Program Cuts Passed—But Not Without Pushback
VIU’s Senate has approved the cancellation of several academic programs, while others were sent back for review after students and faculty raised concerns about misinformation. This recap covers what happened, what it means for students, and how student advocacy is shaping the conversation moving forward.
VIU Students Call for the Removal of President Deborah Saucier
The VIU Students’ Union (VIUSU) Board of Directors has called for the removal of VIU President Deborah Saucier due to financial mismanagement, failed capital projects, and a leadership approach that has isolated students, faculty, and staff from decision-making. Read more.
Amplifying the Student Voice at VIU: Updates from VIUSU
At VIUSU, we’re committed to putting students at the center of campus decisions. Recently, we met with VIU’s VP of Students and CFO to discuss the university’s deficit mitigation strategies, transparency, and accountability around student fees. Key topics included institutional funding challenges, cuts to services, and the need for clearer communication about fees. Read on to learn about our efforts and how you can get involved!
VIU Governance Representatives
Grad Student + Faculty Supervisor Agreements
A new document that provides a framework for grad students and supervisors to discuss and agree upon roles and expectations within the supervisory relationship was approved at the September 20th, 2021 Graduate Studies Advisory Committee meeting. Read more.
Senate approves updates to Academic Misconduct Policy
A huge overhaul has been made to the academic misconduct policy, this is a big win for us as student representatives! The changes allow for more lenience when genuine mistakes are made, as well as the incorporation of the accused students perspective in reports of misconduct.