Senate Agenda - EXHIBIT III - October 20, 2000

REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC POLICY AND AWARDS (SCAPA)

FOR APPROVAL

1. MEng Program in Advanced Design and Manufacturing

Recommended: That a Program in Design and Manufacturing, leading to the degree of Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), and offered jointly with McMaster University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo, be introduced effective January 2001, and that this replace the MEng program currently offered at The University of Western Ontario.

Background:

Currently, a program of study leading to the MEng degree is offered through the Graduate Program in the Faculty of Engineering Science. This is a full-cost recovery, course-based masters program normally taken on a part-time basis by students who are in employment in the engineering industry and who wish to upgrade their qualifications. The Faculty of Engineering Science wishes to cease offering this program, and to replace it with a similar program which focuses on Design and Manufacturing and which is offered jointly with the McMaster University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. New admissions into the current M.Eng. program have ceased and this program will be closed once the students currently enrolled in the program have finished their degree. Future admissions will be into the Joint MEng program.

The program's objectives are to provide an education at the master's level to design and manufacturing engineers seeking to understand and utilize modern design and manufacturing technologies, standards, innovations and business opportunities; practising design and manufacturing engineers graduating from the program will have experienced a program of study which integrates academic standards at the master's level with the application of emerging technologies into the workplace.

To be eligible for admission into the program students must possess a four year bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with grades equivalent to a mid-B or better, and normally will have had three years or more post-baccalaureate working experience in industry. Students will apply to, and if admitted register at, one of the four participating Universities and the degree will be granted by the University of registration.

The faculty resources for the program will be drawn from all four Universities and the courses offered by the faculty at each institution will be open to all students registered in the Joint program, regardless of their University of registration. Since this program replaces the MEng currently offered at Western there will be no increase in faculty workload at Western.

The program will be offered on a cost recovery basis with students normally registered part-time and paying a per-course fee while registered in a course, and a nominal fee in terms where a course is not being taken. Students must take a total of ten courses for the degree, will be expected to take at least two courses each year, and will normally complete the degree within four years. In the first year of the program ten courses will be offered, each with a maximum registration of 25 students. In the second and third years of the program, this will be expanded to 15 and 20 courses, respectively, leading to a steady state enrolment of around 400 course registrants per year. Courses will be offered at different sites to meet the demand, and may be offered more than once in each year, depending on demand. The program will be administered from a single program office which will maintain files on all students in the program, coordinate the delivery of the courses, and report student grades to the home institution. The program office will be the base for a full-time director, responsible for recruitment into the program, and reporting to a program committee comprised of representatives of all four institutions. Costs will be met from the program's tuition revenues, and underwritten by the Faculties of Engineering in the four participating Universities, as articulated in an agreement already signed by the four Universities.

A detailed brief describing the proposed program was approved by the Internal Appraisals Committee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies in May 1999, and approved for submission to the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) by the Graduate Planning and Policy Committee (GPPC) in September 1999. The Appraisals Committee of OCGS sent External Consultants to the four Universities during the spring of 2000, and, based upon their report, the Universities' response to their report, and the written program proposal, recommended to OCGS that the program be approved to commence on July 17, 2000. This recommendation was accepted by OCGS on July 21, 2000.

2. Diploma in Ethics

Recommended: That effective September 1, 2001, a Diploma in Ethics, consisting of five full-course equivalents in theoretical and practical ethics, be introduced in the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts.

NEW CALENDAR COPY

Addition to p. 41 of the 2000-2001 Academic Calendar and to the corresponding section of the online calendar. Under ARTS PROGRAMS, add to list of CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA PROGRAMS, right after the Diploma in Art Therapy:

Diploma in Ethics

Additions to p. 49 of the 2000-2001 Academic Calendar and to the corresponding section of the online calendar. After the description of the program in Philosophy and Psychology, insert:

DIPLOMA IN ETHICS

Admission Requirements

Students must have a 3 or 4 year undergraduate degree. The program is designed for students who have degrees in areas other than Philosophy. While no particular background is presupposed, Diploma students are required to have writing skills sufficiently strong to write essays at the university level.

