Faculty of Health

• Helga Hallgrímsdóttir, Deputy Provost (ex-officio and Chair)*
• Elizabeth Adjin-Tettey, Associate Vice-President Academic Programs (ex-officio)*
• Carrie Andersen, University Secretary (ex-officio)
• Vanessa Andreotti, Dean, Faculty of Education (ex-officio as of July 1)*
• Lisa Bourque Bearskin, School of Nursing (VP Indigenous nominee)*

• Tony Eder, Associate Vice-President Academic Resource Planning (ex-officio)

• Lindsay Gagel, Director, Academic Communications and Projects (ex-officio)
• Lois Harder, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences (ex-officio)*
• Robin Hicks, Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies (ex-officio)*
• Fraser Hof, Associate Vice-President Research (ex-officio)*
• Sandra Hundza, School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education (Senate nominee)*
• Cole Kennedy, Department of Psychology (graduate student representative)*
• Darryl Knight, Providence Health Care (Presidential nominee)*
• Nathan Lachowsky, Associate Dean Research, Faculty of HSD (ex-officio)*
• Peter Loock, Dean, Faculty of Science (ex-officio)*
• Anastasia Mallidou, School of Nursing (Senate nominee as of March 1, 2024)*
• Simon Minshall, School of Health Information Science (Senate nominee)*
• Nathaniel Sukhdeo, Faculty of Law (undergraduate student representative)*

• Wendy Taylor, A/University Registrar (ex-officio)

• Bruce Wright, Head, Division of Medical Sciences (ex-officio)*
• Ashley Fitterer, Senior Project Officer (support)

*Voting

This initiative is connected to our university plans and strategic direction. As well, we need to ensure we have the structures in place to respond to community needs and find solutions to current and emerging crises.

• In BC and across Canada there is urgent need for health care professionals and community health and wellness supports.
• The BC Government is interested in expanding opportunities for health education to address urgent needs in BC communities across the province. They have indicated their willingness to fund new seats in medicine, nursing, and allied health professions such as social work, health information science, public health, health administration and leadership, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology.
• It will be important for us to establish our strengths in health and wellness and their connection to community to remain competitive with other Canadian universities.

This proposal is not motivated by budget and we do not anticipate needing any new resources, as we are not creating a net-new faculty. Instead, we are re-imagining how we can reorganize existing academic units and programs. This means we will have no additional Deans than we currently do.

While this initiative may have positive resource implications and savings through centralizing or sharing resources, it is not a primary motivation for change. That said, this proposal also has the potential to generate revenue through enhanced student recruitment, government-funded program expansions, research grants and donor funding.

The process to determine and move budgets is happening as part of a parallel process co-led by VPAC and VPFO in 2024/25.

The Ad-hoc Senate Committee heard through the campus-wide survey that it was important to “right size” faculties during their work to create a Faculty of Health.

There is no formula for a "right" size, but there are considerations and comparisons that can be helpful. For example, number of schools and departments, number of undergraduate programs, number of graduate programs, number of faculty members, number of enrolled students, student-to-faculty ratio, and/or budget and resources. To support an informed vote, the Committee presented Senate with some of this information at a special meeting on Feb. 9, 2024 and again on March 1, 2024.

Faculty of Health (as of March 1, 2024):

• Number of schools: 6
• Number of faculty: 104.1 FTE
• Approximate number of students: 1,850 FTE
• Student-faculty ratio: 17.7

See the organizational chart (March 2024).

When the Committee began their work, there were no predetermined outcomes and no departments, schools or programs yet identified to be included in the new faculty. Through consultations, the Committee recommended to Senate, and Senate approved, the following schools be included in the Faculty of Health:

• Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education
• Health Information Science
• Medical Sciences
• Nursing
• Public Health and Social Policy
• Social Work

In May 2024, Senate approved the counselling psychology and clinical psychology programs to be included in the Faculty of Health.

The process of supporting units moving from one faculty/division to another was part of the focus of phase 2 in 2024/25. Supporting units continues to be a priority.

UVic is not contemplating a medical school at this time. We are also not creating a net-new faculty or division, as the Faculty of Health will be populated by existing units and programs.

Parallel processes outside of Senate's scope include:

• Space, capital and operations
• Labour relations
• Community engagement
• Government relations

The university assigns office and communal spaces to schools and departments based on demand and through a comprehensive process. The Office of the Registrar and Enrolment Management determines classroom space based on curriculum needs, class sizes and availability. While space is always subject to change, there are no immediate plans to relocate offices or other spaces related to the establishment of the Faculty of Health or related organizational changes.

Students who apply to graduate up to and including the spring 2025 graduation deadline will have their current faculty listed (e.g., Faculty of Human and Social Development). Undergraduate students who apply to graduate for fall 2025 or later will have their new faculty listed (e.g., Faculty of Health). All UVic graduate students will have the Faculty of Graduate Studies listed. Learn more about your parchment.

As of May 1, 2025, the Clinical Psychology graduate program offered by the Department of Psychology is part of the Faculty of Health. Students’ experiences will be consistent, as the program will remain the same. All UVic graduate students are part of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Students interested in the Faculty of Health should apply to a program in one of the schools that will be part of the Faculty of Health, listed above. We will update UVic’s application system, information systems and website in the coming months. These changes will be sequenced to align with the operational date for the Faculty of Health, which will be May 1, 2025. Students who applied prior to this date were accounted for when these changes occurred.

Current students in a program in one of the schools that will be part of the Faculty of Health (listed above) will see their faculty updated effective May 1, 2025 when the new Faculty of Health becomes operational.

Academic records will remain the same. Degree credentials will always reflect the faculty and program you were enrolled in at the time you graduated. The change will only affect the student records of those who are currently enrolled and graduating after May 2025.

The value and accreditation of your degree will not be affected. While the creation of the new faculty will help improve program alignment and resources for current and future students, existing degrees will retain their original standing and value.

The information on your degree parchment and transcript will not change. Learn more about parchment and degree certificates.

Alumni affiliation will align with the new structure, as noted on this web page. For example, if you completed a degree in the School of Social Work, your affiliation will now be with the Faculty of Health.

We understand that some alumni may feel most connected to the programs and faculty they were part of during their time at UVic. The alumni relations office will continue to support networks and communities across all alumni, including in HSD, education and social sciences, to celebrate shared experiences and histories.

Support from alumni—and all donors—is truly valued. If you have questions about your designated area of support, please reach out to Donor Relations. If you have an endowed fund, Donor Relations will connect with you directly. You are always welcome to contact giving@uvic.ca to talk with someone about making donations to areas of need that align with your interests.