Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT II - April 20, 2001
FOR APPROVAL
Recommended:
Diploma in Honors Standing: Implementation Policy for Upgrading to an Honors Degree
REVISED CALENDAR COPY
REGISTRATION/COURSE SELECTION [Change p. 16 as indicated]
Full-time and part-time studies….A student's registration status is determined as follows: [No change to paragraph]
Regular Student
[No change to paragraph]
Special Student
(i) A student who has received a degree from this (or another) university and who registers to take further courses but who is not a candidate for a degree.
(ii) Students who have an undergraduate degree from The University of Western Ontario and who intend to either (a) upgrade from a non-honors to an honors degree or (b) complete the requirements for a second honors degree in another discipline, must apply to the appropriate Department(s) for assessment. Students will be considered for a specific Honors Degree program provided that all requirements for entry into an Honors program have been met. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to an Honors Degree program: approval is at the discretion of the appropriate Department and Dean's Office. Department(s) will take into account courses from the first degree and prescribe the courses to be completed to fulfill all of the honors requirements. No fewer than five full or equivalent prescribed honors courses may be required and some programs may require more than five full or equivalent courses. Graduation requirements will differ according to the program. Students should check with the appropriate Dean's Office to ensure specific graduation requirements are being met.
Full-Time Student
[No change to paragraph]
DIPLOMA IN HONORS STANDING
[Delete existing text on p. 22 and replace with the following]
The Diploma in Honors Standing is discontinued, effective September 1, 2002. Students currently registered in the program must consult with their appropriate Dean's Office.
SPECIAL STUDENTS: UNIVERSITY GRADUATES [Change section on p. 16]
Individuals who have earned a first degree equivalent to at least a 15-course degree at Western with a minimum overall average of "C" (60% in the context of Western's grading system) are eligible to apply for admission to take courses for credit as Special Students. Students applying for admission to this category must be proficient in English.
Students who have an undergraduate degree from another accredited university and who intend to either (a) upgrade from a non-honors to an honors degree or (b) complete the requirements for a second honors degree in another discipline, must apply for general admission to The University of Western Ontario as a Special Student. Interested students are advised to consult the appropriate department(s) for information as not all department(s) offer this program. Applicants will be considered for a specific Honors Degree program provided that all requirements for entry into an Honors program have been met. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to an Honors Degree program: approval is at the discretion of the appropriate Department and Dean's Office. Department(s) will take into account courses from the first degree and prescribe the courses to be completed to fulfill all of the honors requirements. No fewer than ten full or equivalent prescribed courses (of which at least five must be at the honors level) must be taken at The University of Western Ontario. Graduation requirements will differ according to the program. Students should check with the appropriate Dean's Office to ensure specific graduation requirements are being met.
The Registrar's Office is responsible for the processing and administration of Special Student admission and progression, except in those cases where progression is at the discretion of the appropriate Dean.
Students who intend to enter a graduate program should seek counselling from the graduate Chair of the Department(s) concerned. Admission as an undergraduate Special Student, however, does not imply acceptance at the graduate level.
COURSE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS [Add paragraph p.21]
1. Students fulfilling all the requirements for graduation in any bachelor's degree program at Western must complete at least ten courses (including five senior courses) at Western or one of its affiliated colleges;
or
Transfer students admitted with advanced credit must complete a minimum of five senior courses in the 15-course degree programs or ten courses in the honors programs. These courses must be taken at Western of one of its affiliated colleges;
or
Special Students admitted to Western who have an undergraduate degree from another accredited university and who intend to either (a) upgrade from a non-honors to an honors degree or (b) complete the requirements for a second honors degree in another discipline must obtain approval and are required to complete no fewer than ten full or equivalent prescribed courses (of which at least five must be at the honors level) at The University of Western Ontario.
2. [No change to paragraph]
Other changes required for Calendar Copy:
1. Delete the following paragraph from DOUBLE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES, Sequential p.19:
However, such students may be eligible for advanced standing towards a Diploma in Honors Standing.
2. Additional references will be identified by the Publications Officer as part of the revision process for the Calendar Copy. A full list of references is not readily available.
Background:
Last December, SCAPA was advised of problems encountered by some students in having their Diploma in Honors Standing recognized as being the equivalent to a regular honors degree, notably by the Ontario College of Teachers as well as a number of universities in the United States and Canada. SCAPA found that Western is out of step with most other institutions in Ontario which allow students to obtain an Honors degree after upgrading a 3-or 4-year BA or BSc degree to honors standards. The proposal to discontinue the Diploma in Honors Standing and to incorporate, either (a) an upgrade from a non-honors to an honors degree or (b) the completion of requirements for a second honors degree in another discipline, within the general framework for honors degrees, recognizes the fact that the student has a degree, not an 'equivalent degree', and provides an unambiguous nomenclature recognizable by other institutions. As noted above, all transcripts and graduation diplomas which to date have stated the Diploma title, e.g., "Diploma in Honors Standing, Honors English", subsequent to the effective date noted, and which are reassessed and approved as Honors Degrees will read the degree name and the honors program taken, e.g., "Bachelor of Arts, Honors English".
