UNBC to begin search for next chancellor

With the term of current University of Northern British Columbia chancellor James Moore to end in eight months, a search is about to begin for a new person to fill the position.

The university will be looking for someone who can fulfill “an important ambassadorial role for the university with honour and distinction,” UNBC said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Moore has lived up to that goal in the opinion of UNBC president Daniel Weeks.

“He served in his role in exemplary fashion; whether it was UNBC chancellor James Moore speaks to media in 2016. Moore’s term ends in eight months, and the university is looking to fill the position. speaking with high school and prospective UNBC students, taking on a leading role in all convocation ceremonies, celebrations and related events across the North, or supporting the university’s philanthropic goals, James has helped advance the university in many ways, and I know he will continue to be a champion of UNBC,” Weeks said.

Moore was the first UNBC alumni to be named to the position, which he has held since November 2015. His selection was not without controversy. That he was a former Tory cabinet minister did not sit well with some faculty members.

Moore earned both a bachelors and a masters degree in political science at UNBC, graduating from the university just three months prior to being elected MP in Port Moody in 2000.

As the ceremonial head of UNBC, the chancellor is a full participating voting member of the university’s board of governors, senate and several subcommittees and confers all the degrees granted by the institution. The chancellor is a non-remunerated, volunteer position.

An “enhanced process” will be used to carry out the search.

A committee comprised of representatives from the alumni council, the senate and the board of governors will sift through the nominations and make recommendations to the alumni council, which will formally nominate a candidate for consideration by the board after consultation with the senate.

The plan is to have a successful candidate identified by early 2019 and installed at the May 2019 convocation ceremony at the Prince George campus.

Nomination forms and further information on the role, and expectations of the position will be made available on the university’s website in the coming weeks.