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

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 accessible 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 and review relevant policies. 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

• Privacy training, TH!NK Privacy (General Counsel)
• Phishing awareness training (University Systems)

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
• Professional Responsibilities in Power-over Relationship

*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:

• Increasing Equity in Decision Processes (see below)
• Supporting and Evaluating Community Engaged Scholarship (see below)

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.

Mandatory training for ARPT committee members

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:

1. Click on the file link above to open the workbook in your web browser
2. Click on the "viewing" box in the top right corner and select "open in desktop" from the drop down menu.
3. Once the workbook is open in your desktop, click file, then save a copy.

Equity in decision processes

Mandatory training for ARPT committee members evaluating CES

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).

Supporting and evaluating CES

Teaching supports

Support for the development of teaching is available through the Division of Learning and Teaching Innovation (LTI).

• Teaching development program (LIFT)
• Integrating new technologies into teaching
• Workshops

The annual Let's Talk About Teaching conference enables peer-to-peer conversations on pedagogical trends and innovative teaching practices. Recordings from previous years are posted online. There's also an associate podcast.

Communities of Practice

LTI offers several Communities of Practice that bring together instructors in a collaborative forum to share expertise, explore innovative approaches and strengthen learning and teaching at UVic.

• Academic Integrity
• Accessible Teaching and Learning
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour
• Generative AI
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Grant funds

LTI 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.

• Anti-Racism Initiative
• Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
• Course Design/Redesign

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.

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.

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

Access your Pro-D funds

 UVic provides assistance to faculty and librarians to support their learning, development, knowledge and job-related skills. Funds are calculated by VPAC and allocated at the beginning of each academic year (July 1).

 Use of Pro-D funds

Instructional and research programs of the university are the primary beneficiaries of Pro-D expenses and should align with the faculty member’s or librarian’s work, research or area of study.

Common types of expenses that are frequently pre-approved include:

• Books and subscriptions
• Equipment used in teaching, research and scholarly activities, including computer hardware and software and safety equipment*
• Memberships in learned societies and professional organizations
• Attendance at conferences, workshops, seminars or meetings
• Research services or publication fees related to current research

* All property, including computers, equipment, furniture or other physical assets, purchased using Pro-D funds becomes and remains property of the university. Upon retirement, resignation or termination of employment, the faculty member or librarian can offer to purchase the property from the university at its then fair market value.

Refer to the policy HR6410 for additional information on proposed expenses up to retirement or resignation and for procedures on claiming remaining funds. 

 Accessing Pro-D funds

VPFO forms for Pro-D funds

• Professional expense pre-approval for faculty and librarians
• Faculty home internet service reimbursement
• Travel expense reimbursement form
• Business expense reimbursement form

Resources for Pro-D funds

• Chrome River expense management system
• Guidelines for reimbursement of home internet expenses (page 11)
• Professional development expenses policy - regular faculty members and librarians (HR6410)

Mentorship & networking

 Mentorship supports the success of new faculty, librarians and academic leaders. Experienced mentors can support integration into our academic community, provide guidance on navigating institutional expectations, and foster confidence and collaboration.

Mentor pairing

For mentorship connections, new faculty and librarians are encouraged to meet with their unit head (e.g., chair, director, supervising librarian) to discuss potential pairing options with senior colleagues. The terms of a mentorship relationship are unique to the individuals involved and based on personal preferences and needs. Learn more about establishing positive mentorship relationships.

Caucuses and committees

The Academic Women’s Caucus is a forum for discussion of issues of interest and concern to academic women at UVic and for the development of initiatives and strategies to address those interests.

The Scarborough Charter Steering Committee identifies ways to develop and nourish the community for Black people on and off campus, and is composed of representatives who identify as Black, African and/or Caribbean. To connect with the committee, email blackinclusion@uvic.ca.