Senate met on November 28, 2025. Here are the highlights:
Senate Welcomes New Members
Senate ratified the appointment of three new members, for service beginning immediately unless otherwise indicated:
- Erin Harlan (Student – FASS)
- AbdelRahman Abdou (Faculty member – Computer Science)
- Juan Carlos Jimenez (Faculty member – Industrial Design) – beginning January 1, 2026
Graduate Major Modifications
Major modifications approved by Senate include the following:
- The deletion of the graduate concentration in Arts Management, effective Fall 2026.
- The degree change in Economics from an MA to an MSC, effective Fall 2026.
Suspension of Program Admissions
Senate was informed of the suspension of admissions to the following program:
- Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Economics, effective immediately
Senate was also informed of extensions to the existing suspension of admissions to the following program:
- Minor in Health Sciences
Quality Assurance & Cyclical Reviews
Senate approved the Final Assessment Reports and Executive Summaries from the Cyclical Reviews of the following programs:
- Graduate programs in Sustainable Energy
- Graduate and undergraduate programs in Women’s and Gender Studies
Revised Terms of Reference for Senate Committees
Senate approved revised terms of reference for the following Senate Committees:
- Senate Committee on Student Awards (renamed from Senate Committee on Undergraduate Student Awards)
- Senate Medals and Prizes Committee
Update on Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) Review
The Provost and Vice-President (Academic) provided an update on the Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) Review that has been mandated by the Ministry of College, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES). Carleton University has been selected for the 2025–2026 EAF round, with a review underway of its spending and revenue practices. A preliminary report, along with a letter signed by President Tettey, has already been submitted to MCURES. The university is working to identify opportunities for cost containment, revenue generation, and overall efficiency, with recommendations covering both financial and non-financial improvements while emphasizing strong operational efficiency. The final EAF report and implementation plan will be presented to the Board of Governors in December and submitted to MCURES in January.
Presentation on the Modification Process for Program Closures
The Vice-Provost (Academic and Global Learning) delivered a presentation to Senate on the process for program closures. The presentation outlined the required approval steps and the information included in the executive summary, including rationale for closure, impact on other programs and students, impact on resources, and transition plans for current students.
Motion on the Closure of Undergraduate or Graduate Programs
Senate approved a motion proposing that any future Senate motion to close an academic program (undergraduate or graduate, including certificates and diplomas but not minors, concentrations, or collaborative specializations) must include a comprehensive rationale. This rationale should parallel the level of detail provided for new program approvals including:
- The reasons for closing the program, with relevant enrolment data.
- How resource considerations such as faculty availability, administrative support, space, and finances contributed to the decision.
- The expected impact of the closure on other programs and on students, including effects on courses, service teaching, TA positions, and experiential learning opportunities.
Report on General Faculty Board Meeting and Motion
The Clerk of Senate provided a report on a meeting of the General Faculty Board (GFB) that took place on November 27. The meeting was called to discuss the proposed Institutional Impartiality Policy, and to propose a recommendation to Senate. A motion from GFB proposing that Senate recommend that the Board of Governors reject the Impartiality Policy was considered. The motion was defeated.
Senator Spotlight: Beth MacLeod
Beth MacLeod is an Associate Professor at Carleton University’s School of Linguistics and Language Studies. She is also the Director of the Experimental Linguistics Research Hub.
Beth earned her B.Math from the University of Waterloo, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Toronto. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses at Carleton. Her research broadly encompasses the production and perception of phonetic variation in speech and falls into three main areas: phonetic imitation, sociophonetics, and second language acquisition.
Beth is currently the co-recipient of three research grants: one from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) infrastructure grant, a SSHRC Insight Development Grant, and a SSHRC Insight Grant. Her research program follows two main strands: 1. Exploring patterns of phonetic imitation and what these can tell us about the nature of language, and 2. Testing the methods we used to study both the perception and production of phonetic imitation. In her teaching, Beth aims to provide students with hands-on experience in a variety of research methods and works to help students develop an understanding of how their degrees are preparing them for more advanced research and employability in the workplace.