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Senate

Accessibility

KPU Senate is committed to making our meetings and documents accessible for everyone.  We are currently using Microsoft Teams to host our online meetings and provide the following supports:

  • live captioning
  • transcription of meeting notes
  • meeting minutes
  • monitored chat and Q & A
  • supportive voting and polling

Please let us know if you require any additional supports in order for you to be able to access and participate in our meetings.

There are several ways you can request supports to ensure an accessible meeting for you.  The Senate office will make every attempt to accommodate your request with a minimum of 3 days notice.  Please note that some supports may require additional time to obtain.

1. Email us at senate@kpu.ca

2. Call us at 604-599-2357

3. Submit a request form by visiting the Senate Access Form. 

Roles and Responsibilities

Senate is the senior academic governing body at Kwantlen Polytechnic University constituted under the University Act. 

The Act provides for establishment of special purpose teaching universities with bicameral governance. The academic branch is known as Senate and has powers and duties including:

  • setting criteria for awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees, including honorary degrees;
  • setting curriculum content for programs;
  • setting qualifications for admission;
  • setting criteria for academic standing, academic standards and the grading system;
  • setting policies and procedures for appeals by students on academic matters and establishing a final appeal tribunal for these appeals.

Additionally, Senate has the mandate to advise the Board of Governors on matters including:

  • educational goals, objectives, strategies and priorities of the University;
  • establishment, revision or discontinuance of courses and programs;
  • priorities for implementation of new programs;
  • establishment or discontinuance of Faculties;
  • evaluation of programs and educational services;
  • library and resource centres;
  • setting of the academic schedule;
  • qualifications for faculty members.

Senate Bylaws

Senate Bylaws

Membership Composition

The composition of Senate is defined by the University Act.

Chair: President and Vice-Chancellor

Voting Members

  • Chancellor
  • President and Vice-Chancellor
  • Vice-President, Academic
  • Deans of Faculties
  • Chief Librarian
  • Two faculty members from each Faculty
  • Four students
  • Alumni member
  • Two support staff

Non-Voting Members

  • Registrar
  • Board appointee

Election Procedures

  • Members of a Faculty elect faculty members.
  • Students elect student members.
  • The KPU Alumni Association nominates an alumni member, who is not a faculty member, to the President.
    The President appoints the alumni member.
  • Support staff elect support staff members. Support staff are employees of the special purpose, teaching university who are not officers, deans, or faculty members of the university.

Terms of Office

  • Students: one year
  • Faculty and support staff: three years
  • Alumni senator: three years

2024 - 2025 Senators

VOTINGROLETERM END
Kwuntiltunaat (Kim Baird)ChancellorEx officio
Alan Davis, ChairPresidentEx officio
Diane PurveyProvost and Vice-President, AcademicEx officio
Todd MundleUniversity LibrarianEx officio
DEANS  
Aimee BegalkaFaculty of Academic and Career PreparationEx officio
Shelley BoydFaculty of ArtsEx officio
Zena MitchellFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentEx officio
Sharmen LeeFaculty of HealthEx officio
Amy JeonFaculty of ScienceEx officio
Laura McDonaldFaculty of Trades and TechnologyEx officio
Heather HarrisonMelville School of BusinessEx officio
Andhra GoundreyWilson School of DesignEx officio
STUDENT SENATORS  
Jasnoor Bassi August 31, 2025
Sukhdeep Singh August 31, 2025
Jashanpreet Singh August 31, 2025
Khushi Tiwana August 31, 2025
FACULTY SENATORS  
Ian StanwoodFaculty of Academic and Career PreparationAugust 31, 2025
Diane Van der GuchtFaculty of Academic and Career PreparationAugust 31, 2026
Mike LarsenFaculty of ArtsAugust 31, 2027
Tara LyonsFaculty of ArtsAugust 31, 2027
Celia BrinkerhoffFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentAugust 31, 2027
Melissa CuthillFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentAugust 31, 2027
Catherine SchwichtenbergFaculty of HealthAugust 31, 2025
Donna DanielsonFaculty of HealthAugust 31, 2026
Allyson RozellFaculty of ScienceAugust 31, 2027
Fergal CallaghanFaculty of ScienceAugust 31, 2025
Bob DavisFaculty of Trades and TechnologyAugust 31, 2025
Mike MannFaculty of Trades and TechnologyAugust 31, 2026
Hannah CelinskiMelville School of BusinessAugust 31, 2027
Judy BenevidesMelville School of BusinessAugust 31, 2026
Lindsay NorrisWilson School of DesignAugust 31, 2026
Michael CoberWilson School of DesignAugust 31, 2027
SUPPORT STAFF SENATORS  
Jenna SmithProfessional Support Staff SenatorAugust 31, 2027
 Professional Support Staff Senator 
APPOINTEES  
Mohammad KallasAlumni SenatorAugust 31, 2025
NON-VOTINGROLETERM END
Nadia Henwood, SecretaryUniversity RegistrarEx officio
 Board of Governors Appointee 
David BurnsDean pro tem, Faculty of Graduate StudiesEx-officio

