Report of the Senate Committee on Academic Policy and Admissions

Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT III - June 19, 1998

FOR APPROVAL

1. Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS)

Recommended: That the three-year Bachelor of Arts (Administrative and Commercial Studies) program be withdrawn and replaced by a four-year general Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies program in the Faculty of Social Science, effective September 1, 1999.

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BACS (ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMERCIAL STUDIES)

The Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies program, which includes two areas of concentration, provides students with a 4-year general program, combining commerce and administration courses with a broad background in social science. Careful selection of courses will permit transfer to other 3-year or 4-year programs whose requirements have been fulfilled. Students registered in the BACS program are eligible to complete one additional non-BACS area of concentration within the 20-course BACS degree requirements. In selected cases, the second area of concentration may open the possibility of completing a Diploma in Honors Standing in that discipline following graduation from BACS. Counseling for this option is required from the Academic Counselors in the Faculty of Social Science and the Department concerned.

Note:

As of September 1999, students registered in either second or third year of the BA (Administrative and Commercial Studies) program will have the option of either completing the BA (ACS) program, or transferring into the Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) program. Students choosing to remain in the BA (Administrative and Commercial Studies) program as of September 1998, will have until September 2008 to complete the program requirements necessary for graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Administrative and Commercial Studies). Those wishing to transfer to the BACS program must consult with the BACS office to receive the requisite counseling and permissions.

Admission, Progression and Graduation Requirements

Students may apply to enter the Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) program when they apply for admission to the University. Because enrolment is limited, possession of the University's minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Please note the Mathematics and English requirements in the ADMISSION section.

Transfer students who have been admitted to Western with advanced standing or students who are currently registered in another program at the University may also request permission to register in the BACS program. UWO students wishing to enter the BACS program after first or second year must have achieved an overall average of 70% in their last five courses or equivalent. Transfer students must have successfully completed the equivalent of the BACS first year Mathematics requirement, Economics 020 (Finance and Administration stream only), and one additional full course equivalent in social science. Permission for such students to enter the program may be granted by either the Dean of Social Science or, for students registered at an Affiliated College, by the Dean of that College. Part-time students must complete the Mathematics requirements noted in the ADMISSION section and five university full-course equivalents before requesting admission to the program. The student's relevant academic performance, compared to the standards required of students in the program, is of primary consideration. Students interested in transferring into the program are advised to consult BACS counseling. Students who fail to meet the progression requirements governing the BACS program will normally be expected to complete additional courses in the 3-year BA program (in another area of concentration) before applying for readmission into the BACS program.

BACS students must meet the general regulations pertaining to course selection, progression and graduation for 3-year BA programs and, in addition, must:

1. achieve a grade point total of twice the number of courses attempted during each academic session. (For example, a student who is registered in five full-course equivalents in the Fall/Winter session must obtain at least ten grade points during that session; a student enrolled in three full-course equivalents must obtain at least six grade points.)

2. achieve a graduating average of 65% in the 20 courses counted for graduation from the program. A maximum of 25 course attempts will be allowed. Students with advanced standing must achieve an average of 65% on the courses completed at Western and counted toward the BACS degree.

Area of Concentration: Finance and Administration
First Year
Economics 020
One full course or equivalent from: Calculus 050a/b, 051a/b,081a/b; Linear Algebra 040a/b; Mathematics 028b, 030, 031
Business 020
Administrative and Commercial Studies 020a/b and Computer Science 031a/b (or another half course in Computer Science numbered 020-099)
One designated essay full-course equivalent numbered 020E-099E from Anthropology, Geography, History, or Political Science

Second Year
Business 257
Economics 150a/b and 152a/b
Statistical Science 135 or Economics 122a/b and 123F/G
Psychology 164 or Sociology 169 or Administrative and Commercial Studies 180
One full-course equivalent option

Third Year
Administrative and Commercial Studies 372 or 360a/b and 361a/b
Administrative and Commercial Studies 310a/b and 320a/b
One full course or equivalent from: Economics 154a/b, 156a/b, 180a/b, 165F/G, 184a/b; Actuarial Science 153
One full course or equivalent from: History 143F/G, 144F/G, 146F/G; Philosophy 162F/G; Political Science 211E, 246E
One full-course equivalent option (must be from the Faculty of Arts, unless Arts option taken in Second Year)

Fourth Year
Administrative and Commercial Studies 330a and 410b
Two full courses or equivalent from: Administrative and Commercial Studies 275a/b, 372 (must be completed if not taken in Third Year), 460a/b, 461a/b; Economics 1xxa/b, 163a/b, 164a/b; Geography 372a/b; Sociology 3xxa/b
One designated essay full-course equivalent numbered 200 or above
One full-course equivalent option

Note:
Students are encouraged to consult with BACS counseling about selecting options from prepared lists of Social Science courses that will allow for specialization in various theme areas (e.g. international relations, regional studies, business-government relations, etc.).

Area of Concentration: Organizational and Human Resources
First Year
Psychology 020
Sociology 020
One full course or equivalent from: Calculus 050a/b, 051a/b,081a/b; Linear Algebra 040a/b; Mathematics 028b, 030, 031
Business 020
Administrative and Commercial Studies 020a/b and Computer Science 031a/b (or another half course in Computer Science numbered 020-099)

Second Year
Business 257
Statistical Science 023a/b and 024a/b or 135 or Psychology 282E or Sociology 231
Psychology 164 or Sociology 169 or Administrative and Commercial Studies 180
One designated essay full-course equivalent from Anthropology, Geography, History or Political Science
One full-course equivalent option (Note: Economics 020 is required for students taking advanced level Economics courses in Third or Fourth Year)

Third Year
Two full courses or equivalent from: Administrative and Commercial Studies 155a/b, 310a/b, 320a/b; Economics 150a/b, 152a/b, 155a/b, 156a/b; History 143F/G, 144F/G, 146F/G; Philosophy 162F/G
One full course or equivalent from: Psychology 150, 154a/b, 155a/b, 170; Sociology 233
One full-course equivalent option (must be from the Faculty of Arts)
One full-course equivalent option

Fourth Year
One 200-300 level Administrative and Commercial Studies full course or equivalent in Organizational Behavior
Administrative and Commercial Studies 330a and 410b
One full course or equivalent from Administrative and Commercial Studies 355F/G, 356F/G; Political Science 211E, 246E; Sociology 3xxF/G, 3xxa/b, 3xxF/G, 3xxF/G
One designated essay full-course equivalent numbered 200 or above
One full-course equivalent option (must be from the Faculty of Arts, unless taken in Third Year).

