Office of the University Secretary

Annual Report of the Committee
Several significant program changes were made, including the introduction of a Challenge for Credit policy that allows departments to award credit for prior learning where appropriate. Programs were also introduced in Toxicology and in Bioinformatics, and several major program revisions were approved.
Departments and colleges will benefit from the Committee�s activities this year in reducing the volume of paperwork that accompanies program changes, and in simplifying the approval process for changes. The approval of the revised Nomenclature report provided a structure for making these changes. A university policy covering appeals of admission decisions was introduced as well as a policy that standardizes the English proficiency requirement for admission.
The Academic Programs Committee of Council held 17 meetings this year. Several subcommittees also met frequently to develop policies and reports.

Programs and program changes
The Academic Programs Committee reviewed and recommended approval for the following curricular changes:
College of Arts and Science
· Four-year and Honours programs in Women�s and Gender Studies
· Minor in History
· Revisions to the B.Sc. Four-year and Honours in Biology and Biotechnology
· Revisions to the English programs
· New programs in Toxicology
· New programs in Bioinformatics

College of Nursing
· Major revision to the Post-Registration BSN program

College of Graduate Studies and Research
· Principal�s Diploma program (now under review by Budget and Planning committees)

The Committee did not recommend approval for a proposed degree program in Sociocultural Anthropology. The Committee met with the Dean of the College of Arts and Science to explore possible ways to ensure a presence for sociocultural anthropology at the U of S and the Committee anticipates a new submission from the College.

Policies and Procedures

The Committee approved and forwarded the following policies and procedures to Council for approval:
· University Nomenclature
· Challenge for Credit policy
· Guidelines for appeals of admission decisions
· Policy on English proficiency for all forms of admission
· Revisions to the procedures for approval of curricular changes

The Committee also discussed the Enrolment Plan draft, unclassified studies students, first-year experience, common first year, academic preparedness, and quota change procedures. Several issues were resolved relating to the University Course Challenge, including resolution of two challenges. The Committee also dealt with several policy initiatives and exemptions, including the approval of circulation through the Challenge procedure of two academic courses in extension programming from the Extension Division, and approval for a third offering of a special topics course.

Other
The Committee also participated in a joint subcommittee with Planning and Budget to review a request for affiliation from Briercrest College. It reviewed the draft Enrolment Plan, and anticipates a major involvement in dealing with implementation issues for this plan. The Committee also reviewed President MacKinnon�s Strategic Direction statement and participated in the Council Workshop.
On a personal note I wish to thank Committee members for the high degree of professionalism and competency that they demonstrated in the execution of their committee responsibilities. Special thanks go to Cathie Fornssler for providing Committee members with invaluable organizational support and institutional memory and Dan Pennock for serving as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee,
____________________
Bob Lucas, Chair
Academic Programs Committee of Council

Committee members:

J. Brooks, Mathematics and Statistics
R. Kushwaha, Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering
G. Hughes, Plant Science
D. Pennock, Soil Science
S. Reid, Chemistry
S. Robinson, Education
N. Senior, Languages and Linguistics
R. Warrington, Biochemistry
H. Wagg, Sessional Lecturers
B. McDaid, USSU (after April, 2002)
K. Kalu, GSA
K. Smith, Registrar, (replaced in January by Acting Registrar L. Pennock)
P. Melis, Office of the Provost & Vice-President Academic
M. Evered, Associate Vice-President Academic (replaced in April by D. Hannah, Associate Vice President Student Affairs and Services)
M. Atkinson, Provost & Vice-President Academic
P. MacKinnon, President
C. Fornssler, Committee Coordinator (Secretary