Last week, Carleton University’s Senate approved a new master’s of biotechnology (MBiotech) program and ratified admission requirement changes for the Bachelor of Commerce program (BCom). The Senate also reviewed existing graduate curriculum approval procedures at their last regular meeting of the academic year.
President and vice-chancellor Benoit-Antoine Bacon highlighted the university’s continued work with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, including the promotion of the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). The NFRF will budget over $124 million to Canadian researchers through 2023-24.
The question period saw Senate members discuss existing grading procedures and recent strike negotiations with CUPE 4600.
Provost and vice-president Jerry Tomberlin spoke on the university’s negotiation of the contract with CUPE 4600 and the responsibilities of the Senate. Tomberlin described the strike as “relatively short” and said that the new contract had been negotiated “in good faith” with union members.
Root Gorelick, a biology professor, proposed extending the existing flexible and compassionate grading policy to the Fall 2023 term.
The policy allowed all undergraduate students to convert any number of passing credits from the past winter term to a SAT (satisfactory) grade. Senate members deemed Gorelick’s suggestion “premature” and said it warranted further discussion with administration and faculty members.
Changes to high-school admission requirements to the BCom program were presented for approval by Howard Nemiroff, chair of memorandum from the Senate Committee on Curriculum, Admission and Studies Policy (SCCASP). The proposed changes would require students entering the BComs program to obtain a passing 4U grade in Advanced Functions, as well as either Calculus and Vectors or Data Management. Previously, the program only allowed students who passed Calculus and Vectors to apply.
Nemiroff says the change to include Data Management as a prerequisite reflects similar program requirements across Canada over the last decade. He noted a trend of lesser competency in statistics among incoming first-year students. Nemiroff added Calculus will still be the “preferred” choice for admissions. The motion was carried.
Dwight Deugo, chair of the Senate Quality Assurance and Planning Committee (SQAPC), spoke on the proposed master’s of biotechnology (MBiotech) program. Deugo said the program will offer students a focus on “science, communication, business strategies, entrepreneurship and regulatory considerations” associated with the biotechnology industry. Deugo added the program will be “full-cost recovery” and will not require additional funding from the Ministry of Education.
The motion for the new program passed unanimously. It will head to the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance for final approval. The university hopes the MBiotech program will be available effective Fall 2024.
Deugo also brought forward SQAPC’s recommendations regarding the transfer of graduate curriculum approvals from the Graduate Faculty Board (GFB) to the various disciplinary faculty boards. The Senate passed the motion requesting recommendations on Apr. 14.
Among the recommendations was the formation of a Senate ad-hoc committee to examine the impact the transfer of approval authority would have on faculty. The proposed committee’s membership will include one member from each line faculty, a Chair appointed by the Senate Academic Governance Committee, and three support staff. The Senate accepted the recommendations.
The Senate is tentatively scheduled to meet again on Friday, June 23.
Featured image by Nick Brousseau.
