‘I believe in and vow to confidentiality’: KPU senate addresses president’s absence, approves program revisions

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s senate approved a motion to discontinue the bachelor of music in musical arts, major in general studies (BMMA) program and associated courses during a meeting on March 2. 

The program will be discontinued effective Sept. 1, 2026 after a history of “running at a loss,” the meeting agenda read. 

A financially sustainable model for the course is currently offered in the existing music minor and a future proposal — which is currently in process — for a two-year music diploma. Courses within the BMMA program haven’t been offered for a few years, and no students are currently enrolled in the program, the agenda read. 

“The employment opportunities for performing musicians and opera singers have diminished significantly in the last decades, and there is no longer a thriving industry for performing musicians, especially in the classical music genre,” the agenda read. 

Provost and Vice-President Academic Diane Purvey attended the meeting as a representative from the board of governors, Senate Vice-Chair Catherine Schwichtenberg said, adding that a representative would be attending each senate meeting to enhance communication. 

Schwichtenberg chaired the meeting in the absence of KPU President Bruce Choy, who was on paid leave for an unknown time frame. Choy’s role as president was terminated four days later on March 6.

“I just like to speak with my registered nurse and professional [hat] to say that I believe in and vow to confidentiality — and this has been handled in a confidential manner, and I think it is a right and responsibility…. I don’t know any of the reasons for his leave. I just hope that he is safe and he is OK and that we will continue on.”

Schwichtenberg added that she has confidence in Purvey, who is serving as acting president, and that she is proud of the framework of communication and processes at KPU.

“We do make mistakes. We misunderstand each other, but I would argue that we function well and with continuity because we are all so strong,” Schwichtenberg said. “We don’t need just one person, we all come together.”

In her report, Purvey said she attended seven convocation ceremonies in the past month. She added the convocation in June would be limited to five ceremonies with the decline in student enrolment.

“That will probably go down even more because we’re not replacing many of the people who are graduating as well.” 

The standing committee on curriculum presented a list of new, revised, and discontinued courses for senate’s approval. Four psychology courses were revised: Psychology and Law, Environmental Psychology, Rehabilitation, and Psychology and Sustainability: Attitudes and Behaviour. Three biology courses, two language and culture, and one health sciences course were also revised. 

A new biology course — Climate Change Biology — was also approved. The Manufacturing Design and Software course was discontinued within the computer aided design and drafting program.

Senate also approved admission requirements for the graduate studies program at KPU, effective Sept. 1.

“This outlines some broad admissions [requirements] for graduate studies through this particular regulation, but also will allow faculties to focus on their own as that time arises,” Schwichtenberg said. 

Student senator Sheena Dela Torre and regular faculty members Wiktor Tutlewski, Landon Kleis, Phaedra Burke, Valerie Warren, and Lyndsay Passmore were appointed to a search advisory committee for the appointment of a Melville School of Business dean. 

Senate approved a regulation for a leave of absence for students in graduate studies. 

“Typically, grad students must maintain continuous registration in their program from time of admission to completion of all degree programs at the graduate level, unless they’re on an approved leave of absence,” Special Assistant to the Provost on Policy and Academic Affairs Josephine Chan said.

“The master’s degree program … involves year-round research activities and community partnership building. So this regulation will help support the means to ensure that these students, if they have to take a leave of absence, [are supported in] their structured return to their studies.”

The post-baccalaureate diploma in technical management and services was also discontinued, effective May 1.

Schwichtenberg said there have been struggles with enrolment in the program, which saw strong participation from international students.

She added that there have also been issues with the program no longer being eligible for a post-graduation work permit, which has affected both applications and enrolment in the program. 

There have been plans to structure and reimagine the program to appeal to domestic students, Schwichtenberg said. 

The next KPU senate meeting is scheduled for March 30 at 4:00 pm online via Microsoft Teams. For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/senate.