Report of the Senate Committee on Academic Policy and Admissions

Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT III- March 20, 1998

FOR APPROVAL

  1. BSc in Honors Kinesiology with a Specific Area of Concentration in Science

    Recommended: That the effective date for introduction of the BSc in Honors Kinesiology with a specific area of concentration in the Faculty of Science be changed from September 1, 1998, to September 1, 1997.

    Background:

    At the February 20, 1998, meeting of Senate, the Bachelor of Science (Honors Kinesiology) with an Area of Concentration in Science was approved with an implementation date of September 1, 1998. This program combination received approval through the Faculty of Science EPC in February of 1997, and in anticipation of its approval by the new Faculty of Health Sciences, Kinesiology students were counselled concerning the appropriate selection of courses to complete its requirements. Although final approval by the Faculty of Health Sciences and Senate was not received until February 1998, there are a number of students currently registered to complete the program's requirements, and at least one Kinesiology student who transferred from Sciences (Biology) to Kinesiology last year who is eligible to graduate as of June 1998.

  2. "Home Economics" Courses to be Renamed "Human Ecology"

    Recommended: That, effective September 1, 1998, all Home Economics courses offered by Brescia College be renamed Human Ecology, as shown in Appendix 1.

    Background:

    At the February meeting, Senate approved a motion to revise all references to "Home Economics" to read "Human Ecology", including the Three-Year and Four-Year programs leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science (Home Economics), offered by Brescia College. Renaming of the Home Economics courses was referred back to SCAPA for further consideration.

    SCAPA has reaffirmed the proposal to rename the Home Economics courses. The course descriptions with their new titles are attached as Appendix 1.

  3. Concurrent HBA/LLB Program

    Recommended: That, effective September 1, 1998, the Richard Ivey School of Business, in conjunction with the Faculty of Law, establish a concurrent HBA/LLB program, administered jointly by the two HBA/LLB Program Directors.

    NEW CALENDAR COPY

    THE CONCURRENT HBA/LLB PROGRAM

    Structure of the Program

    The program is administered on behalf of the Richard Ivey School of Business and the Faculty of Law by the two HBA/LLB Program Directors, one of whom is appointed by the Richard Ivey School of Business and the other by the Faculty of Law.

    Students enrolled in the first year of this concurrent program are registered in the Ivey Business School. Similarly, students in the first year of LLB are enrolled in the Law School. In Year Five, they are considered for financial purposes to be enrolled one-half year in the Ivey School and one-half year in the Law School. In Year Six, they are enrolled in the Law School.

    Below is a brief outline of the program by year. The specifics may change as courses change in each faculty. For purposes of description, it is assumed that students do not take more than two years of course work prior to beginning HBA1; however, it is possible to undertake this program with more than 10 credits prior to HBA1.

    Years One and Two:
    All students must complete at least two years of full-time university courses obtaining 10 full credits. Students may take a wide variety of courses in any faculty and are discouraged from taking a business or commerce program. However, they must take Business 257.

    Year Three:
    All students must take the HBA1 year in Year Three.

    Year Four:
    All students must take first year Law in Year Four.

    Years Five and Six:
    Students will take an approved mix of required and elective courses from both faculties in these years. The student must take courses in the Faculty of Law totalling at least 45 credit hours. These courses must include: the compulsory core curriculum courses; a course relating to the philosophy of law or law in the international setting; as well as a course requiring a written essay worth at least two credit hours. This last course may be one integrated piece of work that satisfies the essay requirement and includes a significant business component.

    Students' choices of elective courses are subject to the approval of the Program Directors, who must review proposed elective course selections to ensure that the objectives of the program are met. The elective courses may not include introductory courses of a dual law and business nature, such as Law and Accounting or Business Law.

    Exchange Programs:
    Students enrolled in the concurrent program may be eligible for exchange programs through either faculty in Year Six. The student must satisfy both Program Directors that his or her course load is appropriately balanced before permission will be given to participate in an exchange program.

    Progression Standards:
    Students in this concurrent program must meet the progression standards of each faculty and stand in the top half of their class, where class refers to year and the school in which they are enrolled.

    Failure to Meet Progression Standards:
    A student who fails to meet the progression standards in any year must withdraw from the concurrent program. That student may, with permission from the appropriate Program Director, continue in one program and request the Faculty or School whose program was not selected for permission to complete that program at a later date.

    Dean's Honor List:
    Students in the program are considered for the Dean's Honor List depending on the faculty in which they are enrolled in any particular year.

    Eligibility is determined by the Faculty of Law and the Ivey Business School.

