Dear colleagues,

As the 2020-21 academic year draws to a close, I would like to thank all Brock students, staff, faculty members and librarians for their extraordinary efforts in these equally extraordinary times. The pandemic has pushed each of us outside of our comfort zones, and I want to commend everyone for their adaptability and their willingness to think creatively as we continue with the University’s primary tasks of teaching and conducting research. I wish everyone a pleasant summer and I look forward to seeing you all – hopefully on campus – in September.

Recommendations from the program viability review process 

As I have previously reported to Senate, I have been leading a process under FHB 3.C.15 to review the viability of programs that have had 10 or fewer FTE student enrolments for each of the last three years based on the November 1 count data. I struck an administrative committee to review the reports submitted by academic units and discussed each case individually with the relevant Deans. The recommendations then went to the Academic Review Committee, where each program was considered carefully.

The context for each program was found to be quite different. In some cases, programs existed in name but not in practice and asked to be discontinued. In others, it was clear that programs would benefit from internal review or restructuring, which the relevant Deans were willing to oversee, and were allowed to continue under those conditions. In others still, programs were due for external review shortly and were continued pending that more fulsome process.

Please find below a list of programs reviewed by the committee as well as the outcome:

• MA programs in Classics, English and Philosophy: Decision to continue at Provostial Committee stage (i.e., not discussed at ARC)
• Teacher Education program in Technological Education: Decision to continue at Provostial Committee stage (i.e., not discussed at ARC)
• BA in Popular Culture: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year until the scheduled 2021/22 cyclical review
• BA in International Political Economy: Recommendation to discontinue
• BA in Italian Studies: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year to allow time for the Department to conduct a comprehensive curriculum review
• BA in Hispanic and Latin American Studies: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year to allow time for the Department to conduct a comprehensive curriculum review
• BA in Studies in Arts and Culture: Recommendation to continue the program
• BA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year until the scheduled 2021/22 cyclical review
• BA in Canadian Studies: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year to allow for further planning
• BSc in Mathematics and Statistics (Accelerated Stream): The Committee confirmed that this is in fact a stream rather than a program. Corrections will be made to ensure the stream is listed correctly.
• BSc in Biophysics: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for one year until the scheduled 2021/22 cyclical review
• BSc in Computing and Network Communications: Recommendation to defer discontinuation for five months to allow for further discussion with the program partner institution
• BSc in Computing and Solid State Technology program: Recommendation to discontinue

With this being the first time the program viability process was conducted under FHB 3.C.15, I think all those involved could identify improvements to the wording that could be made to clarify and streamline the process in coming years. I hope to bring some of these suggestions to Senate for consideration in the fall, before the next round of program viability review is undertaken.

Collaboration with Senate committees

This winter and spring, I have been engaged in discussions with a number of Senate committees to help improve and evolve the policy context in which we operate at Brock. For example, I have met with the Research & Scholarship Policy Committee regarding the role of Senate in reviewing Memoranda of Understanding that have academic implications. In this case, I have committed to consulting more broadly on the issue with other Senate committees and to proposing revised FHB language in the fall that would clarify Senate’s purview in this area. We will continue to sign MOUs until that time, with the understanding that any agreement that has implications for the Senate and/or the Board has always and will continue to be brought to governance for review.

I have similarly been collaborating with a working group struck by the Undergraduate Student Affairs Committee to create a new policy that would clarify Senate’s oversight over undergraduate student awards, scholarships and financial aid, and I recently committed to the Undergraduate Program Committee that I would propose new FHB language clarifying the approval process for non-credit offerings such as micro-credentials and continuing education offerings.

I look forward to a similarly productive and collaborative year working with Senate next year.

Grading under Disruption

We last discussed grading under disruption in December to invoke the provisions in FHB III.C.6.9 for the Fall 2020 term, and then in January to pass the limits recommended by UPC on the number of credits a student can take using alternative grades.

With the Spring/Summer term beginning during a lockdown, which has now been extended by the province until at least June 2, I would like to propose that we extended academic grading under disruption one last time – with the limits agreed upon in January remaining in force – to include the Spring/Summer term. At my regular discussion with the Brock Undergraduate Students’ Union earlier in May, I heard that they have been receiving questions and requests from students for this extension.

FHB III.C.6.9 stipulates that, during disruptions of academic activities lasting more than five working days, in addition to making modifications to the teaching term and/or academic schedule, the Provost and Vice-President, Academic may also recommend to Senate the enactment of academic grade alternatives. I would like to do so at this time:

MOVED (Wells/        )

THAT Senate enact academic grade alternatives as outlined in FHB III.C.6.9 for the Spring/Summer 2021 term.

Sincerely,

Professor Lynn Wells

Provost & Vice-President, Academic