president’s report to the board of governors · pdf file ·...

PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

April 2015 President’s Report Reports received from academic and service units are included below. An update of the President’s activities for the month of March will be presented at the meeting. College of Arts (Jacqueline Nolte, Dean) Communications: The Communications department has completed its program review self-study and welcomes the site visit in May.

Student Success Communications 335: Advanced Oral Communication students hosted a film screening on February 26 for the release of Maziar Bahari’s To Light a Candle, a film documenting the Baha’i people of Iran’s struggle to study and teach in higher education. The event, held at the Reach Gallery, was well attended and included a panel discussion with Dr.

Jacqueline Nolte, Dean of Arts; Ian Kluge, Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) instructor, and Neda Tanha, a former BIHE student. Three students from Communications 351: Professional Formal Research Report Writing will be presenting papers at UFV’s MicroLecture and Research Day on April 8: • Lindsay Lindholm – Analysis of urban vs. rural newspaper opinion toward changes to the

British Columbia ALR Amendment Act 2014 • Jessica McCooey – Differences in rural vs. urban news coverage of bear encounters in

British Columbia • Parvind Chitrath –Are BC Women’s Resource Society websites user-friendly for immigrant

women? Faculty Initiatives and Research Four Communications faculty members submitted proposals to the Learning at Intercultural Intersections conference, held March 10-13 at Thompson Rivers University, and all were accepted. Associate Professors Marcella LaFever, Linda Pardy, and Samantha Pattridge discussed their work on Indigenization and Internationalization at UFV through various poster and paper presentations (Associate Professor Michelle Riedlinger was co-contributor to one of the academic posters).

President’s Report to Board of Governors April 2015

Associate Professor Michelle Riedlinger is a local delegate on the organizing committee for the Canadian Research Ethics Board’s (CAREB) conference that will be held in Vancouver in early May 2015: https://www.careb-accer.org/content/national-conference-and-agm-0. Additionally, Michelle Riedlinger co-hosted the Scholarly Sharing Initiative on March 6 with Associate Professors Melissa Walter and Marcella LaFever. This month’s meeting consisted of presentations from Dr. Maureen Wideman, Director of Teaching and Learning, on incorporating Universal Design Elements in a first-year course and from Tracey Mason-Innes, SFU Residence (formerly UFV Residence) on the leadership identity development of supplemental instruction leaders. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice: Student Success

• Tyler Cesarone, a former UFV Criminology and Criminal Justice grad, was accepted to Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario.

• Criminology Honours student Sukhvinder Mangat was awarded $500 in funding from the Educational Enhancement Fund to attend the Society for Applied Research in Memory and Cognition (SARMAC) conference, happening this June.

• Rae-Lynne Dicks, a former UFV Criminology MA grad, was featured in the Langley Times for her research on the Prevalence of PTSD Symptoms among Canadian 911 Operators. http://www.langleytimes.com/community/289339611.html

Faculty Engagement Associate Professor Yvon Dandurand presented his research on Justice and Peace-Building in Conflict-Affected Societies as part of the UFV Research Lecture Series on March 4, and also participated in the Faculty MicroLecture series on March 10 where he presented his research on Preventing Violence against Children. Additionally, Dandurand delivered a presentation on Uncovering Labour Trafficking at the Forum on Challenges of Trafficking in Persons in Canada, at the School of Social Work, McGill University on January 30, 2015. UFV Assistant Professor Jonathan Heidt and Norwich University Assistant Professor Johannes Wheeldon, published a book titled, Introducing Criminological Thinking: Maps, Theories, and Understanding. English: Faculty Engagement On March 5, the English department hosted a conference celebrating the Literatures of the Fraser Valley. With twelve speakers on topics as various as creativity, community, the history of place, food, and gender, papers explored the unique mix of cultures found in our immediate environment. Students and faculty adjourned to AfterMath later that evening for informal readings of poetry and prose. Special thanks to Associate Professors Tim Haner and Michelle LaFlamme and Assistant Professor Ceilidh Hart for organizing a very successful and promising conversation. On March 13, faculty and students of the English department, as well as other UFV faculty members and alumni, undertook an all-

