Approved/revised: October 1, 2024
NVIT is BC’s Indigenous Public Post-Secondary institution. Founded by the five First Nations Bands of the Nicola Valley in 1983, NVIT was created to provide a place for Indigenous students to attend a post-secondary institute to study within a supportive environment.
NVIT is an Indigenous community-grounded institution that greatly relies on the NVIT Elders’ Council to guide, support and lend leadership to students, employees and the NVIT Board of Governors.
POLICY
Policy Framework Categories
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology’s policy framework consists of external and internal categories:
External
1. Legislation: The College and Institute Act is the legislation under which NVIT was established and is required to operate. This Act and other relevant legislation, such as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Sector Employers Act, delineate public policy with which NVIT must comply. Provincial legislation is the prerogative of the Government of British Columbia and is included here for the visibility of NVIT’s public policy context.
Internal
2. Board: Polices related to board bylaws and governance.
3. Education Council: Policies established within NVIT’s Education Councils' legislated authority.
4. President: Policies developed and approved under the President’s authority.
Relationships, particularly those with the Indigenous community, are essential to NVIT’s policy framework. NVIT relies heavily on the Elders Council to advise and guide on maintaining positive relationships and practicing respect, discipline, leadership and good medicine.
NVIT’s internal policy framework supports the institution in achieving its reason for being, establishes the Board’s governance philosophy, and provides uniform guidelines and interpretation for i) governance, ii) educational and administrative operations, and iii) actions and conduct across the organization.