Program

The Diploma in Ethics is a program of study that may be completed full-time in one year or part-time over a number of years. The Diploma, offered through the Department of Philosophy, is designed as a response to a wide and growing interest in the ethical dimensions of professional and public life.  The purpose of this program is to enable participants to strengthen and develop their understanding of ethics so as to enhance their ability to recognize and respond to ethical issues in a wide variety of social settings. The Diploma in Ethics will educate students in the essential concepts, central issues, history, and methodologies of ethical reasoning. The program also emphasizes critical thinking skills, writing skills and verbal skills. The program is geared towards students who have degrees in subjects other than Philosophy, and thus presupposes no prior background in ethics or Philosophy.

Requirements

The program consists of 5 full-course equivalents.

Note: All Diploma students must take five full-course equivalents as outlined in the program requirements. Courses taken as part of an undergraduate degree may not count towards the fulfillment of these requirements. Students who have satisfied any of the Diploma in Ethics requirements prior to entering the Diploma in Ethics program must consult with the Department of Philosophy to make appropriate course substitutions.

Progression Requirements

A student must maintain at least a 70% average and obtain a mark of not less than 60% in each course to remain in the program.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the Diploma in Ethics a student must complete the prescribed program of studies with at least a 70% average and a mark of not less than 60% in each course.

Background:

The Philosophy Department's Diploma in Ethics is designed as a response to a wide and growing interest in the ethical dimensions of professional and public life. The Department of Philosophy's research and teaching strength in the area of Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy make it possible to offer a Diploma that will help increase its, as well as the Faculty's and the University's, accountability to and relevance in the broader community. The Diploma in Ethics will do this by contributing to the training of leaders in ethical reasoning in the professions and in public life. The purpose of the program is to enable participants to strengthen and develop their understanding of ethics and, in particular, to enhance their ability to recognize and respond to ethical issues in a wide variety of social and professional settings. The Diploma in Ethics will educate students in the essential concepts, central issues, history, and methodologies of ethical reasoning. The program also emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, writing skills and verbal skills.

Internationally, there exist a number of certificate and diploma programs in ethics. However, the only similar program being offered in Canada at this time is a Certificate in Practical Ethics at York University, taken by students at the same time as their bachelor's degree. The program in the current proposal differs from York's insofar as it is designed not as Certificate, but rather as a Diploma for those who have already completed an undergraduate degree (See p. 89, 2000-2001 Academic Calendar) and wish, subsequently, to specialize in ethics. Recognizing that the program will attract a diverse group of people from the broader community, many of whom will be taking it while engaging in other professional commitments, the program may be completed either full-time or part-time, and will include offerings both on campus and through distance studies.

The following are new courses which will be forwarded by the Faculty of Arts to DAP for approval contingent on approval of the program: Philosophy 280F/G: History of Ethics, Philosophy 281F/G: Moral Theory, Philosophy 282E: Modes of Normative Reasoning and Philosophy 283F/G: The Ethics of Professional Relationships.

3. Admission Requirements for MD Program

Recommended: That Senate approve revisions to the admission requirements for the MD program as shown below:

REVISED CALENDAR COPY



ACADEMIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Application Deadline: Second week of October for admission to Medicine for the following September. Refer to the OMSAS application booklet for exact deadline dates.

Note: Enrolment is limited. Admission to the Doctor of Medicine Program is competitive and the possession of the minimum requirements does not assure acceptance. Individuals satisfying the following requirements are eligible to apply for admission to the first year of the four year MD program in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry:

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will consider applications to its first year medical program from individuals who are currently (or were) registered in a Doctor of Medicine Program (or equivalent) elsewhere.

a) Three Years of University Study

Those who are in the third year of, or who have successfully completed three full years of study (minimum fifteen full or equivalent courses) in any degree program at a recognized university.

A minimum of five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) must be included in the final undergraduate year plus in one other undergraduate year. In addition, three full or equivalent senior courses (second year and above) must be included in each of the two undergraduate years (one being the final undergraduate year).

b) Special Students: University Graduates

Applicants who have earned a degree from a recognized university, may elect to continue in full time undergraduate studies for the purpose of improving academic standing for application to medical school for a one year period only. The special year must contain five full or equivalent courses (30 credit hours) with a minimum of four full or equivalent courses at the honors level (numbered 200 or higher at Western).

Note: Prospective applicants who are deemed academically competitive may complete summer courses and part-time academic year courses in order to fulfil the mandatory course requirements listed in #3 prior to admission consideration. (See Selection Criteria for more details on academic requirements.)