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https://www.careb-accer.org/content/national-conference-and-agm-0

http://www.langleytimes.com/community/289339611.html


day reading of Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. Divided into twelve books and comprising over ten thousand lines, the poem takes about twelve hours to read aloud. Associate Professors Tim Herron and Melissa Walter, with generous help from the English Students’ Association, organized teams of readers, supplied refreshments, and maintained an upbeat—often inspiring—atmosphere. Altogether, 44 readers participated. Audience members came and went as the day-long event (which began at 8:30 am and ended at 9:00 pm) pursued its epic course. Geography and the Environment (GATE): Student and Alumni Engagement The first annual Environmental Careers Networking event was held March 19 on the Abbotsford campus. The event, co-sponsored by GATE, UFV Career Centre, UFV Centre for Sustainability, and UFV Alumni Association, included a panel discussion on transitioning to the workforce, and allowed for important strategic connections to be made. Panelists

• Dylan Anderson (BA student), co-op student with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; • Nathalie Armstrong (BSc 2011 UFV and MA candidate UBC), Land Officer, Ministry of

Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations; • Anita Brar (BSc 2012), formerly Caribou Research Technician, National Council for Air

and Stream Improvement; • Theresa Fresco (BA 2005 UFV, MA 2012 UBC), Membership Coordinator, Connecting

Environmental Professionals, and Program Coordinator, Fraser Basin Council; • Jillian Hansen-Carlson (BSc 2013), Green Building Coordinator, Light House

Sustainable Building Centre; • Leanne Hunter (BSc 2013), Environment Canada; • Moderator: Alyssa Bourgie, BSc student Biology and UFV Sustainability Intern.

Associate Professor John Belec's Honours student, Derrick Swallow, is completing work on that most amorphous but enduring Fraser Valley residential form known colloquially as the "BC Box". Derrick’s findings will be presented to the UFV community through his Honours presentation in April. Faculty Research and Engagement An article by John Belec on the topic of Canada's suburbs has been accepted by The Canadian Geographer and will appear in this year's volume (59). The journal article is titled: Underwriting Suburbanization: The National Housing Act and the Canadian City and presents the results of Belec's analysis of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) data dating back to the 1950's. Associate Professor Cherie Enns has been successful with her application for funding for Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships project Urban Food Systems in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and the Fraser Valley: Capacity Building for Policy and Planning for a total of $293,000. This project will connect with $60,000 plus in funding from Aga Khan University in East Africa for food systems and planning policy. This year’s Environmental Leadership Awards presented by the Abbotsford-Matsqui Rotary Club recognized Associate Professor Lenore Newman as the Green Leader and UFV student (BSc Geography) Ashleigh Yakemchuk as the Green Leader for Tomorrow. Ashleigh was nominated

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for her work at UFV for the Centre for Sustainability and Lenore for her work on saving the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Modern Languages: Student Success Students in French 420: French Translation and Comparative Stylistics have received concrete and positive outcomes within the larger French community – Director of Projects for a large provincial French community organization, Réseau-Femmes, requested permission to use fact sheets created by French 420 students for Teen-Dating Violence in their French version, within a pedagogical project relating to the dangers of new technologies and aggressive teen sexuality. The organization is partnering with Le Théàtre de la Seizième in Vancouver, which will be presenting a play called Selfie, followed by discussion with the teenage audience. Information about the play and the pedagogical project can be found at: http://seizieme.ca/public-scolaire/selfie-2/. Philosophy: Student Engagement On February 19, the Association of Students of Philosophy hosted a talk by philosopher Dr. John Russell of Langara College on Resilience. On April 2, the Philosophy department hosted a talk by Dr. Lydia Amir on Philosophy and Humour. Lydia Amir is Associate Professor of Philosophy at The College of Management Academic Studies, Rishon LeZion, Israel. She has recently published the book, Humour and the Good Life in Modern Philosophy. Think Fun Summer Camps The Philosophy department is organizing Think Fun Summer camps for summer 2015 and is actively looking for student volunteers, as well as sources of funding to allow for scholarship offerings to needy children. Camps will run July 13-24 on the Abbotsford campus for children ages 6-11. For more information, contact [email protected]. Visual Arts (VA): Faculty Engagement During the last week of February, the VA department and International Education hosted visitors from the University of the Arts – Poznań (UAP). Dr. hab. Karolina Komasa (Dean of Sculpture and Space Activities) and Professor Wojciech Hora (Product Design and Architecture Faculty). The Polish guests toured UFV’s VA and Graphic + Digital Design (GDD) studios, visited classes, met with students, faculty, and administration. They also attended the VA/Art History field trip to the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Contemporary Art Gallery, and gave a well-attended (standing room only!) presentation to UFV students about the opportunity to study abroad at UAP. Special thanks to Associate Professor Aleksandra Idzior for establishing the contact. Community Engagement Department Head, Jill Bain, has been working closely with The Reach to initiate student opportunities. The Reach and UFV have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that has allowed for three Co-Curricular Record (CCR) positions to be established: Artefact Photographer, Education Assistant, and Exhibition Preparator and Installer.

