The most recent U of G Senate meeting was held June 3. Below are key highlights from the meeting. A full synopsis of the meeting is available on the University Secretariat’s website.
Change to course drop date beginning Fall 2019
Beginning in Fall 2019, students will have until the last day of classes to drop courses without academic penalty. Currently, students must drop courses by the 40th class day to avoid academic penalty. This change gives students time to better assess their experience in a course before making a decision to keep or drop it. Full regulations, including rules specific to two-semester courses and certain veterinary programs will be available in the Academic Calendars.
New Policy on Academic Continuity
The new Policy on Academic Continuity outlines how the University will make decisions and communicate with the University community when academic programing is disrupted – as in the case of snow days. The policy explains how decisions will be made about assigned coursework and deadline extensions while maintaining academic integrity and fairness.
New COU Academic Colleague
Senate approved the appointment of Prof. Catherine Carstairs, Department of History, as U of G’s Council of Ontario Universities (COU) Academic Colleague for a three-year term beginning July 1. Carstairs has served as alternate COU Academic Colleague since 2013 and takes over from College of Biological Sciences dean Jonathan Newman who concludes his term at the end of June. The COU Academic Colleague represents the University at COU and provides regular updates and reports back to Senate. Prof. Shayan Sharif, Department of Pathobiology, was appointed as the new alternate COU Academic Colleague.
New Undergraduate and Graduate Offerings
U of G will soon offer a new major and minor in Sport and Event Management in the Bachelor of Commerce program.
The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics will also offer five new minors in the areas of:
- Business Data Analytics
- Entrepreneurship
- International Business
- Project Management
- Sustainable Business
At the Graduate level, the University will offer a new Master of Conservation Leadership program and a new field in Public Health in the Master of Science program in Population Medicine.
Call for Honorary Degree Nominations
The Senate Honours & Awards Committee invites the University community to submit nominations for Honorary Degrees, the highest honour bestowed by the University.
Details on the call for nominations, including the submission deadline, award criteria and the nomination form, can be found on the University Secretariat’s website.
The first Senate meeting of the 2019-20 academic year takes place Monday, October 7, 2019.