    Graduation with Distinction:
    Eligibility to graduate with distinction for each degree is determined by each Faculty.

    Fees:
    The normal fees for the HBA and LLB programs apply to the HBA/LLB program. In the years in which a student is registered in the Faculty of Law, LLB fees are assessed; HBA fees are assessed when a student is registered in the Ivey Business School.

    Background:

    Every year a small number of students in each faculty are very keen to seek both degrees.

    The MBA/LLB program has been a small but successful program. However, with an increasing emphasis on work experience to get into the MBA program, there are students who cannot qualify for that joint program who could qualify for HBA/LLB.

    To be eligible for the concurrent program, students would have to meet the admission requirements for each program and indicate on their application to each program that they wish to apply to the concurrent program. In addition, candidates would have to meet the special admissions criteria that Faculties jointly establish for the concurrent program. Once admitted to the concurrent program, students would have to meet the progression standards of each Faculty and stand in the top half of their class in each Faculty every year of the program.

    The doors would not be opened to students who would be taking seats from more qualified applicants, but rather the class would be diversified with students who would have something to offer to the rest of the students. The program would be small and very manageable.

  4. Faculty of Law: Second Term Format

    Recommended: That, effective September 1, 1998, the format of the Bachelor of Laws program be revised by the introduction of January courses and February/March/April courses;

    That the suffixes "c" and "d" respectively be used to designate January and February/March/April (FMA) courses in the Faculty of Law;

    That all courses with a "c" suffix carry four credit weights; and,

    That the add/drop period for the January courses be the first two days of the January Term, and the add/drop period for the February/March/April (FMA) courses be the first five days of the February/March/April (FMA) Term.

    REVISED CALENDAR COPY

    ACADEMIC PROGRAM

    All courses in the first year are obligatory. They include Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Introduction to Legal Theory, Property, and Torts. During the month of January regular classroom instruction will be deferred. Students enrolled in first year will work exclusively in small groups developing research, writing, and advocacy skills.

    Students in their second and third years must take fourteen to sixteen course credit hours in each term, with a minimum of twenty-nine hours and a maximum of thirty- one hours in the two terms combined; students may take more than thirty-one credit hours only with the permission of the Associate Dean (Academic).

    The following courses must be taken in second year:
    Administrative Law 401a/b
    Company Law 403a/b
    Evidence 414a/b
    Income Taxation 438 a/b

    The following courses must be taken in third year:
    Civil Procedure 446a/b
    Trusts 476a/b

    The regular winter term in the Faculty of law is divided into two terms. The January Term runs for the four weeks after classes begin in January. Students enrolled in first year will work exclusively in small groups developing research, writing, and advocacy skills during the January Term. Students in second year will be enrolled in only one January course in which they will receive daily classroom instruction. Students in third year will select one from a range of optional January courses. These options are ordinarily restricted to no more than twenty-five students, and offer a major writing or other active learning component. Students will fulfill their remaining course requirements for the year during the February/March/April Term.

    In second or third year a student must take at least one course that requires....

    Background:

    The current single winter term that runs from January to April is to be divided into two terms: a January Term that runs for the first twenty teaching days beginning the first day of classes in each January; and a February/March/April (FMA) Term that would run for the remainder of the academic year.

    In one respect, this is a scheduling change. The beginning and end day of winter classes, the number of courses taken, the course offerings themselves, and the number of classroom hours remain virtually unchanged. At the same time, it is expected that this proposal will allow the Faculty of Law to offer our existing program more effectively. For example, it is anticipated that this proposal will be catalytic for further curriculum reform; differentiate meaningfully each year of the three year program; offer students more and better active learning experiences; allow the faculty to concentrate on applied skill development drawing on more community and university resources; and enable the faculty to attract outstanding visiting faculty to teach unique offerings.

  5. Changes to Admission Requirements for Media, Information and Technoculture 3 year Area of Concentration and Combined Honors

    Recommended:That, effective April 1, 1998, the admission requirements for the Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT) 3-Year Area of Concentration and Combined Honors programs be revised as highlighted below.

    REVISED CALENDAR COPY

    Entrance to second year of the 3 year Area of Concentration (AOC) in MIT:

    Entrance to the AOC is limited. All students with an average of 65 percent in their first five university courses are eligible to apply. Students will be evaluated for admission based upon their academic standing.

    Entrance to the second year of the Combined Honors Program in MIT:

    Entrance to the Combined Honors program is limited. Students must be accepted by both participating programs. A minimum requirement for admission to the second year of the MIT Combined Honors program is an overall average of 75 percent with no grade lower than 65 percent and a minimum of 70 percent in the required 020-level MIT half-courses. Students will be evaluated for admission based upon their academic standing.

