UFV News

Jacqueline Nolte and Eric Davis.

Dr. Eric Davis acting as VP Academic and Provost
Many UFV alumni will remember Dr. Eric Davis as a history professor who joined our institution in the early 1990s during the transition to university-college status. Some may remember him more recently as the Dean of Arts. Davis is now acting as the VP Academic and Provost. filling in for him as dean of Arts is Dr. Jacqueline Nolte, who was most recently head of the Visual Arts department and who originally came to UFV as an art history professor.

New Business and Visual Arts wings open in former Trades Centre
The Business Administration and the Visual Arts departments have modern new digs on the Abbotsford campus, thanks to a $19.6-million major renovation funded by the provincial government. The renovations to Building C transformed the former welding, carpentry, electronics, and electrical workshops into a new space for the visual arts program. the new area includes more space for studios and classrooms, as well as offices. the former automotive and heavy duty mechanical bays were demolished to construct a new two-storey wing that houses 43 offices and nine “e-room” classrooms.

New accelerated nursing degree at UFV
Some nursing students at UFV will now be able to choose to complete their BSN within three years. The province is providing $4.5 million nursing degree cohort. the four-year version
will also continue to be offered.

The new three-year degree program retains the same curriculum as the four-year program, but is compressed into three years by taking advantage of the summer semester. In addition, licensed practical nurses can enter the program midway and complete their degree in just two years.

Supported Learning Group project named outstanding
initiative at UFV

UFV employees Kim Isaac, Wendy Watson, Donna Alary, and Najmi Alibhai (front row), along with students (l to r) John Fronek, Britt Postnikoff, Christopher Brown, and Ben Dippenaar (back row) worked on the Supported Learning Group project, which won the Outstanding Initiative award at UFV this year.

A new supported learning group project is this year’s winner of the ufV outstanding
initiatives award. The project is aimed at reducing attrition rates by helping first-year students clear the hurdles of difficult courses. it does so through peer-facilitated groups led by upper-level students who have succeeded in the course earlier in their studies.

“It’s based on the notion that a student who has already succeeded in the same
course, and who has been trained in leadership skills, is well qualified to help their fellow
students,” notes ufV director of enrolment management and ufV alumna Donna Alary,
who is part of the committee overseeing the project.

UFV signs historic agreement with Mennonite society
UFV signed an agreement recently with the Mennonite Faith and Learning Society
with the intent of establishing a Centre for Mennonite Studies, as well as a chair, a
certificate, and a minor in Mennonite studies.

The goal of the partnership is to create an opportunity for students to study the
rich heritage of the mennonites and their contributions to the Fraser Valley and beyond.

As resources permit and community interest warrants, the centre will undertake research and
education related to history, religious studies, ethno-religious culture, philosophy, literature,
fine arts, political studies, international development, peace and reconciliation, agriculture, music, and other disciplines of interest to the Mennonite community.

Bains, Kostrzewa, Nicklom, Gill granted honorary degrees

Rob Nicklom	Dalip Singh Gill
Dorothy Kostrzewa	Parm Bains

UFV bestowed honorary degrees on four local community leaders in June.
Accountant Rob Nicklom chaired UFV’s board of governors during the long campaign
for university status. Parm Bains is a leader in the blueberry industry and helped lead
the campaign for a Centre for indo-Canadian Studies at UFV. Dorothy Kostrzewa served
on Chilliwack council for 33 years. Dalip Singh Gill was the long-serving and founding
principal of the Dasmesh Punjabi school in Abbotsford.

van de Wetering wins Teaching Excellence award

Sven van de Wetering

Perhaps the best teachers never stop thinking of themselves as students... and never stop
thinking of students as fellow human beings. Those are two of the teaching secrets of 
Dr. Sven van de Wetering, a UFV psychology professor who is this year’s recipient of the
ufV teaching excellence award. Sven, who admits to being pleasantly surprised as well as intimidated by the honour, says the fact that he spent so many years as a student helps him still feel like one of their peers in many ways.