Note:
Students are encouraged to consult with BACS counseling about selecting options from prepared lists of Social Science courses that will allow for specialization in various theme areas (e.g. international relations, regional studies, business-government relations, etc.).

BACS (ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMERCIAL STUDIES) Combined Areas of Concentration
A number of combined areas of concentration are available within the BACS program. These include Finance and Administration combined with Economics, Finance and Administration combined with French, Finance and Administration combined with Statistics, Organizational and Human Resources combined with Psychology, Organizational and Human Resources combined with Sociology, and Organizational and Human Resources combined with French. Please see BACS counseling for details of these and other possible combinations.

Background:

The Bachelor of Arts (Administrative and Commercial Studies--ACS) program at UWO is a uniquely multi-disciplinary program within the Faculty of Social Science. The proposed four-year Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) program will enhance the academic merit and intellectual rigour of the existing highly regarded three-year BA (ACS) program by requiring students in their 3rd and 4th years to progress through an expanded number of senior-level Social Science courses presently unavailable to them within the three-year program. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the existing three-year BA (ACS) program, students must complete a relatively large number of 020-100 level courses across the academic disciplines as prerequisite to study at the 200-300 level. Consequently, there presently are insufficient opportunities within a three-year program for students to develop areas of academic specialization within the field of administrative and commercial studies. The proposed four-year program, therefore, will meet the strong demand among students in the three-year BA (ACS) program for a fourth year of study that will provide more program flexibility, while offering expanded opportunities to take courses with a more practical commercial application. Whereas the proposal leaves the first two years of the existing three-year program largely intact, thereby preserving its established strengths, the most substantive changes will occur in the final two years of the four-year program when there will be a heightened emphasis on practical commercial studies in addition to increased opportunities for developing areas of sub-concentration from among a wide array of senior-level options offered by the seven departments within the Faculty of Social Science. Moreover, the restructured program and, in particular, the addition of two new required courses (a first-year Introduction to Administrative and Commercial Studies and a fourth-year Advanced Seminar in Administrative and Commercial Studies) will provide a clarity of focus the three-year program lacks, and accentuate the unique strengths of studying administrative and commercial studies from a Social Science perspective. The creation of a new degree designation - Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies - will provide due recognition of the uniqueness of the program's multi disciplinary character. The proposed changes also anticipate what is likely to be a widespread movement away from three-year degree programs and toward four-year general degree programs in Ontario's universities as a consequence of the planned elimination of the OAC year in the province.

September 1998 will be the final date for admission to the existing three-year BA (ACS) Administrative Studies program.

As of September 1999, students who are registered in either second or third year of the existing BA (ACS) program will have the option of either completing the three-year BA (ACS) program, or transferring into the four-year Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies (BACS) program. Those wishing to transfer must consult with the Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies program counseling office to receive the requisite counseling and permissions.

Students who are registered in the existing BA (ACS) program as of September 1998, will have until September 2008 to complete the program requirements necessary for graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Administrative and Commercial Studies).

Course proposals have been forwarded to DAP for comment. In summary:

All existing courses designated "Administrative Studies" will be redesignated "Administrative and Commercial Studies" and their antirequisites and prerequisites will be changed to reflect the course name changes.

Administrative Studies 040E, 151E, 164a/b, 168a/b, 285, 364E and 370 will be withdrawn from course offerings in the Faculty of Social Science.

Five new Administrative and Commercial Studies courses will be introduced: ACS 020a/b: Introduction to Administrative and Commercial Studies; ACS 310a/b: Finance for Administrative and Commericial Studies; ACS 320a/b: Marketing for Administrative and Commercial Studies; ACS 330a: Operations Management for Administrative and Commercial Studies; ACS 410b: Advanced Seminar in Administrative and Commercial Studies.

Course descriptions for the new courses are available in the University Secretariat with the exception of the following which will be submitted for approval by DAP once details have been finalized:

1) courses indicated in Fourth Year of the Area of Concentration for Finance & Administration, namely, Economics 1xxa/b (Comparative International Business) and Sociology 3xxa/b (Demography for Business and Policy) and

2) courses indicated in Fourth Year of the Area of Concentration for Organizational and Human Resources, namely, Sociology 3xxF/G (Family and Work), Sociology 3xxa/b (Demography for Business and Policy), Sociology 3xxF/G (Work and Policy in an Aging Society), and Sociology 3xxF/G (Work and Health Across the Life Course).

2. BESc-MD Concurrent Degree Program

Recommended: That a limited enrolment concurrent degree program between the Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, leading to the BESc and the MD degrees after seven years of academic studies, be established effective September 1, 1998, and

That a fifth option (Option E: Mechanical Engineering and Medicine) be established in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

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E. Mechanical Engineering and Medicine

Admission
Before entering the concurrent BESc/MD degree program, students must have completed the first three years of the Mechanical Engineering program at Western, Option E (Mechanical Engineering and Medicine). In addition to applying for the concurrent degree program through the Office of the Associate Dean - Academic of the Faculty of Engineering Science, students must also make a separate application for admission into the MD program. As a part of the application process, students must write a letter to the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry (Admission Office) indicating their intent to proceed into the concurrent BESc/MD program.

Admission Criteria
To be eligible for the concurrent degree program, students must have completed all the requirements of the first year curriculum in the Faculty of Engineering Science with a minimum year weighted average (YWA) of 80%, and the second and third year program of Option E (Mechanical Engineering and Medicine), in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, with a minimum year weighted average (YWA) of 80% in each year. In addition, the applicant must meet the minimum performance standards in the MCAT, determined by the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, and must be invited and attend a personal interview with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry.

Entrance into the concurrent degree program is competitive and limited.

Admission Procedures
A student interested in the concurrent BESc/MD program will apply during the February/March registration period of the first common year of the Engineering program for admission to the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Program, Option E (Mechanical Engineering and Medicine). The student must write the MCAT in April or August before the third year of the Mechanical Engineering and Medicine Program, for the following year's admission into the MD Program. Students must apply to the MD Program by the deadline established by the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) during the third year of the Mechanical Engineering and Medicine Program.

Admission to the Engineering portion of the program does not guarantee admission to the Medicine portion of the program.