2025 - 2026 Senators

VOTINGROLETERM END
Kwuntiltunaat (Kim Baird)ChancellorEx officio
Alan Davis, ChairPresidentEx officio
Diane PurveyProvost and Vice-President, AcademicEx officio
Todd MundleUniversity LibrarianEx officio
DEANS  
Aimee BegalkaFaculty of Academic and Career PreparationEx officio
Shelley BoydFaculty of ArtsEx officio
Zena MitchellFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentEx officio
Sharmen LeeFaculty of HealthEx officio
Amy JeonFaculty of ScienceEx officio
Laura McDonaldFaculty of Trades and TechnologyEx officio
Heather HarrisonMelville School of BusinessEx officio
Andhra GoundreyWilson School of DesignEx officio
STUDENT SENATORS  
Raymond Chou August 31, 2026
Sheena Dela Torre August 31, 2026
Harkomalpreet Gill August 31, 2026
Gurnoor Kaur August 31, 2025
FACULTY SENATORS  
 Faculty of Academic and Career Preparation 
Diane Van der GuchtFaculty of Academic and Career PreparationAugust 31, 2026
Mike LarsenFaculty of ArtsAugust 31, 2027
Tara LyonsFaculty of ArtsAugust 31, 2027
Celia BrinkerhoffFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentAugust 31, 2027
Melissa CuthillFaculty of Educational Support and DevelopmentAugust 31, 2027
Catherine SchwichtenbergFaculty of HealthAugust 31, 2028
Laura Del Rio TorresFaculty of HealthAugust 31, 2026
Allyson RozellFaculty of ScienceAugust 31, 2027
Richard PopoffFaculty of ScienceAugust 31, 2028
 Faculty of Trades and Technology 
Mike MannFaculty of Trades and TechnologyAugust 31, 2026
Hannah CelinskiMelville School of BusinessAugust 31, 2027
Judy BenevidesMelville School of BusinessAugust 31, 2026
Lindsay NorrisWilson School of DesignAugust 31, 2026
Michael CoberWilson School of DesignAugust 31, 2027
SUPPORT STAFF SENATORS  
Jenna SmithProfessional Support Staff SenatorAugust 31, 2027
 Professional Support Staff Senator 
APPOINTEES  
 Alumni SenatorAugust 31, 2027
NON-VOTINGROLETERM END
Nadia Henwood, SecretaryUniversity RegistrarEx officio
 Board of Governors AppointeeAugust 31, 2026
David BurnsDean pro tem, Faculty of Graduate StudiesEx-officio

2025–2026 Meeting Schedule

Senate will meet online except when noted below.

In-person location: Surrey Cedar Board Room

MS Teams online: to join a meeting, please use the link in the Meeting Date column below.

Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SUBMISSION DEADLINEMEETING DATEFORMATAGENDA PACKAGEAPPROVED MINUTES
September 15, 2025Monday, September 29, 2025hybridSeptember 29, 2025September 29, 2025
October 13, 2025Monday, October 27, 2025onlineOctober 27, 2025October 27, 2025
November 10, 2025Monday, November 24, 2025onlineNovember 24, 2025November 24, 2025
January 12, 2026Monday, January 26, 2026onlineJanuary 26, 2026January 26, 2026
February 16, 2026Monday, March 2, 2026onlineMarch 2, 2026March 2, 2026
March 16, 2026Monday, March 30, 2026onlineMarch 30, 2026March 30, 2026
April 13, 2026Monday, April 27, 2026onlineApril 27, 2026April 27, 2026
May 11, 2026Monday, May 25, 2026onlineMay 25, 2026May 25, 2026
June 15, 2026Monday, June 29, 2026onlineJune 29, 2026June 29, 2026

2024–2025 Meeting Schedule

Senate will meet online except for September and April which will be in-person.

