AGENDA ITEM NO: 12.2

UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMITTEE

REQUEST FOR DECISION

---

PRESENTED BY: John Rigby, Chair, Planning Committee

DATE OF MEETING: May 17, 2007

SUBJECT: Approval of graduate programs in Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics

DECISION REQUESTED: That Council approve MA, MSc and PhD graduate programs in Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics, effective July 1, 2007.

SUMMARY:
The objective of this program is to establish an exceptionally strong academic program, unlike any other in North America, to educate the brightest trainees in the concepts underlying the basic and applied sciences as well as social sciences aspects of vaccinology and immunotherapeutics. Once the students are introduced to these basic concepts they will enter one of three streams:
1) Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics: Societal Issues. The research in this area will involve the complex social, health care, legal and ethical issues associated with vaccination and other immunotherapeutics. Students in this program will receive an MA or PhD.
2) Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics: Design & Production. The research in this area will focus on the design and production of vaccines and other immunotherapeutics. Students in this program will receive an MSc or PhD.
3) Vaccinology and Immunotherapeutics: Scientific Bases. The major focus of research in this area would be the science that underlies vaccines and other immunotherapeutics.
Students in this program will receive an MSc or PhD.

New courses
VI 801.3 A Multi-Disciplinary Introduction to Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics
VI 990.0 Seminars in Vaccinology & Immunotherapeutics
VI 994.0 - Research
VI 996.6 - Research

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Academic Programs Committee and the Budget Committee reviewed this proposal through a joint subcommittee and reported to the Planning Committee their recommendations for approval. The Joint Subcommittee report and Committee memos are attached. At its May 7, 2007 meeting, the Planning Committee agreed to recommend that Council approve these programs.

ATTACHED:
Proposal document and memos