April 13, 2023
Dear colleagues,
Each year, UBC Okanagan is proud to celebrate outstanding and innovative teaching by honouring exemplary role models who make significant impacts on the culture of teaching and learning on our campus with the Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation and the Killam Teaching Prize.
Please join us in congratulating the 2023 teaching award recipients:
Killam Teaching Prize
Peter Arthur | Professor of Teaching | Okanagan School of Education
Dr. Peter Arthur has been a leader in the teaching community since the inception of UBC’s Okanagan campus. An internationally-recognized scholar of teaching and learning in higher education, Dr. Arthur has impacted the lives of countless students and educators through his educational leadership as the Founding Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning, and his caring and compassionate approach in the classroom.
Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation
Fiona P. Mcdonald | Assistant Professor | Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Dr. Fiona McDonald‘s scholarship and research in anthropology took her around the world before she joined UBC Okanagan in 2018. Since then, she has led innovative projects that have significantly impacted teaching and learning on our campus, including developing and teaching new courses focused on visual anthropology and collaborating closely with other departments and units to combine innovative uses of technology with a learner-based approach to teaching.
Claire Yan | Associate Professor of Teaching | School of Engineering
Since joining UBC Okanagan in 2008, Dr. Claire Yan has strongly impacted the student experience in the School of Engineering and plays an instrumental role in making engineering accessible for current and future generations of scholars. Beyond her invaluable contributions to the school’s engineering curriculum, Dr. Yan’s impacts extend far beyond the classroom through her leadership in developing innovative outreach and bridge programs and creating open education resources.
Peyman Yousefi | Lecturer | School of Engineering
Dr. Peyman Yousefi has made significant impacts on the teaching and learning community since he first joined this campus in 2016 as a PhD student. Now a dedicated engineering educator and faculty member, Dr. Yousefi has earned a strong reputation for educational innovation and teaching excellence through incorporating new technologies in his classroom and ongoing commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Provost Award for Teaching Assistants and Tutors
We are also pleased to announce the 2023 recipients of the Provost Award for Teaching Assistants and Tutors, which recognizes the exemplary contributions of undergraduate and graduate teaching assistants and tutors in their teaching support roles.
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- Aneleise Peppard, Student Learning Hub
- Amanda Darbyshire, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science
- Moustafa Mansour, School of Engineering
- Zachary Sawchuk, Student Learning Hub
- Dylan Goode, School of Engineering
- Mehrnaz Makuei, School of Engineering
Teaching Excellence Celebration
The campus community is invited to join us to recognize the achievements of UBC Okanagan teachers and mentors and celebrate our community of teaching excellence.
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Time: 4 to 6 pm | Award presentation followed by a reception
Location: UBC Ballroom | UNC 200
To RSVP, please contact okanagan.ceremonies@ubc.ca.
Congratulations, once again, to the 2023 teaching award recipients.
Sincerely,
Rehan Sadiq
Provost and Vice-President, Academic
UBC Okanagan
Brad Wuetherick
Associate Provost, Academic Programs, Teaching and Learning
UBC Okanagan
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March 21, 2023
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that Robert Janke has been appointed Interim Chief Librarian for a one-year term, effective April 1, 2023.
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March 14, 2023
Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce that Heather Berringer will be transitioning to a full-time appointment as Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services effective April 1, 2023.
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The post Chief Librarian and Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services portfolio changes appeared first on UBC Okanagan News.
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March 13, 2023
The 2023 call for proposals to the Aspire-2040 Learning Transformations (ALT-2040) Fund is now open.
The 2023 ALT-2040 Fund supports course and program innovation, student experience enhancement and educational resource development at UBC Okanagan. Selection of funded projects is guided by the transformative learning strategies of Shaping UBC’s Next Century and UBC Okanagan teaching and learning priorities expressed in aligned plans and reports (e.g. Outlook 2040, Indigenous Strategic Plan, Declaration of Truth and Reconciliation Commitments, Strategic Equity and Anti-Racism (StEAR) Framework, and Climate Emergency Task Force Report).
The ALT-2040 Fund enriches student learning experiences through three distinct funding streams:
- Open educational resources (OER) focus stream
- Course innovation partnership stream
- Learning experience enhancement stream
All proposals are due by 3:00 pm on May 15, 2023. All projects must meaningfully transform UBCO students’ learning experiences with an implementation focus and scope consistent with the funding stream. Preference is given to projects that align with one or more of the ALT-2040 Priority Focus Areas.
For additional information about the three funding streams and the application process and deadlines, please visit the ALT-2040 website. For other inquiries, please contact:
Michelle Lamberson,
Director, Flexible Learning Special Projects
altfund.ok@ubc.ca.