Progression Requirements
A student enrolled in the concurrent BESc/MD degree program must satisfy the following progression requirements:
i) Year 2: a minimum YWA of 80% in courses taken as a part of Option E (Mechanical Engineering and Medicine)
ii) Year 3: a minimum YWA of 80% in courses taken as a part of Option E (Mechanical Engineering and Medicine)
iii) Year 4: progression requirements of the MD Program and successful completion of engineering courses.
iv) Year 5: progression requirements of the MD Program
v) Year 6: progression requirements of the MD Program
vi) Year 7: progression requirements of the MD Program and successful completion of engineering courses.

If the student fails to satisfy the conditions (i)-(vi), he or she will be required to withdraw from the concurrent program and will be required to transfer out of Option E into one of Options A, B, or C in the Mechanical Engineering Program.

Concurrent Degree Program
Year 1
Common first year of engineering
Must take Economics 020 as Non-technical Elective

Summer after completion of the First Year:
1. Biology 022 or Biology 023
or 2. Economics 150a and Economics 184b*

Year 2
Term 3 Course Title
AM 275 Applied Mathematics
ES 213a Engineering Dynamics
ES 204a Thermodynamics I
ES 259a Introduction to Engineering Design
ES 211F Engineering Communications
ES 216 Industrial Organic Chemistry

Term 4 Course Title
AM 275 Applied Mathematics
ES 202b Mechanics of Materials
ES 273b Fluid Mechanics I
ES 258b Thermodynamics II
SS 241b Applied Statistics
ES 216 Industrial Organic Chemistry

Summer after completion of Second Year:
1. Biology 022 or Biology 023
or 2. Economics 150a and Economics 184b*
(whichever was not taken the previous summer)

Year 3
Term 5 Course Title
AM 375a Applied Mathematics
ES 303a Fluid Mechanics II
ES 381a Kinematics and Dynamics
ES 373a Electronic Instrumentation
ES 385y Selected Experiments
ES 386a Computer Aided Design

Term 6 Course Title
ES 307b Heat Transfer
ES 384b Finite Element Methods
ES 380b Mechanical Components Design
ES 374b Electromechanics
ES 385y Selected Experiments
ES 357b Manufacturing Processes
ES 498b Engineering Ethics, Sustainable Development and the Law

Year 4
Term 7 Course Title
Regular Year 1 of the MD Program
ES 450a Modern Control Systems

Term 8 Course Title
Regular Year 1 of the MD Program
ES 425b Mechanical Vibrations

Year 5
Regular Year 2 of the MD Program

Year 6
Regular Year 3 of the MD Program

Year 7
Regular Year 4 of the MD Program less the Advanced Communication Skills course.
ES 419 Mechanical Engineering Project (will count as an "elective" credit in the fourth year of the MD Program).

* subject to availability

Background:

This concurrent degree program will allow exceptional students interested in technology-dependent medicine and in biomedical engineering to pursue an education in a basic Mechanical Engineering curriculum in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering combined with an education in medicine. The program will require seven academic years rather than the usual eight years if both degrees were to be completed separately. In addition, each Faculty will receive more visibility with each other's audience groups.

3. Revisions to BA in Honors Business Administration

Recommended: That the following changes in progression, passing and honors standards be made to the HBA program in the Ivey Business School, effective September 1, 1998.

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Progression standards
Commencing September 1998, in order to progress from HBA1 to HBA2,
(a) a student must pass all courses taken in HBA1 and must achieve 70% as an overall weighted average across all courses, or
(b) a student may be "passed by faculty action" by a majority of the section teaching faculty attending the section grades meeting.

Honors
A student who achieves an overall average in HBA1 of at least 80.0% will be designated as "Pass with Distinction" on diplomas, transcripts and reports
Approximately the top 10% of HBA1 students will be designated as HBA1 Dean's Honor List on transcripts and reports

Graduation standards
For students commencing in the HBA program as of September 1998, in order to graduate from HBA2:
(a) a student must pass all courses taken in HBA2 and must achieve 70% as a weighted overall average across all courses, or
(b) a student may be "passed by faculty action" by a majority of the HBA2 teaching faculty attending the HBA2 grades meeting.

Honors
For students commencing in the HBA program September 1998 or thereafter,
A student who achieves an overall average in HBA2 of at least 80.0% will be designated as "Pass with Distinction" on diplomas, transcripts and reports
A student who achieves an overall average in each of HBA1 and HBA2 of at least 80.0% will receive the designation "Graduate with Distinction" on diplomas, transcripts and reports
Approximately the top 10% of HBA2 students will be designated as HBA2 Dean's Honor List on transcripts and reports and
A student who achieves Dean's Honor List status in both HBA1 and HBA2 will be designated as an Ivey Scholar on transcripts and reports.
The HBA Gold Medal will be awarded to the student(s) with the highest average, where the average is calculated by a simple average of HBA1 year and HBA2 year results, in each year over all courses given credit by the HBA program, including courses not taken at Ivey.

Background:

The Ivey School has determined that the structure of the HBA1 year should be amended to include all mandatory core courses in the HBA program. This will enable greater scheduling flexibility in the HBA2 year for students on Exchange and for students in concurrent programs with Law and Engineering. This change will also enable greater integration of the core curriculum and make room for innovations in course design in the HBA2 year. To do this means moving Business 400 General Management from the HBA2 year into the HBA1 year (and retitling it as Strategic Analysis and Action with a third year number 300). The calendar copy (other than name and number change) remains the same. This proposal has been submitted to DAP for approval.

Also, we propose to add Global Environment of Business 305 to the HBA1 year. This was approved by SCAPA some time ago, but we have only been able to staff this course in the MBA program until now.

In the HBA1 year, commencing September 1998, all students will take:
Strategic Analysis and Action 300 (full course)
Marketing 301 (full course)
Management Communications 302 (half course)
Finance 303 (full course)
Operations Management 304 (full course)
Global Environment of Business 305 (half course)
Managerial Accounting and Control 307 (full course)
Management Behavior 308 (full course)
Management Science 316 (half course)
Information Systems 326 (half course)

The proposed curriculum changes make it necessary to revise progression and passing standards for HBA1 and HBA2. The Richard Ivey School of Business also proposes to bring its standards in line with other honors programs on campus. Students already in the HBA program will continue under the policies in effect when they were admitted.

4. Combined Honors Program for Huron College: International and Comparative Studies and Psychology

Recommended: That effective September 1, 1998, Huron College introduce a combined program in Honors International and Comparative Studies and Psychology.