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http://seizieme.ca/public-scolaire/selfie-2/

http://seizieme.ca/public-scolaire/selfie-2/

mailto:[email protected]


2015 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Silent Auction The annual BFA Silent Auction was held in the S'eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery from February 23-27 and featured numerous works in a variety of styles and media. The event (which takes six weeks to organize, and is coordinated by Associate Professor Grace Tsurumaru) raised over $2,600 to help meet grad show expenses! Alumni Exhibits and Success

• Hannah Bennett (BFA 2012) is exhibiting at the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver. In Urban Echoes (running to April 25), the artists found their inspiration in urban architecture and industrial structures. All the works, created as linocuts, are based on Vancouver neighbourhoods and architecture.

• Jeff Rasmussen (BFA 2014) is one of the featured artists in the on-going Art on Display program at White Rock Community Centre. The current exhibition, Signs, runs through April 17.

Two grads will be heading to the University of London this fall:

• David Seymour, who will be graduating this June with a History major and an Art History extended minor, was accepted into two different post-graduate degree programs at one of the world’s most prestigious art history institutions, University of London’s Courtauld Institute of Art. Of the two options he was offered, David has chosen to pursue the MA in Curating the Art Museum. He is also currently gaining experience in this field, having curated the recently opened exhibition, Buy One, Get None: Conformity, Consumerism and the Collective Voice at The Reach (on now until April 19). This exhibition features a number of VA graduates and current students (see poster to left).

• Recent grad, Jamie Anutooshkin (BFA 2013) has been accepted into another

celebrated art school, Goldsmiths, University of London, to pursue a Master in Contemporary Art Theory.

Upcoming Exhibitions S'eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford campus Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

• The culminating exhibition of the Lens of Empowerment: women’s citizenship and

identity in Stó:lō territory project, Tel i’tsel Kwe’lo (I Am From Here), March 27-April 9. Opening reception to be held at 3:00 pm, Friday, March 27 in S'eliyemetaxwtexw Gallery.

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This collective exhibition by student artists in the Lens of Empowerment project and Community Arts Practice course (VA 390) with Visual Arts instructor Stephanie Gould, explores identity, land, place and citizenship through women’s stories, lived experiences, intergenerational and intercultural points of view.

• 2015 BFA grad show, Both Sides of Now, April 24 – May 15 • 2015 Fashion Design program grad show, Absolute Style, April 29

Matinee at 2:30 pm | Evening show at 7:00 pm Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies (John English, Dean) 2015 Upper Fraser Valley Regional Skills Results: The University of the Fraser Valley’s Trades and Technology Centre hosted the annual Skills Canada Regional Skills Competition on March 5. This was one of 13 competitions taking place throughout British Columbia. Over 1200 junior high school students from Langley to Hope came to see the facility and learn more about the scope of trades careers at UFV with a passport of activities and interactive ‘Try-A-Trade’ stations set up throughout TTC. We had demand from various school districts in excess of double our capacity to host them. Regional competitions allow BC students from grade 6 to 12 to showcase their talents in the skilled trades and technologies. Students in secondary grades compete in a variety of skills competitions, with those in the lower grades competing in series of Junior Skills competitions specially designed for their skill levels. The competition wrapped up by 1:30 pm and was followed by an awards ceremony at 3:00 pm. In addition to the Skills competitions and school visits, Trades held an Open House (1:00-6:00 pm) to provide an opportunity for other students, parents, and members of the community to visit the Trades facility. Congratulations to Rolf Arnold and his team for the leadership and organizational talent. Faculty and staff from across the Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies stepped up to do demonstrations, host hands-on events and serve as tech-chairs for the competition. Winners in each competition area were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals, with the majority of the gold medal winners qualifying to compete in the annual Provincial competition (April 15 at Tradex). The results of the competition are as follows:

