In a message to the McGill community, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi announced the selection of a new Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) by Summer 2019. The candidate, who will lead the Office for Student Life and Learning (OSLL) over a five-year mandate, will be selected by an advisory committee to the principal comprised of staff and students.
What does the Office of Student Life and Learning do?
The OSLL encompasses six departments: Student Services, the Office of the Dean of Students, Student Housing and Hospitality Services, Enrollment Services, Athletics and Recreation, and Teaching and Learning Services. Its role is to offer practical services to the McGill community to assist its members in all aspects of university life.
Recently, the OSLL developed a McGill app, which is now available for download on Apple and Android devices. The app serves as a digital organizer for everything school-related. Users can arrange and share their class schedules with friends, sign up for McGill events, use the maps function to find specific buildings, and communicate via its messaging platform.
The OSLL has also helped organize McGill’s second caiSES (Canadian collaboration with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society) conference, which will bring indigenous students and professionals together at McGill from Mar. 1-3. The conference serves to provide a platform for students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to share their success stories, network, and meet with corporations looking to hire.
What does the Deputy Provost do?
As leader of the OSLL, the Deputy Provost oversees 650 employees and sets the agenda for the office’s projects. In a message to The McGill Tribune, interim Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau explained that the office of the Deputy Provost provides strategic guidance by setting the agenda for the OSLL and gives support in the form of HR, finance, and communications.
How will a new Deputy Provost be selected?
In the coming months, a new Deputy Provost will be selected by an advisory board consisting of members of the Senate, the Board of Governors (BoG), and the student body. The advisory committee will also refine how the role of the Deputy Provost is structured. To do so, the advisory committee encourages feedback from the McGill community and welcomes any comments that address the qualifications a new Deputy Provost should possess, the challenges faced by the McGill community, and any suggestions about how to address these challenges over a five to 10 year period.
Additionally, the advisory committee will be holding in-person sessions with the McGill community on Feb. 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the James Administration Building, room 301.
As part of McGill’s Wellness Week, students and staff are invited to chat with current Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau on Jan. 29. Those interested can sign up for a time slot and are encouraged to share questions, concerns, and suggestions relating to life at McGill.
Due to the broad scope of the role, meetings with the larger McGill community are crucial to ensuring that this position represents the values and priorities of the students and staff.
“We as a community have the power to define what this appointment will mean for us,” Labeau said.
Comments on the Deputy Provost selection process can be sent to [email protected].
