are in the process of finalizing a set of evidence-based tools to evaluate our programs. We will continue to meet weekly to advance this work. Updates on this work will be shared through future editions of this newsletter and on the website reference below. The Deans will be working closely with their academic units to share information and ideas to move us forward. For example, we will be looking for ways to better package and communicate our current offerings to create thematic pathways aligned with students’ interests. This initiative is guided by the need to generate sufficient revenue to meet or exceed our costs and the recognition that some programs are more expensive to deliver than others. I am heartened by the spirit on this campus to balance our needs across the academy. We need to think institutionally as we act departmentally.
It is often said that the only constant is change. This year we will continue to make administrative and operational changes to better meet the needs of our students and the overall community. I fully recognize that this can be disruptive, uncertain and stressful. I encourage you to support each other and engage in the discussions to make us a better institution. Much of this work will not be easy, but it will be rewarding and will ensure that we continue to thrive as an institution. I remain highly optimistic about our future. This optimism is rooted in people (all of you), place (our outstanding geography and culture) and potential (the strength in working together).
I wish all of you a healthy, happy and productive academic year. If you see me on campus, please stop me and say hello. I greatly look forward to working with all you in 2023-24.
Thank you for all you do to make this place so special. In Hul’q’umi’num, the language of the people on who’s traditional territory we gratefully live, huy tseep q'u.
Mike
Faculty Activity Reporting Software
In June, the Provost office launched a new system for recording faculty activity called Faculty Success. This software allows faculty to identify their various types of workloads, including teaching, scholarship, research, creative activity and service. Faculty can organize information and pull data to create CVs, accreditation reports and promotional documents. Faculty will use the software to complete their annual report with the opportunity to share their report with the Provost Office and other employees. More background information on faculty activity reporting can be found in the VIUFA – VIU collective agreement under LOA #12.
Learn more about the new Faculty Activity reporting software.
Provost Division Personnel Updates
- Dr. Sungchul Choi started his appointment as Dean, Faculty of Management, on July 1, 2023. Learn more about Dr. Choi.
- Dr. Claire Grogan started her appointment as Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, on August 1, 2023. Learn more about Dr. Grogan.
- Dr. Patricia O’Hagan has been reappointed as Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Human Services. Dr. O’Hagan will be on educational leave from September 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024. Dr. Stacie Chappell, most recently Acting Dean, Faculty of Management, will be Acting Dean during this time.
- Dr. David Paterson, Dean, Faculty of Education, will be on educational leave from September 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024. Dr. Rachel Moll, Associate Dean, Faculty of Education, will be Acting Dean during this time. Dr. Marian Riedel will backfill as Acting Associate Dean.
Provost and Deans Meetings
A key to VIU’s ongoing success and sustainability is a refinement of the programs we offer. The Provost and Deans will continue to meet regularly into the 2023-24 academic year to work on the current model of academic operations and program mix. Provost and Deans meeting updates are available to all employees.
Policy and Procedure Updates
The following policies and procedures have been recently updated:
- Policy 94.08 Course Outlines
- Procedure 94.08.001 Required Course Outline Criteria
- Policy 97.22 Bachelor Degree Requirements – approved at the June 1, 2023 Senate meeting
The Provost office review of all academic policies will now be overseen by the Secretariat office.
Events and Awards
President and Provost Awards
The award recipients have been chosen for the Provost Awards for Excellence in Teaching Design and Practice and the Provost Awards for Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity. An announcement on the award recipients is forthcoming.
The President and Provost Awards ceremony will be held at a later fall date.
Academic Emeritus
The following Academic Emeritus Designation recipients were celebrated at the June 23, 2023, convocation:
- Dr. Steven Earle
- Dr. John Lepage
- Les Malbon
- Dr. John Morgan
- Dr. Robert Willis
What’s in the Provost Division?
The Provost and Vice-President, Academic oversees various academic and student support departments across VIU’s campuses. The Provost division is made up of the following departments:
- Student Affairs
- University Library
- Faculties
- Office of Indigenous Education and Engagement
- Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity
- Registrar’s Office
The Associate Vice-President Academic oversees:
- Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning
- Writing Centre
- International Academic Supports
- Cowichan and tiwšɛmawtxʷ campuses
- Parksville-Qualicum Centre
- Office of University Planning and Analysis
- Dual Credit
Faculty Resources
- The Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL) offers an abundance of classroom and technology resources for faculty. Visit CIEL to access VIULearn tutorials, learn new course design techniques or book a consultation with the CIEL staff to gain feedback on your course. A recent CIEL blog post also addresses the emergence of Generative AI (AI) and Large Language Models (LLM).
- BC Campus provides a wealth of timely resources for faculty members. The site also provides updates on current projects and offers opportunities for workshops and online learning sessions.