Clad in cap and gown, seated in the Farquhar Auditorium, a new class of university grads listened to five distinguished alumni B次元官网网址� a photographer, a CEO, an athlete, a grand chief and an author B次元官网网址� reflect on their experiences at the University of Victoria.
UVic president David Turpin heard a distinct theme emerge during that November convocation ceremony.
B次元官网网址淓ach one of their successes was a result of two things: how to work with people and how to look at things in different ways,B次元官网网址� said Turpin, whose words could be applied to his tenure at the university, which draws to a close in 2013.
But Turpin, the biologist who moved from his post as the academic vice principal at QueenB次元官网网址檚 University to the sixth president and vice-chancellor of UVic in 2000, is reluctant to philosophize on his personal accomplishments at the university. Instead he looks at the goals and challenges his successor, Jamie Cassels, will inherit.
UVic, a fixture of 惭补肠濒别补苍B次元官网网址檚 magazineB次元官网网址檚 top universities list upheld itB次元官网网址檚 academic reputation in 2012, but hit a low among some faculty and staff when names, banking information and social insurance numbers of 11,841 employees on UVicB次元官网网址檚 payroll were stolen last January.
B次元官网网址淐learly it was a very unfortunate incident,B次元官网网址� Turpin said. B次元官网网址淚t caused a real disruption to our employees. What weB次元官网网址檝e learned is something that other institutions are emulating. Unfortunately, we were the ones to which this breach happened, but weB次元官网网址檙e trying to take the lessons that weB次元官网网址檝e learned and allow others to benefit from them.B次元官网网址�
When the breach faded from the headlines, the institution was left with a new set of security protocols to meet, along with outreach, infrastructure and funding goals for the future. Meeting those needs amidst a climate of cutbacks will be the biggest challenge, he added.
Goal No. 1: Outreach
Attracting new students, underrepresented students and local students, continues to be a top priority. Progress has been made, but thereB次元官网网址檚 still much further to go.
B次元官网网址淚f you look back 10 to 12 years, we had about 80 Indigenous students and now we have over 800. ThatB次元官网网址檚 really a hallmark of the University of Victoria: reaching out to underrepresented groups, encouraging them to attend and supporting them to succeed.B次元官网网址�
No. 2: Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities, CARSA
UVicB次元官网网址檚 new $59-million home of the UVic Vikes and sports and recreation programs, is also the headquarters for CanAssist, a university organization that develops customized technologies and programs for people living with disabilities. After a year of tumult, Saanich council okayed the design for the centre, including the now-notorious CARSA parkade plan B次元官网网址� a detail that Turpin is able to laugh about despite the stalled planning process that finally drew to a close last September.
Site preparation is to begin in 2013, with completion of the first phase planned for spring 2015.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that you learn in a job like this is itB次元官网网址檚 all about communication,B次元官网网址� Turpin said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter how good a job you think youB次元官网网址檙e doing, you can always do better and I think the outcome of the CARSA initiative was very positive. We ended up developing a new consultation mechanism that I think will serve us well into the future.B次元官网网址�
No. 3: The Opportunity Agenda for B.C.
This October, Turpin joined forces with his counterparts leading post-secondary institutions across the province, to ask the B.C. LegislatureB次元官网网址檚 standing committee on finance for system-wide commitment toward improving post-secondary education. The strategy calls for ample space for every student, increased financial funding and support for research.
B次元官网网址淲e know that we are not educating as many people as we should at the post secondary level,B次元官网网址� Turpin said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want to see any student in this province not have access because of financial constraints.B次元官网网址�
Turpin, a father of two university students, regularly meets with the UVic Student Society directors and has been impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm from the student leaders. While he doesnB次元官网网址檛 appear terribly invested in the student-led initiatives B次元官网网址� he chuckles while acknowledging the gender neutral washrooms and the water bottle ban within the Student Union Building B次元官网网址� Turpin is up on the campus news and supportive of student action.
B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that I see from myself and my colleagues is when their kids end up going to university, they get a very different appreciation for the institution and it allows you to see it through some other eyes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t makes all of us feel all the more committed to making this the best institution that we can.B次元官网网址�
Linda Hughes, chief executive officer for the United Way of Greater Victoria, got to know Turpin through his time as chair of the fundraising campaign cabinet. Hughes commended Turpin on his leadership, and understanding for the relationship between post-secondary institutions and their communities.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a good communicator, heB次元官网网址檚 open and he sees the value that the university is not just a thing unto itself,B次元官网网址� She said. B次元官网网址淚t is a part of the community and it goes both ways. The people who work and teach at the university live in this community, so theyB次元官网网址檙e a part of this community.B次元官网网址�
Part of that vision has included support and expansion of the University 101 program, in which professors volunteer their time to teach not-for-credit courses that wouldnB次元官网网址檛 otherwise be available to those outside the university.
More than a half a million visitors come to UVic to engage in cultural activities, sporting events and lectures each year. ItB次元官网网址檚 an institution that opens its doors to the public and encourages people to take advantage of the resources, Turpin said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a decline in the youth population,B次元官网网址� Turpin said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a need for the next generation of talent and the university is a way to bring those students here.B次元官网网址�
Turpin was selected from a field of 46 candidates for the position in November 1999. Turpin, 43 at the time of his appointment to UVic, was hailed at as one of the top plant physiologists and biochemists in the world. His list of honours includes the Steacie Fellowship, election to the Royal Society of Canada, membership in the Order of Canada and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Turpin was born in Duncan in 1956 and obtained a bachelor of science in cell biology and later a PhD in botany/oceanography from University of British Columbia in 1980. He served as head of the department of botany from 1991-93 at UBC before serving as the dean of arts and science at QueenB次元官网网址檚 from 1993-95.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
