Dear colleagues,
UBC Okanagan’s annual teaching awards provide an important opportunity to recognize faculty who continually demonstrate a strong commitment to creating positive learning environments for students and contributing to a supportive teaching and learning community.
We are currently inviting nominations for the following awards:
Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation: This award recognizes up to two awards for faculty members with continuing appointments and one award for instructors holding a full or part-time, limited-term appointment. Nominations for this award are accepted from students, faculty, deans, unit heads, staff and alumni.
Killam Teaching Prize: UBC Okanagan awards up to one Killam Teaching Prize each year to faculty member with a continuing appointment who has distinguished themselves as an exemplary teacher with a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and innovation throughout their career. Department heads or equivalents are invited to submit nominations for this award.
For more details about the awards, including eligibility and criteria, visit provost.ok.ubc.ca/teaching-awards.
Key Dates
Nov 10—Deadline to submit Intent to Nominate forms to Deans’ offices.
Jan. 12—Deadline to submit full nomination packages to the Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic.
We encourage our campus community to participate in this important process to recognize and celebrate the outstanding educators whose invaluable contributions to teaching and learning are advancing education at UBC Okanagan and beyond.
Sincerely,
Rehan Sadiq
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
Brad Wuetherick
Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning
Meet Janine WoodRole: Project Manager, Strategic Projects
Janine Wood joined the Office of the Provost in 2019 as Executive Administrator to the Provost. She completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at the University of Waikato in New Zealand before coming to Canada in 2010. Before joining UBC Okanagan, she worked as a Legal Assistant, providing legal and administrative support for a small law firm in Salmon Arm.
I am responsible for the management and implementation of strategic projects in the Provost’s Office. Much of my work happens behind the scenes to ensure our office’s initiatives are executed as smoothly as possible. I love that our projects span the whole campus (and beyond), giving me opportunities to interact with many wonderful people across our university. The projects change constantly, so there is never a dull moment.
I also support the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline on the Okanagan campus and academic leadership searches.
I’m currently supporting searches for the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan campus. I enjoy search processes because I get to hear about the areas and initiatives that Faculties/units are excited to develop. It’s also inspiring to see the talent that our campus attracts and hear about their visions and ideas for the future. I learn something from every candidate that goes through the recruitment process.
I’m also working closely with the VPRI office to support the initial space allocation process in x̌əl sic snpax̌nwixʷtn. I’m excited to see how this space will come to life.
I wanted to work in a place where I would feel like I am making a positive contribution to the world and supporting people to become better versions of themselves. I heard positive things about UBC Okanagan from my husband, who earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees here. Hearing about his experiences and the relationships he built made me excited to join this community. Plus, the campus is really pretty.
Anywhere with a lake view! I live in Lake Country, and I’ve enjoyed cycling along the rail trail and visiting the park with my cat. Having beautiful scenery so close by makes exercising much less of a chore!
The University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus is embarking on a search for a senior leader to serve as Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus. This position is a key member of both the UBC Library and Okanagan Campus leadership teams, instrumental in the implementation of Library and campus strategic initiatives. The anticipated start date is April 1st, 2024 or upon a date to be mutually agreed.
The UBC Okanagan Library is a vibrant and active part of the UBC Library system. Nimble and campus-oriented, the Library has strategic directions that respond directly to Outlook 2040, UBC Okanagan’s vision for the future, while remaining heavily engaged with inter-campus initiatives. The dynamic team within the Okanagan Library takes an enterprising, entrepreneurial approach to developing programming and services that reflect shared aspirational values, and boasts strong relationships with campus and community partners.
Position Overview
Reporting jointly to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Okanagan and University Librarian, the Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus leads the UBC Okanagan Library and works collaboratively with colleagues in the UBC Okanagan Library, at the Deans’ table, and across the University community on both campuses. This position supports the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Okanagan and the University Librarian in the administration of the UBC Okanagan Library and as part of the University Library team overall, including development of services, spaces, technology, and collections, budget management and allocation of resources, and assessment of librarianship/teaching, research, and service activities of the Library.
The Deputy University Librarian, Okanagan Campus will assume overall responsibility for the Okanagan Library portfolio, including budget and physical infrastructure, information systems and services, direction and development of staff resources, vision and planning of future Okanagan Library services and the Okanagan Library’s participation in campus, regional, and national efforts. This position collaborates widely and provides leadership for projects and other initiatives supporting the overall strategic direction of the UBC Library and Okanagan campus. General flexibility will be required in taking on new responsibilities in a changing environment.
Application Process
To apply, applicants should send their CV and cover letter to Janine Wood (janine.wood@ubc.ca). Applications close at 12 noon (Pacific time) on October 16, 2023.
Applications should include a CV detailing their academic and professional qualifications and achievements along with a cover letter detailing why the appointment is of interest, how their experience aligns with the selection criteria, and what they can bring to the role.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, and/or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
From left, Kathleen Michel of Upper Nicola Indian Band and Westbank First Nation’s Rose Caldwell pose outside UBC Okanagan’s Engineering, Management and Education Building. They are part of UBCO’s first-ever cohort from the Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF) program.
For the first time in history, eight Syilx Okanagan students are set to graduate with a degree taught in their language and delivered on their land when they are conferred their Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF) degrees on Thursday at UBC Okanagan.
UBCO delivered the degree program in Nsyilxcn—the language of the Syilx Okanagan Nation—through an innovative partnership between Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) in Merritt and the En’owkin Centre in Penticton.
