Speaks Up for You -
Course Design, Quality of Teaching, & Everything about Academic Governance
Aug 27, 2023
Elections will be held for the RRU Student Association and Student Representative for the Board of Governors in September 2023, and for the Student Representatives of the Academic Council in October 2023. As there is no information and references available for student representatives, I hope to share my experience with the candidates running for these elections. I have prepared a 22-page report for my work as an elected graduate student representative (2022-23) which is led by my passion to “uphold my value for a democratic system”. Please feel free to download and share it. For inquiries, please add comments below, or email them to me at mmyy95831@gmail.com.
Jan 28, 2023
RRU's comment to the use of ChatGPT is on air today. Our President Philip Steenkamp interviewed RRU digital expert, Prof. George Veletsianos, to talk about the 5 frequently asked questions about ChatGPT. I am glad to hear that the video conveyed an open and encouraging stance on the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools. Please check out the LinkedIn video for details.
Jan 25, 2023
I made use of RRU webspace to publish my blog at
https://webspace.royalroads.ca/mip2ac/
Jan 24, 2023
I joined a RRU graduate student in-person seminar on "Pathway to Power". In the feedback session, I introduced to more than 100 participants that the student representative in Academic Council is a way to exercise "power to influence" the system, and to make meaningful change. A few students came up to me after the seminar and I shared to them my work in Academic Council in details (WG1, WG2).
Jan 23, 2023
I raised the issue involved in using ChatGPT in academic work to the agenda of the Academy Council meeting (WG4).
Jan 22, 2023
I have sent out the mid-course evaluation survey (Jan 3, 2023) to 120 graduate students. Up till now, 18 responses were received and the response rate is 15%. 83% of the respondents (n=15) agreed to have a mid-course evaluation. 61 % of the respondents (n=11) agreed to keep the anonymity of the respondents in mid-course evaluation (WG4). A few elaborated on their responses as follows,
Keep it anonymous: "I do not see the need to disclose a students name. This would be a barrier to participation. Perhaps make the disclosure optional, or not disclosed at all."
Don't keep it anonymous: "I believe in providing open honest feedback with course instructors...Mid course evaluations should be standard practice in all RRU courses."
Need more study: "Students should be free to create ongoing evaluation records that are submitted either anonymously or not to a body that are sworn to serve the institution’s interests as outlined in documents reflecting purpose and mission."
Jan 4, 2023
I talked to Dr. Kyla McLeod and gained insight into the following issues (WG4)
dissemination of information and contact of elected student representatives
internship and sponsorship
roles and responsibilities of students and course instructors
team agreement as effective means of good teamwork
I am glad to learn that we have a common understanding of these issues and that we can work on them based on previous RRU experiences. I am also grateful that she was open to suggestions and ready to act on these issues. As we will work things out in the coming months, please stay tuned with me.
Jan 3, 2023
I sent out a mid-course evaluation draft by Prof. Brigitte Harris to students through my network on Linkedin and Whatsapp for consultation. You can find the 2-page proposal and 2-question survey in this Google Form (WG4).
Dec 15, 2022
I talked to Prof. Brigitte Harris through zoom this morning and shared with her graduate students' concerns over course evaluation, internship and sponsorship, and team agreement. I learned that she is going to roll out a more rigorous course evaluation mechanism in 2023. Students' feedback on courses will be taken seriously and will be regarded as part of the student's learning journey, not only for the sake of the individual course. I showed my deep appreciation for her effort to promote student participation in course evaluation (WG 4). She agreed to share the proposal with me for students' feedback before it rolls out.
Dec 8, 2022
I shared with Lily Chong, elected student representative of the Board of Governors, my two requests over the presidential reappointment (WG 3, WG 4), namely,
publishing the November school-wide survey result in RRU website.
opening up the contact method of Lily Chong and Calvin Carlick, the appointed student representative for the Presidential Reappointment Subcommittee for students' inquiries and feedback.
Dec 7, 2022
I attended the Academic Council meeting via zoom. I am very impressed by the keen discussion on issues related to academic quality and integrity among the members. I am proud of being a member of the RRU academic community.