In-person location: Surrey Cedar Board Room, 2110

MS Teams online: to join a meeting, please use the link in the Meeting Date column below.

Time: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SUBMISSION DEADLINEMEETING DATEFORMATAGENDA PACKAGEAPPROVED MINUTES
September 12, 2024Monday, September 23, 2024in-personSeptember 23, 2024September 23, 2024
October 10, 2024Monday, October 21, 2024onlineOctober 21, 2024October 21, 2024
November 7, 2024Monday, November 18, 2024onlineNovember 18, 2024November 18, 2024
December 5, 2024Monday, December 16, 2024onlineDecember 16, 2024December 16, 2024
January 16, 2025Monday, January 27, 2025onlineJanuary 27, 2025January 27, 2025
February 20, 2025Monday, March 3, 2025onlineMarch 3, 2025March 3, 2025
March 20, 2025Monday, March 31, 2025onlineMarch 31, 2025March 31, 2025
April 17, 2025Monday, April 28, 2025onlineApril 28, 2025April 28, 2025
May 15, 2025Monday, May 26, 2025online/in-personMay 26, 2025May 26, 2025
June 12, 2025Monday, June 23, 2025online/in-personJune 23, 2025June 23, 2025

Senate Membership Archives       Archived Senate Agendas  Archived Senate Minutes

History

How We Got Here

1972: Our journey starts with Douglas College

1981: Kwantlen College splits from Douglas

1995: Kwantlen becomes the last of the University Colleges established with degree granting status

2008: Kwantlen Polytechnic University begins


In April 2007, Geoff Plant, Q.C., recommended in his Campus 2020 publication that BC's remaining university colleges be designated as regional universities and that they adopt the governance structure of Thompson Rivers University (TRU). Following this announcement, Kwantlen, Malaspina and UCFV undertook to study the TRU governance structure.

During the fall of 2007, a working group was established within Education Council to explore changes to the governance structure in anticipation of this transition. Membership of the working group:

  • Dianne Crisp
  • Dana Cserepes
  • Jody Gordon
  • Carolyn Robertson
  • Takashi Sato
  • Newton Wainman

In April 2008, Premier Gordon Campbell visited Surrey campus and announced that Kwantlen was now officially a Polytechnic University. A week later, the University Amendment Act was introduced in the legislature. It described a bicameral governance structure, more or less in the form anticipated.

Once the legislation was adopted, the group was expanded to include:

  • David Atkinson
  • Rebecca Darnell
  • Dana Goedbloed
  • Sandi Klassen
  • Ken McIntyre
  • Judith McGillivray
  • Karen Metzger
  • Scott Nicoll

This working group's task was to interpret the legislation and develop ways to implement its requirements within the Kwantlen context. It worked through the summer and produced a series of recommendations brought to Education Council on September 8, 2008. In the transition, Education Council acted as the Senate and worked to establish the foundations of the full Senate. During the fall 2008 semester, elections were called to fill the newly established Senate seats. Senate held its first meeting in January 2009.

Governance Documents

  • Academic Governance Transition Background (Aug 2008)
  • Resolutions Approved on October 6, 2008
  • Powers of Senate, Board of Governors, and Faculties (excerpts from University Act)
  • Powers of Board of Governors(excerpts from University Act)
  • University Act
  • Robert's Rules of Order- summary chart
  • Principles to Guide Bi-Cameral Governance at KPU

Reference

Presentation  - University Governance and the Senate by Dr. Ross Paul (Aug 2, 14)

Presentation - Senate and Legislation by Patrick Gilligan Hackett (Feb 2012) | Part 1 of 2 | Part 2 of 2

Discussion - On the Possible Amalgamation of the Faculties of Humanities & Social Sciences(Jan 2011)

Education Council (Forerunner to Senate)

Ed Council Agendas

Ed Council Minutes

Administrative Support: Senate Office

For Senate open office hours, please see Senate Engagement.

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We at Kwantlen Polytechnic University respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and study in a region that overlaps with the unceded traditional and ancestral First Nations territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), qi̓  cə̓  y̓ (Katzie), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo), scə̓  waθən (Tsawwassen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), and kwikwəƛ̓ə̓  m (Kwikwetlem); and with the lands of the qw̓  ɑ:nƛ̓ə̓  n̓ (Kwantlen First Nation), which gifted its name to this university.