Academic Programs Committee Reports
Report of the Academic Programs Committee toUniversity Council
Dec. 16, 1999
Items for Action
The Academic Programs Committee recommends that Council approve the following new programs and program revisions. All have been reviewed by the Budget Committee and the Planning Committee.
1. Introduction of a Minor in Chemistry, and changes to the Chemistry program (see Appendix One)
2. Changes to the Physics programs (see Appendix Two).
3. Introduction of a Minor in Statistics, and changes to the Mathematics programs (see Appendix Three).
4. Changes to the Anatomy and Cell Biology programs (see Appendix Four).
The Committee appreciated the effort made by colleges to forward these revisions prior to its September 30 deadline. Reviewing program proposals requires a major effort for the Academic Programs Committee, the Budget Committee and the Planning Committee each fall. It is anticipated that additional program changes from Languages and Linguistics, Psychology, Pharmacy, Law, Anthropology and Archaeology, and Biotechnology will be submitted to the January Council meeting.
In an effort to streamline procedures further this fall, the Academic Programs Committee and the Budget Committee undertook simultaneous reviews of the program submissions. This seemed to be a more effective way to complete reviews, though additional communication between the committees was required as proposals were revised.
A new format for the presentation of proposals to Council from the Academic Programs Committee and the Planning Committee has also been developed, so that in one or two pages the members of Council can review a summary of the program and courses, its rationale, its impact on other students or other colleges, and any additional resources required, as well as the recommendations from the three Council committees which review programs.
Items for Information
Program Submission Guides
The Guide for Program Submissions has now been completed and is being printed. It will be widely distributed to departments and colleges early in the new year. Copies will be distributed to Council members for the January meeting.
This guide will assist colleges which are making program changes or introducing new programs in developing complete proposals for such changes. A number of information sessions with colleges will also be held in January and February to discuss how the guide should be used. Colleges and departments which are planning such changes in the next one or two years should contact Cathie Fornssler, Committee Coordinator, to schedule an information session (phone 5036, email fornssler@arts.usask.ca, or write c/o the Office of the Vice-President (Academic).
The Committee will also be reviewing the Guide itself in two years, and so would appreciate information about its utility from the colleges and departments using it.
Automatic course deletions
The Committee has reviewed a number of courses which have not been taught for more than five years and had deleted several of these courses. In a number of cases this year, departments argued against the deletion of courses before their programs are reviewed under the Systematic Program Review procedure. The Committee intends to ask Systematic Program Review to incorporate the deletion of untaught courses in its procedures. Committee members were reluctant to accept an upcoming department review as a reason to retain inactive courses in the Calendar, unless the review is imminent.
It should also be noted that very few courses are appearing on this list now, which indicates that many of the inactive courses have been cleared out of the Calendar over the last two years.
Academic Schedule for 2001-2002
The Committee has reviewed the Academic Schedule for the following academic year. It is also being distributed to colleges for comment. A copy of the schedule will be distributed at the January meeting of Council.
_____________________
Linda Suveges, Chair
Academic Programs Committee of Council
Committee members:
S. Blythe, USSU
A. Kumar, GSA
J. Conway, Psychology
L. Currie, Library
G. Davis, Physics and Engineering Physics
T. Deutscher, STM History
Z. Hajnal, Geological Sciences
B. Lucas, Economics
T. Marchant, Biology
D. Pennock, Soil Science
H. Wagg, Sessional Lecturers
K. Smith, Registrar
P. Melis, Office of the Vice-President (Academic)
M. Evered, Acting Associate Vice-President (Academic)
M. Atkinson, Vice-President (Academic)
P. MacKinnon, President
C. Fornssler, Committee Coordinator (Secretary)
Appendix One: Minor in Chemistry and program changes in Chemistry
Appendix Two: Program changes in Physics
Appendix Three: Minor in Statistics and program changes in Mathematics
Appendix Four: Program changes in Anatomy and Cell Biology