2D Animation Gold: Grace Choi and Ryan White – Robert Bateman Secondary Silver: Sage Auterson and Brittany Sukorokoff – Rick Hansen Secondary Bronze: Albert Rosenau and Matthew Sztuhar – Robert Bateman 3D Animation Gold: Noah Dueck and Kurtis Mar – Robert Bateman Secondary Architectural CAD Gold: Alex Hintz – Abbotsford Senior Secondary Silver: Trevyn Krull – Rick Hansen Secondary Bronze: Raven Dherari – Rick Hansen Secondary

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Automotive Service Gold: Chris Letkeman – W.J. Mouat Secondary Silver: Mike Paulson – Robert Bateman Secondary Bronze: Mitch Pye – Riverside College Cabinetmaking Gold: Karaline Heibner - Sardis Secondary Silver: Jordan Balzer - Sardis Secondary Bronze: Jacob Dyck - Sardis Secondary Carpentry Gold: Justin Smith – Riverside College Silver: Cuba Myrtle – Abbotsford Senior Secondary Bronze: Natalya Schroeder – Abbotsford Senior Secondary Culinary Arts Gold: Mikayla Wiebe – Yale Secondary Silver: Branden Melhus – W.J. Mouat Secondary Bronze: Erika Johnson – Abbotsford Senior Secondary Electrical Wiring Gold: Nick Huebert – W.J. Mouat Secondary Silver: Aaron Coates – W.J. Mouat Secondary Mechanical CAD Gold: Fergus Dalton – Sardis Secondary Welding Gold: Brad Lewis – Robert Bateman Secondary Silver: Noah Visscher – Sardis Secondary Bronze: David Pauls – Abbotsford Senior Secondary T.V. and Video Production: (Virtual) Results to come

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Research, Engagement and Graduate Studies (Adrienne Chan, Associate VP) Upcoming events and a sample of recent activities in the Research, Engagement, and Graduate Studies office follows: Student Research Day – April 8

• MicroLectures - 11:30 am, Road Runner Lounge, A Building, Abbotsford campus. Cheer on our talented student researchers as they present their research experiences in high-speed 2-minute lectures – 27 will be speaking!

• Poster Presentations - 12:30-2:30, Alumni Hall and Cafeteria Abbotsford Campus.

Engage with over 65 of our brilliant student researchers as they present their projects in this lively interactive session. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion.

Events and Activities: Faculty MicroLectures and Publication Celebration held March 10 was a huge success. Over 100 publications were displayed – to see the publication listing and photos go to http://www.ufv.ca/research/events/publication-celebration/. Adrienne Chan attended the Western Vice-Presidents (Academic) and Provosts and Vice-Presidents (Research) (WestVAC/VPR) meetings in Victoria March 4-5. (Jody Gordon, VP Students) Student Life and Development: Financial Aid and Awards The Financial Aid and Awards office began to see the first Canada Apprenticeship Loan program applications arrive in January. From January through the start of February we processed ten of these applications. Similarly, while we wait for policy updates from Student Aid BC, the new BC Labour Market Grants for Labour Market Priorities have been moving ahead. Residence Life and Housing Residence Programming Residence Life and the Career Centre partnered to deliver a Resume workshop. The event workshop was well-attended and resulted in our residence students learning how to build a

resume that markets their skills for a specific job. Residence Life also partnered with faculty from the School of Business and the Social Work and Human Services program to host Mock Interviews. Several students applying for the Residence Assistants (RA) and Front Desk Assistants (FDA) positions participated. Feedback from these students was that the workshop helped them to build their self-confidence, and that they received valuable feedback on how to improve their interview skills.

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http://www.ufv.ca/research/events/publication-celebration/