2. Graduate students are required to have complete all requirements for their graduate degree prior to registration in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry MD Program.

3. Prior to being permitted to register in the MD Program, all applicants who are granted admission will be required to have successfully completed the following University Level courses:

a) Science Courses (interpreted as being equivalent to the science courses in Western's Academic Calendar)

A total of three full, or equivalent, science courses as follows:

b) Non-Science Courses (as interpreted by Western's Academic Calendar) A total of three full, or equivalent, non-science courses as follows:

ADDITIONAL NON-ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Confidential Assessment Form

Any three persons who, in the opinion of the applicant, will give an informed critical assessment will be acceptable as referees.

Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

All applicants must arrange for verified results of the revised Medical College Admissions Test (April 1991 or later) to be submitted directly to the Ontario Medical School Application Centre. The MCAT must be written prior to the October application deadline. Refer to the OMSAS application booklet for exact deadline dates.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted beginning in March. Applicants who satisfy the course load, the GPA, and the MCAT requirements (obtaining the minimum in each of the four sections of the MCAT) as determined by the Admissions Committee each year will have their applications reviewed carefully and will receive consideration for an interview. However, many factors contribute to the final determination of which applicants will be invited for an interview. Achieving the minimum GPA and MCAT scores does not guarantee an invitation to be interviewed.

Proficiency in English

The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant whose facility in written and spoken English is judged to be inadequate.

Basic Life Support Training

Applicants should complete a St. John Ambulance course or the equivalent in standard first aid and a CPR Basic Rescuer course, and be able to produce valid certificates before enrolment in the medical program.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Admission to the MD Program is based primarily on the academic undergraduate record, MCAT scores, and the interview score. Although careful assessment is made of the academic record throughout all years at university, the academic marks obtained during the final and the best other full undergraduate year will be used to formulate your grade point average (five full courses in each year, (30 credit hours) September to April, being considered).

International (Student Visa) Applicants

A limited number of international (student visa) admissions may be available each year into the Doctor of Medicine Program. Interested individuals should contact the Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs office directly for specific information.

ADMISSION AND APPLICATION POLICIES

The maximum number of places available in first year is 103. Following the final date for application, an applicant may file any supplementary information relevant to the application with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, on or before the last day of May in the year following submission of the application. Applicants may request a review of the decision of the Medicine Admissions Committee, provided that such a request is based upon new and significant information pertinent to the application. This request must be filed with the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, no later than two weeks after the issue of the original decision. The request should contain information not available to the applicant prior to the last Wednesday in May in the year following submission of the application and will be passed on to the Appeals Committee whose decision is final.

Advanced Standing and Transfers

The structure of the medical curriculum at The University of Western Ontario is such that transfer from another Canadian medical school can be considered only in very exceptional cases and subject to space being available. Applicants considering transfer must first contact the office of Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs. Western does not accept advanced standing or transfers from non-Canadian Medical Schools.

Application for Admission

Application for admission to the MD Program must be made upon the regular application form which may be obtained from:



The Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS)
OUAC, Box 1328
Guelph, Ontario N1H 7P4
Telephone: (519) 823-1940
Email: omsas@netserv.ouac.on.ca
On-line applications: http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/

The completed application forms and supporting documents (originals) must be mailed to OMSAS, to arrive no later than October 16 for the class starting the following September.

All applicants must:

a) submit to OMSAS a completed application for admission form, making sure that all the pertinent instructions in the OMSAS Instructional Booklet are followed;

b) arrange to have the results from the Medical College Admission Test mailed directly to the OMSAS centre. Applicants must make their own arrangements for taking this test by consulting a university MCAT representative, or by writing to

The MCAT Program Office
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, Iowa
U.S.A. 52243
Phone: (319) 337 1357

International (student visa) applicants must use the application form provided by The Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs Office, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, UWO and should not apply through OMSAS for consideration to The University of Western Ontario.

The Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs Office
The Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry
Medical Sciences Building, M103
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario N6A 5C1

Application Service Fee

A non-refundable institutional levy and OMSAS processing fee are required. Please refer to the OMSAS application booklet for more details.

Registration

Offers of admission will be made starting the end of May. Students accepted for admission into any year of Medicine will be advised directly by the Registrar's Office concerning registration.

