Faculty Council Meeting - Friday, January 8, 2021: Deadline for Agenda Items - Tuesday, December 23/2020 at 2:00 pm
MEMORANDUM
Date: December 22nd, 2020
To: Members, Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Subject: COUNCIL MEETING
_______________________________________________________________________________
There will be a meeting of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty Council on:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 8th, 2021 AT 10:00 AM VIA ZOOM.
AGENDA
_______________________
Zoom Link:
https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/99231969830
Meeting ID: 992 3196 9830
_______________________
Introduction of New Faculty Member: Dr. Leigh Potvin – School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism
1. Approval of Agenda.
2. Approval of the following Minutes: December 3rd, 2020.
3. Business Arising from the Minutes.
4. Calendar Changes.
5. Department/School Reports.
6. Dean’s Report.
7. Other Business.
8. Next Faculty Council Meeting: Friday, February 12th, 2021 at 10:00 am via Zoom.
9. Adjournment.
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL
MINUTES
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020
A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 at 10:00 am via Zoom.
Presentation/Discussion:
Ms. Sarah Lewis, Director, Student Success Centre, Ms. Kristen Bohonis, Co-op & Employer Relations Officer, and Sierra Lemonius-Walker, Student Success Intern, gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the proposed development of major maps for each department/school in our Faculty. S. Lemonius-Walker is the lead on this project and is eager to meet with everyone who is interested in developing one for their department/school. Building this course plan for students will enable them to know more about their program of interest as well as what skills they will develop to prepare them for employment after graduation. The maps will also help to alleviate the amount of time faculty members currently require to explain their programs to prospective students. Students can review the information contained in the major maps and hopefully have a good knowledge base about their program before they meet with faculty members.
S. Lemonius-Walker will be sending out an email, which will include a template for use, to those interested departments to help them develop their own major map. Languages and Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism have their maps ready to go and others can use them as a guide if they wish.
Ms. Jerri-Lynn Orr, Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, gave a brief overview of her role at Lakehead University. She would like to work collaboratively with our Faculty, and is looking forward to meeting with each department/school to discuss their current curriculum and how best to include Indigenous content. Chairs/Director were encouraged to submit an outline of what courses they currently offer for her review before she meets with them.
1.
Approval of Agenda
It was moved by I. Lemée and seconded by A. Saulnier that the agenda be approved.
Carried.
2.
Approval of Minutes
Approval of the minutes from November 12th, 2020.
The minutes were accepted as circulated.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.
4.
Calendar Changes
None submitted.
5.
Department/School Reports.
i) Interdisciplinary Studies
J. Jarman announced that S. Jeppesen has published a new book entitled, Media Activist Research Ethics.
6.
Dean’s Report.
PTR/Merit/Sabbaticals Update:
Both the PTR and the Merit departmental reviews are now complete. The PTR Committee will meet next week to consider applications. The Merit Committee will begin its review soon.
All the sabbatical recommendations have gone to the Provost and the President for approval. Sabbatical letters will be sent to all those who have applied by December 15, 2020.
Spring/Summer Courses:
The spring/summer course offerings have now been approved and all departments/school can begin to hire for their courses.
Budget Update:
The Provost has not yet shared the proposed 2021/2022 budget with the Deans as they have in previous years. There is still some uncertainty about delivery and they are hoping to know more soon. Please go ahead and schedule your courses for the next academic year paying careful attention, and giving priority to:
1. Courses your students will require to graduate.
2. Courses you would like to offer to give students a “choice.” Please keep these courses “turned off” in the timetable until they are given the okay.
3. Please try to design courses to serve several units.
4. Please schedule a meeting with me to discuss how to proceed with FCE requirements and course planning as soon as possible.
A discussion followed noting the following:
• It still might not be a “normal” year come September as not all students/staff maybe not yet have their vaccines. With this in mind, we might still have to consider social distancing when we begin fall classes.
• Classes should be planned as normal but faculty were asked to be prepared to move to Zoom or online as needed as we do not know the future.
• The question was raised about the possible delay of classes for the 2021 winter term. Other Ontario universities made their decisions some time ago and will not be returning until January 11, 2021. A brief discussion followed with regard to how this might affect placements, OSAP, and travel plans already made. A special SAC meeting is being held to discuss this issue.
• Also mentioned was the added stress to faculty and students during this semester with courses being offered online. It was suggested to reach out to those who need help or have them connect with Student Health and Counselling. They now have more staff and are available to meet via phone or Zoom.
Bargaining Update:
There was not much information shared at Deans’ Council yesterday other than negotiations are ongoing. It was stated that the Dean’s Office continues to be very supportive of everyone during this process and hoped for a good new Collective Agreement.
7.
Other Business:
None.
8.
Next Faculty Council Meeting: Friday, January 8th, 2021 at 10:00 am via Zoom.
9.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:09 am.
ATTENDANCE
Thunder Bay Campus
R. Maundrell
S. Jobbitt
K. Holmes
D. Ivison
B. Birmingham
L. Chambers
A. Carastathis
B. Vernier
I. Lemée
C. Sanders
G. Colton
R. Robson
R. Warburton
B. Parker
L. Primavesi
S. Viitala
Orillia Campus
M. Stevenson
S. Islam
A. den Otter
A. Saulnier
Regrets:
L. Forbes
T. Potter