Applied & Technical Studies Faculty Council · Najmi Alibhai (Counsellor, Student Services) Noham Weinberg (Associate Professor, Chemistry, Faculty of Science) Peter Geller (Vice

Draft AGENDA

Applied & Technical Studies Faculty Council Thursday, March 9, 2017

2:00 – 3:30 pm, Rivers Dining Room

Agenda Package Page #

1. Welcome from the Chair John

2. Presentation: Five International Goals Peter Geller, Vice Provost, Associate Vice President, Academic

Pg. 2-6

3. Presentation: PASS and Policy Updates

Jody Gordon, Vice President, Students and Enrolment Kyle Baillie, Director, Student Life & Development David Johnston, University Registrar Greg Mather, Manager, Student Wellness and Development

4. Items for Approval John

4.1. Agenda, March 9, 2017 Pg. 1

4.2. Minutes, January 12, 2017 Pg. 7-10

5. Review of Action Items Outstanding from Minutes of January 12, 2017 John Pg. 11

6. Unfinished Business

7. Dean’s Report 7.1. Cell Phones In Classrooms John

8. Reports from Other Faculty Council Representatives

9. New Business 9.1. Carpentry and Joinery Program Proposal John

10. Information Items

10.1. Elections Notice – Vice Chair and Support Staff (To serve from September 2017 to September 2019)

10.2. Nominations for Student Speakers at Convocation 2017 Pg. 12-13

10.3. Call for Expressions of Interest – UFV Senate Standing Committees Pg. 14-18

10.4. Resolution of Student Complaints Policy (Deadline for feedback March 22, 2017)

Pg. 19-23

Next meeting: April 13, 2017

Applied & Technical Studies Agenda Package - March 9, 2017 1

01/2017 DRAFT

Beyond LocalInternationalization at UFV 2017-2020


In these times of increasing complexities around globalization, more than ever, institutions and communities need to be prepared to work within an international context. Indeed, both the Government of Canada and the Government of BC have released international education strategies. (See sidebar.) To formalize and provide strategic direction to UFV’s current internationalization efforts, in 2016, UFV formed a Strategic Planning for Internationalization (SPI) committee — a think tank working group — made up of key stakeholders from within the university. The members included students and representatives from academic, service, and administrative units. A full list of the committee members is captured on the final page of this document.

To guide its understanding of UFV’s current position on the internationalization spectrum, the committee worked from a prominent and current definition of internationalization as “…the intentional process of integrating an international, intercultural or global dimension into the purpose, functions and delivery of post-secondary education…” (de Wit, 2015). After an initial overview of internationalization efforts undertaken by UFV International, the group conducted a preliminary analysis of key UFV documents and plans – Strategic Directions, Education Plan, Strategic Enrolment Management Plan – to identify current internationalization priorities.

Strategic Directions:“…provide the knowledge and foster the development of the critical-thinking, leadership, and practical skills that students require for employment, entrepreneurship, further education, and responsible citizenship— locally and globally…”

“…is inclusive, welcoming, and engaging for all…”

“…embraces diversity, supports cross-cultural exchange, and promotes the respectful debate of ideas and views…”

Education Plan:“Collaborate across boundaries”

“Develop local and global citizenship”

Strategic Enrolment Management Plan:“By 2019 International Student Headcount should increase by 38%.”

“…expanding international aspects within the curriculum, professional development for faculty and staff, and opportunities for student mobility, including Study Abroad and international internships.”

With these as guiding principles, the committee then discussed a number of topics related to internationalization at UFV and developed five goals that the university should pursue.

1

01/2017 DRAFT

Background

- Canada’s International Education Strategy

- British Columbia’s International Education Strategy


http://international.gc.ca/global-markets-marches-mondiaux/education/strategy-strategie.aspx?lang=eng


http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/post-secondary-education/international-education/internationaleducationstrategy_web.pdf






#1: Increase access to and participation in international mobility experiences.Recognizing the value of an immersive international experience, UFV will strive to promote international mobility – both semester-long exchanges and shorter-term programming. We will do this by raising the awareness of the opportunities available, streamlining the process of credit recognition, and striving to remove financial barriers to studying abroad. UFV will encourage and support our faculty in developing collaborative relationships with faculty from partner institutions as a means of strengthening partnerships and increasing student mobility. We will also continue to support faculty members who wish to organize study tours or other international learning experiences.