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(Replaces existing Calendar copy on page 286 of UWO Calendar 98/99)

INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDIES COMBINED HONORS PROGRAM

This program is available only to students registered at Huron College.

Approved combinations: Economics, English, French, History, Media, Information & Technoculture, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Scholar's Electives.

Admission Requirements

A first year program in Arts or Social Science with three courses as principal courses. The principal courses must include International and Comparative Studies 020 and those specified as first year requirements in the other subject in the combined honors program. Admission to second year requires a grade of not less than 60% in International and Comparative Studies 020, an average of at least 70% in three principal courses including International and Comparative Studies 020 and no grade less than 60% in any Arts or Social Science course. Students should note the language requirement for graduation in this program when selecting courses.

After first year the combined honors program requires six honors courses from each subject in the combined honors program (an exception is Psychology where seven honors courses are required) plus three approved options. Normally students enrol in five courses per year including two honors ICS courses and two honors courses from the participating subject plus one option. All honors courses from the participating subjects are considered principal courses for the purpose of determining progression and graduation. The principal courses for the other Department participating in the Combined Honors program must be selected from the relevant lists in the COMBINED HONORS PROGRAMS section of the Calendar, or under the relevant Department in the Huron College section of the Calendar.

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The following should appear in the description of Honors Psychology programs at pages 289 of the Calendar (Huron College section).

Please see BA IN HONORS PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY for current Calendar copy which will be maintained.

COMBINED HONORS PSYCHOLOGY AND INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE STUDIES

Huron College students may take a combined honors degree in Psychology and International and Comparative Studies. The program requires the same seven honors Psychology courses required in the combined Psychology and Philosophy honors program offered by Huron College, and the six honors International and Comparative Studies courses required in the Combined Honors International and Comparative Studies program.

Background:

The proposal makes it possible for students to combine their program of International and Comparative Studies with any Honors Program offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at Huron College. The Psychology Department at Huron College offers a combined honors program with Philosophy. The same honors Psychology courses are required for the combination with International and Comparative Studies.

5. Combined Honors Program: Anthropology and French Linguistics

Recommended: That a BA program in Honors Anthropology and French Linguistics be introduced in the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, effective September 1, 1998.

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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
First year program with Anthropology 025F/G and 027b or the former 021 (Linguistics)
French 020E or 021 and any other three full or equivalent courses as principal courses.

PROGRAM
After the first year, this program requires six Honors Anthropology courses and six Honors French courses, and three options. Some of the options may be additional Anthropology and French courses. The following Anthropology courses must be included among the principal courses: 237a/b, 245F/G, 247a, 248b, 249F/G, 337F/G.

SECOND YEAR
Required courses
Anthropology 247a and 248b, Anthropology 245F/G, one half-course in Anthropology at the 200-level, French 271, French 295.

THIRD YEAR
Required courses
Anthropology 337F/G, three half-courses in Anthropology at the 200- or 300-level to include Anthropology 237a/b, 248a/b, and 249F/G if not taken in second year, French 381, French 397a/b, French 398a/b.


FOURTH YEAR
Required courses
Two full-course equivalents in Anthropology at the 200-, 300- or 400-level, French 477a/b, French 478a/b, one full-course equivalent from French 473a/b, French 498F/G, and list of Linguistics and Related Courses.

Background:

The French Department wishes to encourage the study of linguistics. Students can already combine French with Anthropology. This new program allows them to take more linguistics related courses since literature courses (FR290 and one full-year literature course at the third or fourth year level) are not required any more.

6. Certificate Program in Writing

Recommended: That the Certificate Program in Writing be introduced in the Faculty of Arts, effective September 1, 1998.

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THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN WRITING (Department of English/ Faculty of Arts). Open to all students in the University, the Certificate Program in Writing aims to develop writing skills at both the general level and within the parameters of specific disciplines. All program courses (except Writing 100) may be credited toward other undergraduate programs. Anyone may apply for admission, subject to prerequisites and general university admission requirements.

To qualify for the Certificate in Writing, Level I, students must achieve a grade of SAT in the Writing Proficiency Examination (Writing 100), and then achieve at least 70% in two further Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level. For the Level II certificate, the Writing Proficiency Examination plus at least 70% in four further Writing half-courses (or equivalent) at the 200-level are required.

To write the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE), students must have completed at least one university essay half-course at the 100-level or above, but Writing 101F/G is strongly recommended as the normal and best preparation. Students who achieve a mark of 80% or higher in Writing 101F/G are exempt from the WPE. The examination will test for a very high standard of writing proficiency in a variety of ways: by a precis, an essay, and some passages to correct or for commentary. The examination is offered three times a year, and students wishing to take the examination and obtain credit in Writing 100 should apply to the Program coordinator, Undergraduate Studies, Department of English. An administrative fee, payable through the Office of the Registrar, is charged for the examination.

Program regulations do not require students to have credit in Writing 100 before registering in a 200-level Writing course. Admission to those courses is governed by normal academic prerequisites, and any qualified student may register. However, no student may graduate with the Certificate in Writing who has not secured credit in Writing 100 (or achieved above 80% in Writing 101F/G).

Certain 200-level courses, offered by different departments but not designated as specifically "Writing" courses, may be allowed as credit towards the Certificate in Writing. To find out what these are and to plan their program, students should consult with the Program Coordinator, c/o Undergraduate Studies, Department of English.

Background:

This program will enhance the range of credit Writing courses available to students across the University and at all levels. As well it will provide various grades of formal recognition for those students who have taken a number of Writing courses, and who have achieved high levels of competence in writing.

The following new courses have been introduced in conjunction with the Certificate Program in Writing: Writing 002: Introduction to College Writing in a Second Language; 100: Writing Proficiency Examination; 202F/G: Advanced Exposition, Rhetoric, and Persuasion; 203F/G: Writing for Publication; 205F/G:Technical Writing; 208F/G: Teaching Writing; 209F/G: Desktop Publishing; and 210F/G: Contemporary Grammar. Full course descriptions are available in the University Secretariat.

7. Certificate In Nurse Practitioner (Tertiary Care)

Recommended: That effective September 1, 1998, a Certificate in Nurse Practitioner (Tertiary Care) program be introduced in the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, and,

That this Certificate be approved as an exception to the policy which established standard definitions for certificates and diplomas (S.4082.01).

