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Board & Senate vacancies

Be part of UFV governance

Contribute to UFV’s mandate and to its strategic vision of “changing lives, building community” by serving on the Board of Governors or Senate. Calls for students, faculty, and staff to serve on the Board and Senate are published on this page.

Nominations

Nominations are currently closed, and open annually in January for positions available for the upcoming year. Announcements will go out to students, faculty, and staff at that time. To see the list of successful candidates, visit Elections. 

Governing body Position Terms of office
Board 2 students - Filled August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024
Senate 4 students - Filled August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024

 

Student positions are eligible for Co-Curricular Record (CCR) credit and students will receive priority registration. Also note that transportation is needed to be able to attend meetings which take place at various locations, including Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Mission.

Eligibility

Before applying for a position, ensure you meet the eligibility requirements for faculty, staff, or students, below. Nominators must be members of the group associated with the position. In accordance with the Board bylaws, Senate bylaws, the UFV Election procedures, and the University Act of BC, the following eligibility criteria must be met in order to serve in an elected position as a representative on the Board or Senate:

  • Be a UFV student registered in at least one credit course in the semester in which a vacancy arises and, if elected, must continue to meet this criterion throughout the term in order to retain the position.
  • Be a student in good academic standing, as defined by the University Continuance policy and, if elected, must continue to meet this criterion throughout the term in order to retain the position.
  • For the purpose of Board elections, student nominees and student nominators must be members of the Student Union Society, which means students have paid SUS fees.
  • Five nominators, who are enrolled in at least one credit course at UFV and who are entitled to vote in the election, are required. If nominators cannot be identified, the nomination will not be valid.

  • Faculty must be a permanent or continuing instructor (lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor) at UFV.
  • University officers are not eligible as they are not designated 'faculty' by the Senate (See Senate Bylaws, p. 11). 

  • Staff must be employed on a permanent or continuing contract with UFV, not an officer of the university, nor a faculty member. 

The following are not eligible to be or to remain members of Senate:

  • A person who holds full-time positions at more than one university and is a member of the Board or Senate at one university, cannot serve on Senate at another.
  • A Senate or the Board member who ceases to be eligible during his or her term of office immediately ceases to be a member.

Member roles and responsibilities

The management, administration, and control of the property, revenue, business, and affairs of the University are vested in the Board. The UFV Board is composed of 15 members who meet several times a year, typically on Thursdays. Members do not receive any remuneration for their services; however, they may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses incurred while fulfilling their duties. 

The Board's priorities are mandated by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, and are described in the Ministry Mandate Letter.

The responsibilities of Board members include:
  • Regularly attend meetings. The Board usually meets six times per year on Thursdays, approximately 2:00 to 7:00pm. Meetings are held on a rotational basis at UFV campuses (Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission) or by video conference as required.
  • Serve on one or two Board standing committees, which typically meet bi-monthly at times convenient to all members.
  • Attend various functions, such as a two-day planning session, convocation, and award functions.
  • Prepare adequately for meetings and participate actively in the decision-making at meetings.
  • Act first and foremost in the best interests of the university, and make decisions as a member of the Board or Senate and not as a member of any particular constituency.
  • Student members of the Board and Senate bring the perspective of students, but are not to advocate on behalf of students.
  • Student members from Board and Senate receiving the most votes will also be asked to serve on the Student Union Society (SUS) Board.
Members should expect to contribute an average of 15-20 hours per month to the university. For further information on Board membership and its responsibilities, please see the Board bylaws. 

Senate is the academic governing body at UFV responsible for managing policies concerning academic matters, and advising the Board on policies of mutual interest. For further information on Senate membership and its responsibilities, please see the Senate Bylaws.

The responsibilities of Senate members include:
  • Regularly attend meetings. The Senate meets monthly on Fridays, on week 3 of the UFV calendar, from 1:30 to 3:30pm.
  • Prepare adequately for meetings and to participate actively in the decision-making at meetings.
  • Student members of the Senate will bring the perspective of students but will not advocate on behalf of students. 
  • Act first and foremost in the best interests of the university, and make decisions as a member of the Board or Senate and not as a member of any particular constituency.
  • Student member(s) from Senate and the Board receiving the most votes will also be asked to serve on the Student Union Society (SUS) Board.
  • Members are expected to serve on a minimum of two Senate standing committees.

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