    Background:

    To ensure the best students for the multidisciplinary programs in MIT, entrance requirements were originally made much higher than is typical at UWO. This may, in fact, be discouraging some good students from applying, so the proposal relaxes admission requirements somewhat. A confusing statement (which has caused considerable misinterpretation among first year students) regarding guaranteed admission is also eliminated.

  6. Revision to 020-Level MIT Program Requirements

    Recommended: That, effective September 1, 1998, students in the Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT) 3-year Area of Concentration and Combined Honors programs be allowed to take 3 half-courses at the MIT 020-level and that students be allowed to take up to two full-course equivalents at the 020-level in MIT.

    REVISED CALENDAR COPY

    Students in the MIT program are required to take three MIT 020-level half-courses, including MIT 025a/b, 026a/b and 027a/b. Students typically would take two of these in their first year, and one in their second year. MIT 024a/b is also available to interested students, but is not required.

    Background:

    The Faculty of Communications and Open Learning requests an exception for the Media, Information and Technoculture program related to the restriction that undergraduate students cannot take more than one course at the 000-level in any subject. It is requested that students be allowed to take up to two full-course equivalents at the 020-level in MIT.

    The MIT program is already highly multidisciplinary and draws upon several key areas, including journalism, media studies, information science, cultural studies, and computer science. In order to adequately prepare students who wish to enter the MIT program for upper level work, it is proposed that three half-courses be required, representing the diverse disciplinary areas outlined above. These three courses include:

    025F/G: Mass Media in Society
    026F/G: Introduction to Information Retrieval
    027F/G: The Tech in Technoculture: Computing Systems and Technologies

    Typically, students would take two of the required courses in their first year and the third course in their second year. A fourth course (024F/G: Canadian News Media: An Introduction) would also be available to students who are interested, but is not required.

    In taking these courses from such diverse subject areas, students will be achieving a suitably broad educational experience. Many students will take only the three required half-courses (1.5 full-course equivalents), but even for those who want to take two full-course equivalents in MIT, the regulation that students must take a course in "each of five different subjects" (UWO Undergraduate Calendar p. 25) still will have been met very well. From a pedagogical standpoint, it is imperative to have this flexibility to be able to adequately orient students to these areas of study early in their programs. All students then would have an equal grounding in the central disciplines of this multidisciplinary area before taking upper level courses. The requested exemption will allow this pedagogical objective to be achieved.

  7. Approval of Formats for Submission to SCAPA/DAP/Registrar's Office

    Recommended: That Senate approve the instructions, detailed in Appendix 2 (pp. 1-7), for making changes to academic policy, programs and courses, including the introduction of deadlines and the formats for submission.

    Background:

    DAP stands for "Deans: Academic Programs" and refers to the "virtual committee" of Deans that was established in March 1996 when Senate restructured the procedures for admissions, academic programs, and scholarships. This included the disbanding of a number of committees, including SCAAPP (whose responsibilities were reassigned), and the establishment of SCAPA as a policy-focused committee. When the new procedures were established, Senate mandated that they be reviewed by SCAPA and the Senate Operations/Agenda Committee within two years. That review has been carried out and and is reported in the Report of the Operations/Agenda Committee to Senate (Senate Exhibit I, March 16, 1998).

    In reviewing the DAP process, the University Secretariat and the Registrar's Office saw the need for clearer definition of the roles of the academic committees and how to submit proposals to each. The proposed instructions, deadlines and formats, taken from the World Wide Web information in the Academic Handbook on the University Secretariat Website, are detailed in Appendix 2.

    Appendix 2 also includes information on authority delegated to Deans' ("Deans' Responsibility for Admissions, Academic Programs and Scholarships" by Senate in March 1996. restructured procedures and information prsent to Senate when the Senate Committee on Admissions and Academic Programs Policy (SCAAPP) was disbanded and its responsibilities reassigned.

FOR INFORMATION

  1. Scholarship/Prize/Award Conditions

    SCAPA has approved on behalf of the Senate the following Terms of Reference for new scholarships, bursaries and awards for recommendation to the Board of Governors through the Vice-Chancellor:

    Faculty of Science Students' Council Awards (4) (Faculty of Science)

    Available to a full-time undergraduate student registered in any year beyond year one in the Faculty of Science who has a minimum 'B' average. Preference will be given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in both university and community activities. These awards have been established to recognize and assist a good student in the Faculty of Science and have been made possible by generous contributions from the Faculty of Science Students' Council and the Faculty of Science.