Lei Jian, an international student from the Social Services diploma program, is completing her twelve-week practicum at Baker House. Lei’s primary focus is to provide transitional support to our Chinese students who are new to Canada and UFV. Lei facilitates a peer support group on Friday nights which is regularly attended by many of our Chinese resident students. Activities the group has participated in are; dumpling making and a Chinese New Year Festival at the Chinese Christian Church, and the Chinese Lantern Festival. Lei has also partnered with the Residence Assistants to promote their participation in Baker House programs. For example, several of the students are now signed up for snowshoeing in Manning Park. Lei is also conducting a survey that targets Chinese resident students who moved out of residence so that we can examine and address the reasons why they moved out, and potentially increase our retention of international resident students. Bed Bug Inspections Residence Services conducted its quarterly bed bug inspections as part of its proactive bed bug prevention strategy. One case of bedbugs was found in an empty unit and was remediated immediately. Baker House is again bed bug free. Health and Safety Inspections Each semester, Residence Services conducts health and safety inspections on all residence rooms. Rooms were inspected to ensure that they meet Residence Services cleanliness standards and to ensure the rooms are being maintained. Smoke detectors and other fire safety devices were also inspected. Units that are deemed unsanitary are given a warning and a follow-up inspection. The Residence Assistants are following up with those residents who have not met the minimum standard and are working with them to ensure that their rooms are brought up to standard as soon as possible. Guest Housing Residence Services has secured a contract to host 166 members of the Canadian Baton Twirling Federation this August as they compete at the Baton Twirling Championships. Peer Support Centre Stemming from a practicum report by student Jasper Moedt in 2014, the Peer Support Centre is an initiative to peer deliver information, involvement and support to fellow students. Based in the Student Life area of the Student Union Building, the Peer Support Centre will function as a front line service to students to answer questions, refer to services and resources, and provide critical programming such as leadership development and mentorship. Peer Support Centre implementation continues to progress with the goal of student volunteer recruitment starting in April, training occurring through the summer, and full operations starting in September. The committee has been working hard to design a framework of services that will see students supporting and engaging other students with best practices. Student Life Leadership ran four events between January 21 and March 4. Effective Activism featured Aaron Levy, manager of CIVL campus radio, and John Vissers, long-time community activist, and drew 21 students. Our Service Learning Day on homelessness in Abbotsford was done in collaboration with Cherie Enns and 5 and 2 Ministries, and had 19 participants (out of 20 spaces available). The Call To Flanders event, about Sikh participation in the First World War was done in

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partnership with the Centre for Indo-Canadian Studies and had 25 attendees. Our forum on free speech, Je Suis Charlie? produced a lively discussion with 34 students. Rajnish Dhawan in his capacity as Human Rights and International Solidarity Representative, moderated the event. Events/initiatives supported in a significant way include: • UFV Garden Club Community Dinner • Students for a B.C. Poverty

Reduction Plan with Robert Harding’s Social Work 380 class

• Social Work Student Association and the Social Work department ‘Reaching Out Together: Connections Through Social Work’ international conference

• Holi (see photo, right) • The Centre For Sustainability

National Sweater Day • Sent 16 students to the UBC

Student Leadership conference • Department of Communications (Michelle Riedlinger) Fourth-Year Grant and Proposal

Writing class project • Re-launch of SOLAR (Student Outdoor Leadership and Recreation) Club Counselling Services: The Counselling department successfully managed a high level of crisis and pass referral appointments for the month of February. One-to-one support for students dealing with personal, mental health, career indecision, and study skills was also efficiently provided by the counselling team. In an effort to build relationships with community mental health agencies throughout the Fraser Valley, the Counselling department attended the Chilliwack Integration meeting. Valuable information was presented by the executive director of community agency bc211, a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization that specializes in providing information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC. Attendance at this meeting ensures that UFV counsellors are able to provide students with updated resources in the community and pertinent referral support options. Workshops On February 12, the Counselling department offered a free Study Smart workshop series to students. Counsellors facilitated deep and meaningful conversations about learning strategies and offered creative techniques to “study smarter, not harder.” Workshop topics included reading and note-taking, time management and memory, test preparation and active learning strategies. Career and Life Planning workshops were offered to students and members of the community at both the Abbotsford and CEP campuses. This free 2-hour workshop shows students how to do personality, interests and values assessments and learn about labor market information.

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Counselling Events The UFV Counselling department participated in the Student Psychology Association’s Counselling and Career Panel on February 25. This event focused on providing information to students interested in careers related to counselling. A UFV counsellor and registered therapy dog participated as panel guests, and joined other UFV instructors and community agency professionals to discuss careers in the field of clinical counselling. The panel also participated in a Q and A session to answer questions from students curious about careers related to counselling. In anticipation and honour of International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 9, the Counselling department raised awareness and shared messages to empower women across campus and beyond. The theme was Raise your hand for International Women’s

Day. By the end of the week, public comment boards were filled with words and comments celebrating and empowering women. Athletics: The second semester of sports action for the Cascades featured a series of historic highlights:

• The men’s basketball team won its first 15 games of the Canada West campaign, thus extending their regular season win streak to 29 games dating back to November 2013. That streak was tied for the second-longest in Canada West history, trailing only the UBC Thunderbirds’ 33-game unbeaten run (2005 to 2007).

