Professional development & training
Training is an important component of becoming and staying competent, working within the legal frameworks relevant to universities, and enhancing your skills. While many of these training opportunities are optional (but encouraged), some must be undertaken as part of academic responsibilities (as outlined in s. 12.5 h of the Collective Agreement) or to support administrative responsibilities.
Effective April 2026, course reviews were eliminated and replaced with continuous learning activity requirements. All faculty members are expected to engage in activities to promote professional development.
Development programs
Beginning September 2026, VPAC is launching three development programs for faculty, librarians and academic leaders, providing coordinated support through orientation, mentorship and professional development.
The programs allow participation in ways that are flexible, relevant and fit various professional development needs by offering multiple ways to engage. All new faculty, librarians, chairs, directors and associate deans are encouraged to attend sessions as participation is an important part of supporting career success, leadership capacity and university culture.
Overview
- Designed for new faculty and librarians.
- Supports successful transition into UVic through orientation, governance literacy, mentorship, scholarly identity and career progression.
- Designed for new chairs, directors and associate deans.
- Supports the practical realities of academic leadership by building operational fluency in budgeting, labour relations, governance, decision-making and other key areas.
- Designed for deans.
- This program is still in development.
If you would like to join a program, but aren't new to UVic, please email facultyrelations@uvic.ca for more information as there may be opportunities for you to participate.
Process
Participants are automatically enrolled in the relevant program and will receive a welcome email in spring 2026 with details on orientation events. More information will be shared with new faculty, librarians and academic leaders over the summer before the programs launch in September.
Values and commitments
UVic's institutional plans and values, including equity, diversity, inclusion and Indigenization, are reflected in the development programs. We are committed to providing accesible mentorship and development opportunities to support learning and belonging.
Program design
Programs were designed to reflect the needs of UVic's faculty, librarians and academic leaders.
In fall 2025, the Deputy Provost formed a steering committee comprised of deans, associate deans, chairs and directors to shape program direction and content. Following months of development, consultation and an equity review, the programs will launch in fall 2026.
More information
Required training
All faculty and librarians must complete mandatory training. Training is offered online unless noted otherwise.
General:
- Indigenous Cultural Acumen Training (IACE) - workshops posted to Learning Central as they become available
Privacy and security:
Health and safety:
- UVic Health and Safety Orientation (OHSE)*
- Awareness and Prevention of Workplace Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination (OHSE)*
- Addressing Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination Complaints for Supervisors (OHSE)* - supervisors only
- Preventing and Responding to Sexualized Violence - TBD
*Required as per WorkSafeBC
For those in development programs:
- Both the New Faculty and Librarian and the Foundational Academic Leader Development Programs have mandatory orientation sessions and mandatory courses. Detailed information is shared with participants annually.
For those serving on committees:
Equity for ARPT and search committees
Following the requirements in the Collective Agreement for training for all ARPT committee members, we have developed three levels of engagement with the aim of advancing equity, diversity and inclusion at UVic.
The first level of engagement, the online course Increasing Equity in Decision Processes, is required for all members of ARPT committees prior to starting their work, and needs to be retaken every two years. While not required for searches for sessional faculty or senior academic positions, the course is recommended as the content will support equitable searches and cover much of the policy-related content requirements for those serving on these committees.
The course was developed collaboratively by VPAC, EQHR and the Faculty Association.
Increasing Equity in Decision Processes
This online course prepares committees with the skills and tools needed to remove systemic barriers in faculty appointment, review, promotion and tenure (ARPT) and senior search practices.
The ARPT Resources Workbook contains the Increasing Equity Course Support Workbook—with checklists for all stages of ARPT work, and the Guide to Faculty and Librarian Recruitment:
To save the workbook to your desktop and share with members of the ARPT committee:
- Click on the file link above to open the workbook in your web browser
- Click on the "viewing" box in the top right corner and select "open in desktop" from the drop down menu.
- Once the workbook is open in your desktop, click file, then save a copy.
Supporting and Evaluating Community-Engaged Scholarship
This online course teaches techniques for supporting a culture of engaged scholarship and considerations for evaluation of Community-Engaged Scholarship (CES).
Learning catalogue
All university employees have access to Learning Central, a catalogue of free learning sessions. Courses reflect a broad range of competencies applicable to academic work. There are also Human Resources course that shift perceptions, transform relationships and align contributions of employees across campus.
Teaching supports
Support for the development of teaching is available through the Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI).
Teach Anywhere provides numerous resources on course design and educational technologies, as well as workshops and training to enhance your teaching.
Let's Talk About Teaching is an annual conference that enables peer-to-peer conversations on pedagogical trends and innovative teaching practices. Recordings from previous years are posted online.
Course of Study
As per the Collective Agreement, teaching stream faculty members can apply for a one-time allocation of up to 2 course releases for an approved Course of Study.
Can be:
- A formalized course, seminar series, set of workshops or other didactic exercise
- Self-study
- Engagement in a project or research study
- In other forms if outcomes can be defined clearly and are consistent with the purpose of enhancing teaching effectiveness
Commitment:
- To undertake an approved Course of Study to enhance teaching
- To disseminate learnings through presentation to the Faculty and/or to the university more broadly upon return
- To ensure that any arrangements to be unavailable to campus are approved by the Chair
Course release:
- The provision governing the allocation of up to 2 course releases can be found in s.13.30 of the Collective Agreement
- This is a one-time allotment
- Teaching-stream faculty must apply for this Course of Study no later than 6 months in advance of the commencement of the course release start date and will be notified by written response whether the application has been approved
Start date of course release:
- Course release(s) shall commence on course assignment start date(s)
- With the approval of the Dean, course release may commence on another date
Approval process:
- Application is submitted to the Chair/Director who sends to Dean with their recommendation
- The Dean considers the application for approval and advises the Chair/Director, who notifies the Member
- Download the application form
Deferral process:
The university can defer a Faculty Member's Course of Study Release to fulfill the Unit's teaching commitments. Where a Faculty Member's approved Course of Study Release is deferred at the University's request, the approval of this Course of Study Release will be valid so long as the University continues to defer the Course of Study Release.
Should a member wish to defer their Course of Study Release, the member must seek the written approval of the Dean. A new application may be required should the Course of Study be adjusted or the deferral is greater than one year.
If you attach supporting documentation to your application, please be sure to check-off the box in the relevant section, so that those assessing the application are aware it is there.
Please keep a copy of your completed application for your own records.
Grant funds
LTSI administers grant funds on behalf of VPAC to support instructors, academic units and educational leaders to design and implement course and curricular reforms in their discipline.
- Design or redesign your course
- Decolonize your curriculum
- Embed anti-racist practices in your teaching
As well, LTSI administers professional development funds designed to enhance teaching and learning, and which reflect the vision, values and priorities of the university. Teaching-stream faculty and sessional instructors are invited to apply.
Equity and human rights
EQHR offers educational sessions and workshops on a variety of topics, including human rights, discrimination and harassment, inclusivity, intersectionality, and sexualized violence prevention.
Annually, EQHR hosts 5 Days of Action, featuring a week of free events that empower faculty, staff and students to create a more diverse, inclusive and equitable campus and community.
Mental health
As an instructor, you may be the first person to see the signs that a student is in distress or they may have come to you for help. You are a vital link to connect students with wellness resources.
UVic's Student Mental Health Literacy Program offers training for faculty, sessional instructors, teaching assistants and staff on key areas in support of student mental health:
- recognize early warning signs for students experiencing difficulties
- recognize when a student may be in distress
- support and refer students who are at-risk or in distress
- refer students in distress or in crisis to campus resources