Western Canadian Deans of Arts, Science, and Indigenous Studies Conference
Dates
February 20-21, 2025
Location
Laurel Point Inn in Victoria, British Columbia.
Scope and Purpose of Conference
This annual conference is a member-organized opportunity for Western Canadian Deans of Faculties or Schools of Arts, Science or Indigenous Studies (broadly construed) to participate in professional development and to offer each other mentorship and advice on areas of particular concern. All Deans, Vice-Deans, or Associate Deans of Western Canadian Faculties within the broad sphere of the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities or Indigenous studies are welcome to attend. Please share this invitation with your colleagues in the relevant areas.
2025 Program and Registration Coming Soon!
Registration
Registration is currently closed until prices for the 2025 conference are determined. Please contact Laura Osicki at Laura.Osicki@uregina.ca to inquire about late registrations. Registration fees include all programming, including the optional land-based session, all food, drink tickets, and wine at the banquet. Transportation and accommodations are separate.
Early-bird registration (to January 10): TBD
Regular registration (after January 10): TBD
Additional banquet ticket(s) for guest(s): TBD
Refunds are available for cancellations made before February 12, 2025 (less a $50 administration fee for cancellation per ticket). After this date, no refunds will be issued.
Booking Information
As you know, we’ll be returning to the Laurel Point Inn in Victoria. A block of rooms (based on first come, first served) has been reserved for a nightly rate of $164.00 before taxes until Friday, January 10, 2025. You need to book and pay for your accommodation separately from the conference registration fee. This can be done by visiting the booking link, calling the Laurel Point Inn at: 1-800-663-7667 or by emailing: reservations@laurelpoint.com. Please make sure to quote “Western Canadian Deans Arts Science” to obtain the group rate. Rooms in this block are available from Wednesday, February 19 to Sunday, February 21.
We look forward to seeing you in Victoria. Expect more details from us in the coming weeks, but do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have in the meantime!
2024 Keynote Speaker
Troubling Cheating: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Decolonization and Indigenization in Academic and Research Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Dr. Sarah Eaton, Academic Director and Interim Director, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Calgary
Academic misconduct cases can result adversarial or antagonistic relationships with students where an “us versus them” mentality can emerge. By shifting our case towards equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and decolonization of academic and research integrity we can focus on relationality instead of (or in addition to) regulations. Academic integrity has long been viewed as a matter of student conduct, whereas research integrity has been focused on research and academic staff. In this session, Sarah Elaine Eaton takes a more holistic, multi-stakeholder transdisciplinary view in which students, educators, leaders, and staff all have a role to play in upholding integrity. There is evidence from elsewhere (e.g., Australia, UK, US) to suggest that there is over-representation in misconduct reporting in universities, with people from Asia and Africa being among the most over-represented groups.
Eaton will challenge assumptions made about international students with regards to academic cheating that are not supported by empirical research, troubling the ways in which students are treated as a homogeneous group, both in terms of academic development, as well as in misconduct case investigation and processing. These topics will be addressed within the context of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, that have upset historical notions of what it means to plagiarize and cheat in higher education. We will contemplate how artificial intelligence can be used as an equity accelerator when used ethically.
Biography
Sarah Elaine Eaton, PhD, is an associate professor at the Werklund School of Education, and Academic Director, Education and Equity, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Calgary. Her research focuses on ethics and integrity in higher education. Dr. Eaton also holds a concurrent appointment as an Honorary Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia. Dr. Eaton uses the pronouns she/her.
Faculty Profile: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/sarah-elaine-eaton
Personal Blog: https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DrSarahEaton
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/drsaraheaton
2024 Conference Schedule
Thursday, February 22
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Anti-Colonial Walking Tour of Beacon Hill Park with Cheryl Bryce Meeting at the Petting Zoo entrance in Beacon Hill Please bring good walking shoes and weather appropriate clothing. If there are any accessibility needs, please reach out to the organizing committee. |
2:00pm-4:00pm *Meet at 1:30pm in hotel lobby to walk over together |
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Welcome, check-in, reception |
7:00 p.m., Terrace Ballroom |
Friday, February 23
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Breakfast |
7:45am-8:45am, Spirit Rooms |
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Welcome and Land Acknowledgement Eydie Pelkey from Tsawout First Nation Introduction: Dr. Annalee Lepp, Dean of Humanities, University of Victoria (she/her) |
8:45am-9:00am, Spirit Rooms |
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Session 1: Internationalization world café Facilitators: Dr. Jonathon Penny, Dean of Arts and Education, Red Deer Polytechnic (he/him) Dr. Eve Stringham, Dean of Science and Technology, Vancouver Island University (she/her) Themes
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9:00am-10:30am, Spirit Rooms |
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Refreshment break |
10:30am-11:00am, Spirit Rooms |
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Session 2: Wild card “burning issues” session Facilitators: Dr. Cecilia Bukutu, Dean of Science, Concordia University of Edmonton (she/her) Dr. Kriston Rennie, Dean of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, UNBC |
11:00am-12:00pm, Spirit Rooms |
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Lunch |
12:00pm-1:00pm, Terrace Ballroom |
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Session 3: Building Meaningful Relationships with Indigenous People(s): A Values-Based Workshop Speakers: Dr. Chris Andersen, Dean, Faculty of Native Studies, University of AlbertaDr. Robina Thomas, Vice President, Indigenous, University of Victoria Moderator: Dr. Adam Gaudry, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta (he/him) |
1:00pm-3:00pm, Spirit Rooms |
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Refreshment break |
3:00pm-3:30pm, Spirit Rooms |
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Session 4: Future Western Deans conferences Facilitators: Dr. Shannon Dea, Dean of Arts, University of Regina (Chair) (she/her, they/them) Dr. Mark Wallin, Associate Dean of Arts, Thompson Rivers University |
3:30pm-4:45pm, Spirit Rooms |
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Banquet and keynote Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sarah Eaton, Academic Director, Education and Equity, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Calgary (she/her) Introduction: Dr. Todd Barsby, Associate Dean of Science and Technology, Vancouver Island University (he/him) Q&A Moderator: Dr. Jocelyn Williams, Dean of Arts and Sciences, St. Mary’s University (she/her) *Please note that the banquet is included in the registration fees |
Terrace Ballroom 6:00pm Cocktails 6:30pm Dinner |
Saturday, February 24
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Breakfast |
8:00am-9:00am, Spirit Rooms |
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Session 5: Elevating Academic Excellence with Integrity and Equity Dr. Sarah Eaton (she/her) |
9:00am-10:30am, Spirit Rooms |
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Coffee break |
10:30am-11:00am, Spirit Rooms |
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AGM and wrap-up |
11:00am-12:00pm, Spirit Rooms |
Your Western Deans organizing committee,
Dr. Shannon Dea, Dean of Arts, University of Regina (Chair) (she/her, they/them)
Dr. Annalee Lepp, Dean of Humanities, University of Victoria (she/her)
Dr. Jonathon Penny, Dean of Arts and Education, Red Deer Polytechnic (he/him)
Dr. Kriston Rennie, Dean of Indigenous Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, UNBC