• The Cascades went on to finish the regular season with a program-best 17-3 record, good for first place in the Explorers Division, and Jasper Moedt (second team) and Kevon Parchment (third team) were named conference all-stars. The Cascades swept the Calgary Dinos in a best-of-three quarter-final playoff series to punch their ticket to the Canada West Final Four for the fourth straight year, and after falling to the Victoria Vikes in the semifinals, they bounced back to beat UBC in the bronze medal game. It was the second Canada West medal in program history for UFV, to go with a silver in 2012.

• The Cascades women’s basketball team made their way to the playoffs for the fifth straight year, finishing third in the Explorer Division with a 12-8 record. They hosted the Regina Cougars in the first round of the post-season, but saw their campaign come to an end after two straight losses.

• Sarah Wierks put together a noteworthy season – she became the first UFV women’s basketball player to earn a Canada West first team all-star nod, and was just the second Cascades athlete across all sports to be named to the CIS All-Canadian team. The 6’2” fifth-year centre was honoured for a sparkling season-long performance that saw her lead the conference in scoring at 19.2 points per game, and lead the entire nation in rebounding (15.4

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per game) while setting a slew of Canada West rebounding records. • The Cascades women’s volleyball team spent most of the season in the CCAA national

rankings, and they qualified for the PacWest playoffs with a 13-11 record. • They were upset victims in the PacWest quarter-finals, though, dropping a heartbreaking

five-set decision to the College of the Rockies Avalanche. • Outside hitter Michelle Zygmunt was honoured for her outstanding season, earning a

PacWest second team all-star nod. • The UFV volleyball men returned to the PacWest playoffs after a one-year absence,

posting a 7-17 record to earn the No. 5 seed. • They put in a tremendous effort in the conference quarter-finals, pushing their crosstown

rival Columbia Bible College Bearcats (the No. 4-ranked team in the nation) to five sets before finally succumbing.

• Joel Kleingeltink’s PacWest second team all-star award was a highlight for the team. • The UFV rowing club held its seventh annual home regatta, Head of the Fort, on March 7

in Fort Langley. The event, with the athletes playing a key organizing role, was well-received, and the team combined for seven top-two finishes.

• Two Cascades wrestlers attended the CIS national championships in Edmonton. Manny Kahlon (120 kg) came home with a silver medal, while Brad Hildenbrandt (90 kg) finished fifth. Earlier in the semester, the UFV men’s wrestling squad held the No. 1 national ranking for four weeks, and won the Canada West team bronze medal.

Disability Resource Centre: According to the Canadian census data, 15 percent of all Canadians have disabilities. To carry over that number to UFV, that would mean approximately 2,250 students attending classes at our institution have disabilities. We currently have 955 students with documented disabilities impacting their education registered with the UFV Disability Resource Centre. Based on that calculation, there are 1295 students with disabilities attending classes at UFV without any support related to their disability. The hope going forward is that with increased acceptance and appreciation of people with disabilities, these students will feel safe enough to come forward to receive help that is badly needed through processes such as academic accommodations. For many students with disabilities, transitioning to the post-secondary level is a key issue as they enroll in classes at a new school. The demands and changes encountered in a university setting present challenges for all new students. However, there are often unique obstacles and concerns for students with disabilities. One major adjustment is the responsibility of managing their academic accommodations along with their regular course work. For most students with disabilities enrolled in the K-12 school system, much of the work of arranging accommodations and setting up process to aid are done by others. The individual student frequently does not become very actively involved in that process. At the post-secondary level, students must take control of making arrangements for academic support related to their disability. A related challenge is that students must self-identify to UFV that they are a person with a disability and requiring academic support due to the impact of the condition. Frequently, these students are anxious for a fresh start in an educational setting by not having to deal with being labeled as a person with a disability. Generally in the K-12 protocol for assisting students with disabilities, upon a student be categorized as having a disability, that information will be distributed to every new teacher involved in the child's education. Along with the labelling frequently comes a limiting of teacher expectations for that student and very different treatment from the other students attending class.

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This form of treatment can often explain why students are very hesitant to continue to be seen as different and are desperate for that fresh start. However, the result is that badly needed supports won’t be in place and the student struggles with the impact of the disability on their education privately.

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