#2: Expand the cultural diversity of the UFV community.UFV will continue to be a welcoming place for students, faculty, and staff of diverse backgrounds. We will aim to broaden the scope of current recruitment activities and promote the acquisition of intercultural competencies. With the student population, we will continue to promote events and activities that attract attendees from diverse backgrounds.

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01/2017 DRAFT

Goals

As of January, 2017, number of countries represented in UFV’s student body:

70+


#3: Design and deliver programs for a rapidly evolving global context.Throughout its history, UFV has become accustomed to change. The institution has changed, the community has changed, and the type of students we attract has changed. UFV will ensure that its programs — both at the curricular and co-curricular levels — are relevant in developing global citizenship. This could mean the inclusion of an intercultural element in programs. It could involve a modification of program structure to accommodate international learning experiences. It could also be achieved through the inclusion of international and intercultural content within specific course material.

#4: Provide services and an environment that foster a sense of belonging.UFV recognizes and honours the contribution that Aboriginal people have made − and continue to make − to our community. Just as the Stó:lō people welcome us, we must ensure that UFV’s services and spaces are welcoming to people from a variety of backgrounds. With that in mind, UFV will strive to foster a sense of belonging in everything that we do — from the development of our teams, to the design of physical spaces, to the creation of our policies.

#5: Support the development of strategic partnerships.UFV has the good fortune to have partnerships with a variety of institutions the world over. These agreements may involve student mobility, credit transfer, research interests, or other joint initiatives. Going forward, we will work toward an inventory of these partnerships and a database of opportunities so that departments can promote the relationships that best align with their goals. On both the local and international level, we will collaborate across boundaries.

3

01/2017 DRAFT

According to the AUCC’s 2014 Internationalization Survey, percentage of Canadian universities “…engaged in activities to internationalize the curriculum.”

72%

Goals


https://www.univcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/internationalization-survey-2014.pdf






Special thanks to the following committee members who contributed their ideas and time to this important initiative:

Adrienne Chan (Associate Vice President, Research, Engagement, & Graduate Studies)

Audra Toews (UFV Student, Bachelor of Science)

Betty Poettcker (Director, Finance)

Bobby Jaswal (Academic Advisor, Advising Centre)

Caleb Zimmerman (Director, Marketing & Student Recruitment)

Chelsey Laird (Coordinator, Global Engagement Programming, UFV International)

Cherie Enns (Associate Professor, Geography & the Environment, College of Arts)

David McGuire (Executive Director, UFV International)

Dea Freschi (Director, UFV International)

Diane Griffiths (Associate Vice President, Human Resources— retired)

Dianne Hicks (Director, Human Resources & Staff Relations)

Edward Lo (Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems, Faculty of Professional Studies)

Garry Fehr (Director, Agriculture Centre of Excellence)

Jacqueline Nolte (Dean, College of Arts)

Joanna Sheppard (Associate Professor, Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences)

John English (Dean, Faculty of Applied & Technical Studies)

John Potts (Manager, International Partnerships & Programs, UFV International)

Kathryn Garcia (Academic Advisor, Academic Advisor)

Kevin DeWolde (Associate Professor, School of Business, Faculty of Professional Studies)

Maria Bos-Chan (Dept. Head, English as a Second Language, Faculty of Access & Continuing Education)

Michael Levesque (Credential Evaluation Officer, Office of the Registrar)

Najmi Alibhai (Counsellor, Student Services)

Noham Weinberg (Associate Professor, Chemistry, Faculty of Science)

Peter Geller (Vice Provost/Associate Vice President, Academic)

Rita Atake (Assistant Professor, Communications, College of Arts)

Samantha Pattridge (Associate Professor, Communications, College of Arts)

Shirley Hardman (Senior Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, Indigenous Affairs Office)

