A new orientation manual for public post-secondary institutions has been developed to provide guidance and support effective governance throughout the province.

“This new manual is intended to be a guide that university, college and institute board members in British Columbia can use as a reference document throughout their term,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Board members are critical to the effective governance of our public post-secondary institutions to ensure that they remain accountable as well as accessible and affordable for students.”

The Orientation for B.C. Public Post-Secondary Institution Board Members was developed by the Ministry of Advanced Education with input from a number of current post-secondary institution board directors who contributed both their knowledge and expertise. The manual was also informed by central government agencies such as the Crown Agencies Resource Office and the Public Sector Employers’ Council Secretariat.

“Effective governance is a cornerstone for building high performing institutions that are consistently able to deliver exceptional value to students, employers, and other key stakeholders,” said Shelley Williams, Douglas College board chair. “I applaud the government for helping all board members and senior administrators understand their roles and responsibilities, which encourages a high degree of public confidence in the post-secondary system.”

Intended as a best practices guide, the manual outlines a number of key topics including: roles and responsibilities, accountability, government structures and decision-making processes, the advanced education system in British Columbia, and ministry/government plans and priorities.

“The orientation manual is an excellent summary of how the whole government process works and what is expected of government appointed board members,” said Bruce Bell, North Island College board chair. “It also recognizes the importance of the many and varied stakeholders within government legislated organizations."

The manual is available electronically and is meant to supplement existing orientation materials for new board members and support existing members in their continued work.

“This manual is a welcome addition to the suite of board orientation materials. It gives members a consistent set of guidelines to work from and also provides them with a better understanding of how boards and other organizations work together across the sector,” said Cathy Young, chair of the audit and finance committee at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

The manual supports the Taxpayer Accountability Principles that were put in place in 2014 to strengthen the existing corporate governance framework. These principles provide public sector organizations with a common frame of reference for decision making with the understanding that they have accountability to British Columbians.

Learn More:

To view a copy of the manual, visit: http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/framework/docs/4009_BoardOrientation_8.5x11_Booklet.pdf