Dec 5, 2022
I was told that the items I proposed were not accepted as the agenda items, though my concerns were well noted. Instead, it was agreed that membership in the Academic Council would be open for public access. Also, I was offered the connection to
Prof. Brigitte Harris for her work on course evaluations
Dr. Kyla MacLeod for additional information on internships and team agreements
Nov 28, 2022
Below is a list of my proposed agenda items which include inquiries from cohorts of MEM, MGM, and MA in Global Leadership (WG 2, WG 4)
Proposed agenda item for Academic Council (AC) meeting on Dec 7, 2022
Disclosure of information to facilitate student involvement in academic governance
Making the service requirement of instructors an easily accessible reference to students
Inquiry: Internship and Sponsorship
Inquiry: Team Agreement
Nov 25, 2022
Upon my request, I was granted access to the Sharepoint site of the Academic Council for its past documents which enable me to prepare for the coming AC meeting on December 7, 2022 (WG 1).
Nov 21, 2022
I found out the email address of Lily Chong, the student representative in the Board of Governors, by inquiring the RRU's administration unit. In a scheduled zoom meeting with Lily, we discussed issues related to communication between the student representatives and their fellow students (WG 3).
Nov 20, 2022
Advocate Student Participation (Working Goal 4): I expressed my concern about students' participation in the presidential reappointment through email and a phone call to the RRU's top administration.
I have connected with over 120 graduate students through Linkedin and the network covered graduate students from up to 16 programs, with the addition of MA in Justice Studies, MA in Disaster and Emergency Management, and MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding (WG 2).
To enhance my understanding of the University operation, I added to the Official Documents section of this website three documents (WG 1), namely,
Presidential Reappointment
Royal Roads University Act and University Act under Legal Framework of Royal Roads University
Nov 8, 2022
I already connected with over 100 graduate students through Linkedin (Working Goal 2, Oct 28) as well as student representatives from other RRU bodies (Working Goal 3, Oct 28). I also started conversations with graduate students on MGM's internship system (WG 2).
Oct 31, 2022
I have connected with over 60 graduate students through Linkedin, including students from the following programs (WG 2),
Graduate Cert in Executive Coaching
MA/MSc. in Environment and Management (MEM)
Master in Global Management (MGM)
MBA
MA in Intercultural and International Communication (MAIIC)
MA in Environmental Education and Communication (MAEEC)
MA in Climate Action Leadership
MA in Higher Education Administration and Leadership
MA in Interdisciplinary Study
MA in Leadership
MA in Tourism Management
MA in Justice Studies (updated on Nov 20)
MA in Disaster and Emergency Management (updated on Nov 20)
MA in Human Security and Peacebuilding (updated on Nov 20)
DSocSc
DBA
Oct 28, 2022
The election result was announced. The term will start on Nov 1, 2022, and end on Oct 31, 2023. The first Academic Council meeting will be held on Dec 7, 2022.
Michael set up 3 preliminary Working Goals, namely,
Enhance my transparency to RRU graduate students (WG 1)
Communicate with graduate students (WG 2)
Connect with other representatives and student bodies (WG 3)
Advocate students' participation in academic governance (WG 4) (Nov 28)
BC Advanced Education Ministry. (2018). Quality Assurance Process Audit Report (2017-18).
In the commendation section, the Report highlighted RRU's "exemplary practice" in student involvement,
"... allowing RRU student practitioners to provide ongoing feedback because so many are mature students with considerable experience in the marketplace." (p.6)
Board of Governors. Board Meetings.
Legal Framework for Royal Roads University
BC Law: Royal Roads University Act
BC Law: University Act
Royal Roads University. (n.d.). Academic Governance.
Royal Roads University. (2018). Associate Faculty Contract for Services.
Royal Roads University. (n.d.). Policy & Procedures.
Royal Roads University. (n.d.). Presidential Reappointment.
Royal Roads University. (2021). Professional Services Contract: Instruction.
"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."
Abraham Lincoln
