HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 11 of the University Act, R.S.B.C.1996, c. 468, is amended

(a) by repealing section 11(1) and substituting the following:

(1) There must be a chancellor of each university, who is to be elected by the members of the convocation. ,

(b) in subsection (1.1) by striking out "appointed" and substituting "elected",

(c) in subsection (2) by striking out "reappointment" and substituting "reelection", and

(d) in subsection (3) by striking out "appointed" and substituting "elected".

2 Section 12 is amended in subsection (2) by striking out "appointed" and substituting "elected".

3 Section 19 is amended

(a) in subsection (1) by striking out "15" and substituting "13",

(b) in subsection (1) (a) by striking out "8" and substituting "6",

(c) in subsection (2) by striking out "21" and substituting "19", and

(d) in subsection 2 (e) by striking out "11" and substituting "9".

Explanatory Note

Universities in the Province of British Columbia serve a key role in an economy that is increasingly driven by knowledge, information and ideas. Academic freedom is a fundamental tenet for a culture of learning to succeed and a key part of academic freedom is found in the right to participate in the university's governance.

This Act amends the University Act in two ways: it reduces the number of board members that the Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints and it empowers the convocation of universities to elect their Chancellor.

The Act introduces a standard of autonomy for the governance of universities to ensure they are free from political interference in their internal operations.