Report of the Senate Committee on Academic Policy and Admissions

Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT III - May 15, 1998

FOR APPROVAL

1. SCAPA has approved the recommendations of an ad hoc Subcommittee, chaired by T. Topic of Brescia College, which had considered changes needed to accommodate new programs and faculties within existing degree requirements, and explored a variety of possibilities for simplifying and streamlining the existing progression and graduation requirements. While suggestions below affect first-year and general requirements for three-year degrees, no changes are recommended for honors degree requirements. Consultation with all undergraduate faculties has taken place.

1a) Classification of First-Year Courses

Recommended: That the listing of areas available to students in the first-year program include a new category, "Multidisciplinary" to allow inclusion of first-year courses in new programs that do not fit into the core faculty categories, as shown in Appendix 1.

Background:

In the "Multidisciplinary" and "Other" course categories, courses should be flagged that are accepted as substitutes for Arts, Social Science or Science credits by particular faculties. Faculties shall review from time to time the content of new programs and courses to determine whether they should be designated acceptable substitutes for "core faculty" courses. The current classifications are shown on pages 21-22 of the 1998-99 academic calendar).

1b) General Requirements for Three-Year Degrees

(S.3355.04, S.3366.04, S.3376, S.3399.01, S.93-303, S.94-221)(S.3366.04, S.3368, S.3376, S.93-303) (S.1694)

Recommended: That effective September 1, 1998, the requirements for three-year degrees be integrated and revised to read as shown below:

REVISED CALENDAR COPY

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THREE-YEAR DEGREES

The requirement for graduation is completion of a program of fifteen courses, subject to the following general conditions and to conditions set by each Faculty, department or program:

General Requirements

  1. Five full courses (or equivalent) numbered 001-099 must be successfully completed. The five courses must include at least four different subjects and no more than two courses may be taken in one subject. No more than four courses can be selected from a single Faculty.
    Note: In selecting courses outside their home faculty, students should be aware of the breadth requirements of their intended degree program.
  2. Satisfactory completion of one or more areas of concentration is a graduation requirement. The senior courses specified for the area or areas of concentration must be completed with an average of at least 60% and the majority of senior courses specified for the area of concentration must be completed through The University of Western Ontario or one of its affiliated colleges.
  3. At least eight senior courses (numbered 100-499) must be completed satisfactorily.
  4. A mark of 50% or higher must be achieved in the courses counted for graduation.
  5. An overall average of at least 60% must be achieved in the courses counted for graduation.
  6. An average of 60% must be achieved in the senior courses specified for the area of concentration.
  7. Not more than five courses may be taken at another university on a Letter of Permission. A minimum of ten courses, at least five of which must be senior, must be completed at this university or one of the affiliated colleges.
  8. Students admitted with advanced standing are required to complete a minimum of five senior courses offered by the university or one of the affiliated colleges in the 15-course program.

BSc Requirements

The general requirements listed above for the Three-Year Degree must be met, in addition to the following conditions:

  1. At least ten courses from the offerings of the Faculty of Science must be included in the program, with the sole exception of the 3-year BSc Physiology and Psychology program.
  2. Among the five required courses numbered 001-099, at least one course must be included from the Faculty of Arts or from the Faculty of Social Science (or the equivalent departments in the affiliated colleges), or an approved alternate must be selected.

BA Requirements

The general requirements listed above for the Three-Year Degree must be met, in addition to the following conditions:

  1. Satisfactory completion of at least two designated essay courses, at least one of which must be numbered 100 or higher. For students in the Faculties of Arts, Health Sciences, Information and Media Studies, and Social Science, the senior essay course must be taken from the student's area of concentration. Students who declared an area of concentration before May 1, 1995, and who graduate by September 2004, must complete one senior essay course; however, it is not a requirement that it be taken in their area of concentration. These two essay courses must be completed through The University of Western Ontario or through one of its affiliated colleges. (Current students with ten or more courses completed prior to September 1984, or students admitted with advanced credit for ten courses, are required to complete only one senior essay course at Western.) There is no retroactive essay course credit for courses completed prior to September 1984.
  2. Inclusion among the required five courses numbered 001-099 of at least one course from each of the Faculties of Arts, Science and Social Science (or the equivalent department in the affiliated colleges) or an approved alternate.
  3. Inclusion of no more than eight courses in one single subject among the 15 courses of the program.

