Speakers: Dr. Jacqueline Holler & Dr. Julia Eastman

In this session, two keynote speakers will present their views on the current issues in university governance, including an overview of key actors/structures in the system as well as a summary of strengths and weaknesses. This panel is foundational to our collective understanding of university governance captured in this moment of time at the start of the conference, and will anchor the conversations throughout the remainder of the conference. Speakers are allotted up to 20 minutes each, with 20 minutes for discussion. 

Panelists: Dr. Mark Mac Lean; Dr. Glen Jones; Dr. Rick Kool

In this plenary session, a moderated panel of three speakers will speak for 10-15 minutes each about the current roles and responsibilities of faculty within university governance, including an overview of what works and doesn’t work for us in the lived experience of shared governance. It’s not the intention of this forum to sow division, or to focus on ideological, motherhood-and-apple-pie truisms; rather, this panel will focus on the plurality of experiences from the perspective of leading experts in administration, faculty, and unions. There will be approximately 15 minutes for Q&A at the end of the session. 

Panelists: Dr. Max Blouw; Dr. Jim Johnson; Dr. Larry Savage

In this plenary session, a moderated panel of three speakers will speak for 10-15 minutes each about the role of government and unions in university governance. Governments legislate the structural foundation of university governance, but they are also actors that participate in governance in ways that can shape institutions. Further, there is no defined role for faculty associations within university governance, but they participate in it even if their role has been historically peripheral and ambiguous. We will hear from the perspective of government, administration, and union, and let’s engage in a public discussion to elucidate the role of government and unions within university governance.

Facilitators: Dr. Kumari Beck; Dr. Sarika Bose; Dr. Rheanna Robinson

University governance needs the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion, but it can’t get there without embodying representation and internal change. Let’s get down to business and collaborate on real world solutions that will incorporate equity, diversity and inclusion into university governance. In this breakout session, we will have three facilitators oversee breakout group discussions. Breakout groups will be provided with focus questions to facilitate discussion. The session will be structured with an opening plenary in with each facilitator will give a brief presentation on their own views of EDI in university governance to the entire group, followed by a breakout discussion with three groups for a 30-minute facilitated conversation, and finally a closing plenary in which the facilitators present key takeaways from the breakout discussions. This session will be moderated to facilitate smooth transitions.

Join us at the rooftop ballroom for a reception with hors d’oeuvres and open bar.

Facilitators: Cheryl Foy, LLB; Dr. Jeff Hennessy; Dr. Robin Whitaker

The senate and board of governors serve important and very specific functions within university governance, but they don’t always work in complement. University governance reached a turning point in the pandemic that exposed the fundamental flaws in institutional decision-making. Some say the pre-pandemic rules and structures are outdated and no longer serve the purposes they once did. Senates and faculty say they’re displaced from shared governance, their authority and autonomy in decision-making eroded. How can we facilitate collaboration between the senate and board of governors? In this breakout session, we will have three facilitators oversee breakout group discussions. Breakout groups will be provided with focus questions to facilitate discussion. The session will be structured with an opening plenary in which each facilitator will give a brief presentation on their own views of the ideal senate-board relationship in university governance to the entire group, followed by a breakout discussion with three groups for a 30-minute facilitated conversation, and finally a closing plenary in which the facilitators present key takeaways from the breakout discussions. This session will be moderated to facilitate smooth transitions.

Panelists: Dr. Shannon Dea; Dr. Marc Spooner; Dr. Sue Wurtele

What is the future of university governance, and how can it evolve and adapt to the changing educational landscape? Can it survive today’s challenges? In this plenary session, a moderated panel of three speakers will share their visions for the future of university governance. The speakers will draw from discussions held during the conference to foster a deeper, collective understanding of governance and what it means for the health and vitality of universities in Canada. In this session, we aim to identify key components that will contribute to effective governance in universities. The panel’s presentations will serve as a foundation for us to build a collective vision for the future, enabling institutions to embrace change, foster collaboration, and promote the well-being of post-secondary education in Canada.

Speakers: Dr. Ken Christie; Annabree Fairweather; Sam Bradd

To wrap-up our conference, we will hold a final interactive discussion in which participants will share their new-found knowledge. Sam Bradd will present his graphic recording visuals produced throughout the conference. CUFA BC President Ken Christie and Executive Director will synthesize discussion from the conference and summarize future-looking solutions that participants can put into practice after the conference. They will summarize the next steps for the conference to produce policy papers on governance and edited volume of the panels to be produced after the conference.