Posted in ALT-2040, Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic | Tagged Homepage |
February 28, 2023
Dear colleagues,
If you are in a leadership/supervisory role and manage others, whether you are faculty or staff, you are invited to attend the upcoming Heads Up Forum on Tuesday, March 14 from 2 to 3:30 pm in the University Centre Ballroom (UNC 200). Registration for this session is required.
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February 23, 2023
Dear colleagues,
As we approach the midpoint of winter term two, I’m pleased to share with you the latest version of Academic Update—the Provost office’s quarterly newsletter that captures the many academic initiatives and projects underway at UBC Okanagan.
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February 22, 2023
Dear colleagues,
Construction has now begun on the Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Innovation (ICI) building on Alumni Avenue.
Set to open in December 2025, the ICI is a unique, four-storey space dedicated to bringing together researchers, experts, scholars, students and the community. In the ICI, interdisciplinary teams from the entire UBC Okanagan research spectrum, and Faculties across campus, will find a home to collaboratively investigate and explore solutions to complex societal problems from multiple perspectives.
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Posted in Global Message, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Office of the), Research and Innovation (Office of the Vice-Principal) | Tagged Homepage
February 22, 2023
Photo by Emilio Freire
The impressive skills of undergraduate researchers were on full display at the Undergraduate Research Showcase that took place in January. Eight student panellists presented their unique undergraduate research pathways and shared how research experiences have enhanced their studies. Students shared their experiences and participation in groundbreaking research projects in topical and emerging fields, such as diabetes prevention, eating disorder recognition, diagnosis and treatment, anti-racism initiatives, and more.
The event was hosted by the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors. Inspired by their own research experiences, Undergraduate Research Ambassadors offer peer support and information to help their fellow students to navigate research opportunities at UBC Okanagan. While several opportunities to connect virtually took place over the pandemic, the showcase was an opportunity to come together and connect in person to raise awareness of undergraduate research experiences at UBC Okanagan. The Undergraduate Research Ambassador program is led by Academic Operations and Services in the Office of the Provost with partners in the Academic and Career Advising Office.
For updates on future undergraduate research events and opportunities, sign up for the mailing list here.
Posted in Learning Services, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Office of the), Research |
February 21, 2023
Meet Kirsten Bennett
Role: Senior Manager, Strategic Projects
Kirsten Bennett first joined UBC Okanagan in 2012, supporting the campus in several roles before taking a position with the Office of the Provost in 2019. She currently works as Senior Manager, Strategic Projects and has previously served in a number of capacities with the Office of the Provost, including managing campus internationalization and supporting student online learning initiatives during the pandemic. Kirsten completed her undergraduate studies (BA) in History and International Development Studies at Dalhousie University and holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Calgary.
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO IN THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST.
In my role, I work closely with Heather Berringer, Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Services, to advance strategic objectives and projects at UBC Okanagan in the area of learning services. I really enjoy the variety of projects that I get to work on, including developing new programming to support students accessing undergraduate research opportunities, coordinating academic integrity initiatives across campus, and co-chairing UBC’s Roundtable on Experiential Education with colleagues at UBC Vancouver. I have been able to explore new partnerships and build relationships with faculty, staff and students to move these initiatives forward.
WHAT UPCOMING PROJECTS OR CURRENT INITIATIVES ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?
We recently launched the Academic Integrity Digest, a cross-campus newsletter that seeks to expand engagement and conversation around academic integrity issues impacting teaching and learning at UBC. The first issue focuses on the advance of generative artificial intelligence technologies (e.g. Chat GPT), a topic of much conversation lately. I look forward to working on future issues of the newsletter and other initiatives that help us connect as a community around the awareness and promotion of academic integrity.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO WORK AT UBC OKANAGAN?
I enjoy working in an environment that offers continuous learning and opportunity, and I found that at UBC Okanagan. Throughout my ten years at UBC, serving in a number of roles, I have had many opportunities to develop professionally and build supportive relationships. Our campus is a place where people care about one another and are passionate about their work. This is why I have continued to build my career at UBC Okanagan, and I feel privileged to work with so many great people. The campus has also grown significantly, and it has been exciting to witness this development and the changes that growth brings. I look forward to the changes still to come, including the expansion of UBC into downtown Kelowna.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE OKANAGAN ACTIVITY OR SPOT AND WHY?
I live in West Kelowna, and I have a rather large and boisterous dog that needs a lot of exercise. Lately, I have been exploring the hiking trails around the Rose Valley reservoir. There is a particular spot at the top of one of the trails that provides an amazing view of both Okanagan Lake and the reservoir with the mountains behind it. You feel so close to the city yet so removed at the same time. I love that this is in my backyard.
Posted in People, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Office of the), Spotlight |
February 2, 2023
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Sandy Hilton has been appointed Dean pro tem for the Faculty of Management at UBC Okanagan, effective February 2, 2023, while we undertake the search for the new Dean.
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