    Students must apply for these awards. Applications are available in the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Science and in the Office of the Registrar. Completed applications must be accompanied by an essay (maximum 500 words) describing how the applicant has demonstrated leadership in university and community activities and must be returned to the Office of the Registrar, Rm. 190 Stevenson-Lawson Building not later than November 30th in any given year. Final Selection will be made by the Office of the Registrar in consultation with the Awards committee, Faculty of Science Students' Council.

    Value:$500
    Effective: May 1998

    Edward Kernaghan HBA Award (Richard Ivey School of Business)

    Awarded to a student entering the first year of the HBA program based on financial need and minimum 'B' average. The award will be renewed for year two for students maintaining the defined criteria in HBA year one. If a student does not meet these requirements, year two students will have an opportunity to apply for this award.

    The HBA Scholarship Committee of the Richard Ivey School of Business will review and select each award recipient. Application forms for these awards are available from the Admissions Office of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

    These awards are made possible in recognition of a generous donation made by Edward Kernaghan (HBA '65) through Foundation Western.

    Value:$2,000
    Effective: May 1998

    This award will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    Joan and Geno Francolini HBA Award (Richard Ivey School of Business)

    Awarded to a student entering first year of the HBA program based on financial need and minimum 'B' average. The award will be renewed for year two for students maintaining the defined criteria in HBA year one. If a student does not meet these requirements, year two students will have an opportunity to apply for this award.

    The HBA Scholarship Committee of the Richard Ivey School of Business will review and select each award recipient. Application forms for these awards are available from the Admissions Office of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

    These awards are made possible in recognition of a generous donation made by Joan (HBA and Secretarial Science '55) and Geno (HBA '54) Francolini through Foundation Western.

    Value: $2,000
    Effective: May 1998

    This award will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    Thomas Brent HBA Awards (2) (Richard Ivey School of Business)

    Awarded to students entering first year of the HBA program based on financial need and minimum 'B' average. The award will be renewed for year two for students maintaining the defined criteria in HBA year one. If a student does not meet these requirements, year two students will have an opportunity to apply for this award.

    The HBA Scholarship Committee of the Richard Ivey School of Business will review and select each award recipient. Application forms for these awards are available from the Admissions Office of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

    These awards are made possible in recognition of a generous donation made by Thomas Brent (HBA '59) through Foundation Western.

    Value:$2,000
    Effective:May 1998

    This award will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    Bruce Birmingham HBA Award (Richard Ivey School of Business)

    Awarded to a student entering first year of the HBA program based on financial need and minimum 'B' average. The award will be renewed for year two for students maintaining the defined criteria in HBA year one. If a student does not meet these requirements, year two students will have an opportunity to apply for this award.

    The HBA Scholarship Committee of the Richard Ivey School of Business will review and select each award recipient. Application forms for these awards are available from the Admissions Office of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

    These awards are made possible in recognition of a generous donation made by Bruce Birmingham, Chair of The Ivey Campaign, through Foundation Western.

    Value: $2,000
    Effective: May 1998

    This award will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    Dez Windischmann Memorial Bursaries (2) (Faculty of Law)

    Awarded annually to students in the Faculty of Law demonstrating financial need. These bursaries were established through Foundation Western by family, classmates and friends in memory of Dez Windischmann (LLB '68).

    Value: $700
    Effective: May 1998

    This bursary will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    First Nations Entrance Scholarship (Faculty of Law)

    Awarded to a Native or Inuit student entering first year of the Law program based on a demonstrated record of public service in the Native or Inuit community. Selection will be made by the Admissions committee of the Faculty of Law. This scholarship was established through Foundation Western by Professor Bruce Feldthusen, the Faculty of Law, and members of the Native community.

    Value: $500
    Effective: May 1998

    Mary Warner Prize in Human Rights (Faculty of Law)

    Awarded annually to a student completing the Human Rights course in Law who best exemplifies Mary Warner's commitment to the anti-discrimination ideals of Human Rights Law in Canada. Recipient will be chosen at the

    end of the course by means of a secret ballot vote by students enrolled in the course. This prize was established through Foundation Western by Professor Bruce Feldthusen in honor of Mary Warner.

    Value: $200
    Effective: May 1998

    Michael Allen Harte Award (Faculty of Law)

    This award, given to a second year student in Law, is to honor the life of the late Michael Allen Harte (LLB '88). In addition to demonstrating academic ability, the recipient will have made significant contributions to the life of the Law school, his/her classmates and the community. The student will also reflect Michael's generosity of spirit, his humour and zest for life and his wonderful capacity for unfailing and enduring friendship, shared with so many. Candidates will be nominated by their peers and chosen by special committee. This award was established through Foundation Western by Michael's brother Paul E. Harte (LLB '92) and their parents Norma and Graeme Haill.

