President's Newsletter — Issue 10 (Special Edition)

It is not typical for me to write a President’s Newsletter in April, especially as my March Newsletter was a bit late in appearing. Over the last several weeks, however, we have been preoccupied with a variety of operational issues, all of which have direct impact on faculty, staff, and students. I have always believed that information is to be shared, and that it assists in giving everyone an institutional perspective that goes beyond what one might experience within one’s department. Therefore, I am using this “special” Newsletter to provide the University community with some detailed updates relative to searches, capital construction and renovation, academic development, and the University budget.

Update on Searches

There is change everywhere at Kwantlen, including among the senior administration. A number of retirements have resulted in an unprecedented number of administrative searches. We are moving forward with four of these searches over the next several months; and, accordingly, we have been working hard to fill the various advisory committees which are charged with recommending a successful candidate in each case. The membership of these committees is as follows:

Associate Vice President, Academic & Faculty Affairs

Chair – Judith McGillivray

Four regular faculty appointed by the Senate – Don Reddick (Business), Robin Russell (ESLT), Carolyn Robertson (Health), Wade Deisman (Social Sciences)
One Student appointed by the Senate – Derek Robertson
KFA President or designate and one additional faculty member appointed by the KFA – Maureen Shaw, Bob Davis
One Administrative staff member appointed by the President – Ron Maggiore
One Dean – Barbara Duggan

Dean, Community and Health Studies

Chair – Judith McGillivray

4 Faculty appointed by the Faculty Council - Janine Hadfield, Donna Malyon Ginther, Sylvia Woodward, Carol Hansen
2 Faculty appointed by the KFA – Jacquie Barron, Bev O'Malley 
2 Regular Staff members appointed by the BCGEU – Sandy McManus, Janelle Stewart
One student - Indpreet Bhatoa
One Administrative staff member appointed by the President - Julia Denker
One Dean – Art Coren

Dean, Faculty of Academic and Career Advancement

Chair – Judith McGillivray

Four faculty appointed by the Faculty Council – Val Innes (ACP), Barbara Thomas-Bruzzese (APPD), Christina Pikios (ELST), Sarah Hickinbottom (LCOM), Elly Morgan (CCLS)
Two faculty appointed by the KFA – Ronnie Skolnick, Joel Murray
Two staff appointed by the BCGEU – Trina Ojo, Kim Rose
One student – TBA
One Administrative staff member appointed by the President – Jeff Norris
One Dean – Rob Adamoski

AVP Human Resource Services

Chair – Gordon Lee

Two regular faculty appointed by the Senate – Doug Torrance, Caroline Daniels
Three regular staff members from Human Resources – Kathy Nolan, Terri Jones, Ellen Hill
KFA President or designate – Ann Marie Davison
BCGEU Chair or designate – Shawn Cahill
One Administrative staff member appointed by the President – Kathy Lylyk
One Dean appointed by the President – Cathy MacDonald.

There are several elements of these searches which I bring to everyone’s attention:

• Once a formal policy for the appointment and reappointment of senior administrators has been approved by the Senate and the Board, our intention is that Senate will have a role in naming faculty members to search committees. Given the press of time and the number of appointments, however, the Executive Committee of Senate recommended that I name the faculty representatives in those cases when it would have otherwise been Senate itself making the selection.
• These committees are considered advisory to the President, who has, consistent with the University Act, delegated authority from the Board to make these appointments. Ultimately, it is the Board who has final authority for making all administrative appointments at the University.
• In the case of the Faculty of Academic and Career Advancement, the intention was to appoint four faculty members, in addition to the two appointed by the Kwantlen Faculty Association. This situation would leave one department without representation, so I have accepted the recommendation of Faculty Council that an additional faculty member be added to ensure that all five departments are represented.
• The Committees will have their first meetings in a couple of weeks, and, as I have said elsewhere, we have contracted with two executive search firms to assist with these searches. John McKendry, who will begin as Vice-President (Academic) and Provost (pro tem) in September, will attend all search committees chaired by Judith McGillivray. Should we be not complete the searches by the date of Judith’s retirement, John will assume her role as committee chair.

Renovation and Construction

There is considerable construction and renovation taking place over the summer months, some of which will, regrettably, cause dislocation and inconvenience I simply ask for everyone’s understanding and patience, knowing as we do that these projects will improve the quality of our campuses substantially. The total cost of this renovation and construction is approximately $14.20 million. The projects include:

In addition to the above, the following are planned for the summer. Nursing will move to the Langley campus to allow for work on the Fir building envelope to proceed. There is considerable noise and disruption associated with this work, and it was thought that a move was in order. The Faculty of Business will move into the space vacated by the President and the Vice-Presidents when they move to Langley, although the President’s Office will retain office space on the Surrey campus.

It is still our intention to move ahead with the construction of a Tim Horton’s on the Surrey campus. This has been delayed until the final disposition of our food services contract, which is currently out for tender. The modest work at the Cloverdale campus for Fine Arts is in anticipation of considerably more work later to accommodate expansion of the B.F.A. We are also moving ahead with rezoning of the Surrey campus, which is required before any major additional construction can take place.

