And just like that, we’re at the cusp of June. We trust that whether folks have started a new term, a new project, or some well-deserved renewal, the days are rewarding and kind. 

Kudos 

Congratulations to Fiona Whittington-Walsh (SOCI) for her nomination for the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award! Fiona was nominated for her pathbreaking work for the Including All Citizens Project. The Gala was held last night at the JW Mariott Parc Hotel downtown, and no table was cheering more gustily than KPU’s! Kudos, Fiona, for this richly-deserved recognition.” 

Congratulations also to KPU Canada Research Chair Asama Sayed, whose groundbreaking research has been showcased as part of Asian Heritage Month on the main SSHRC webpage. Please see the links below in English et en francais: 

EN: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/stories-histoires/story-histoire-eng.aspx?story_id=327 

FR: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/stories-histoires/story-histoire-fra.aspx?story_id=327 

Deadlines For This Week 

Service is the Gift that Just Keeps Giving: The Faculty of Arts is now accepting nominations for the Dean of Arts Service Award. The  Award is presented annually to recognize outstanding service by faculty members in the Faculty of Arts. Service includes contributions to Faculty and University committees and engagement and leadership in activities that support good governance of the Faculty or the University. Candidates for the Dean of Arts Service Award will have demonstrated outstanding contributions in any or all of the following areas: 

  • educational and/or governance activities or committees at the departmental, program, and/or institutional level 
  • department and University affairs 
  • fostering student life, teaching excellence, and effective education at KPU through service 
  • organizations (including learned and professional associations) external to the University 

Nominations have been extended until June 1, 2022. For more information or to submit a nomination, please visit: https://www.kpu.ca/arts/service-award . If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at arts@kpu.ca . We look forward to receiving many nominations for outstanding service here at KPU!   

Recognizing Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity: We are now accepting nominations for the Faculty of Arts Research and Scholarly Mentorship Award. This award is presented annually to recognize research and scholarly pursuits that enrich the quality of the educational experience for students in the Faculty of Arts by creating meaningful and rewarding opportunities for them to engage in and learn about research and scholarship through their involvement in a scholarly undertaking. The award emphasizes the quality of the students’ experience in the research and scholarly process. As such, it attaches emphasis to the model of research as a collaborative undertaking that involves continuous mentoring, active guidance, and a persistent pedagogical orientation. Criteria for selection of the recipient(s) may include any of the following: 1) Evidence of sustained orientation toward mentorship of students. 2) Collaborative orientation in terms of student involvement in conceptualizing the research or the scholarly undertaking. 3) Commitment to the growth and development of students’ research competencies. For more information, please visit: https://www.kpu.ca/arts/research-scholarly-mentorship-award 

Zero Textbook forms for this Fall: Amanda Grey, our new Open Education Strategist, is working diligently to generate an inventory of courses that qualify as ZTC. Faculty are hence being asked to complete the ZTC webform by June 3rd, 2022. The data collected through this process will help students search the course selection timetable by courses that do not require additional textbook costs. Courses with zero textbook costs have lower rates of attrition and often have higher class averages. 

Additional Reminders 

Course Presentations / Syllabi: Please be sure to email your summer semester syllabi (one for each distinct course) to the Dean’s office via arts@kpu.ca. These are important for reference purposes and may come in handy in case we need to assist with finding coverage, especially in emergency situations. 

Peer Reviewers and Test-Pilots: We are still seeking one more volunteer to pilot the post-probationary review process. We are also looking to create a pool of seasoned peer reviewers who could aid faculty in need of this collegial feedback during the process. If you are interested in pursuing either of these opportunities, please reach out to arts.facultyreview@kpu.ca. 

Lend me Your Ears: The next iteration of the Arts Speaker series is fast approaching. Each Arts Speaker Series talk showcases innovative and original creative endeavors, research and scholarship activities, is one hour-long (30 minutes for presentation and the rest of the time for discussion/questions) and will either take place online or in a blended version. Proposals for the 2022-2023 Arts Speaker Series should be 250 words long and sent to Nancy Norman at: nancy.norman@kpu.ca 

COVID-19 Considerations: Although the masking requirement has been lifted, we are not out of the proverbial woods yet. Thus, it is important to remain circumspect and vigilant where COVID considerations are concerned. Please continue to use the campus hand-sanitizing stations and do make recourse to the rapid testing kits where warranted. If you are having COVID-19 symptoms, stay home until you feel better, or until the appointed period of self-isolation has ended.  

Opportunities for Students 

Arts Academic Integrity Student Ambassadors. To create a culture of academic integrity we need to involve students at the bedrock level.  We will be seeking to recruit several students who will play an educational and mentoring role on academic integrity matters and be available as resources for fellow students seeking to better understand academic integrity.  Please inform your Associate Dean should you know of students who would be promising candidates for these positions. More information about the posting will be available soon. 

Students in our Network: The Arts Research Scholarship and Creativity Network online platform was launched [https://courses.kpu.ca/course/view.php?id=53036] this November to promote, nourish, and encourage research culture at KPU. It now has over 70 members. Propelling it forward will involve building resources, organizing panels, helping to construct data sets, liaising and marketing, etc. The support received will allow for faculty level leadership and significant student involvement.   

Upcoming Events  

Marginalized Voices Speak: A Reading & Listening Series:  You are invited to register and join Marginalized Voices Speak in reading, reflecting on, and conversing about critically acclaimed books that highlight how various forms of oppression operate and reproduce inequalities in various parts of the world and during different historical periods. If you would like to volunteer as a ‘Lead Reader” and/or for more information, please contact Dr. Amir Mirfakhraie at: amir.mirfakhraie@kpu.ca   The first event in the series will focus on Vandana Shiva – Soil not oil: environmental justice in an age of climate crisis, Friday, June 24, 2022, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Sociology Pod, Third Floor, Surrey Main Building.  The second event will focus on Lee Maracle: My Conversation with Canadians,Friday, July 29, 2022, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Sociology Pod, Third Floor, Surrey Main Building. 

Resources for Faculty, Students, and Staff 

Meet Your New BFF: We cannot possibly heap enough praise on the versatility and utility of the Faculty and Instructional Staff Handbook for both new and returning faculty members. Do you have a question, are you struggling with a conundrum, perhaps you are wrestling with a challenge, or are in the throes of an enigma? The answer you are seeking likely lies within this sacred scripture of this majestic and mystical tome: https://kpuemp.sharepoint.com/sites/fh/SitePages/Home.aspx 

Preferred and Chosen Names – New Class Lists – As of this term, the Online Self Service (OSS) Faculty menu is offering class lists and grade reporting forms in an updated format—one that draws on students’ preferred/chosen names, includes photos, and adds other functionality. While the previous versions, which include only legal names, will also be available until the end of summer term, and there is an understandable pull to use a familiar interface, we’ve been hearing from students that using their preferred/chosen names right from the first day of class makes a huge difference in making them feel seen, welcome, and supported. This is especially true for trans and gender non-conforming students, whose health and safety are often compromised by dead-naming (using a legal or assigned name that does not match their gender). 

To use the lists with students’ preferred/chosen names, click on the “Class List (New)” heading in the OSS Faculty Menu tab, and then tap on the course acronym/section number in the “Subject” column (or on any non-underlined area in the row) of the course you want to view. We highly encourage faculty to make this effort to support students’ well-being and set a positive example for everyone in the class to follow. 

Some Inspirational Joni Words 

“We are stardust, we are golden and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” 
― Joni Mitchell 

Wishing everyone gardens aplenty,  

Greg, Shelley, Danny, Billeh, and Wade