KPU’s next president, program revisions, and the B.C. post-secondary review were top of mind for Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s senate during a May 25 meeting.

The presidential search process will feature three phases: consultation, recruitment, and assessment, said Tony Kirschner from Leaders International.

“[There’s] the intent of a new president being able to start around Jan. 1,” Kirschner said.

Leaders International, an executive search firm, is back to conduct another presidential search process after the 2024 search.

Bruce Choy was fired as president in early March, after he was hired last September. Then-provost Diane Purvey was appointed acting president during Choy’s two-month-long leave of absence.

Three weeks after Choy was fired, Purvey became president and vice-chancellor pro tem.

Two employee and student consultations were held on May 11 and 13 — the same day summer semester classes began. The Kwantlen Faculty Association and BC General Employees’ Union have yet to be consulted, the meeting agenda states.

“The [presidential candidate] profile has not massively changed from before … so, what you see was the final iteration of what was used in the previous president search,” Kirschner said.

Alumni senator Winston Sayson said the profile “recognizes several important constituencies” but does not include KPU’s alumni base of more than 57,000.

“[The profile] should explicitly state that the next president is expected to work with and support the KPU Alumni Association, and to recognize alumni engagement as an important part of the university’s long-term strength, reputation, and community connection,” Sayson said.

Kirschner said it will not be controversial and made a note to add alumni to the next version of the profile.

Avison report

The B.C. government launched a review of the post-secondary system in November, overseen by former deputy education minister Don Avison.

The Avison report has faced many delays. Purvey said B.C. Post-Secondary Education Minister Jessie Sunner has received it. She also met with Sunner one-on-one on May 29.

Declining international student enrolment has left 10 of B.C.’s 25 post-secondary institutions in a deficit — including KPU. The university has faced budget cuts and mass layoffs — its most recent layoff notice went to 113 employees in March.

The federal government’s cap on international student visas, announced in early 2024, was expected to have an 18 per cent drop in study permit approvals in B.C. Yet, the province saw a 66 per cent decrease.

Colleges and post-secondary unions — including KPU — submitted to the report, and some have publicly released their submissions. KPU has not.

“Even though some institutions have released their submission, and I think they released it quite a bit earlier, [the province] recommended to me that we wait until the report is released,” Purvey said, adding that the final report will include the letters received.

The Avison report is expected to be released in the fall.

Program revisions

Senate approved changes to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) program and one English course.

The TCM bachelor’s degree admission requirements were updated to clarify that students don’t need to complete an acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine diploma to be accepted.

An interview process, by the new TCM admissions selection committee, or reference letters were added to the requirements. The revisions take effect Sept. 1, 2027.

“It’s all well and good to have the grades to get into the program, but you need a high degree of empathy and a lot of different soft skills that don’t come out with marks,” said Senate Vice-Chair Catherine Schwichtenberg.

The TCM degree began intake last September, but the TCM acupuncture diploma launched in 2016.

The admission changes will also help with enrolment challenges and student success — factors the TCM acupuncture diploma has faced for the last decade. The program receives about 100 applications but averages 28 students per year, despite an enrollment capacity of 35.

ENGL 2315: The Comic Voice is discontinued effective Sept. 1 — and it’s no laughing matter.

“There’s many jokes, but this course hasn’t been taught in a long number of years, and it was time,” Schwichtenberg said, adding that the instructor who taught the course is no longer at KPU.

During her policy standing committee report, Schwichtenberg said it was the first time the committee met with quorum all year.

Following the meeting, senate held a closed meeting to discuss honorary degrees.

The last senate meeting of the year is scheduled for June 22 at 4:00 pm online via Microsoft Teams. For more information, visit www.kpu.ca/senate.