Sunny Kim (UFV Student, Bachelor of Arts)

Sylvie Murray (Associate Dean of Faculty, College of Arts)

4

01/2017 DRAFT

StrategicPlanningforInterna6onaliza6onCommi:ee


January 12, 2017 Applied & Technical Studies Faculty Council Minutes, DRAFT 1 of 5

DRAFT MINUTES APPLIED & TECHNICAL STUDIES FACULTY COUNCIL

Thursday, January 12, 2017

2:00 pm, Rivers Dining Room CEP Campus

Chair: John English Present: Al Behmer Avner Bachar Brenda Fredrick* Brock Hartman Bruce Corbeil Cary Britton Greg St. Hilaire* Jamie Ubell Jeremy Abbott Jim Carson Joel Feenstra Mark Ryan Martin Warkentin* Nancy Barker Pierce Stoeckly Randy Kelley* Renee Prasad Rod Smith Rolf Arnold* Shannon Draney Ted Zak Tim Cooper* Wes Macaulay Regrets: Cathy Anderson Daniel Smythe Dean Key Myles Andrew Nick Penner Pat McGurk Paul Gumprich Sandy Hill* Tom Baumann Wally Gallinger Guests: Allison Colthrop Chief David Jimmie So Jeon Elizabeth Bal Recorder: Kelli Graham*

*non-voting member 1. WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR

John English, Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm. Wes Macaulay was introduced as the new permanent faculty member for Architectural Drafting.

2. PRESENTATION:

Allison Colthrop, Executive Director, Tourism Chilliwack and Squiala Chief David Jimmie presented information on Hockey Canada’s announcement that Chilliwack will host the 2018 RBC Cup National Junior A Championship. This tournament is scheduled to be held at Prospera Centre in Chilliwack, May 12-20, 2018.

UFV faculty and staff are encouraged to get involved by volunteering, hosting an event, join a sub-committee or sponsorship. Anyone interested in participating in this event, can speak to Nancy for more information.

3. PRESENTATION:

So Jeon, UFV Career Services Coordinator provided suggestions on how career services can help students in Trades with their transition from UFV to workplace. A few examples of how they can work with students are as follows:

1-on-1 Resume/Cover Letter Help Job Postings – CareerLink Job Board Widget

Both Al and Nancy shared their experiences of how So has worked with their class in these areas. If anyone is interested in providing this assistance to their class, please contact the Director.



4. ITEMS FOR APPROVAL

4.1. Agenda, January 12, 2017

Add: 9.4 Van Donation

10.3 Open House

MOTION J. Ubell/T. Zak

THAT the agenda be adopted as amended. CARRIED

4.2. Minutes, November 10, 2016

MOTION N. Barker/B. Hartman

THAT the minutes of 2016-11-10 be approved. CARRIED

5. REVIEW OF ACTION ITEMS OUTSTANDING FROM MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 10

The committee reviewed the list of outstanding issues from minutes of November 10.

5.1. Compound Access - Signage

The Director confirmed that signage has now been posted in the compound areas and thanked the Program Technicians for their support.

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

6.1. Trades Diploma

The program working group met with Maureen Wideman and is now working on the concept paper for consideration by the Dean’s. This paper should be presented to the Dean’s by March or April 2017.

6.2. Short Program Review Process (Drafting and Electronics)

The Dean reported on the program reviews for Drafting and Electronics. Currently the Dean is in the process of developing an External Review Committee who will provide recommendations. The timeline for completion is by the end of the Winter semester.

7. DEAN’S REPORT

7.1. Enrolments

The Dean shared information on the 2016-17 actual enrolments as compared to projections. Overall the enrolments are above projections which will have a positive impact on the budget. The Dean thanked faculty and staff for their work on recruitment and retention.

8. REPORTS FROM OTHER FACULTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES

Greg shared information on the following:

Review of Education Plan Goals International students from India Makerspace in Abbotsford Rank and Tenure – Promotion from “Assistant” to “Associate”

Martin reported on the following:

Library allocations: please contact Martin for your resource needs (books, cameras, etc.)



