Living our mission in a time of crisis –

When I arrived at UFV last fall, one of my first tasks was to kick off the effort to develop a new strategic plan. At the time, I saw this as a terrific opportunity to develop a rich understanding of my new environment. And it did: I have come to know UFV, our students, my colleagues, and the Fraser Valley in a way that has deepened my appreciation of our culture and potential.

But what I couldn’t know then was that a global pandemic would upend everything, challenging us all to reimagine how we learn, educate, and explore. Over the last month, I have had many occasions to use the work done so far in reimagining what a university can be. We have made frequent reference to the draft strategic goals, which many of you contributed to earlier this year, as we imagine future scenarios. We have also used UFV’s mission, vision, and values as important touchstones to guide our decision-making. In fact, I have found it remarkable how instinctively UFV keeps our mission — engaging learners, transforming lives, and building community — front and centre in the ways we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engaging Learners

It’s hard to understate the impact COVID-19 has had on our students, and one of our biggest challenges has been reducing that impact. When classroom instruction and final exams were no longer options, faculty and administrators worked hard to find solutions balancing academic rigour with students’ evolving needs. In a single week, faculty transformed face-to-face courses to online formats, allowing our students to stay safe while completing their courses.

Many faculty have strived to keep the level of engagement high, offering take-home kits for hands-on learning and repeating online sessions at different times to accommodate changing schedules. And in some cases where arrangements didn’t effectively meet student needs, faculty and administrators have shown their willingness to listen and adjust. It’s been a challenging time but I’m grateful for the flexibility, patience, and good humour of our students and faculty as we continue to adapt how we engage learners.

Transforming Lives

Besides these new academic pressures, students are also facing serious disruptions in their lives. Many have lost jobs they relied on to fund their education. All have had to adapt to social distancing and self-isolation measures. As a result, some struggle to find quiet space to study with family at home, and others grapple with feeling disconnected and lonely. Behind the scenes, an army of staff are continuing to provide the help and support our students need to persevere.

Most of our student services, such as counselling and advising, have continued to make support services and resources available online. Staff have continued rolling out new technology options, most recently remote access to computer labs. Residences have remained open and staffed for students who have not been able to travel home. Our facilities and security staff have made sure that our campuses are clean and safe for those who still need access. And I was inspired last week to learn that more than 150 members of our faculty and staff have become new donors to UFV’s student emergency fund. Despite the current circumstances, we are continuing to find ways to transform the lives of all those who are part of the UFV community.

Building Community

There is such a strong thread of community running through this university that it makes any description of UFV as a “commuter campus” seem inapt. The drive among our students, faculty, and staff to connect with one another and to give back is powerful. And there many great stories circulating that illustrate this. Our nursing students have been delivering groceries and running errands for nurses on the front lines. Experts from our scientific community have been delivering webinars on how to cope with and fight against COVID-19.  A group of faculty and staff recently gathered online to brainstorm actions that will support our community. An alumnus retooled his manufacturing facility to produce personal protective equipment. Not to mention our day-to-day work of following public health directives and doing our part to “bend the curve.” All are examples of how UFV is building community.

This past month changed us, and the impacts will be long lasting. And while all of us are asking how long will go on, it gives me a great deal of hope to see so many of you living UFV’s mission in these difficult times. As we look to the future, we will continue to use our mission, vision, and values to guide us through the fog of uncertainty. And our strategic plan will help to ensure that we emerge through this crisis on the right path towards our vision: UFV will be known as a gathering place for learners, leaders, and seekers who are pursuing diverse pathways of scholarship, leading to community connection, reconciliation, and prosperity, locally and beyond.

James Mandigo, PhD
Provost and VP Academic