VIU Committees

Board of Governors

The Board of Governors of Vancouver Island University is empowered by the University Act of British Columbia. The management, administration and control of the property, revenue, business and affairs of the university are vested in the Board. Consistent with the University Act, Vancouver Island University Board members do not receive any remuneration for their services.

The Board membership is comprised of 15 members as follows:

  • the chancellor;
  • the president;
  • two faculty members elected by the faculty;
  • eight persons appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, two of whom are to be appointed from among persons nominated by the alumni association;
  • two students elected by the students; and
  • one person elected by and from the employees of the university who are not faculty members.

For a current list of Board of Governors members, go to this page – Board of Governors Membership.

Please note that due to the adoption of Bill 18 (23 g) a person who is an employee of the university and who is a voting member of the executive body of, or an officer of, an academic or non-academic staff association of the university who has the responsibility, or joint responsibility with others, to negotiate with the board, on behalf of the academic or non-academic staff association of that university, the terms and conditions of service of members of that association, or adjudicate disputes regarding members of the academic or non-academic staff association of that university is not eligible to be a member of the Board of Governors. CUPE does not have formal representation on the Board, there is however one position for “support staff” to be elected to sit on the Board.

Senate

The Senate is the academic governing body of Vancouver Island University. Senate is constituted under the University Act and is chaired by President and Vice-Chancellor Deb Saucier. Senate conducts its business through six Standing Committees, each with specific Terms of Reference.

The senate of a special purpose, teaching university is composed of the following:

  • the chancellor;
  • the president, who is its chair;
  • the academic vice president or equivalent;
  • the deans of faculties;
  • the chief librarian;
  • the registrar;
  • two faculty members for each faculty, elected by its members;
  • 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.

CUPE does not have formal representation on Senate, there are however two spots for “support staff” to be elected to sit on senate. You can see who the members of Senate are by checking this page – Senate Membership.

Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee is a Senate subcommittee that has the authority for the following recommendations to Senate:

Decisional Mandates:

  • setting and revising curriculum content for courses and programs, including those leading to certificates, diplomas and degrees;
    setting qualifications for admission to specific courses and programs;
  • Advisory Mandates:
    the establishment, revision or discontinuance of courses and programs at the special purpose, teaching university;

Other

  • the financial and resource implications, if any, of proposals for new and revised courses and programs;
  • setting policy for the curriculum development and approval process;
  • other matters as assigned by Senate.

You can see a list of the members of the Curriculum Committee by checking this page – Curriculum Committee Membership.

Educational Standards Committee

Educational Standards Committee is a Senate subcommittee that has the authority for the following recommendations to Senate:

Decisional Mandates:

  • setting criteria for awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees;
  • setting qualifications for admission to the university;
  • setting policies concerning examinations and evaluation of student performance;
  • setting residency requirements for awarding credentials for courses and programs;
  • setting policies concerning student withdrawal from courses, programs or the university;
  • setting criteria for academic standing, academic standards and the grading system;
  • setting policies and procedures for appeals by students on academic matters;
  • setting policies on curriculum evaluation for determining whether:
  • courses or programs, or course credit, from another university or body are equivalent to courses or programs, or course credit, at the university, or
  • courses or programs, or course credit, from one part of the university are equivalent to courses or programs, or course credit, in another part of the university

Advisory Mandates:

  • the setting of the academic schedule;
  • setting of educational policies on the qualifications for faculty members;
  • setting of educational policies on the adjudication procedure for appealable matters of student discipline

Other:

  • other matters as assigned by Senate.

You can see a list of the members of the Education Standards Committee by checking this page – Education Standards Committee Membership.