Brenda announced the following:

UFV Visual Arts Faculty Show - S'eliyemetaxwtexw Art Galley (B-136 Abbotsford Campus) January 11th - February 1st 2017

2016-17 enrolment numbers are up in Visual Arts International field trip to Venice – May 2017 – Programs who may be interested:

Carpentry and Architectural Drafting Tim reported on the following:

Dean of Science – reappointed for a 5 year term Faculty council meetings – changes to agenda New grading scheme issues 2016-17 enrolment numbers down in Physics and Chemistry

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.1. 2017 UFV Honorary Degrees

The President’s office is seeking nominations for the 2017 Honorary Degrees. Nominations for 2017 will close by the end of February. Faculty are encouraged to share any ideas to the Dean before the deadline.

9.2. Curriculum Committee Report

The Curriculum Committee (Nancy, Avner and Jamie) held a meeting on Monday, Janaury 9th to review the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer M-License program material as well as changes to the entrance requirements for the Agriculture Program.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineer M-License

The committee reviewed the proposal and noted that the ILOs had been applied to the program.

MOTION N. Barker/S. Draney

THAT the Applied & Technical Studies faculty council approve, in principle, the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer M-License (AME) Program, subject to approval by Transport Canada and that a course outline and memo be created prior to moving on to CWC. CARRIED Agriculture Program

The committee reviewed the proposal and noted that changes to the entrance requirements for the Agriculture program. Some of these changes were summarized as follows:

Remove mention of Agri 11 and 12 – not being offered in the local high schools

Biology 11 – addition of “strongly recommended”

The addition of “..or mature student status (age 19 years +)”

It was noted that as this affects the Agriculture degree, the Faculty of Science should be notified of these changes.

MOTION J. Feenstra/B. Hartman

THAT the Applied & Technical Studies faculty council approve, in principle, the changes to the entrance requirements for the Agriculture program, subject to the Faculty of Science being advised of the changes. CARRIED



The Curriculum Committee shared a memo template request form for faculty to use when sending program revisions to the committee for consideration. This should help streamline the process and maintain a historical log of actions.

9.3. Dedicated Website – Community Challenge

No discussion at this time.

9.4. Van Donation

Jamie shared information on a15 passenger van that will be serviced, repainted and ready to be donated to a deserving recipient at the Try-a-Trade event on March 2, 2017.

Dave Pinton, Director of Communication, will assist with advertising and helping to select a recipient for this donation.

10. INFORMATION ITEMS

10.1. Lunch and Learn Series

Nancy shared information on the “Lunch and Learn Series”, (11:30-12:15, Rivers dining room).

LinkedIn: Thursday January 26, 2017 Speaker: Kristin Vandegriend http://careerstory.ca/

Instagram: Thursday February 23, 2017 Speaker: Liz Bal

Twitter: Thursday March 23, 2017 Speaker: TBA

RSVP To Nancy at [email protected]

10.2. AED Instructions

Following the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) meeting held on January 11, information was circulated on the use of an AED so faculty and staff may familiarize themselves with the use of the Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s).

In addition to the handout, faculty and staff may visit the following website to view a demonstration video http://mediquest.ca/first-aid-training/.

10.3. Open House

The Associate Dean advised that March 2, 2017 will be the day for the skills competition, try-a-trade and this year an evening public open house. The idea of having a series of tours in the evening and including Agriculture was discussed.

Joel shared information on a virtual reality headset that he would like to invest in as a way of showing his students various areas without having to take them to actual sites. As Joel researches the equipment, he will share his findings with the group. MOTION The meeting adjourned at 3:35 pm. B. Corbeil Next Meeting, February 9, 2017



REVIEW OF ACTION ITEMS OUTSTANDING FROM MINUTES of November 10, 2016

1.

Safety Committee (John, Mark, Kevin, Bruce, Randy, Rolf, Dean, Pierce, Mo Bual.)

ACTION: John

Safety Audit cancelled but Committee will meet to ensure safety compliance at TTC.

2.