Background:

Current calendar copy is shown on page 24 of the 1998-99 academic calendar. With regard to the above proposal, revisions to the requirements for 3-year BA and BSc degrees include the following:

  1. The requirement that first-year students take courses in five different subjects is withdrawn, and students will be allowed to take two courses in one subject among the five first-year courses required. In the past six months MIT (S.98-081), ICS (S.98-013) and Math and Applied Math (S.97-241) have requested and received permission to allow first-year students to take 1.5 or 2 subjects in one subject area to allow those students who wish to specialize early to do so. This flexibility should be extended to all first-year students in BA or BSc programs. Students should still be required to study a minimum of four different subjects in first-year.
  2. The limitation on the number of half-courses that can be taken in first-year has been deleted.
  3. Section (b) in the current requirements for the 3-year BA degree stipulates completion of 10 courses in Constituent university core faculties/programs, or their affiliate counterparts. Exceptions have been approved by Senate, e.g., in March 1998 Senate approved that students in the MIT 3-year BA are required to take 3 first-year MIT half courses and may take up to four. The intention of the requirement (to protect enrollments in the core faculties) is misguided and the requirement should be deleted.
  4. The requirements for the 3-year BA and BSc degrees should be rearranged in the calendar. Currently the requirements for the two degrees are listed separately and there is considerable repetition. The recommendation for change is that the two sets of requirements be collapsed. The requirements common to both BA and BSc should be listed first, with a short section detailing the requirements specific to the BSc, and the requirements specific to the BA.

2. Introduction of Combined Honors Programs in Media, Information and Technoculture

Recommended: That effective May 1, 1998, the Faculty of Information and Media Studies introduce combined honors programs with the following departments or programs: Anthropology, Comparative Literature and Civilization, Economics, English, Film, French, History, German, International and Comparative Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Russian, Sociology, Spanish, Visual Arts, and Women's Studies.

NEW CALENDAR COPY: FIMS SECTION OF THE CALENDAR

MIT Combined Honors Programs

Combinations:

Anthropology, Comparative Literature and Civilization, Economics, English, Film, French, History, German, International and Comparative Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Russian, Sociology, Spanish, Visual Arts, and Women's Studies.

Admission Requirements:

Entrance to the second and senior years of the Combined Honors program is limited. Students must be accepted by both participating programs. A minimum requirement for admission to the MIT portion of a 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 half-courses taken in first-year. Attainment of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Students will be evaluated for admission based upon their academic standing.

Progression Requirements:

Students must meet the general regulations pertaining to progression requirements for combined honors programs.

Program Requirements:

The Combined Honors programs with Media, Information and Technoculture require six courses in MIT in addition to the number of courses specified for combined honors by the other participating program - usually six honors courses. Additional optional courses - usually three - to make up the fifteen required senior courses must be taken with the approval of the participating programs. For the Combined Honors program with Computer Science, refer to the specific requirements for that program.

First year:

Five courses from 001-099, including Computer Science 031a/b, MIT 025a/b and MIT 026a/b. MIT 024a/b is recommended but not required. If desired, students in first-year can take CS031a/b and either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, with the remaining course then taken in Year 2.

Note: Scholar's Elective students must take all of MIT 025a/b, 026a/b and CS 031a/b in their first year.

Second, Third and Fourth Years:

Six senior MIT courses or full-course equivalents are required for the MIT portion of the Combined Honors. Of these, 3.5 are required, as specified below, and the remaining 2.5 must be chosen from the lists of additional courses below, some of which are cross-listed with other departments.

Required:

Either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, if not taken in Year 1.
MIT 209F/G or 244 F/G, 234F/G or 235 F/G, 243F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, and 248F/G.


At least 1 full course or full-course equivalent from the following not previously taken:

MIT 207F/G, 209F/G, 234F/G, 235F/G, 242F/G, 243F/G, 244F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, 248F/G, 250F/G, 251a/b, 255F/G, 320F/G, 330F/G, 332F/G, 333F/G, 336F/G, 344E, 345F/G, 346F/G, 444E.

The remainder of the six senior MIT courses may be chosen from (depending upon course prerequisites and availability):

Admin. Studies 280F/G, 355F/G, 356F/G
English 200, 256G
Film 270F/G
*Geography 242a/b, 280a/b, 332a/b, 342a/b, 359F/G, 379a/b, 381a/b, 383a/b
History 404E (Huron), 411E
Political Science 201F, 222E (Huron), 246E
*Psychology 234a/b, 235a/b, 261F/G, 270F/G, 373F/G, 386a/b, 390a/b
Sociology 461F/G, 469F/G
Visual Arts 231, 331.

*Note: For selection of appropriate Geography and Psychology courses, students should consult with MIT academic counselling.

CALENDAR COPY: COMBINED HONORS SECTION OF THE CALENDAR [pp. 52-55]

First year:

Computer Science 031a/b, MIT 025a/b and MIT 026a/b. If desired, students in first-year can take CS 031a/b and either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, with the remaining course then taken in Year 2.

Second, Third and Fourth Years:

Required:

Either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, if not taken in Year 1.
MIT 209F/G or 244 F/G, 234F/G or 235 F/G, 243F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, and 248F/G.
At least 1 full course or full-course equivalent from the following not previously taken:
MIT 207F/G, 209F/G, 234F/G, 235F/G, 242F/G, 243F/G, 244F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, 248F/G, 250F/G, 251a/b, 255F/G, 320F/G, 330F/G, 332F/G, 333F/G, 336F/G, 344E, 345F/G, 346F/G, 444E.