A) Four-Year BA in English
Recommended: That a Four-Year Bachelor of Arts in English be introduced at Brescia College, effective September 1, 2000.
CALENDAR COPY
FOUR-YEAR BA IN ENGLISH
Admission Requirements
A mark of at least 60% in English 020E or 022E or 024E.
Students should consult with the Department prior to admission.
Program
7.5 senior English courses including:
English 200 or English 201a/b and 204F/G
One of: English 211, 212, 214E, 224E, 234E
One of: English 244E, 254E, 264E, 274E
One of the above not already chosen or English 209E, 232E, 253E, 258E, 284E, 289E
3.5 additional senior English essay courses, no more than two of which may be at the 100-level. A half-course at the 400-level is optional.
NOTE: English 117 (Reading Popular Culture) and courses in Writing cannot be used to fulfil area of concentration requirements.
Background:
The addition of this program will increase the range of program offerings; allow students to extend their studies for a further year at a more advanced level; and, provide students with a program that is more widely recognized than a three-year degree program.
B) Four-Year BA in French
Recommended: That a Four-Year Bachelor of Arts in French be introduced at Brescia College, effective September 1, 2001.
CALENDAR COPY
Page 284 of 2001 Calendar, Brescia College section
add under Bachelor of Arts: Four-Year program in French
FOUR-YEAR BA IN FRENCH
Admission Requirements
A mark of at least 60% in French 020E or 021 or permission of the Modern Languages Department. Students should consult with the Department prior to admission.
Requirements for a minor area of concentration in the Four-Year BA are the same as those for an area of concentration in the Three-Year BA.
For a major area of concentration in the Four-Year BA, students must complete a minimum of 7.5 Honors French courses, including French 271, 290E, 381, and at least 1.5 additional courses numbered 300 or higher.
Background:
The addition of this program will increase the range of program offerings and allow students to extend their studies for a further year. The courses that make up this program follow the same prescriptions as the courses taught at Western.
Recommended: That the name of the Master of Arts program in Visual Arts be changed to the MA program in Art History.
Background:
The Department of Visual Arts at Western offers two masters level programs of study. One is a studio arts program leading to a degree described on the diploma parchment as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Arts. Students in this program exhibit their creative work and write a short thesis. The other program of study, which entails writing a lengthy thesis, leads to a degree designated on the diploma parchment as a Master of Arts (MA) in Visual Arts. The Department wishes to change the name of the latter so that the diploma would read Master of Arts (MA) in Art History.
The reason for this request is that the Art History designation more accurately describes the program of study, whereas the designation Visual Arts is misleading. Students in Western's MA program in Visual Arts are studying the history of art rather than visual arts per se. The change in name does not reflect any change in the content of the program. Rather, it makes the name of the degree consistent with the names of analogous programs of study at other institutions. There are four Universities other than Western offering MA programs in the history of art. These are Carlton, where students receive the MA in Canadian Art History, and Queen's, Toronto and York, where students receive an MA in Art History.
This proposed name change was approved by the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies on March 16, 2001. There are 10 students currently in the MA program. The Department of Visual Arts has indicated that all 10 students would like to graduate with the new program name on their diploma.
Recommended: That the policy on Off-Campus Placements be revised as highlighted below, and that the separate policy on Clinical Placements for the School of Nursing be withdrawn.
OFF-CAMPUS PLACEMENTS (S.3798)
Externships, Practica, Practice Teaching, Clinical Placements and other such programs, providing students with specialized training under professional supervision in selected institutional and community settings, are an important component of the undergraduate degree programs.
Admission to an off-campus placement is granted by a host institution on the recommendation of the relevant teaching Department, School, or Faculty of the University or Affiliated College.
Students granted admission to an off-campus placement are subject to all the rules and regulations of the host institution. It is recognized, provided that client confidentiality is maintained, that discussion by the student of the content of his or her professional training placement with the academic faculty involved, is a necessary and desirable feature of such placements.