Committee to aide and increase enrolments. (John, Randy, Cary, Daniel, Deborah, Jamie, Mark, Nancy, Nick, Yvonne, Vikram, Wally)

ACTION: John

1st meeting scheduled for April 19th

2nd meeting was held on May 9th

Retreat scheduled for September 23

Survey sent to all faculty and staff October, 2016.

PD Event held on December 20, 2016

3.

Diplomas for Apprenticeship Graduates – John to work with Sylvie Murray to outline process for formal approval. Task force: (Daniel, Jamie, Ted, John)

ACTION: John

Concept paper – Curriculum Committee then Faculty Council

4.

Program Review – Drafting | Electronics ACTION: John

External scan complete.

Internal scan complete.

Faculty council review – October 2016

External Committee to be formulated.

5.

Annual Workload Plan – Re: Teaching, Scholarly Activity, Service

ACTION: John

Separate session on how to track this information. – Winter 2017

6.

Priority Access to Student Supports (PASS). A suggestion to bring Kyle Baillie or Jody Gordon to a future meeting to review the program would be beneficial.

Student Academic Misconduct and the Student Non-Academic Conduct policies.

ACTION: John

Jody, Kyle and David J. to attend the March faculty council


MEMO

To: Department Heads and Directors

CC: Deans, Assistants to the Deans, Dave Pinton, Betsy Terpsma, Auriel Heron, Tricia Townsend

From: Eric Davis, Provost and Vice-President, Academic

Date: February 21, 2017

Re: Nominations for Student Speakers at Convocation 2017

We are seeking nominations for Student Speakers for our June 6 and 7 Convocation ceremonies. Selection as a student speaker is considered an honour for a graduate. Those selected receive an honorary certificate acknowledging they were a student speaker at Convocation, and will be profiled in Convocation publicity. We also make space available for their guests in the reserved seating area at the ceremony. Nominees should be students who are well-rounded in a variety of areas including public speaking, respected by other students, and willing to write and give the speech. For privacy reasons, please ensure nominees are willing to be nominated and have their information shared with the selection committee. Students must meet all requirements enabling them to graduate this June. Speeches should be five to seven minutes. Nominations should be submitted to Nicole Hitchens ([email protected]) in the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic by April 24, 2017. Many thanks for your assistance with this effort, which will help to ensure student-centred ceremonies at Convocation 2017.


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

CONVOCATION 2017 STUDENT SPEAKER NOMINATION FORM

Student’s Name:

Student Number:

Program graduating from (include majors/minors if appropriate):

Address:

Daytime Phone: (as of May 2016)

Please Include:

A one or two paragraph statement on why this student is particularly suited to be chosen student

speaker. It would be beneficial to include activities the nominee is/has been involved with at UFV.

A bio of the nominee

Letters of support (optional)

Nominator*: (name and program)

*Nominator’s should be a faculty member from the department/area the nominated student is graduating from.

Please note this form should be filled out by the nominating faculty member. One nomination per discipline.

Deadline for nominations: 12 pm, April 24, 2017. Please submit the completed nomination form to the Office of the Provost and Vice‐President, Academic, or electronically to [email protected]. Applied & Technical Studies Agenda Package - March 9, 2017 13

UFV Senate Standing Committee Call for Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interests are being sought from faculty members, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students to serve on the standing committees of Senate for the 2017‐18 academic year. The Senate Governance Committee (SGC) welcomes expressions of interest for the positions listed in the attached expressions of interest form. SGC is responsible for ensuring the broadest possible base of representation on the committees, given the available pool of nominees. SGC will make every effort to ensure that committee composition considers the experience and interest of candidates, and the diversity of disciplines at the University. To volunteer, please complete and return the attached expression of interest and information sheet by 4:00 pm on Friday, March 10, 2017, to Monique Castonguay at [email protected]. For information on the Senate standing committees or the nomination process, please visit the Secretariat website at http://www.ufv.ca/secretariat/standing‐committee‐vacancies/.


Call for Expressions of Interest Page 1 of 4

UFV Senate Standing Committees Call for Expressions of Interest

Expression of Interest and Information Sheet

Clickonhighlightedareastoentertext.