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The Tertiary Care Nurse Practitioner certificate program will prepare master's-level nurses to assume the tertiary care nurse practitioner role. Graduates will be expected to:

1) perform comprehensive assessments of acutely and chronically ill adults with complex health problems,
2) employ research findings and skills of critical thinking and clinical decision-making in the care of ill adults,
3) prescribe and use advanced therapeutic interventions,
4) collaborate with other health professionals to promote the health of individuals and their families.

Admission Requirements
1. Possession of a Master's degree in Nursing.
2. At least 2 years' clinical practice in one clinical setting.
3. Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
4. Membership in the Registered Nurses of Ontario.
5. Possession of professional liability insurance.
6. Basic Cardiac Life Support certification.
7. Satisfactory academic and clinical references.

Program Regulations
Students must successfully complete all courses (5 full-course equivalents). Some courses are sequenced and must be taken in the prescribed sequence. Maintenance of a B average is required.

The academic year consists of three terms (Fall, Winter, and Summer) commencing on or about September 1, January 1, and May 1. Students will be registered only in the terms in which they are enrolled in courses. If the requirements for a course are not completed in one term, registration is necessary in the subsequent term, even if no other courses are undertaken.

The time limit for program completion is three calendar years from the date of admission.

Background:

Tertiary Care Nurse Practitioners are needed to fill a gap in health care brought on by diminished numbers of nurses and medical residents in hospitals and by the rapid discharge of very sick clients. Tertiary Care Nurse Practitioners assume some of the admission, monitoring, and discharge activities previously performed by physicians-in-training. They also are responsible for ensuring continuity of care, and promoting collaboration among caregivers. In London, more than 40 tertiary care nurse practitioner positions have been created and there is a demand for even more. Many of these master's- prepared nurses have received their preparation for the role through on-the-job experience, self-directed study, and/or the auditing of some medical courses. This is not ideal. The proposed certificate program will fill this educational need.

The following new courses have been introduced in conjunction with the Tertiary Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program: N600a/b: Issues in Advanced Nursing Practice; N601: Advanced Health Assessment; N602: Pathophysiology and Health Problem Management; N603a/b: Pharmacology & Therapeutics; N604: Synthesis Practicum; and N605a/b: Integrative Analysis of Practice. Full course descriptions are available in the University Secretariat.

It is expected that some Nurse Practitioners will qualify for this certificate by Fall graduation.

8. Graduation "With Distinction" for Students in the MD Program

Recommended: That Medicine be listed as one of the exceptions to the policy on Graduation "With Distinction".

Graduation "With Distinction" (S.3662, S.93-301, S.95-13, S.95-295, S.98-108)

Students in degree programs who have achieved an overall average of 80% and no grade lower than 70% on the entire program with no failed courses will graduate "with distinction".

Exceptions:


1) Business: Students awarded the GSW Inc. Gold Medal in the graduating year of the Honors Business Administration Program shall graduate With Distinction. The calculation for awarding the Gold Medal will be based on the highest grade average on the combined HBA 1 and HBA 2 years.
Students who are on the Dean's Honor List in each of the two years at the Business School shall graduate With Distinction, as an Ivey Scholar.
2) Law: Students must be on the Dean's Honor List in at least two of their three years in the Law program to graduate With Distinction.
3) Engineering: Students must fulfill Dean's Honor List criteria for the final three years of study to graduate With Distinction.
4) Medicine: Students must pass each year of the program with honors to graduate With Distinction.

Graduands of diploma or certificate programs offered by Western who have achieved an overall average of 80% and no grade lower than 70% on the entire program with no failed courses will receive the designation "With Distinction".

Notes:

Students who qualify for Graduation "With Distinction" will receive the designation on diplomas, transcripts and reports.

Letters of Permission: For purposes of calculation, alpha grades received on a letter of permission will be converted to grade points in accordance with current Senate policy. A student will be considered to have an "A" average if the equivalent grade point average is 4.0 or greater. Averaging for Letter of Permission courses and for courses taken at Western will be done separately.

Joint Three-Year BSc Physics Degree Combined with Fanshawe College Diploma in Control Engineering or Electronics Engineering Technology: Students will graduate with distinction if they meet the following criteria: 1) an average of 80% in the 10 courses taken at Western; b) a full course load of five courses per academic year taken at Western between September and April; c) a cumulative g.p.a. of 3.2 in the courses taken at Fanshawe College; and 4) no failures in any courses at either Western or Fanshawe, even if the course is subsequently repeated successfully.

No Appeals: Since the designation "With Distinction" is conferred only when a student has achieved a certain average, a failure to achieve graduation "With Distinction" may not be appealed (although the grades on which the designation is based may be appealed in the normal way. See Section on Academic Rights and Responsibilities.)

Background:

On April 17, 1998, Senate approved the above-noted policy. However, students in Medicine are graded using an honors/pass/fail system. While honors usually means 80% and above, it is not universally looked at in that way. In addition, there is no way to judge whether a student has "no grade lower than 70%". The above noted wording was used in the previous policy of Graduation With Distinction and should be reintroduced into the revised policy.

The first "Note" has been added for clarification. It reflects the current and proposed practice.

9. Scholastic Offences: Policy Statements on Release of Information and Penalties (S.97-187, S.97-243)

Recommended: That the sections of the policy statement on "Procedures for Handling Scholastic Offences" with regard to "Release of Information Concerning Scholastic Offences" and "Penalties", be revised to read as shown below.

Release Of Information Concerning Scholastic Offences (S.97-187, S.97-243)

The letter informing a student that he or she has been found to have committed a scholastic offence, and the penalty or penalties imposed is a confidential document. Copies will be sent only to involved parties (instructor, Chair, designate, Dean of Faculty in which the course was taught and the Dean of the student's home faculty).

In the event that the penalties imposed are to be reflected in the student's academic record, either on the official transcript or the internal electronic record, a copy will be sent to the Registrar. If a student transfers to another Faculty, or to an Affiliated College of this University, that Faculty or Affiliated College may request that the offence record be transferred to the Dean's Office of that Faculty or College. The letter informing the student of the penalty shall also indicate that the offence record may be sent to another Faculty or Affiliated College within the University should the student transfer from one to another. This letter will also indicate to the student if there is to be a notation on the academic record.

In addition to the exception noted above (i.e., for students transferring between undergraduate Faculties) information may be released with the written permission of the student or if required by a court order. Under all other circumstances, the information contained in a student's offence record shall be considered confidential and, unless the offence is to be recorded on the student's transcript, no information about the student's offence record shall be provided to any person or institution outside the University.