The program is based on a framework developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA), working with a consortium of First Nations, First Nations institutes and public post-secondary institutions.
Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies at UBC Okanagan and academic lead of the BNLF, says years of collaboration made this day possible.
“We are grateful for NVIT. We are grateful for the En’owkin Centre, and we acknowledge the work of UBC Okanagan,” she says. “A great willingness was necessary to make this happen. There isn’t enough money in a public institution for all the extra work needed to create a program like BNLF.
“We’re very fortunate for the willingness, care and love that’s been shown to us here in our territory.”
Chiefs of the seven Okanagan Nation Alliance members began laying the groundwork for BNLF roughly 20 years ago, Dr. Armstrong says. They insisted on a memorandum of understanding that an Indigenous studies degree program would be specific to the Okanagan Nation.
UBCO Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Lesley Cormack says the university was honoured to play a role in language preservation.
“Language is fundamental to culture,” she says. “Preserving and revitalizing the precious Indigenous languages in BC is a crucial aspect of the process of reconciliation and reversing the damage brought by colonialism. I am absolutely thrilled to see the inaugural BNLF graduates at this year’s UBCO convocation ceremony. I am grateful to them for their role in helping establish a path for future students to follow.
“My hope is that the BNLF graduates will go on to share the knowledge they’ve gained to help ensure that the Nsyilxcn language has a permanent, thriving place throughout Syilx territory.”
Tracey Kim Bonneau, the Arts, Culture and Adult Higher Learning manager at En’owkin Centre, said BNLF is an example of how Indigenous and western partners can create meaningful results in times of climate change and social, class and political division.
“That’s how we are healing our nations, through speaking our languages again and healing the planet,” Bonneau says. “It’s happening through the language program, and it’s going to ripple across Turtle Island (North America) and around the world. We can see positive change if we listen to and work with one another.”
The program, however, isn’t just about learning to speak a language. BNLF uses a robust academic framework. Courses included numeracy, the arts and sciences. Students can complete a two-year diploma program through NVIT, and then transfer to UBCO for the degree portion.
“We raise our hands to the graduates and congratulate En’owkin Centre and their partners, NVIT and UBCO, on this historic achievement,” says Tyrone McNeil, President of the First Nations Education Steering Committee. “This is the realization of a long-term vision that demonstrates the progress that can be made through meaningful partnerships between First Nations and public institutions. We commend the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills for their support of this program and look forward to supporting other First Nations as they launch degrees in their own languages under this framework.”
“We’re honoured to collaborate with the En’owkin Centre and UBCO to support the revitalization of Indigenous Languages by offering language fluency certificates, diplomas and degrees,” reads a statement from NVIT’s Senior Leadership Team. “NVIT congratulates the inaugural UBCO Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency graduates and extends our respect to all involved in bringing the vision to creation.”
Dr. Armstrong says that while collaboration between organizations such as FNESC and IAHLA was crucial to BNLF’s success, Indigenous culture is also a shared success.
“It was an Indigenous process,” she says. “We don’t thank one organization or person for doing it all. The achievement of one is the achievement of all.”
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Dr. W. Stephen McNeil, Associate Professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, is a recipient of the 2023 West Coast Teaching Excellence Award—UBC Okanagan’s first recognition at these awards. This Award recognizes Dr. McNeil’s longstanding dedication to learner-centred and inclusive teaching practices and his significant impact on the culture of teaching and learning at UBC Okanagan and beyond.
Throughout his celebrated career, Dr. McNeil has played a significant role in shaping and developing the Chemistry curriculum and transforming the learning environment at UBC Okanagan. He led an ambitious reform of the content, delivery, and assessment of UBC Okanagan’s first-year chemistry courses by introducing flipped delivery, guided-inquiry learning, small-group in-class work, collaborative two-stage assessments, and a curriculum framed within societally relevant contexts. He also led the curriculum development process to align UBC Okanagan’s Chemistry curriculum with the UN Sustainable Development goals to demonstrate the relevance and importance of chemistry in society, serving as an exemplar of our campus’ commitment to sustainability and sustainable development in teaching, research and service.
Working closely with Indigenous Elders and community members within the Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Nations, Dr. McNeil integrated sophisticated Indigenous knowledges about pit-cooking of balsamroot in the curriculum to teach key chemistry concepts, supporting and advancing UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan and our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation.
His passion for teaching reaches far beyond UBC. As a leader in the field of teaching and learning, Dr. McNeil regularly shares his knowledge and insights with the larger teaching community through conference presentations, invited talks, and numerous peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. McNeil has demonstrated continued teaching excellence throughout his career that has been recognized at UBC and nationally. A recipient of UBC Okanagan’s two most distinguished teaching awards—the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation and the Killam Teaching Prize—he also earned the 2018 Canadian Society for Chemistry Faculty Advisor Award and the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Award for Chemistry Education in 2019.
One student shared “if every instructor approached the classroom with the same energy and commitment as Dr. McNeil, universities would have infinitely better student success with infectious positivity and bright atmospheres.”
“Stephen’s innovative and reflective teaching practices support his students on their learning journeys whether as future chemists and scientific leaders or as scholars in the larger academic community,” says Brad Wuetherick, Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning. “His work reflects a deep commitment to teaching and learning, inspiring students and colleagues across all disciplines.”