Candidate Information (required)

Name: Date:

Department/School/Program: Faculty (if applicable):

Phone: Email:

Candidate’s position at UFV

Faculty Staff Undergraduate student Graduate student

If you are a UFV undergraduate or graduate student please provide the following information:

Student ID#:

Program of study:

Year in program of study:



Senate Standing Committee Vacancies Please indicate the committee of interest. If you are interested in more than one, please indicate your preferences (1 being most preferred)

Committee Requires Term Meetings

Preference...

Academic Planning & Priorities 2 faculty members

1 staff member

1 student

2 years – ending July 31, 2019

Monthly, Wednesdays, week 3, 2:30‐4:30 pm

Preference...

Senate Awards & Honours Committee 2 faculty members

1 student 1 staff member


Monthly, Tuesday, week 3, 2:30‐4:30 pm

Preference...

Senate Budget Committee 3 faculty members

1 student 2 years – ending July 31, 2019

Monthly, Thursday, week 4, 2:30‐4:00 pm

Preference...

Graduate Studies Committee 1 faculty member 2 years – ending July 31, 2019

Monthly, Thursday, week 3, 9:00‐11:00 am

Preference...

Senate Research Committee 4 faculty members

1 graduate student 1 undergraduate student


Monthly, Thursday, week 1, 9:00‐11:00 am

Preference...

Undergraduate Education Committee 1 undergraduate student 2 years – ending July 31, 2019

Monthly, Friday, week 2, 10:00‐12:00 pm

Preference

Faculty Standards Committee of Senate

1 faculty member from Health Sciences

1 faculty member from Professional Studies

1 faculty member from Science

1 faculty member from Social Sciences

1 faculty member from Applied & Technical Studies

2 years – ending July 31, 2019 (staggering option being discussed)

Monthly, Wednesday, week 2, 2:30‐4:30 pm

Preference

Indigenization Committee of Senate 4 faculty members

2 self‐identified Aboriginal students


4 Meetings – 2 in fall semester and 2 in winter semester ‐ TBA

Preference

Senate Committee for Student Appeals

2 faculty members (from Science, Humanities, Social Sciences, or Health Sciences

2 students

Students – 2‐ year term ending July 31, 2019

Monthly, Tuesday, week 3, 3:00‐4:30 pm

Preference

Senate Teaching and Learning Committee – NEW COMMITTEE

5 faculty members‐ if possible, 1 who is a past recipient of TEA)

2 undergraduate students

Faculty term dates to be determined – at least 3 will have terms ending 07‐31‐2019 – (staggering option being discussed) Student terms are 2 years

TBA



Information sheet (required)

1. A statement of interest, outlining reasons for wanting to serve and what interests you about the Committee(s) you wish to serve on (up to 150 words):

2. Please list other recent committee service at UFV (department, program, faculty, university‐wide) and/or other organizations. Please indicate length of service.

3. Explain how your personal/professional experiences and/or qualifications would contribute to the work of the Committee(s)?

4. Please provide any additional information that you would consider relevant. Include additional sheet if required.

Please consider me for vacancies as they occur.

Candidate’s agreement By submitting this application, candidates agree to stand for the above position and agree to the terms as outlined in the Rules for the Conduct of Business http://www.ufv.ca/senate/standing‐committees/senate‐standing‐committees‐ruleprocedures/. If nominated, candidates are to serve the full term of the position.

To volunteer, please “save as” a copy and email the form to the Secretariat office: Attention to Monique Castonguay, Assistant to the Senate ([email protected])

DEADLINE: March 10, 2017 ‐ 4:00 pm Late forms will not be accepted



Your personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(c) & 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Senate will use this information for the sole purpose of reviewing and recommending nominees for approval. If you have any questions about the collection or use of this information, please contact Al Wiseman, University Secretary and Registrar, 33844 King Rd, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 7M8 at 604‐557‐4020 or [email protected].