No student will be registered after the designated registration date except by special permission of the Associate Dean, Admissions/Student & Equity Affairs. Those who register late will pay a late registration fee.

Statement on Potential Health Risks and Immunization Requirements

Students in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry will be required to care for persons with infectious diseases (including Hepatitis B and HIV) should they be assigned to them. Students accepted to the medical program will be sent complete documentation regarding health status policies and immunization requirements. Documentation of immunization and tuberculin status will be required.

Background:

The changes, shown in italics, serve to make the calendar copy clearer but do not substantively change the requirements. The section under International (Student Visa) Applicants has been reworded to remove reference to the number (10) International spots available. In this way, if the class size increases, the Faculty is not held to "10" International spots.

4. Withdrawal of the program in Honors Anthropology and French Linguistics

Recommended: That effective September 1, 2001, the program entitled "Honors Anthropology and French Linguistics" be withdrawn.

REVISED CALENDAR COPY

Page 45 of 2000 Calendar (French)

HONORS ANTHROPOLOGY AND FRENCH LINGUISTICS

[replace existing Calendar copy with the following:]

This program has now been replaced with the new combined honors program in Linguistics and French. See under LINGUISTICS in the INTER-FACULTY section. Students registered in Honors Anthropology and French Linguistics prior to September 2001 may graduate under prior requirements.

LINGUISTICS AND RELATED COURSES.

[replace existing Calendar copy with the following:]

See under LINGUISTICS in the INTER-FACULTY section.

Page 146 of 2000 Calendar (Anthropology)

HONORS ANTHROPOLOGY AND FRENCH LINGUISTICS

[replace existing Calendar copy with the following:]

This program has now been replaced with the new combined honors program in Linguistics and French. See under LINGUISTICS in the INTER-FACULTY section. Students registered in Honors Anthropology and French Linguistics prior to September 2001 may graduate under prior requirements.

Background:

With the creation of the Combined Honors in Linguistics, and the modification of the Combined Honors in French, this program is now redundant. Note that students currently enrolled in it will be grandparented.

FOR INFORMATION

1. Report on Distribution of Grades

An oral report will be given by the Chair of SCAPA at the meeting.

2. New Scholarship and Award Conditions

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

Kenneth F. Pownall Memorial Scholarship (Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Dentistry)

Awarded to the Qualifying Program student with the highest academic standing in the second year of the Qualifying Program. The School of Dentistry will select the recipient annually. This scholarship was established through Foundation Western by a generous donation from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario to honour the memory of Dr. Kenneth F. Pownall, the former Registrar of the College from 1965 to 1990.

Value: $1,000
Effective May 2001

Kenneth Colling Awards in Medicine (3) (Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Medicine)

Awarded to an undergraduate student in any year of the Medicine program based on academic achievement and demonstrated financial need. Applications can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar and must be completed by April 30. Final selection of the recipient will be made by the Undergraduate Medical Education Office. These awards were established by a generous gift from the estate of Dr. Kenneth Colling through Foundation Western.

Value: 3 at $2,500
Effective May 2001

Professor Elaine Bjorklund Scholarship (Faculty of Social Science, Geography)

Awarded to an undergraduate student in year 2 or higher in the Geography program with a minimum 80% academic average. Preference will be given to international students from Hong Kong or to students from any country with an ethnic Chinese background, and then to students from any country with an Asian background. Applications can be obtained from the Department of Geography and must be submitted by October 31. Selection of the recipient will be made by the Chair of the Department of Geography. This scholarship was established through Foundation Western by a generous donation from Cecilia Yau in honour of Professor Elaine Bjorklund, through Foundation Western.

Value: 1 at $1250
Effective May 2000

3. Graduate Program Approvals

The following summarizes the pathway for approval of new graduate programs at the level of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and above.

1. The proposers submit a brief concept document to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Dean and the appropriate Associate Dean of Graduate Studies provide the proposers with feedback which may lead them to prepare a detailed proposal. Evidence that the appropriate budget unit heads support the proposal in principle (i.e., Department Chair, Faculty Dean) should be provided. In some Faculties this takes the form of formal approval of the program by the Faculty Council or Faculty Education Policy Committee, or similar body that would transmit undergraduate program proposals to the Senate Committee on Academic Programs and Awards (SCAPA).