Penalties (S.95-177)

A student guilty of a scholastic offence may be subject to the imposition of one or more penalties, of which those listed below are examples:

a) Reprimand.

b) Requirement that the student repeat and resubmit the assignment.

c) A failing grade in the assignment.

d) A failing grade in the course in which the offence was committed.

e) A failing grade in the year.

f) Suspension from the University for up to, but not more than, three academic years or for a portion of one academic year including the academic session in which the student is currently registered.

g) Expulsion from the University.

Notes:

A notation of the academic offence may be placed on a student's internal, electronic record for the penalties d) and e) at the discretion of the Dean. This notation, e.g., "Scholastic offence recorded in ...", may be removed from the internal electronic record upon request by the student to the Dean upon successful completion of the student's program. Permanent notations on the official transcript are recorded for penalties f) and g).

A student who impersonates a candidate during an examination or avails himself or herself of the results of such impersonation, will be liable to criminal prosecution in addition to receiving academic penalties.

Appeals against the imposition of any penalty will be dealt with in accordance with regulations governing appeals (see Academic Rights and Responsibilities section of the UWO Calendar).

Students who have been suspended by the University as a result of a scholastic offence must apply for readmission subject to the same conditions that operate for students applying for "Readmission Following Unsatisfactory Performance".

Background:

Since this policy was revised at the November 14, 1997, meeting of Senate, concerns have been raised regarding the approved addition of the statement on release of information to professional societies (para. 3, lines 2-3, shown as a strikeout above).

SCAPA has been advised that the Guidelines on Access to Information and Protection of Privacy, approved by Senate in May 1996, have addressed this issue. Item 21, Disclosure of Personal Information, states: "(1) The University shall not disclose personal information in its custody or under its control except under one of the following circumstances: ...(h) where disclosure is made to another educational institution or to a professional licensing authority or board of certification or similar institution, provided that the University has made reasonable efforts to inform affected individuals of the existence of a practice of making such disclosure."

There was a concern about what would be disclosed and by whom, as well as a question as to the need for the University to supply such information without the knowledge and approval of the student.

SCAPA was also informed of the following points provided by I. Lebane, Faculty Advisor, Bar Admission Course, Law Society of Upper Canada:

- students enrolled in Law School are not as yet members of a professional society
- when a student applies to admission for the Bar Admission Course the student is asked to reveal relevant academic offences, expulsions, etc.
- further inquiries would only be pursued with the permission of the student
- failure to give permission could result in a decision to deny registration in the Bar Admission course

Mr. Lebane also noted that the Law Society does not require Law schools to supply this information independently, and certainly not without the permission of the student.

The Associate Deans of Engineering Science, Medicine & Dentistry, and Law have agreed with the proposal that the statement be removed from the policy on the understanding that the onus is to be placed on a student applying for admission into the professional society to sign a release for their marks and scholastic information.

In the review of this policy concern was expressed that more information should be available on the internal, electronic student record that is available to Associate Deans and academic counsellors. Deans are now able to have comments placed on the electronic record at their discretion and with the notification of the student. Unlike the permanent entries on the official transcript, e.g. suspension and expulsion, this information may be

removed upon request by the student and with the permission of the Dean upon successful completion of the program. In addition, it was the opinion of SCAPA that this information should be available to Western's

professional and graduate programs to which students may be applying for admission.

10. Academic Probation: Revision to Statements on Progression Requirements and Academic Transcripts

Recommended: That a waiver of progression requirements by a Faculty Dean be given the status of "academic probation".

ACADEMIC RECORDS AND STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS (S.96-85)

Academic Transcripts

A transcript is a copy of a student's permanent academic record at this University, duly certified by the Registrar and bearing the embossed seal of the University. A transcript is privileged information and is available only upon the written request and payment of the fee in effect at the time by the student.

A transcript is required as one of the supporting documents for application to another university, graduate school, fellowship and scholarship applications, and is commonly required by prospective employers.

The transcript is a record of a student's academic progress. It contains the following information:

1. A listing of all courses attempted and the grades achieved, including courses from which a student has withdrawn without academic penalty.
2. A statement of the degree attained, including the area of concentration or Honors discipline and date of graduation.
3. Comments relating to a student's academic progress. These may include statements about a student's standing in a program (e.g., on Dean's Honor List), or that the student was required to withdraw from the University or was placed on academic probation (e.g., for failing to meet progression requirements).
Note that a transcript reflects the current status of a student's record at the time it is issued. Students should ensure that any changes to the transcript (e.g., from an INC to a final grade) are recorded before ordering a transcript.

Transcript order forms are available from Information Services, Registrar's Office, Stevenson-Lawson 190*. Official transcripts are mailed by the Registrar's Office to institutions designated by the student. Each transcript costs **.

* All transcript transactions in Room 190 require valid identification.

** [Secretarial Note: Transcript fees are approved by the Board of Governors and are subject to change at any time. Therefore, they have not been included in this policy statement.]

NEW CALENDAR COPY

(to be inserted after "Progression Requirements" on page 23 of the 1998 Academic Calendar)

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Students who have failed to meet the progression requirements of their program, but have been granted a waiver of those requirements by the Dean, e.g., a grade point waiver, will be considered to be on academic probation for the next 12 months. Students on academic probation must satisfy all the requirements set by the Dean of their Faculty for regaining satisfactory academic status. They will be urged to seek appropriate counselling from their Faculty and to avail themselves of the resources available for improving academic skills. Normally, a student may be on academic probation only once.

Background:

Recently, an ad hoc subcommittee of SCAPA reviewing the progression and graduation requirements in undergraduate programs spent considerable time debating the merits of introducing a formal system of academic probation for undergraduates at UWO to replace the current progression requirements. Agreement in principle was given to a process whereby marginal students would be warned that their performance was unsatisfactory and must be improved. With current financial constraints, however, it was decided that a formal system of academic probation would stretch the resources of most faculties, especially if an element of mandatory academic counselling for students on probation were to be made part of the plan.

SCAPA supported the subcommittee's recommendation that the Dean's Waiver of Progression Requirements be seen as a "probationary" status. Students who fail to meet the progression requirements of their program are required to withdraw (RTW). A significant number of RTW students appeal successfully to their Faculty for a waiver of progression requirements, e.g., a grade point waiver (GPW). This status is, in effect, equivalent to academic probation, and the language in relevant sections of the calendar should be modified to reflect this reality. The Registrar's Office was asked to provide a new grade report comment that marks a waiver of progression requirements as Academic Probation With Conditions. "Grade point waiver" is a term that carries no serious overtones and may allow some students to think they have evaded unpleasant consequences. "Academic probation" has a more serious ring to it and should be introduced into university parlance.

