UVic professor and former leader of the BC Greens pushes for updated language in academic awards, applauds updates to Indigenous awards policy
Photo via the University of Victoria.
In recent Senate meetings, the topic of updating the language of UVic academic awards to clarify identity requirements has been a recurring theme. Dr. Andrew Weaver — a UVic professor of earth and ocean sciences who serves on UVic Senate, and is also the former leader of the BC Green party — has been pushing for updates to the language used in academic awards since October 2025.
Historically, Weaver has pushed for more inclusive language in government as well. He introduced bills M208 and M209 to “protect gender identity and expression privacy rights” in 2018, though they were not supported by the BC NDP government, and never received a second reading.
Weaver told the Martlet that, when he initially asked why the language used in certain awards was gendered, he was told it was “historical,” and that the university was working on changing the language used. However, Weaver said that Senate has continued to be presented with new awards and fellowships featuring inconsistent language, such as both “women” and “self-identified women.”
In some instances, senators have reported that gendered awards language has posed a barrier for non-binary students.
During the Nov. 7, 2025, Senate meeting, a senator said they had wanted to nominate a non-binary student for an academic award specifically labeled for women. The senator, pushing for more inclusive language, said the gendered language of the award caused noteworthy harm.
At the Dec. 5, 2025, Senate meeting, a member of UVic administration said that updating the language of awards would be a slow and ongoing process, requiring working with the Development Office and donors to apply more inclusive language.
“I recognize there are many awards, and I recognize that when a donor approaches the university, they know what they want to give an award for, and you have donors on the entire spectrum of everything under the sun, whether it be gender, whether it be political belief, whether it be environmental belief, whether it be nationality,” Weaver said.
“But they also need to understand [the] institution’s perspective, and if you have rules and policy in place … [and] if you make things clear up front, problems don’t arise,” he continued.
Alongside the push for more gender inclusive language comes a new policy that provides updated requirements for Indigenous awards. Effective Nov. 1, 2025, the Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) policy sets out to ensure Indigenous-specific awards go to Indigenous recipients. This policy came after reports of people misrepresenting their identity emerged, UVic’s acting president said, depriving Indigenous students of crucial funding and opportunities intended for them.
The policy, produced through engagement with members of the səlxʷéyn sqʷél (Elder’s Voices) program and Indigenous communities at UVic, will require those who apply for Indigenous- specific awards that may result in material gain to declare their Indigenous citizenship, and provide supporting documentation that affirms their documentation. Times Colonist reported that the policy was made by a UVic working group that gathered “hundreds of stories, experiences, and perspectives” through online and in-person sessions, surveys, and consultations.
According to the policy, supporting information “refers to materials and/or evidence that meets the requirements for Indigenous Citizenship as communicated by the Applicant’s
Nation(s), People(s) or Community(ies) in an agreement with the University, and/or demonstrates the truth and accuracy of an Applicant’s Declaration in alignment with the Associated Procedures.”
Weaver told the Martlet he applauded the updated policy, calling it “very well thought through.”
However, Senate has not yet approved a policy outlining the university’s position on gendered language in awards.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done on some of the gendered language, though,” Weaver said. “But what we’ve heard, and based on the evidence presented at the last meeting, is it’s being taken very seriously now, and they’re working on coming up with a policy.”