Resolution of Student Complaints (Draft) Page 1 of 3

RESOLUTION OF STUDENT COMPLAINTS

NUMBER DRAFT

APPROVAL DATE MM-DD-YYYY

LAST AMENDMENT MM-DD-YYYY

LAST REVIEWED MM-DD-YYYY

NEXT REVIEW DATE MM-DD-YYYY

Approval Authority President

Responsible Executive Provost and VP, Academic; VP Students and Enrolment Management

Related Policies / Legislation Attendance (62) Final Grade Appeals (217) Instructional Responsibilities (46) Academic Misconduct (70) Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Prevention (18) Student Non-Academic Misconduct Policy (204) UFV Collective Agreement - Article 10.4(a) Freedom to Teach - Article 18.1 Faculty Duties

PURPOSE

The University of the Fraser Valley strives to create a fair, safe, and equitable environment in which to learn. Students who feel they have been treated unfairly within their University experience deserve support, and a mechanism to resolve their concerns. This policy establishes principles, rights, expectations, and responsibilities for procedures to ensure that complaints are handled in an appropriate way.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all students at the University of the Fraser Valley. Concerns of UFV employees related to their experience in the work place fall outside of the scope of this policy. Complaints involving allegations of harassment are not subject to this policy and must be dealt with under the Discrimination, Bullying and Harassment Prevention Policy 18. Complaints of an academic nature (e.g. complaints over grades, admissions, withdrawals, pre- requisites, prior learning assessments, etc.) are not subject to this policy and should be dealt with under the appropriate university policy or departmental procedures. This policy is not meant to limit the rights of an Instructor under UFV’s Academic Freedom Policy.

DEFINITIONS

In this policy, the following definitions apply: Complaint: A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with the action of an employee or service or academic unit by a student when it results from an alleged breach of the contractual or professional relationship normally expected between a student and the University.



Informal Complaint: Any complaint where a student attempts to seek resolution to her/his concerns with the most directly involved/responsible employee (e.g. Instructor, Department Head, manager of service provider, etc.), and not involving a request to proceed with stated guidelines of a formal review process. Formal Complaint: Any complaint where a student provides a written submission to the appropriate responsible administrator, following the published guidelines for the type of complaint in question.

POLICY

Complaints will be dealt with promptly, and in a fair and equitable manner that follows the principles of natural justice. The timely initiation of a complaint, however, rests with the student. A complaint may be denied at any time if the student fails to cooperate in the full and timely processing of the complaint. Whenever possible, every effort will be made to find an informal resolution to a complaint before proceeding to a formal complaint process. Formal complaints will be handled by an appropriate administrator who is able to hear the issues, without being in a conflict of interest or having any bias toward the complaint. Complaints must normally be individual. Group complaints may be accepted but only with the permission of the person about whom the complaint is made. Otherwise, students still have the right to submit individual complaints. Anonymous complaints from third parties will not be accepted. A student ( complainant) will not be discriminated against or suffer recrimination as a result of making a complaint in good faith; however, if a student knowingly brings a false, frivolous, or malicious complaint, such conduct will be addressed under the provisions of the Student Non-Academic Misconduct Policy 204. Any UFV employee (respondent) about whom a complaint is made will not suffer any consequence as a result of any unsubstantiated complaint. Said person will also have the opportunity to respond to any complaint brought forward against them. A substantiated complaint does not necessarily require disciplinary action. However, when necessary, a substantiated complaint may result in disciplinary action, but always within the bounds of the UFV Collective Agreement, University Policy, and relevant Provincial legislation. To protect the interests of the persons involved, and as much as is possible and appropriate under the circumstances, confidentiality will be maintained throughout the process except where disclosure is required by law or is necessary for a proper investigation and resolution of the matter. In addition, both parties (i.e. complainant and respondent) have the right to know how the matter was addressed and/or resolved.

REGULATIONS

At the highest level, there are two main types of complaints that a student may bring:

1. Concerns with experience within a course/classroom, or academic unit.

For all complaints of this kind, responsibility for the creation and application of procedures belongs to the Provost and VP Academic, and will be posted on their Office’s website.



2. Concerns arising out of an interaction with a non-academic service provided by an individual or office within the University.

For complaints of this kind, responsibility for the creation and application of procedures belongs to the Vice President, Students and Enrolment Management, and will be posted on their Office’s website.

