Academic Programs Committee Reports
AGENDA ITEM NO:9
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
PRESENTED BY: Jim Merriam, Chair, Academic Programs Committee
DATE OF MEETING: April 20, 2006
SUBJECT: Item for Information:
Change in Convocation Dates for Spring, 2007
COUNCIL ACTION: For information only
At its January meeting, Council was informed that the Academic Programs Committee had approved the Academic Schedule for 2006-07.
On the request of the Registrar, Kelly McInnes and the University Secretary, Lea Pennock, APC has now approved one change to that schedule, to move the dates of Spring Convocation from May 29, 30 and 31 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) to the following week June 4, 5 and 6 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday).
The primary reason for the change is to avoid having Convocation coincide with the dates of the Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities 2007, which takes place on campus May 27 to June 3. The Congress will bring approximately 6,000 people to Saskatoon and, as a result, there would not be hotel rooms available for the families of graduates during that week. The Office of the Registrar’s Academic Advisory Board (which consists of Associate Deans of students for all colleges) and the Congress Planning Committee have both been consulted about this change and both support it.
The change will also alleviate the tight timing between the end of examinations and approval of students to graduate, thus enabling sufficient time for inclusion of institutional honours (distinction, great distinction, etc) in the program. The Academic Advisory Board has indicated it would also support a more general change to the dates of Convocation such that it is always held in early June rather than in late May. The Academic Programs Committee intends to investigate this issue and will report to an upcoming meeting of Council.
Respectfully submitted,
J. Merriam, Chair