Academic Developments

One can’t help but be impressed by the level of activity relating to degree development at Kwantlen, which is so important to confirming our status as a University. Over the last several months, Senate has approved program concept documents for the B.A. in Sociology, and full program proposals for the B.A. in Asian Studies and a post-baccalaureate degree in Nursing. The latter two are currently posted on the DQAB website for external comment. It is also worth noting that three new innovative program concept proposals are on the agenda of the Senate Standing Committee on Curriculum: the Bachelor of Technology in Innovation and Leadership (Faculty of Trades and Technology), the Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts (Faculty of Humanities), and the B.A. in Sustainability and Policy Analysis (Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences). What is noteworthy about these programs is that they are distinctive, draw on well-established areas of strength, and clearly respond to demand. I understand, too, that there are several more proposals expected before the end of this academic year, given the September, 2011 date for implementation.

Other noteworthy Senate action includes the striking of a faculty-only task force to investigate academic rank and advancement, the creating of a Senate Standing committee on Educational Technology, approval of a pilot project on course modes in the Faculties of Social Science, Humanities, and Business, preliminary approval of a new Student Academic Conduct policy, a number of revisions to established academic programs, and a change of name for the Faculty of Qualifying Studies to the Faculty of Academic and Career Advancement and the Faculty of Design and Communication to the Faculty of Design,

Budget

I am pleased to advise that the Board of Governors approved the draft budget initially presented to Senate. It is a balanced budget, as required by Board and Government policy, and it allows us to make some new expenditures, although nowhere close to the $25 million requested by the various unit heads. I spent time talking in general about the budget in my last Newsletter, so will limit my comments to providing an indication of new spending for 2010-2011:

Ongoing

$1,631,200 in ongoing funding to sustain course sections that were added in the 2009-2010 mid-year budget process
$1,601,100 for contractual increases (faculty, staff and administrative increments, regularizations, Facilities and IET contractual increases)
$450,000 increase in student scholarships and bursaries ($200,000 from elimination of matching fund allocation to the Foundation and $250,000 in cost savings through the elimination of domestic tuition payments by credit card)
$115,400 for degree advisors (Business and Arts)
$90,000 to the Library for CKRN membership and subscription
$50,000 for Welding and Plumbing supplies (Trades and Technology))
$30,500 for Athletics & Recreation to improve programming
$19,000 to support Research Ethics Board member time reassignments $46,000 to support emergency planning, response and recovery

One time only

$1,677,000 in one-time only funding for 130 new demand sections to support growth in student enrolments in current and new programs (Net cost after tuition revenue is $300,000)
$263,500 for Langley Campus revitalization
$240,000 for recruitment costs for senior positions
$215,600 for extended library hours (second year of funding)
$57,700 for an educational advisor (Student Services)
$78,200 for Alumni Relations development
$35,000 to enhance the Testing Centre at Surrey
$50,400 to support Research Ethics Board Chair
$50,000 to support CURA grant time reassignment
$25,000 start-up funding for an Energy Manager

Capital Investments

$58,400 for student gathering spaces $150,900 to complete E-Classroom Expansion
$23,000 to Fine Arts for retrofitting Cloverdale Space
$50,000 for Cloverdale Farrier Washroom
$98,000 to Welding – Capacity Increase
$60,000 for relocation of the Bachelor of Journalism Program
$11,100 for security improvements – Cloverdale Welding
$19,000 to enhance the Testing Centre at Surrey
$10,300 for meeting room furniture for ORS
$6,000 to Athletics for storage room renovation
$400,000 to create a teaching lab for BSc Applied Psychology
$800,000 for desktop computer program (four year cycle for replacement)
$30,000 for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
$37,000 to create an internal mail service for Enrollment Management
$4,000 for Manager, Emergency Planning office furniture and equipment
$166,500 for student gathering spaces
$910,000 to construct faculty office pods
$450,000 to construct a faculty office pod for Social Sciences
$523,500 for Fir Building refurbishment $489,000 for ACA infrastructure projects (based on restricted Ministry funding)
$100,000 for Rezoning and Master Plan Surrey Campus
$242,300 for Emergent Needs (needs not currently defined).

Memorandum of Understanding

I am pleased to advise the University community that the Mayor of the City of Surrey and I recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding that commits both parties to work towards a set of common goals; this is the first such agreement in Kwantlen’s history. While there are specific goals towards which we aspire, the general framework of the document is as follows:

1. The expansion and development of the Surrey campus of KPU in support of a well educated Surrey workforce to enhance opportunities for business development in Surrey; and

2. The joint development and use of amenities and facilities that will enhance the quality of life of both KPU students and the City residents.

Of immediate and specific importance is that Kwantlen and the City of Surrey have agreed to partner on the building of a new all-weather playing field at the Newton Athletic Park. The University has committed $1.05 million and the City $1.133 million (+ overruns), with $667,000 coming from Federal Infrastructure Funds. The University will have priority use of the facility, and it will be recognized as Kwantlen’s field. The facility will have lights and stands. We all recognize the limitations of Kwantlen’s current fitness and athletic facilities, so this is a major development for the institution. It will be used for both intercollegiate athletics and recreation services programming. Construction is well underway, and it will be ready for September, 2010.

My best wishes to everyone, as we finish out the current semester.

David W. Atkinson
President & Vice Chancellor