Procedures will address: how to make a complaint, who handles complaints, what steps and deadlines are involved in resolving complaints, and where assistance with the process may be sought.

In all cases where a formal complaint process is initiated, the result will form a part of the official student record as maintained by the Office of the Registrar.


GUIDELINES and PROCEDURES FOR THE RESOLUTION OF STUDENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ACTION OF AN EMPLOYEE, SERVICE OR ACADEMIC UNIT

1. Application of Policy 1.1. On campus

This Policy applies to all student complaints that take place on University property.

1.2. Computer Equipment and Networks This Policy applies to all student complaints that take place on all University owned or operated computers, telephones, software, and computer networks.

1.3. Off campus

This Policy applies to the off-campus student complaints when:

1.3.1. Participating in a course, activity or event offered and/or organized by the University.

1.3.2. Participating in fieldtrips, co-op or work placements, practicums, study tours, varsity athletics events, and/or other environments in which the student is placed as part of a program in which the student is participating.

1.4. Social Media

This policy applies to all student complaints involving social media when:

1.4.1 The activity occurs on an account of the university, or an account that could reasonably be believed to be owned or maintained by the university.

2. The Principles for Procedural Fairness 2.1. A fair process means that complaints shall be heard and that decisions will be made by

unbiased decision-makers. 2.2. The student has the right to bring forward a complaint without the fear of retaliation. 2.3. The student has the right to have the matter addressed in a timely manner by an appropriate

Administrator who is not in a conflict of interest and who can address the concerns without bias.

2.4. The respondent shall have the right to respond to any complaint which is brought forward to them.

2.5. The student has the right to be informed of the respondent’s response and reply to it. 2.6. Both parties have the right to know how the matter was addressed and/or

resolved. Consideration shall be given to confidentiality under the FSA Collective Agreement when the respondent is a member of the association.

2.7. Although it is preferable to resolve a matter on an informal basis, the student and the respondent have the right to be informed about all formal avenues of recourse which may be available.

3. Procedures for Filing a Complaint 3.1. A student bringing forward a complaint shall, in the first instance, attempt to resolve the

situation by speaking to the person involved. 3.2. Where the matter cannot be resolved to the student’s satisfaction at that initial level, the

student, if proceeding with the complaint, shall bring the complaint to the attention of the appropriate administrator within 20 working days (where possible) of the incident.

3.3. The student may access assistance from the Student Union Society Advocacy Officer.


3.4. All complaints must be in writing. 3.5. Anonymous complaints or complaints from third parties on behalf of students will not be

accepted. 3.6. The student should state clearly the incident(s) that occurred noting pertinent facts such as

time, day, name of office, name or description of person(s) involved, description of what occurred, etc…

3.7. The student should also state clearly the remedy they are seeking.

4. Role of the Administrator The role of the Administrator is to: 4.1. Provide information on complaint resolution procedures. 4.2. Consider the rights and interests of both the student and the respondent. 4.3. Facilitate the resolution of the complaint through formal resolution.

5. Investigation 5.1. The appropriate administrator will investigate the complaint to determine if further action

is warranted. This can include speaking with the respondent directly and may also include interviewing any other witnesses necessary to assess the substance of the complaint. The student will have the opportunity to reply to the respondent’s response.

5.2. The administrator will review the evidence presented by all parties and make a determination of the validity of the complaint.

5.3. The administrator will take all necessary action deemed appropriate as a result of their findings.

6. Communication with Students

6.1. All communications will be conducted through the official UFV e-mail system. Students have a responsibility to utilize this system.

6.2. The appropriate administrator will normally deliver their findings in writing within 20 working days of receiving the complaint.

7. General Timelines 7.1. All timelines are guidelines only. Parties should attempt to comply with such time

frames. The failure to do so shall in no way nullifies the process unless the delay is unreasonable and prejudicial.


Documents

Applied & Technical Studies Faculty Council · Najmi Alibhai (Counsellor, Student Services) Noham Weinberg (Associate Professor, Chemistry, Faculty of Science) Peter Geller (Vice