The Learning Council is responsible for the academic policy of the university college.
Learning Council may consider and determine the courses or programs to be offered; set criteria concerning qualifications for admission, examinations, and evaluations of student performance; requirements for graduation; determine the degrees, honorary degrees, certificates, and diplomas to be granted; establish faculty councils and other bodies; exercise internal disciplinary jurisdiction over the academic conduct of students; make rules and establish procedures for appeals process; and determine curriculum content for courses leading to degrees, certificates, and diplomas.
The Learning Council is to advise the Governing Council, and the Governing Council must seek advice from the Learning Council, about the following matters: the mission, vision, and values of the university college; policies on the qualifications of teaching staff; the terms of an agreement to develop and deliver joint academic programs.
Learning Council Roles
The Learning Council is to…
- Consider and determine the courses or programs to be offered
- Set criteria concerning qualifications for admissions; examinations and evaluations of student performances; requirements for graduation; and awards recognizing academic excellence.
- Evaluate existing courses or programs.
- Determine the degrees, honorary degrees, certificates and diplomas to be granted by University College, and the persons to whom they are to be granted.
- Exercise internal disciplinary jurisdiction over the academic conduct of students, including the power to expel or suspend for cause.
- Make rules and establish procedures for appeals by students on admissions and academic matters, and to establish a final appeal tribunal for these appeals.
- Determine curriculum content for courses leading to degrees, certificates and diplomas.
On April 17, 2007, the Rules of Governance was approved by the UCN Learning Council as the guide for the operations of the Council.
Members
Chair
Vice-Chair
Michelle Petricone
President & Vice Chancellor
Mr. Doug Lauvstad
Chancellor
Mr. Edwin Jebb (Opaskwayak Cree Nation)
Council of Elders Representative
Vacant
Governing Council Representative
Connie is a long-time educator from The Pas, Manitoba. She taught high school history and geography on the adjacent Opaskwayak Cree Nation for 22 years, leaving in 2014 to focus her time on pedagogical writing. She has been involved in the creation of student learning materials and curricula at the provincial, national, and international level, and has contributed to a number of textbooks, teacher support guides, and school publications. She co-authored the grade 11 Canadian history textbook used in Manitoba schools. She was the instructional designer and co-writer of Manitoba’s Treaty Education Initiative and continues to train the province’s teachers and school leaders as Treaty Education Lead.
Further to teaching, teacher-training, and writing, Connie is vice-president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is chair of the Geographical Names Board of Canada, and is a member of Elections Canada Circle of Educators.
Locally, Connie sits as a board member for the Kelsey Watershed District, the Sam Waller Museum, and The Pas Resource Centre.
Connie has written for the Globe and Mail, Canada’s History, Canadian Geographic, and the Canadian Encyclopedia. She has received several awards including the 2014 Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History and the 2017 Manitoba Metis Federation’s Distinguished Leader in Education.
Connie holds a B.Ed, M.Ed. She lives in the Carrot Valley, west of The Pas, with her husband and two daughters.
Vice-Presidents/Associate Vice-Presidents
- Helga Bryant, VP Academic and Research
- Ms. Ann Barbour-Stevenson, AVP Academic Quality and Excellence
- Ms. Jamie Grant, AVP of Community & Industry Solutions
- Dr. Ramona Neckoway, VP, Indigenous Initiatives & Reconciliation
- Vacant, Manager of Academic Development
Deans of UCN
- Ms. Melanie Belmore, Associate Dean MMTL
- Dr. Nermin Zukic, Dean Faculty of Arts, Business & Science
Student Representatives
- VACANT (The Pas)
- VACANT (Thompson)
- VACANT (Regional Centre)
University Faculty
- Dr. Amzad Hossain, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- Dr. Abayomi Oredegbe, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- Dr. Selvin Peter, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- Dr. Greg Stott, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- Ms. Asfia Kamal, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- Dr. Aaron Crowe, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science (Regional Centre)
- VACANT
Dr. Keith Hyde serves as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Business, and Science, teaching courses in English literature and religious studies at University of the North, The Pas, MB. He is grateful to live, work, and learn on the traditional territories of the Muskegowuk Inninnowuk (Swampy Cree), who signed Treaty #5 in 1875/76. Keith is a settler scholar who grew up in The Pas and is a third-generation educator. After completing a B.A. Honours degree in English literature (U of Winnipeg), he embarked on a master’s degree in religious studies (Regent College, UBC), and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Keith is interested in teaching, nurturing learning communities, and exploring interdisciplinary discourse between English literature, theology and local history.
Jodi (she/her) is a non-faculty member at UCN as the Manager of Community-Based Health Programming since 2021 in The Pas. Jodi started working at UCN in Enrolment Services in 2011, after graduating from UCN’s Business Administration Diploma Program. In 2022, Jodi graduated from UCN with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. Jodi is currently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration Degree Program, online, through Laurentian University, with a projected completion date in 2025.
Jodi was appointed to the Governing Council in July 2024 and is looking forward to her time with the Governing Council, stating “I anticipate that my personal experience as a northern learner with young children, my experience as a UCN employee, and the skills and knowledge I have learned and am still learning during my academic career will benefit me in this role”.
College Faculty
- Valdine Alycia, Mihcet Meskanawah Teaching and Learning
- Michelle Petricone, Faculty of Education
- Emile Paradis, Millwright Apprentices
- Darcie Smeltzer, Mihcet Meskanawah Teaching and Learning
- Pamela Scheveck, Mihcet Meskanawah Teaching and Learning
- Kelly Barr, Faculty of Arts, Business, Science
- VACANT
- VACANT
- VACANT (Regional Centre)
Academic Advisor / Counselor
- Sarah-Lee Manmohan, Thompson Campus
Ex-Officio (non-voting) Members
- Ms. Niki Ashton, Associate Dean, FABS
- Ms. Jackie Fitzpatrick, Dean of Students
- Mr. Grant Kreuger, Associate Dean, STAT
- Ms. Louise Loewen, Interim Dean of Education
- Mr. Gary Melko, Dean STAT
- Ms. Suzie Nemeth, Registrar
- Ms. Ingrid Olson, Associate Dean, Health
- Dr. Henk Warnar, Dean MMTL
- Mr. David Williamson, Associate Dean, ECE
- Ms. Cindy Woodson, Dean of Health
Office of the UCN Tri-Council
The Office of the UCN Tri-Council is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the activities of the UCN Tri-Council: the Governing Council, and the Council’s standing and ad hoc committees; the Council of Elders; and the Learning Council. The office provides administrative and advisory services to these bodies and serves as the repository of information and data on all matters relating to the three Councils, and provides advice and guidance on jurisdiction, strategy, policy, and process.
