NICOLA VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BC’s Indigenous Public Post-Secondary Institute Experience the NVIT Difference Dr. John Chenoweth President & CEO
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) is located on the unceded lands of the Coast Salish, Nłeʔkepmx', and Sylix Peoples. Specifically, the shared territories of the Coldwater, Shackan,
Nooaitch, Lower Nicola, and Upper Nicola First Nations - NVIT's 5 founding communities in 1983, as well as the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səlílwətaʔ (TsleilWaututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations.
cʔexʷmintimet te sƛ̓ʔekep ne tmixʷkt limləmt kl snm'ayʔm'aʔtnet ~ Welcome to Our Institute
NVIT OVERVIEW
Board Orientation
Board Orientation 1. Standards of Ethical Conduct
Conflict of interest Board composition Oath of office
2. Board bylaws
Code of conduct
Powers of the President Tuition fees
Board Handbook – Section 3C – Governance Policies
1. Ends Policy – Strategic Plan
2. Board President relationship 3. Executive limitations 4. Institute Policy Framework
Board Handbook – Section 3E - Governance Process 1. Role of the Board 2. Board Chair 3. Board member conduct 4. Meetings of the Board
Board Handbook – Section 3F – Board Policies 1. Board Development 2. Board Committees • Executive Committee • ARM committee 3. Employment of Board Members 4. Board Honoraria
5. Board Competency Matrix 6. Appeals to the Board
Board Handbook – Section 4 - External 1. Order in council 2. College and Institutes Act 3. Public Sectors Employers Act 4. Post Secondary Employers Association 5. Board Member Bios
NVIT Board of Governors - 8 Order in Council (2 from founding bands) - Notice of Position (CABRO Office) - 1 elected faculty member
- 1 elected support staff - 2 elected students - The President - The Chair of Education Council
NVIT Board of Governors Lennard Joe (Board Chair) Shackan Band
Melanie Nelson (Board Vice-Chair, Executive) Samahquam Band (St’at’imc) & Squiala Band (Stó:lō),
(CEO, First Nations Forestry Council)
(Practicing Clinician, Adjunct Prof at UBC)
Shane Coutlee
Carla George
Lower Nicola Band
(ARM Committee)
VernaSharon Billy-Minnabarriet Bond (ARM Committee) (Chair, ARM & Executive) Bonaparte First Nation Nooaitch Band, (Special to Dean, UBC) (Owner, Advisor Kekuli Café Properties)
Darwin Hanna (Executive) Lytton First Nations
Sharon Bond (Chair, ARM & Executive) Nooaitch Band (Kekuli Cafe Properties Inc.)
Denise Williams Coast Salish, Cowichan Tribes
(Director Of Education,
Squamish Nation
Lower Nicola Band School)
(Founding Partner, Callison &
(Completing Master of Arts, Uvic)
Hanna Law)
Elaine Herbert
Crystal Henderson
Melissa Moses
Roxanne Mierau
Bonaparte First Nation
Nakwaxda’xw Nation
Lower Nicola Band
Sayisi Dene First Nation
Faculty Representative
Support Staff Representative
Student Representative
Student Representative
Dr. John Chenoweth President & CEO
Tom Willms Education Council Chair
Upper Nicola Band
(ex-officio)
(ex-officio)
Special Advisor, Dean Beedie School of Business, SFU
Board Handbook List of Other Resources 1. NVIT Institutional Accountability Plan 2. Best Practices Guidelines
3. A Guide to Financial Statements 4. Understanding Public Sector Financial Statements 5. Crown Agency Good Practices Checklist (5)
Board Orientation 1. Ministry’s Board Orientation Guide 2. NVIT’s Quick Facts 3. Management Discussion & Analysis 4. Directors Liability Insurance
5. Education Council 6. Travel Claim 7. Board Honorarium
Board Orientation
NVIT STRATEGIC PLAN
NVIT QUICK FACTS • Approximately 1600 students last year
