Academic Renewal Process - Report to the Community No. 3

Academic Renewal Process

Report to the Community No. 3 – June 2008

Stephen McClatchie
Vice-President, Academic and Research

Steering Committee Meetings

The Academic Renewal Steering Committee has met twice this spring (12 May, 18 June). At the meetings, we have discussed the general goals and objectives for academic renewal and agreed that the Steering Committee will have an important coordinating role between the individual Working Groups. The Steering Committee will also monitor the various consultation processes in an attempt to avoid duplication and “consultation fatigue.”

Most of the Working Groups have met at least once and are well into their discussions. The Working Group Chairs are keeping the Steering Committee apprised of their progress and, beginning in September, the Committee will meet more regularly.

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Terms of Reference for the Strategic Working Groups

Terms of Reference were drafted for each of the Strategic Working Groups and discussed by the Steering Committee. They are attached as Appendix 1. One group has not yet meet to finalise its terms of reference and so it remains in draft form

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Report from Academic Matters

The Academic Matters Committee was asked to do some preliminary thinking about our current degree structure (honours, majors, minors), particularly in terms of issues that have arisen within that Committee over the past several years. Their report is attached as appendix 2. In addition to making some recommendations, the report raises a number of items for discussion. At present, the document is intended to serve as a background paper for a number of the Strategic Working Groups. If, however, any member of the Mount Allison community has thoughts about anything in this report, you are invited to contact any member of the Steering Committee.

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Additional Members of Working Groups

Vacancies in a number of the working groups have been filled by the following individuals:

Outcomes and Literacies	Credit
Anita Cannon	Felicia Pickard

Distribution	Graduate Studies
Katie Saulnier	Mary Beth Bissell

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Next Steps

In addition to any consultation mechanism developed by an individual Working Group, the Steering Committee has agreed on three opportunities for consultation as an entire community:

a.	Teaching and Research Day at the end of August (for faculty and any students on campus);
b.	A student forum or series of forums during the first half of September; and
c.	A special meeting of Faculty Council during the second half of September.

The next Report to the Community will appear sometime in September.

Comments or concerns about the process may be given to any member of the Steering Committee.

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Maintained by the Office of the Vice-President (Administration)

October 31, 2008