Ultimate responsibility for evaluating the performance of each student rests with the faculty members of the student's home Faculty, School or Department. Students who fail to meet the requirements of the host institution, or whose performance is judged to be unsatisfactory, or whose behavior places the host institution or its patients or clients at risk, will be reported to the Dean of the student's Faculty. The Dean or his/her designate, on the recommendation of the Department or School concerned, may suspend the student's placement, withdraw the student from the placement or take such other action as may be warranted.
Background:
In this proposal, the policy on Off-Campus Placements has been expanded to include the role of Schools within Faculties. As well, adding "or his/her designate" to the last sentence will allow the Dean to delegate the authority to another person, in most cases an Associate Dean, thus paralleling the "Student Academic Appeals" section of the academic calendar with regard to Academic Rights and Responsibilities.
The policy on Clinical Placements for the School of Nursing was approved separately by Senate. For the most part it replicated the wording of the Off-Campus Placement Policy. These requirements will be covered by other policies on Attendance and Practice Settings.
The generic wording of degree diplomas is traditionally stated as follows:
"The Senate on the recommendation of the (Faculty/School/College) has conferred upon (graduate's name) the degree of (degree name) with all its rights, privileges and obligations.
Given at London, Canada, on the (date) day of (month), (year), in the (appropriate year, e.g, 2001 will be the one hundred and twenty-third year) of the University."
Recommended: That reference to the location at which Master of Business Administration degrees are conferred be removed from MBA degree diplomas.
Background:
For its initial year, the MBA degrees that were granted last fall at the first Hong Kong Executive MBA Convocation carried the phrase "Given at the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China". However, Larry Wynant, the Executive Director of the Richard Ivey School of Business (Asia) has e-mailed the Associate Secretary of Senate asking that SCAPA be informed that,
"Several of the 2000 graduates and the 2001 class who are about to graduate are concerned with this phrasing. The Ivey School has been promoting the program and the degree awarded as exactly the same as the EMBA/MBA in Canada and many candidates who join the Program are specifically looking for a global degree from a well-recognized North American university. The School's students and alumni are concerned that the University's tradition of noting the place where the degree was conferred may lead companies to view the degree as a special Hong Kong or PRC program.
Therefore, the Ivey School is requesting that the diploma be modified to not indicate the place where the degree is conferred. Specifically, we would like to have the final section as "Given on [date], in the XX year of the University"."
Via e-mail, the Dean of Graduate Studies has agreed that it has always been his understanding that, " the MBA degree is meant to provide the graduate with the same qualification regardless of which stream it was taken in. Thus the Hong Kong version, the Mississauga Executive version, the (soon to be closed) Video Executive version, and the regular MBA should not be distinguished on the diploma or the transcript. It is on this understanding that OCGS has approved all of these alternative offerings of the degree."
FOR INFORMATION
SCAPA has approved on behalf of the Senate the following Terms of Reference for new scholarships, awards, bursaries and prizes for recommendation to the Board of Governors through the Vice-Chancellor:
USC Alumni Award (Any Faculty)
Awarded to undergraduate students in any program who are not in their graduating year based on financial need and involvement in extra-curricular activities at Western or in the community. Applications are available at the Office of the Registrar and the USC Office. Applications accompanied by an essay (maximum 500 words) describing the applicant's involvement in extracurricular activities must be submitted to Student Financial Services, Office of the Registrar by October 31. The Office of the Registrar will determine financial need and the University Students' Council Awards Committee will assist in the selection of recipients. This award was established by generous contributions from the University Students' Council Alumni through Foundation Western.
Value: 1 at $500 effective May 2001 and 2 at $500 effective May 2002
R. Mohan Mathur Gold Medal for Software Engineering (Faculty of Engineering Science)
Awarded annually to the graduating student in the Software Engineering program of the Faculty of Engineering Science who obtains the highest aggregate marks for the third and fourth years, provided that the student obtains first-class honors standing in the work of the final year. This gold medal was established by a gift from Dr. R. Mohan Mathur, the former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Science at Western.
Value: Gold Medal
Effective May 2000
GE Capital IT Solutions Strategic Management Award (Faculty of Social Science, ACS)
Awarded to the team members of the top three teams in the Business Strategy competition in the fourth year BACS - Strategic Management course as determined by a faculty committee. This award is made possible by GE Capital.
Value: $950 will be split among the members of the top three teams
Effective: 2000-2001 only
Caradocian Prize in Geochemistry (Faculty of Science, Earth Sciences)
Awarded to a graduating fourth-year student who has achieved the highest aggregate standing in any two of: a) Earth Science 431 a/b (Isotope Geochemistry in Earth and Environmental Science), b) Earth Science 432a/b (Geochemical Processes at the Earth's Surface), c) Earth Science 440a/b (Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology), d) Earth Science 444 a/b (Hazardous Mine Wastes), or equivalent courses that replace these with the progress of time.
