Academic Council is the senior academic body of the University. Among other things, it advises on University academic standards, academic policies, program approvals and reviews.

Elections for Academic Council are now closed and Academic Council positions for the upcoming terms have now been filled.

Members in Academic Council will start their terms on November 3, 2022.

The following students, faculty and staff will be part of University Canada West’s newly expanded Academic Council.

Faculty Representatives
Term of Office
Dr. Mehdi Akhgari November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Rushdi Alsaleh November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Penny Farley November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Manbo He November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Noosha Mehdian November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Alexander Sakharov November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Hamed Taherdoost November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Salvador Trevino November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Dr. Jason Walker November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025
Staff Representative
Term of Office
Anna Lee Boulton, Assistant Registrar (Registrar’s Office) November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2024
Student Representatives
Term of Office
Manik Gupta (MBA) – At-large student member representative November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2023
Shweta Shaw (MBA) – Graduate student member representative November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2023
Udayveer Singh Kanda (AA) – Undergraduate student member representative November 1, 2022 – October 31, 2023

Members of Academic Council will advise and provide recommendations to the Board on a number of subjects, including program proposals advanced to the British Columbia Degree Quality Assurance Board, the evaluation of programs and educational services, the setting of the academic schedule of the University and other matters specified by the Board.

Academic Council meets monthly, on every first Thursday of the month virtually on Microsoft Teams.

Academic Council Election Forms

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General FAQ

Academic Council normally meets on the first Thursday of every month (except in January and August), and the meetings are usually from 3 to 4:30 pm.

Academic Council members are also expected to serve on at least two committees, which may also meet monthly.

For more information, see the Academic Council Bylaws.

Yes! All new members will participate in an orientation session and will receive a comprehensive manual before their first Academic Council meeting.

No, this is a volunteer position. For faculty members, this position will be considered towards any applicable service requirements. All Academic Council members may submit requests for reimbursements for any reasonable expenses incurred.

Nominations are now closed.

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact [email protected].

If you no longer wish to stand for election and wish to withdraw your nomination, please contact [email protected] to withdraw your nomination. Once withdrawn, you will not be eligible for the election and any votes for a withdrawn candidate will be invalid.

Please note that, if you are elected, it is our expectation that you will serve the entire term of office, to the best of your ability.

Voting is now closed.

An orientation session will be held for all candidates prior to the start of the campaign period. It is the sole responsibility of the candidate to ensure they are familiar with all the rules of the election, whether they attend the orientation or not.

Each nominee will be asked to provide a Statement of Intent (maximum 300 words and no links) in the Nomination Form. This Statement of Intent will be made available to the electorate on the Academic Council Election webpage.

Campaigning is allowed and encouraged, but must be undertaken at the individual’s expense and in their own time. Candidates may not abuse UCW’s resources for election purposes. All candidates are required to act with honesty and integrity.

Candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner respectful of other candidates, and all campaign material must comply with human rights and other legislation.

Campaigning includes: word-of-mouth and direct communications, posters, flyers, websites and social media. Encouraging individuals to vote is not considered campaigning if there is no reference to an individual candidate or group of candidates.

Each candidate may post one campaign poster (8.5×11”) on each Community Board at the UCW campuses and may choose to distribute flyers on UCW campuses (at their own expense). Staff and faculty candidates may also post one campaign poster (8.5×11”) in each UCW faculty and staff lounge or work area.

If you have any questions about the campaigning process, please contact [email protected].

Student FAQ

Nominations will be submitted on your own behalf but must be signed by three other eligible student members.

To be eligible to nominate another student or vote, you must be:

  • An undergraduate or graduate student registered at UCW in the current term;
  • In good standing; and
  • From the same student constituency (e., graduate, undergraduate or online) as the nominee/candidate (exception: at-large nominees/candidates, who represent all students).

To be eligible to stand for election, you must be:

  • An undergraduate or graduate student registered at UCW in the current term;
  • In good standing; and
  • Registered in two of the following academic terms (Winter, Spring, or Summer Term) during their term of office.

For more information about eligibility, see Sections 2.1 and 4.1-4.5 contained in Appendix A to the Bylaws (Rules to Govern Elections to the Academic Council).

Please see above. Classroom time is reserved for academic activities, and your professors and fellow students expect to have class time dedicated to learning. Visits or campaigning by student candidates cannot be accommodated.

No, you must select one student position to run for.

The at-large student member will represent the interests of all UCW students on Academic Council.

Faculty FAQ

Nominations will be submitted on your own behalf but must be signed by three other eligible faculty members.

To nominate an individual, vote or stand for election, faculty members must:

  • have a continuing appointment at UCW as an instructor, a lecturer, an assistant professor, an associate professor or a professor in a degree program (e., undergraduate and degree).

Instructors that have a continuing appointment and that teach in the University Access Program (UAP) may nominate an individual, vote in an election or stand for election as staff members, not as faculty.

Please note that visiting, adjunct and sessional faculty are not eligible to nominate, run for election or vote in the upcoming Academic Council elections.

For more information about eligibility, see Sections 2.1 and 4.1-4.5 contained in Appendix A to the Bylaws (Rules to Govern Elections to the Academic Council).

No. Faculty and staff members who are also UCW students are not eligible to run as student representatives.

Staff FAQ

Nominations will be submitted on your own behalf but must be signed by three other eligible staff members.

Staff members must be employed by UCW and be past their probationary period to be eligible to stand for election. All staff members are eligible to vote for and nominate another staff member.

Officers of the University (President, Vice-Presidents or the Registrar), faculty members, Chairs and the University Librarian are not eligible.

For more information about eligibility, see Sections 2.1 and 4.1-4.5 contained in Appendix A to the Bylaws (Rules to Govern Elections to the Academic Council).

Please direct any questions about Academic Council elections to [email protected].