• Approximately 82% of Student FTE of Indigenous ancestry • 138 distinct BC Bands represented in 2024/25 • An additional 11 Provinces and Territories were represented
NVIT QUICK FACTS • Approximately 60% of NVIT employees self-identify as being Indigenous • Tuition – NVIT offers the lowest tuition rates in BC
NVIT QUICK FACTS
• Immediate Entry Bursary
• In 30 – 35 First Nation communities across BC
NVIT QUICK FACTS •
Transferability: programs/courses are accredited and transferable to institutions across British Columbia and Canada
•
Small class sizes: allows students to share experiences, answer questions and interact easier with peers and instructors
•
Engaged students building confidence, experience and preparing for further studies or the work-place
Program Levels • Developmental • 1-Year Certificates • 2-Year Diplomas • 2-year Associate degrees • Year 1-3 Chemical Addictions • Baccalaureate degree (with TRU)
NVIT Program Areas Business, ACED, FNPA, Tourism
Culinary Arts
Developmental (Literacy, ABE, Bridging Programs)
Indigenous Early Childhood Education
Trades (Electrical, Residential Construction, Welding, Renewable Energy)
Health (Health Care Assistant & Practical Nursing)
Indigenous Holistic Wellness & Addictions
Social Work & Human Services University Transfer
Justice Studies (Criminology & CAPS)
Environmental Resource Technology Continuing Studies
Governance & Leadership Indigenous Languages
Courses and programs articulated for transfer credit in BC. Memorandums of Agreement with other BC Colleges and Institutes.
Reaching Into Communities
• Merritt and Vancouver • Across BC (30 locations last year) • Community Based Assessments • Video-conference • Hybrid
Recruitment & Retention • Strategic Enrolment Management [SEM] • Student Recruitment – Recruiting; Academic Planner support – Colleague “Prospects” tracking/follow-up – Recruitment Officers
• Student Retention – First in Canada and western US to introduce Colleague’s “Retention Alert” – Student Success Centre at each campus
Cultural Support • Elders Council supports students and institution • Merritt and Vancouver Ambassadors – Grandparents – Good Medicine
NVIT ELDERS’ COUNCIL
Amelia Washington Nooaitch Band
Casey Holmes Upper Nicola Band
Christine Leo Lil’wat Nation.
Gibby Jacob Squamish Nation
Lou Paul Upper Nicola Band
Mary Angus Shackan Band
Mary Charters Coldwater Band
Mia Hunt Heiltsuk Nation
Rena Sam Shackan Band
Sandra Tiessen Lower Nicola Band
Lorna Shuter Lower Nicola Band/Lil’wat Nation
Mary Louie Lower Similkameen
Tom Oleman, Stl’atl’imx, Tsklapmux & Tsilicotin
Finances • Financially stable organization • Revenues at approx. 21 million
• Investments of approx. 5 Million • 2 sides of the organization - Learning Services (1 VP, 2 AVPs, 3 Deans) - Corporate services (1 Chief Financial Officer, 5 Directors, 8 Managers, 1 Registrar, 1 Associate Registrar, 1 Assistant Registrar)
Priorities for the next year • Health Science & Digital Media Centre project • Sexual Assault / Sexual Violence policy roll out (Safer Campus) • Bachelor Degrees • Language Fluency Degree Framework • Community Education
• Vancouver campus • Support and enhance the learning experience
Board Meetings • Announcements • Consent Agenda • President’s Report
• Additional Agenda items • Strategic Presentation • Dinner
• In Camera
Success – This is what it is all about! 2026 Merritt Graduation
2026 Vancouver Graduation
Merritt Campus 4155 Belshaw St, Merritt, BC
Vancouver Campus 4355 Mathissi Place, Burnaby BC
Experience the
Difference
Contact Us nvit.ca info@nvit.ca
Fb.com/nvit83
@nvit_83
1.877.682.3300 @nvit_83
Linkedin.com/company/nvitbc