    Value: $750
    Effective: May 1998

    David S. Simmonds HBA Awards (Richard Ivey School of Business)

    Awarded to a student entering the first year of the HBA program based on financial need and minimum 'B' average. The award will be renewed for year two for students maintaining the defined criteria in HBA year one. If a student does not meet these requirements, year two students will have an opportunity to apply for this award.

    The HBA Scholarship Committee of the Richard Ivey School of Business will review and select each award recipient. Application forms for these awards are available from the Admissions Office of the Richard Ivey School of Business.

    Value: $2,500
    Effective: May 1998

    This award will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    Parents' Fund Ontario Student Bursaries (11) (Any Faculty)

    Available to any undergraduate student who is progressing satisfactorily and has demonstrated financial need. These bursaries were made possible by generous contributions from Western parents and the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund.

    Value: Up to $1,000
    Effective: May 1998

    This bursary will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund program.

    L. Maxwell Forsythe Scholarship in Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medicine)

    Awarded annually to a student entering first year of the MD program who has achieved the highest applicant score, based on current admission criteria. This scholarship was made possible by Mary C. Forsythe in memory of her late husband Maxwell Forsythe.

    The recipient will be selected by the Admissions Committee within the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario.

    Value: $5,000
    Effective: May 1998

    Jean Winnifred Forrest Scholarships (2) (Faculty of Health Science, Nursing)

    Awarded annually to undergraduate students who have completed year 3 of the basic undergraduate Nursing program, have a minimum 'A' average and demonstrate an interest in and commitment to family and community nursing. The recipient will be selected by the Scholarships and Awards Committee of the School of Nursing. This scholarship was made possible by a bequest from the late Jean W. Forrest through Foundation Western.

    Value: $1250
    Effective:May 1998

    Nabisco Scholarship (Any Faculty)

    Awarded annually to the student with the highest standing in Foods and Nutrition 025a/b. Tenable only by students enrolled at the constituent university.

    Value: $1,000
    Effective: May 1998

    County of Grey Scholarship (Any Faculty)

    Awarded to the top first-year student entering in the Fall from the County of Grey with a minimum average of at least 80%.

    Value: $1,000
    Effective: 1998-99 only.

    ____________________________________________________________________ Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT III - March 20, 1998 - Appendix 1

    COURSES TO BE RENAMED "HUMAN ECOLOGY"

    Human Ecology 022a/b: Professional Perspectives
    Introduction to the philosophy of the home economics/human ecology profession in North America and the evolving concepts of home economics/human ecology as a field of study in higher education. Socialization toward professionalism will include the development of knowledge, skills and values appropriate to the profession.
    4 lecture/seminar hours, half course.
    Restricted to students registered in the Human Ecology program.

    Human Ecology 255a/b: Communications
    A social-psychological analysis of communication theory in the context of interpersonal small-group and large-group dynamics. Group exercises to improve communication skills and to stimulate discussion. Assignments and laboratories to provide an opportunity to prepare and present information within the scope of home economics/human ecology.
    Antirequisite: The former Home Economics 355a/b.
    3 lecture hours, 3 laboratory hours, half course.
    Registration limited to students in the Human Ecology program.

    Human Ecology 343a/b: Consumer Economics and Resource Management
    An interdisciplinary approach to the study of the roles and responsibilities of consumer, marketer, and government in the market-place. Emphasis on consumer behavior and management of human, economic, and environmental resources.
    Antirequisite: The former Home Economics 345.
    3 lecture hours, half course.

    Human Ecology 349a/b: Principles of Management
    An introductory study of management principles, evolution of theories and influence of the behavioral sciences on current management practice. Functions of management, assessment and development of managerial skills. Case studies to help develop analytical and decision-making skills.
    Prerequisite: Business 020 or permission of the Department.
    3 hours, half course.

    Human Ecology 401a/b: Research Methodology
    Students will study the components of research and develop a research proposal. Registration restricted to Year 4 Honors Human Ecology students.
    Antirequisites: The former Clothing, Textiles and Design 495a/b, the former Foods and Nutrition 461y, 491a/b, 492a/b, the former Home Economics 493a/b.
    3 lecture/seminar hours, half course.

    Human Ecology 402a/b: Supervised Research
    Limited enrolment course.
    Prerequisite: Human Ecology 401a/b or the former Home Economics 401a/b and permission of the Department.
    Minimum of 6 tutorial/laboratory/field work hours, half course.