Senate met on January 26, 2024. Here are the highlights:
School name Change: Canadian and Indigenous Studies
Senate recommended, subject to Board of Governors approval, that the School of Indigenous and Canadian Studies (SICS) be renamed as The School of Canadian Studies. The change is a result of the relocation of the Indigenous Studies faculty and programs to the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, which took place on July 1, 2023. The adjustment will enable the school to solidify its position as a leader in Canadian Studies, broaden its faculty, pedagogical approaches, and research priorities.
Senate Receives Report from Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Academic Governance
The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Academic Governance was mandated by Senate at its June 2023 meeting to provide a detailed review of the impact of the transfer of approval authority and responsibility for graduate curricula from the Faculty of Graduate and Post-doctoral Affairs (FGPA) to the disciplinary faculties. The committee, which was constituted in summer 2023, submitted its final Report to Senate on January 26th, 2024. The report makes 13 recommendations in relation to the ongoing FGPA restructuring. Senate voted to receive the report and refer it to the Senate Academic Governance Committee for further action.
New Undergraduate Awards
10 new undergraduate awards as well as changes to one existing award were presented for information at Senate. View the list of the awards and changes.
Quality Assurance & Cyclical Reviews
Senate approved the Final Assessment Reports and Executive Summaries arising from the Cyclical Reviews of the graduate programs in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, undergraduate and graduate programs in Psychology, and the undergraduate programs in Greek and Roman Studies.
Undergraduate and Graduate Major Modifications
Senate approved 9 undergraduate and graduate major modifications, including:
- introduction of the collaborative specialization in African Studies to the PHD programs in English, Political Science and Architecture as presented with effect from Fall 2024
- the standalone PHD program in Canadian Studies as presented with effect from Fall 2024
Report of the Academic Colleague from the Council of Ontario Universities
On December 12 and 13, 2023, the Academic Colleagues met to discuss the top concerns which Ontario Universities face. They discussed the Kalven Report, increasing pressure to make statements and stances on geopolitical issues, and the importance of free speech and academic freedom in an environment free from discrimination or harassment. The colleagues also shared updates on topics such as increasing fiscal pressures, collective agreements, sustainability, and rising geopolitical tensions. The COU’s President, Steve Orsini, spoke briefly about the work the council is doing to obtain a timely response from the government on the implementation of the Blue-Ribbon Panel report.
Senator Spotlight: Bernadette Campbell
Bernadette Campbell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and has a PhD from Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests include occupational engagement, career decision-making processes, and the impact of anxiety on career success. Bernadette also studies the role of networking, chance events, and imagining a future work self in career success and satisfaction. She is also exploring the intersection of work and personal life, focusing on mid-career workers’ experiences and how they balance work and non-work aspects, such as community service and hobbies. Bernadette is currently developing an online career development intervention for 1st and 2nd year undergraduate. Learn more about Bernadette Campbell.
Next Meeting: March 1, 2024
The next Senate meeting is scheduled for March 1, 2024, at 2 PM. The full meeting schedule, associated meeting materials and minutes are available on the Senate website. Meeting minutes are posted once they are approved at the subsequent meeting.