The remainder of the six senior MIT courses may be chosen from cross-listed courses as indicated within the Faculty of Information and Media Studies section.

Background:

Because of the confusion due to the formation of a new faculty and a new program, the Combined Honors programs were never formally approved by SCAPA in 1997 when they were initially established. The Faculty is requesting such approval now. The first-year requirements for MIT programs provide basic knowledge in the three fundamental areas of this multidiscplinary program - media studies, information science and computing technologies. The requirements for 2nd, 3rd and 4th years have been reorganized to achieve greater clarity.

MIT cross-listed courses and new MIT courses are outlined in Appendix 2 for information.

3. Introduction of a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Media, Information and Technoculture

Recommended: That effective September 1, 1998, a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Media, Information and Technoculture be introduced in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies.

NEW CALENDAR COPY

Bachelor of Arts in Honors Media, Information and Technoculture

Admission Requirements:

Entrance to the second and senior years of the Honors program is limited. A minimum requirement for admission to the MIT 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 first-year half-courses. Attainment of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Students will be evaluated for admission based upon their academic standing.

Progression Requirements:

Students must meet the general regulations pertaining to progression requirements for honors programs.

Program Requirements:

The Honors MIT program consists of twenty full courses or full-course equivalents. After the first year, the program requires nine senior MIT full courses or full-course equivalents, as outlined below, and six

optional full courses or equivalent. At least four of the six optional courses must be at the 200-level or higher.

First Year:

Five courses from 001-099, including Computer Science 031a/b, MIT 025a/b and MIT 026a/b. MIT 024a/b is recommended but not required. If desired, students in first-year can take CS 031a/b and either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, with the remaining course then taken in Year 2.

Note: Scholar's Elective students must take all of MIT 025a/b, 026a/b and CS 031a/b in their first year.

Second Year:

Either MIT 025a/b or 026a/b, if not taken in Year 1.
MIT 209F/G or 244 F/G, 234F/G or 235 F/G, 243F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, and 248F/G.
At least one optional course.

Third and Fourth Years:

At least 2 MIT full courses or full-course equivalents from the following not previously taken:
MIT 207F/G, 209F/G, 234F/G, 235F/G, 242F/G, 243F/G, 244F/G, 245F/G, 246F/G, 247F/G, 248F/G, 250F/G, 251a/b, 255F/G, 320F/G, 330F/G, 332F/G, 333F/G, 336F/G, 344E, 345F/G, 346F/G, 444E.

Up to 3.5 MIT cross-listed full courses or full-course equivalents from the following (dependent upon course availability and prerequisites):

Admin. Studies 280F/G, 355F/G, 356F/G
English 200, 256G
Film 270F/G
*Geography 242a/b, 280a/b, 332a/b, 342a/b, 359F/G, 379a/b, 381a/b, 383a/b
History 404E (Huron), 411E
Political Science 201F, 222E (Huron), 246E
*Psychology 234a/b, 235a/b, 261F/G, 270F/G, 373F/G, 386a/b, 390a/b
Sociology 461F/G, 469F/G
Visual Arts 231, 331.

At least 4.5 optional full courses or full-course equivalents.

*Note: For selection of appropriate Geography and Psychology courses, students should consult with MIT academic counselling.

Background:

The Honors MIT program will provide students with the option of concentrating more fully on the areas encompassed by MIT, while still retaining the ability to incorporate multidisciplinary perspectives into their honors program. The multidisciplinary nature of the MIT programs is still evolving, particularly with the upcoming appointments of five jointly-appointed faculty. In this regard, four of the senior courses listed in the documentation (MIT 320, 330, 332 and 333) are currently still undergoing consultation and development, with DAP approval anticipated shortly.

FOR INFORMATION

1. Scholarship/Bursary/Award Conditions

SCAPA has approved on behalf of the Senate the following Terms of Reference for a new award and bursary for recommendation to the Board of Governors through the Vice-Chancellor:

Eve Harp and Judith Wiley Classical Studies Travel Award (Faculty of Arts [Classical Studies])

Awarded annually based on academic achievement to a graduate or undergraduate student in Classical Studies, to assist with travel costs for research at libraries or sites anywhere in the world, but especially Greece or Italy. Preference will be given to graduate students. The recipient will be selected by the Faculty of Arts Scholarship Committee in consultation with the Graduate Chair of Classical Studies. This award was established through Foundation Western by Eve Harp (BA '92) and Judith Wiley.

Value: $500

Effective: May 1997

Dr. Gordon Nikiforuk Bursary (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry [Dentistry])

Awarded to a first-year student in the DDS program who has entered the School of Dentistry with a minimum B+ average and demonstrates financial need. This bursary was established by Colgate Palmolive Canada Inc. and Colgate Oral Pharmaceutical Inc. in honor of Dr. Gordon Nikiforuk, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto from 1970 to 1997.

Value: $1,000

Effective: May 1998