Provost’s Committee on Pedagogical Practices (PCPP)
The Provost’s Committee on Pedagogical Practices (PCPP) plays a central role in advancing excellence in teaching and learning at UNBC. Originally formed through the 2006 Academic Visioning Initiative on Pedagogy and reconstituted in 2013, the PCPP continues to guide institution-wide efforts to strengthen academic quality. In alignment with the University’s 2023 Strategic Plan READY, the 2025 Academic Action Plan, and directions from the Senate Committee on Academic Affairs (SCAAf), the PCPP’s mandate for 2024–25 is centered on four priority areas: Student Evaluations of Learning and Feedback; First-Year Academic Experience and Retention; Learning outcomes, Faculty Development and Orientation; and Faculty Peer Review.
The PCPP is committed to fostering a collaborative, evidence-informed approach to pedagogical enhancement. Over the 2024–25 academic year, the Committee will engage faculty, staff, students, and academic leaders through workshops, action groups, information sessions, surveys, and direct consultations with departments and faculty councils. Its work will include gathering and disseminating existing training materials, identifying exemplary practitioners across the university, documenting their approaches, and creating spaces for the sharing of effective and innovative pedagogical practices.
The Committee’s membership reflects broad disciplinary expertise and regional representation, chaired by the Director of the Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Technology, with the Vice-Provost Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies serving as Vice-Chair. The PCPP’s mission is to support high-quality, student-centered learning environments, strengthen instructional capacity, and cultivate a culture of continuous pedagogical development across UNBC.
PCPP delivers comprehensive reports on each priority area, outlining findings, actions undertaken, and recommendations for future institutional advancement. Through this work, the Committee contributes meaningfully to UNBC’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success.
UNBC First-Year Instructors Council
The UNBC First-Year Instructors (FYI) Council serves as a collaborative body dedicated to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning within first-year undergraduate courses. Grounded in a commitment to student success, the Council brings together faculty, staff, and relevant support units to strengthen pedagogical practices at the entry point of students’ academic journeys. By fostering an interdisciplinary community of practice, it aims to cultivate an environment where instructors can exchange insights, develop effective teaching strategies, and contribute to a supportive and engaging first-year experience.
Central to the Council’s mandate is the integration of research-informed approaches to curriculum and instructional design. The FYI Council commissions and reviews scholarship related to teaching, learning, and academic resources, ensuring evidence-based recommendations guide decision-making. Drawing on institutional data, the Council identifies priorities and interventions to improve student retention, academic achievement, and overall first-year outcomes. Its work includes advising the Provost, Vice-President Academic, and the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) on policies, initiatives, and institutional supports that enhance pedagogical effectiveness.
The Council operates through broad membership participation, emphasizing collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Members contribute their expertise to monitor existing initiatives, develop cross-unit support systems, and shape the direction of first-year learning at UNBC. Through regular meetings, shared dialogue, and the organization of thematic symposia, the FYI Council plays a vital role in cultivating high-quality teaching practices and strengthening the academic foundation upon which students build their future academic success.