2. The proposers submit the detailed proposal to the Internal Appraisals Committee. This detailed proposal will be similar to, and forms the basis of, Volumes I and II of the brief that will be sent to the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies (OCGS) if the proposed program is approved internally. The Internal Appraisals Committee is a standing committee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies charged with evaluating the academic quality of new or revised programs. One or two members of the proposed program will be invited to meet with the Internal Appraisals committee to present the proposal and to answer questions. In addition, the Internal Appraisals Committee may request one or two Western faculty members with appropriate expertise, and not part of the proposed program, to review the proposal and advise the Committee.



3. If revisions are recommended by the Internal Appraisals committee, the proposers consider these recommendations, make appropriate revisions (or provide a justification for not making the revisions) and resubmit the proposal to the Internal Appraisals committee. The committee may approve the proposal or return it for further revision.

4. Under the constitution of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the Internal Appraisals committee offers advice to the Dean on proposals for new graduate programs. Prior to spring 2000, if the Internal Appraisals recommended that a proposal for a new graduate program be approved, and the Dean accepted this recommendation, then the proposal was forwarded to the Graduate Planning and Policy committee (GPPC). This committee was chaired by the Provost and reported to the Senate Committee on University Planning (SCUP), and hence to Senate. If GPPC approved the proposal then the Dean informed the proposers. They then prepared a detailed brief for submission to OCGS. This brief was prepared in consultation with the Dean and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The brief was submitted to OCGS by the Dean on behalf of the University. In the spring of 2000, Senate approved the disbanding of GPPC and the assumption of its work by SCAPA. This means that if the Internal Appraisals recommends that a proposal for a new graduate program be approved, and the Dean accepts this recommendation, then the proposal is forwarded to SCAPA, which is asked to approve submission of a brief to OCGS for Standard Appraisal of the proposed program. If SCAPA approves submission of the proposal then the Dean informs the proposers. They then prepare a detailed brief for submission to OCGS. This brief is prepared in consultation with the Dean and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The brief is submitted to OCGS by the Dean on behalf of the University.

5. The OCGS Standard Appraisal process for review of a proposed new graduate program is described in detail in the OCGS By-Laws and Procedures document which can be found on the OCGS website at <http://www.cou.on.ca/ocgs/HOME/By-laws/Bylaws.PDF>. The process involves an initial review of the brief by the Appraisal Committee of OCGS followed by a visit to campus by external consultants appointed by OCGS. These external consultants are experts in the discipline of the proposed graduate program, and are usually from Universities located outside of Ontario. Following their visit the consultants provide a written report to OCGS, and the University is invited to write a response to the report. The OCGS Appraisals Committee then makes a decision based upon the program brief, the external reviewers report and the University's response to the report. This decision can be that the University can commence offering the program, or that it may not commence offering the program, or that commencement of the program be deferred to provide the opportunity for the University to fulfil any conditions recommended by the OCGS Appraisals Committee. The focus of the OCGS review process is the academic quality of the proposed offering rather than matters such as societal need or duplication of offering elsewhere. The review seeks to determine whether or not the University has the appropriate faculty and infrastructure resources to offer a program of quality.

6. If the outcome of the OCGS Standard Appraisal process is that the University is authorized to commence the graduate program, then the Dean of Graduate Studies presents a recommendation to SCAPA that it recommend to Senate that the program be introduced. Once Senate approval has been obtained the program can start to advertise itself and begin to admit students.

7. The enrolment in a new graduate program does not contribute towards the University's BIU count until the program has been approved for funding by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. This approval is contingent on the University's affirmation that the program meets Ministry specified criteria related to societal need and student demand for the program, and the avoidance of unnecessary duplication with similar programs already offered in the province. Ministry approval is also contingent on the program meeting academic quality standards, as demonstrated by OCGS approval of the program.

4. Four-Year Bachelor of Arts Programs in Film Studies and French - Revised Implementation Date

In May and November 1999, respectively Senate approved the introduction of a Four-Year Bachelor of Arts program in French and in Film, to be introduced by the Faculty of Arts effective September 1, 2000. At the request of the Faculty of Arts, the implementation date will be revised from September to May 1, 2000, in order to allow students who have satisfied the requirements for the degrees to graduate from them in October. This parallels a similar change for the Four-Year BA Program in English of which Senate was informed in January 2000 (S.00-20).