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 Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səlílwətaʔ (TsleilWaututh), and xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations.
~ Welcome to Our Institute
NVIT OVERVIEW Board Orientation
November 2025
Board Orientation
1. Standards of Ethical Conduct
Conflict of interest
Board composition
2. Board bylaws
Oath of office
Code of conduct
Powers of the President Tuition fees
1. Role of the Board
2. Board Chair
3. Board member conduct
4. Meetings of the Board
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
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
(CEO, First Nations Forestry Council)
Shane Coutlee
Lower Nicola Band
(Director Of Education, Lower Nicola Band School)
Denise Williams
Coast Salish, Cowichan Tribes
Special Advisor, Dean Beedie
School of Business, SFU
Jonathon Nolie
Gwa’sala-Nakwaxda’xw Nations
Student Representative
Melanie Nelson
(Board Vice-Chair, Executive)
Samahquam Band (St’at’imc) & Squiala Band (Stó:lō),
(Practicing Clinician, Adjunct Prof at UBC)
Carla George (ARM Committee)
Squamish Nation
(Completing Master of Arts, Uvic)
Elaine Herbert
Bonaparte First Nation
Faculty Representative
Dr. John Chenoweth
President & CEO
Upper Nicola Band (ex-officio)
Verna Billy-Minnabarriet (ARM Committee)
Sharon Bond (Chair, ARM & Executive)
Sharon Bond (Chair, ARM & Executive)
Nooaitch Band, (Owner, Kekuli Café Properties)
Bonaparte First Nation (Special Advisor to Dean, UBC)
Darwin Hanna (Executive)
Lytton First Nations (Founding Partner, Callison & Hanna Law)
Nooaitch Band (Kekuli Cafe Properties Inc.)
Harvey McLeod
Upper Nicola Band
Advisor, Canada Energy Regulator
Indigenous Advisory Committee
Crystal Henderson
Nakwaxda’xw Nation
Support Staff Representative
Tom Willms
Education Council Chair (ex-officio)
Melissa Moses
Lower Nicola Band
Student Representative
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 2023/24
• 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
Indigenous Early Childhood Education
Health (Health Care Assistant & Practical Nursing)
Social Work & Human Services
University Transfer
Governance & Leadership
Developmental (Literacy, ABE, Bridging Programs)
Trades (Electrical, Residential Construction, Welding, Renewable Energy)
Indigenous Holistic Wellness & Addictions
Justice Studies (Criminology & CAPS)
Environmental Resource Technology
Continuing Studies
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
Lorna Shuter
Lower Nicola Band/Lil’wat Nation
Mary Louie [on leave]
Lower Similkameen
Christine Leo Lil’wat Nation.
Gibby Jacob Squamish Nation
Tom Oleman, Stl’atl’imx, Tsklapmux& Tsilicotin
Lou Paul
Upper Nicola Band
Mary Angus Shackan Band
Mary Charters Coldwater Band
Sarah McLeod [on leave]
Upper Nicola Band
Sandra Tiessen
Lower Nicola Band
Rena Sam Shackan Band
Finances
• Financially stable organization
• Revenues at approx. 21 million
• Investments of approx. 5 Million
• 2 sides of the organization
- Learning Services (1 VP, 3 Deans, 1 A/Dean)
- Corporate services (1 Chief Financial Officer, 6 Directors, 8 Managers, 1 Registrar, 2 Associate Registrars)
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!
2025 Merritt Graduation
2025 Vancouver Graduation
Vancouver Campus
4355 Mathissi Place, Burnaby BC
Experience the Difference
