Report Number 225 Of The Committee Of Academic Policy & Programs
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
To the Academic Board,
University of Toronto,
Your Committee reports that it held a meeting on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 3:10 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Simcoe Hall with the following members present:
PRESENT: Catherine Amara (Chair), Walid Houry (Vice-Chair), Susan McCahan (Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Innovations in Undergraduate Education, Joshua Barker (Vice-Provost, Graduate Research & Education and Dean, School of Graduate Studies), Sheila Batacharya*, Susan Bondy, Daniel Bowyer, Laurent Bozec, Pier Bryden*, Robert Cooper, Kathy Haddadkar-Ghavi, Ehab James, Shone Joos, Rosa Saverino*, Karen Reid, Kevin Temple, Suzanne Wood
REGRETS: Leah Cowen (Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives), Robert Austin, Tarun Dewan, Annabelle Dravid, Joseph Flessa, Jason Harlow, Akina Lalla, Marcus Law, Yee Fun Lo, Amy Mann, Anuradha Prakki
NON-VOTING ASSESSORS: Angelique Saweczko, University Registrar
SECRETARIAT: Joanne Chou, Timothy Harlick
IN ATTENDANCE:
Lachmi Singh, Director, Academic Programs, Planning and Quality Assurance, Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs
Emma del Junco, Coordinator, Academic Planning & Reviews, Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs
David Lock, Coordinator, Academic Planning & Reviews, Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs
Jennifer Francisco, Academic Change Specialist, Office of the Vice-Provost, Academic Programs
(*attended remotely)
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
The Chair introduced herself and welcomed new and returning members to the first meeting of the 2024-25 academic year. She then introduced the Vice-Chair, Professor Walid Houry and the Committee’s Presidential Assessors: The Senior Assessor, Professor Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Innovations in Undergraduate Education, Professor Joshua Barker, Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Leah Cowan Vice-President, Research and Ms. Angelique Saweczko, University Registrar.
The Chair referred members to the two orientation videos. One included the unicameral structure of the University, while the other was designed to provide an overview of where the Committee was positioned within governance at the University, as well as key elements of its Terms of Reference and areas of responsibilities. - Reports of the Administrative Assessors
At the invitation of the Chair, Professor Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Academic Programs and Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education provided a brief report to the Committee.
Professor McCahan began her report by highlighting the positive start to the academic year with the return of many students, faculty and staff on campus. She highlighted the various initiatives that the Office of the Vice-Provost Academic Programs had been working on through the summer, which included improved data systems that support micro credential offerings, and an institutional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force and its impact on U of T. Professor McCahan noted that in the coming year, the committee would review new program proposals, and changes to divisional undergraduate regulations resulting from the changes to the Policy on Transfer of Course Credits that was approved by the Committee in the last governance year.
Ms. Angelique Saweczko, University Registrar was invited by the Chair to provide her update. She began her report by updating the Committee on the implementation of the aligned sessional dates that began in the fall. She explained that they had introduced aligned sessional dates, and had worked in collaboration with academic units in the first entry divisions to guarantee a series of goal post dates. She noted that not all of the dates were aligned, but this ensured that students and faculty who were taking courses or teaching across different disciplines had a series of aligned dates and could take a break in some cases if they were in different divisions that previously had different dates.
Ms. Saweczko also highlighted a change that was made in August regarding the exam period and the scheduling of dates that went into late December. Given the feedback of students, and in collaboration with academic divisions, they had revised the final exam schedule to end on Dec. 21st. To help ensure success, an agreement with the academic units was undertaken where exams could be scheduled on Sundays if need be. Therefore, if there were scheduling conflicts, an exam could be scheduled on Sundays in two time slots in December to meet the scheduling needs if absolutely crucial. She concluded that this was a pilot program, and that they would monitor the ongoing behavior closely for future planning.
Lastly, Ms. Saweczko provided an update on the Absence Declaration and the changes that were coming forward with the Absence Declaration tool. She explained that this was a tool that was used during the pandemic to track all absences. She noted that the tool had been revised post pandemic, so when a student missed an academic obligation, they could record an absence through the absence declaration tool to request an academic consideration. Ms. Saweczko mentioned that this Fall was the first year of implementing some of the changes, such as that students were able to use it once a term, request up to 7 days, offered during the start and end of classes, and that it was not available during final exams. She noted that some divisions chose not to participate this year and that they would review the data from last year and begin tracking progress on a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis. This would include divisional data, and more updates would be provided in the future. She encouraged members to provide any feedback from their respective divisions on the experiences they have had, as it would benefit their planning and ongoing periodic reviews with all the changes that were made in the previous year.
Members had no questions. -
Orientation and Discussion: Academic Change
The Chair noted that the consideration of academic change proposals was a major area of focus for the Committee and drew members’ attention to the orientation video on this topic.
Professor McCahan provided an overview of the consultation and proposal review process including divisional processes, as well as review by governance. She noted that proposals for modifications, new programs and programs closures were key vehicles of academic change, and that this was one of the most important activities of the work of the Committee.
Members had no questions. - Orientation and Discussion: Cyclical Reviews and Reading Group Guidance 2024-25
The Chair noted that the cyclical reviews were another major area of focus for the Committee, and drew members’ attention to the orientation materials on this topic.
Professor McCahan highlighted AP&P’s roles and responsibilities on the consideration of the semi-annual reports on the reviews of academic units and programs. Professor McCahan explained the consultation and review process, including divisional processes as well as the review by governance. Professor McCahan also reviewed the timelines associated with the work of the review groups and explained the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process, the importance of the reading group guidance, and its function in the overall review process. She underscored for members that the role of the committee was to provide oversight of the review process itself, ensuring that it is carried out according to University policy, as well as providing feedback on the implementation plan derived from the Dean’s administrative response.
Members had no questions. - Calendar of Business 2024-25
The Chair referred members to the Calendar of Business located on the Office of the Governing Council’s website and advised that the document would be updated by the Secretariat regularly as business came forward. She encouraged members to review the Calendar on a regular basis.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 6, the Report of the Previous Meeting, be approved.
- Report of the Previous Meeting
The report of the previous meeting was approved. - Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
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Date of the Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
The Chair confirmed that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 in the Council Chamber. -
Other Business
There were no items of other business.
The meeting adjourned at 3:36 p.m.
September 30, 2024