Veronica Afonso

The Senate meeting agenda included acknowledgment of Traditional Territory, approval of the agenda, and disposal of previous minutes. Key business involved reports from various bodies, including the President and Vice-President Finance and Administration, and attached reports from the Board of Governors and NUSU. Major discussions centered on non-substantive changes within the English Studies department, such as unbanking CHEM 4206 and banking several other English courses (ENGL 2006, 2007, 2267, 2056, 2605, 2813), alongside reorganizing Major, Specialization, and Honours Specialization requirements. Additionally, the First Year Foundations Experience courses were banked, and the associated Foundations Pathway admission option was proposed for discontinuation. The Geography department proposed revisions to the Certificate in Geomatics, reducing required credits and updating course requirements following faculty retirements. The History & Ancient Studies section proposed changes to course hours for several 1000-level HIST courses to reflect the elimination of seminar components, recoding all Ancient Studies courses from CLAS to HIST to align with departmental consolidation and support Education students, banking numerous CLAS courses, and removing the Certificate in Digital Classics. Numerous prerequisite changes were proposed for Indigenous Studies courses to streamline admissions for transfer students. Finally, the creation of a new course, INDG 3706: Gekendaasyang (What We Know): Indigenous Data Sovereignty, was proposed. Political Science proposed altering certificate requirements for the Certificate in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation.

The Senate meeting agenda included several key items. Reports were received from various bodies, including the Senate Executive Committee, Academic Quality Assurance and Planning Committee (AQAPC), Graduate Studies Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee, Senate Research Committee, and Teaching and Learning Committee, covering dates throughout September, October, and November 2024. Key discussions and actions involved a Traditional Territory acknowledgement, the approval of the agenda, updates from the President (including efficiency review progress, meeting with the Minister's office on SMA4, and updates on the equity audit), and reports from the Board of Governors and the Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU) concerning Wellness Week and Diwali Dhamaal. The committee addressed the formal closure of the Scholar Practitioner Program and recommended the creation of a new undergraduate program in Sustainable Planning, subject to external review and approvals. Elections were held and several individuals were acclaimed to positions on the Board of Governors and a Search Committee for the Dean of Education and Professional Studies. New Business included endorsing Nipissing University as a signatory to the Canadian Military Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium and approving the list of Honorary Degree recipients.

The agenda for the Senate meeting included the acknowledgement of Traditional Territory and the approval of the agenda itself. Business included receiving reports from several bodies such as the President, Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research, and the Board of Governors. Standing Committees and Faculty Councils presented reports requiring action. Key discussions centered on curriculum changes within the Faculty of Arts and Science, specifically the creation of new courses in English and Fine and Performing Arts, and changes to Fine Arts program requirements. Indigenous Studies proposed several new courses. Other curriculum discussions involved changes in Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology programs. The Pathways section addressed transfer credit pathways related to diploma programs from Ontario Colleges for Child & Family Studies, Bachelor of Commerce, and Honours Bachelor of Social Work. Further reports from the Academic Curriculum Committee (dated January 31, 2023, and February 15, 2023), Research Committee, and Teaching and Learning Committee were addressed. The meeting also covered amendments to By-Laws concerning the Graduate Studies Committee reinstatement and the criteria for cancelling a Senate meeting. Finally, approvals were sought for graduation applicants.

The meeting covered several key agenda items, including the acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory and approval of the agenda for the January 17, 2025, meeting. Substantive business included the adoption of recommendations to formally close the Scholar Practitioner Program following a discussion and secret ballot. The Senate addressed numerous curriculum changes within the Philosophy department, such as approving the creation of PHIL-2406 Ancient Philosophy and PHIL-3767 Special Topics in Ethics, and modifying course titles and descriptions for PHIL-1116 Introduction to Philosophy. Degree requirements for Honours Specialization, Specialization, Major, and Minor in Philosophy were also modified. Reports were received from various committees including the Senate Executive Committee, Academic Quality Assurance and Planning Committee, and Senate Research Committee. New business included approving Nipissing University signing on to the Canadian Military, Veteran, and Family Connected Campus Consortium.

The agenda for the Senate meeting included several key actions. Business arising from previous minutes involved approving motions related to the Certificate in Human Resources Management requirements, modifying lecture/lab hours for specific Physical and Health Education courses, adding a French delivery note to an Education course description, and approving Advanced Standing Credit changes for Child & Youth Care Diploma Graduates. Standing committee reports covered receiving the Senate Executive Committee report. Other business included a presentation from the NUSU regarding the new Student Centre. The agenda also included proposed amendments to the Senate By-Laws concerning the composition of Ex Officio Senators, specifically adding the Vice President responsible for Finance and Administration and removing references to defunct positions. There were notices of motion for faculty council elections to fill vacant positions on the Senate Executive Committee. New business focused on considering, receiving, and granting approval for graduation to the students listed in the Report of Grad Applicants dated October 13, 2016.