11. Grading Rules, Faculty of Law

Recommended: That effective December 1997, the grading rules outlined below be approved for the Faculty of Law.

REVISED CALENDAR COPY

(To be inserted at the end of the "Grades" section on page 90 of the UWO Calendar 1998)

The class average in courses of 20 or fewer students must be a B or B+. The class average in courses of more than 20 students must be a B. The class average rules do not apply to independent research projects but do apply to external moots. In classes of more than 20 students, at least 10% must receive a grade of A- or higher. No grade distribution rules apply in classes of 20 or fewer students. These rules are subject to the discretion of the Faculty in the final Marks Meeting in May. Consequently, an instructor may seek an exemption from these rules for his or her course in the final Marks Meeting.

Background:

Faculty Council had established a requirement for a B average in large classes, but this was not included in the last set of Faculty Council grading revisions in the early 1990s. Currently, there is a non-binding understanding that averages in large classes (more than 20 students) will ordinarily be a B and that averages in small classes will be a B or B+. Also, this non-binding understanding was not viewed as applicable to the external moots or independent research projects. Since 1993-94, course averages have increased in both small and large courses. In turn, student averages have increased in all three years.

While some instructors continue to follow the preceding "understandings", others have not. There is considerable variation in averages from course to course, including courses of similar size, and between sections of first-year courses and core courses. This situation raises several concerns, perhaps the most important of which is ensuring that students are treated fairly. It is inappropriate for a student's grade to be affected, positively or negatively, by chance assignment in first year or by self-selection of core course instructors in upper years. The issue of fairness has a direct, practical impact on students in the highly competitive job market. The grading rules should be clear and readily available to prospective employers.

12. Eligibility for The University of Western Ontario Award for Excellence in Teaching by Part-Time Faculty

Recommended: That Senate approve revisions to the criteria for eligibility for The University of Western Ontario Award for Excellence in Teaching by Part-Time Faculty.

All part-time members of the faculty of the University and its Affiliated Colleges are eligible for nomination for the award. For the purposes of this award, a part-time faculty member is one who held an academic appointment to teach at least one degree-credit course offered by Western or an Affiliated College during the academic year preceding nomination and was not a regular full-time faculty member, visiting faculty member, graduate teaching assistant or previous winner of this award.

Background:

Previously, the regulations defined eligibility for nomination for the Award as being:

... All part-time* members of the faculty of the University and the Affiliated Colleges are eligible for consideration for the award. Members of the full-time faculty and graduate students are ineligible....

* For the purposes of this award a part-time faculty member is defined as a person who either:
- holds an academic appointment to teach at least one degree-credit course offered by The University of Western Ontario or its Affiliated Colleges during the academic year in which he or she is nominated for this award, or,
- has taught at least one degree-credit course offered through the Faculty of Communications and Open Learning during the academic year preceding nomination, and,
- is not a regular full-time faculty member, visiting faculty member, or Professor Emeritus/a at The University of Western Ontario, or registered as a graduate student.

The revision removes references to courses taught in the Faculty of Communications and Open Learning, now disbanded, and makes other editorial amendments.

Nomination for the award is open to faculty members who have taught part-time during the year preceding nomination, e.g., taught in 1997-98 if the nomination is made by the deadline for the next competition, January 15, 1999. The nomination would be eligible whether or not the individual is teaching during the year in which they are nominated, e.g., 1998-99. Retired members of faculty who fit the part-time definition during the preceding year (e.g., 1997-98) or part-time faculty who became regular full-time faculty during the year in which they are nominated (e.g., 1998-99) would also be eligible.

In order to clarify the definition, "registered as a graduate student" has been revised to read "graduate teaching assistant". Since the inception of the teaching awards, graduate students with teaching appointments have been ineligible, since it has always been SUTA's understanding that other awards are available to graduate students.

FOR INFORMATION

1. General Requirements for Three-Year Degrees - revision to the wording approved in May (S.98-129)

In the recommendations that were approved by Senate on May 15, 1998, there was an unintentional change to requirements for the three-year BA. The section in Appendix 2 on BA requirements reads that students will be required to take one course from each of the 3 core faculties IN FIRST YEAR. The subcommittee did not intend this change to be made and recommends that the original intent of the 3-year BA breadth requirement be maintained. This can be done with minor changes to Section b) so that the relevant section reads:

BA Requirements

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

a) No change.

b) Inclusion among the required five courses numbered 001-099 of at least one course from each two of the Faculties of Arts, Science and Social Science (or the equivalent department in the affiliated colleges) or an approved alternate.

c) Inclusion among the fifteen courses required for graduation 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.

d) Inclusion of no more than eight courses in one single subject among the 15 courses of the program.

2. Academic Excellence Program - revision to wording approved in April (S.98-106)

The Academic Excellence Program offered by the Ivey Business School was approved at the April meeting of Senate. Included in the requirements was the following:

In order to be considered for admission, AEP applicants must possess at minimum:

a) Senior Matriculation with a minimum average of 90% including a credit in OAC mathematics or equivalent, or standing in the top 5% of the graduating class; CEGEP students may apply during their first year of studies only;

At the April meeting of SCAPA, the Calendar Copy had been revised to integrate the OAC mathematics requirement with the reference to standing, i.e., to read:

In order to be considered for admission, AEP applicants must possess at minimum:

a) Senior Matriculation, including a credit in OAC mathematics or equivalent, with a minimum average of 90% or standing in the top 5% of the graduating class; CEGEP students may apply during their first year of studies only;

The change will be made as an editorial revision to the calendar copy.

3. Structure of the Academic Year Policy and Sessional Dates - revisions for consistency

The dates for Fall Term of the 1998-99 academic year listed in the policy on the Structure of the Academic Year (S.96-84) and the sessional dates approved by Senate in December 1997 (S.97-275) for the 1999-2000 academic year have been revised as shown below.