The Prize winner will have obtained a minimum aggregate standing of 80% or higher in the two courses used to determine his or her eligibility. The recipient will be selected by the Faculty of Science in consultation with the Department of Earth Sciences.
Value: $500
Effective May 2003
Suzanne Leigh Killinger-Johnson Award (Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Medicine)
Awarded to a student graduating from the Medicine program who, in the opinion of classmates and Faculty, is an individual who has demonstrated the capacity for caring and compassion and has shown an awareness of societal issues as they relate to women in the field of medicine.
This award was established by generous contributions from the Meds Class of 1988 through Foundation Western to honor the memory of their classmate. During her life and career as a physician, Suzanne was a caring and compassionate person who understood the value of a balanced life and was held in high esteem by her family, friends, colleagues and patients.
Value: $1,000
Effective May 2000
David R. Small Award (Faculty of Social Science)
Awarded to an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Social Science who is not in his/her graduating year, based on financial need and active membership and participation on the University Students' Council or the Social Science Students' Council (as an elected member, commissioner or committee member), or the University Senate (as an elected or committee member). Applications are available through Student Financial Services in the Office of the Registrar. Applications accompanied by a short essay (maximum 500 words) documenting the applicant's role on USC, SSSC or Senate must be submitted to Student Financial Services, Office of the Registrar, by October 31. The Office of the Registrar will determine financial need and the Faculty of Social Science will select the recipient. This award was established by generous contributions from David R. Small (B.A.'00) through Foundation Western.
Value: $300
Effective May 2001
MBA Student Support Fee OSOTF Bursaries (Faculty of Graduate Studies, Business)
Awarded annually to full-time students in the Masters Business Administration program who demonstrate financial need. These bursaries were created by the MBA association to assist MBA students. Applications are available at the Richard Ivey School of Business MBA Programs Office and must be completed by April 1. Recipients will be selected by the MBA Scholarships Committee.
Value and Effective Date:
11 at $1,000 in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003; 7 at $1,000 in 2003-2004 and thereafter
Keith L Moore Award In Anatomy (Faculty of Graduate Studies)
For recognition of special merit and achievement during advanced study and research for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Western Ontario. A minimum 78% average is required. Must be registered full-time in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, enroled in the PhD Program of Anatomy & Cell Biology and graduating in the Spring or Fall convocation. Supervisor(s) can nominate eligible students for consideration. The recipient will be selected by Graduate Committee in Anatomy and Cell Biology.
Value: $250 per award (see note below)
Effective: May 2000
NOTE: The Selection Committee may decide that none of the nominated students are eligible for the award in any given year and that the non-awarded funds may be carried forward to award more than one deserving student in any future given year.
Edward A. McLeish Memorial Award (Faculty of Education)
Awarded to a student pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree at the Intermediate/Secondary level, based on academic achievement, preferably with both Mathematics and English as teaching subjects. The recipient will be selected by the Associate Dean (Program). This award was established by a generous donation from the English-Speaking Union in memory of Edward McLeish (Arts '35), Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Education at Western.
Value: $100
Effective 2000-2001 to 2003-2004 only
The Report of the Provost's Undergraduate Program Review Committee (PRC) is attached as Appendix 1.
In April 1994 (S.94-58), Senate approved, on an individual exception basis, that the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) be granted retroactively to June for students who satisfy all of the requirements for graduation after the June convocation date for Dentistry but before the October convocation. At that time Senate was informed of the following:
For a very few students who, through no error of their own, have not completed all of their clinical requirements prior to the date for graduation, upon completion of all of the requirements they cannot immediately obtain their degree and therefore they are not allowed to practice. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons has indicated to the Dean of Dentistry that "a graduate from any university-based program must have a degree in dentistry before a certificate of registration can be issued". When clarification was sought as to whether it would be satisfactory to forward a letter attesting to the fact that degree requirements had been met, the College firmly stated that it would not allow these graduates to practice until the degree had actually been conferred. The position of the Ministry of Health is that it will not interfere with the governing bodies of the various professions for which it is responsible. The Dean of Dentistry has, therefore, asked that accommodations be made for the few students in question.
This forms the precedent on which the following procedure is based for the awarding of a DDS degree which is completed between Autumn Convocation and Spring Convocation.
[Note: In June 1996, Senate delegated its authority to the Provost to approve the list of Candidates for Degrees upon the recommendation of the Registrar (S.96-124).]
This is a situation unique to graduates of the DDS program: in order to practice dentistry, they must present a copy of their diploma to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons and thus obtain a certificate of registration.