SUMMARY OF REVISIONS

1998-1999: Structure of the Academic Year Policy

FIRST TERM: Revise Sept. 10 - Dec. 7 (62 days) to read Sept. 10 - Dec. 9 (64 days)
STUDY DAY: Revise Dec. 8 to read Dec. 10
EXAMS: Revise Dec. 9-19 (10 days) to read Dec. 11 - 22 (10 days)
HOLIDAYS: Revise Dec. 20 - Jan. 3 (15 days) to read Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 (12 days)

1999-2000: Sessional Dates

STUDY DAY: Revise April 5 to read April 6
EXAMS: Revise April 8-29 (17 days) to read April 7-28 (17 days)

Background:

The sessional dates approved by Senate in December 1997 have been published in the calendar and on the World Wide Web. The easiest way to address a recently discovered discrepancy between these dates and the dates listed in the policy on the Structure of the Academic Year, approved by Senate in April 1996, is to change the latter to conform with the sessional dates. The revised dates still conform to the parameters set in the policy.

However, contrary to the framework provided by the policy, the sessional dates shown for the second term of 1999-2000 reduce the number of teaching days to 61, one less than the minimum approved in the Structure of the Academic Year policy. As a result, the sessional dates approved in December 1997 should be revised.

Senate has approved specific dates for the Academic Year to the year 2004-2005 using a rather complicated set of guidelines, as seen in the Academic Handbook site:

http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/general/structur.html

4. Report on New Undergraduate Scholarships/Awards/Bursaries

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

Alumni OSOTF Bursaries (Any Faculty)

Awarded to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need. Applications can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. Selection of the students will be made by Financial Aid Services. These bursaries were established through Foundation Western by donations from UWO alumni.

Value: $1,000

Effective May 1998: 24

Effective May 1999: 32

Effective May 2000 and thereafter: 40

These bursaries will receive matched funding from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund.

Catherine Mary Bowie Traveling Award (Faculty of Arts [French])

Awarded to a full-time undergraduate student entering third or fourth year of a French honors program. Students must have a minimum academic average of 75%, and must enroll in a course of study for which departmental approval has been received. Students receiving any other travelling scholarships, awards or fellowships are not eligible to receive this award. Applications can be obtained from the Department of French and must be submitted by students prior to the last day of classes to the Chair of the Department. The recipient will be selected by the Department of French. This award was established through Foundation Western by Margaret and George Bowie to honor the memory of their daughter, Catherine Mary Bowie (BEd '83, HBA '82, BA '80).

Value: $1,250

Effective: May 1998

W.A. McKenzie OSOTF Bursary (Any Faculty)

Awarded to any student who can demonstrate financial need. Established by W.A. McKenzie through Foundation Western.

Value: Up to $1,200

Effective: May 1998

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

W.K. Kellogg Foundation Award in Medicine (Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry [Family Medicine])

Awarded to a medical student in Year I or Year II who is progressing satisfactorily in the "Health, Illness & Society" curriculum and can demonstrate financial need. To be eligible, Year I students will have demonstrated exceptional potential in the area of population health, community health, or social health issues and satisfactorily completed a related community-based activity. Year II students will have satisfactorily completed a community-based project in the core curriculum. This award was made possible by a generous donation from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Students must apply for this award. Application forms are available at the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry and in the Office of the Registrar. Completed applications must be accompanied by a short essay (maximum 500 words) describing the student's interest and participation in population health, community health, or social health issues. Applications must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by February 28. Final selection will be made by the Department of Family Medicine.

Value: $1,400

Effective: May 1998

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

Broda Prize in Occupational Therapy (Faculty of Health Sciences [Occupational Therapy])

Awarded annually to the student enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program who achieves the highest combined mark in the OT 341a and OT 342b courses. The student will be selected by the Awards Committee of the School of Occupational Therapy. The prize was made possible through the generosity of Broda Seating.

Value: $200

Effective: May 1998

Centre for Communicative and Cognitive Disabilities (CCCD) Awards (2) (Faculty of Education)

Awarded annually to full-time students pursuing a Bachelor of Education degree at any teaching level who are enrolled in an Educational Psychology or Special Education course, based on academic performance in the course and skill in practicum. Candidates for the award will be nominated by their course instructor or faculty practicum supervisor, and selected by the Director of CCCD in consultation with a committee. Nomination forms are available from the Undergraduate Education Office, Faculty of Education. Deadline for submission of nominations is the last day of the academic year.

Value: $100

Effective: May 1998

Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) - London Club Award (Any Faculty)

Awarded to a full-time undergraduate female student entering second year studies in any faculty who has been admitted to Western as a mature student and whose average falls within the 70-79% range after Year I. The student may retain this award until graduation provided that her academic average does not fall below 70%. This award was created through the generosity of the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) - London Club.

Value: Up to $1,000 (minimum $750)

Effective: May 1997

Special Initiative Award in Computer Science (Any Faculty)

Awarded to any undergraduate student with a year 1 average of at least 70% entering the second year of any program in computer science, or in a double area of concentration or joint honors program involving computer science and any other program.

Value: $500 to be applied toward tuition

Effective: June 1998

Background:

The recently approved UWO budget plan included a proposal to expand enrolment in software engineering programs and specializations in Computer Science and in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Coincident with the approval of Western's plan, the Ontario government, in its own budget, announced the "Access to Opportunities" program aimed at increasing the number of graduates across the province in areas of computing and information technology, including computer science and electrical, computing, and software engineering. Once their plans are approved by the government, universities that substantially expand enrolment in these programs will receive sizeable continuing base budget allocations ($5000 and $3500 per additional engineering and computer science student, respectively) and will be eligible for private-sector/government matched one-time grants for infrastructure investment. In addition to students enrolled solely in such programs, eligible enrolment increases will include students in double areas of concentration and joint honors program that include computer science.

Given the compatibility of the Access to Opportunities program and Western's own plans in this area, proposals are now being developed to attract support under this government program. These plans will include allocations of funds to support additional faculty and staff appointments and one-time equipment support for the enlarged programs based on anticipated funds from the Access to Opportunities program. In addition, areas outside of the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering will be allocated funds based on increased enrolment in double areas of concentration and joint honors programs with computer science (both BSc and BA programs). These plans are being developed with the relevant Chairs and Deans and have been presented in preliminary form at SCUP.

One aspect of these plans will be to pass on some portion of the additional funding to the students in these programs. Discussions with the Deans and Chairs involved indicate that it is feasible to put in place a Special Initiative Award for Computer Science for the fall of 1998, but that further discussion will be necessary in order to develop an appropriate parallel program for students in Engineering Science. A formal proposal for these students will be brought forward in the fall of 1998 for implementation in 1999-00. This Special Initiative Award is possible only because of this program-linked government funding opportunity.