S
S.98-27
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
MEMORANDUM
?
V.-
To: ?
Senate
From:
?
D. Gagan, Chair
A
onAc2
ademicTlanz
Senate Committe
Subject ?
Admission to Faculty
(Reference:
SCUS 97-59)
(Reference: SCAP
98-6)
Date:
?
February
11, 1998
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Enrolment Management and
Planning, the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies and the Senate
Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
"that Senate approve, as set forth in
S.98 - 27 ,
the principle
of admitting students directly to Faculties for
98-3
and
subsequent semesters."
0
a
Simon Fraser University
Dean of Student Services & Registrar
tel 291-4176; fax 291-5732; email heath@sfu.ca
Memorandum
To: Senate Committee on Academic Planning From: Ron Heath
Dean of Student Services & Registrar
Subject: Admission To Faculty
?
Date: January 29, 1998
The Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies has approved the principle of admission
to Faculty, with implementation to begin in September, 1998. SCUS has also seen and
approved the proposed procedures for admission and Faculty designation of newly--
admitted students based on distinct admission requirements already approved by Senate.
It is understood that some additional proposals may be advanced and if approved by SCUS,
will be forwarded to Senate and the Board of Governors for approval prior to
implementation. It is the intent of SCUS to closely monitor the process and to work in
concert with the Registrar and the individual Faculties as the implementation plans
proceed.
The proposal does not preclude students from the opportunity to shop around and
investigate various academic disciplines and subjects before deciding on a specialization or
program. No Faculty will be able (nor do any wish to do so) to assign all available spaces in
specializations to new entries and consequently students will be able to apply to move into
those specializations when they are qualified and wish to make that decision, just as they
do now. Similarly, students will not be restricted from electing to transfer to another
program (if qualified) should their aspirations change. However, for those students whose
academic directions are determined, they are afforded the opportunity to be able to move
directly to the specialization, forming closer ties and identification with the academic unit.
Because other institutions do admit directly to Faculty/program, we routinely lose highly
qualified students who might otherwise come here because they are assured of entry at
another school whereas our message has been to 'wait and see'. From an academic
preparation perspective, the establishment of specific admission requirements germane to
the program's requirements will allow students to be better prepared for entry - and for
faculties to select new students on the basis of appropriate academic preparation. For
instance, for admission to the Faculty of Science, students must have English Math and 2
other sciences as compared to the general University requirement of English plus three
other subjects. Finally, from an administrative perspective, having defined enrolment
targets and quotas for programs and Faculties will assist in the planning of course spaces
and the corresponding assignment of teaching resources.
/
Memo from Nick Heath
Director of Admissions
Simon Fraser University
To: Dr. J
.
Ogloff, chair, Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
Date:
1997 1127
ect Admission to
SCEMP has given approval in principle to admitting students directly to faculties for 98-3 and
subsequent semesters. Approval by SCUS, SCAP and Senate is sought by February 1998. This
paper gives SCUS additional details. The rationale for these changes will be found in the
attachment to D. Gagan's memo to SCUS of 28 October 1997, titled "Admission of new
undergraduate students into academic faculties at SFU."
The following consist of changes and additions to the Academic regulations described in the 1997-
98 Calendar under 'General Information' (p.p. 21 -23).
Technical note
A student's record includes
faculty (SC!), credential
(BSC),
program type
(HON) and
program
subject
(BISC). These pairs of data are referred to in the Calendar as
'Department'
and
'Specialization'
respectively. Each pair of data may have a status -
introduced, withdrawn
or
approved.
Each status has a semester time stamp. This time stamp has been used widely for the
program type/subject
but is not much used for the
faculty/credential.
A program that shows as
introduced
but is not
approved
or
withdrawn is
commonly referred to as the student's
intended
program.
The following example follows the format of the Unofficial Student Record for an approved
History Major who originally intended to take Philosophy: (note that the faculty /credential is
usually left as INTRO even after a program has been approved within that faculty/ credential.)
CREDENTIALS/PROGRAMS ?
CLASS INTRO WDN APRV
?
GRADUATION STATUS
ARTS ?
BA ?
96-1
MAJ ?
HIST ?
97-2
? 97-2
MAJ ?
PHIL ?
96-1 ?
97-2
Current process
At present, virtually all applicants are asked to indicate their intended faculty and program and
are also asked to give their alternate choice of faculty in case they are not admitted to the faculty of
their first choice. Most new students are admitted to the University in general, without approval
of their faculty /credential or of their program type/subject. Exceptions are all Faculty of Science
and some Engineering Science, Kinesiology, Computing Science, Criminology and PDP new
students. Approval of the program type/subject may occur at any time but must occur by the
student's 60th semester hour. Formal approval of the faculty/ credential is generally not done
until graduation. New students with degrees who are admitted to pursue a PBD or a further u/g
degree are given a Program Approval Form and are urged to seek advice and approval of their
intended program before they register.
Many students have multiple programs, such as a major/minor combination or a joint major.
Formal approval of the student's faculty is not normally given, hence these students may be
unofficially in two or more faculties. In an extreme case, a student could be in all five faculties at
the same time!
4
Changes starting Fall
1998
New
students*
shall be offered admission with an approved credential and faculty. The
. faculty/credential shall contain a program or programs which is open to that student and which
• allow the student to complete that credential provided that s/he maintains academic standing and
follows the prescribed program. In some cases the student's intended program will be approved at
the time of admission, but in most cases approval into the program will be determined later.
*Exceptions will include PBD, further u/g degree, Irregular, Visiting, Exchange and Special
students.
A new student who is not approved into the credential and faculty of first choice shall be offered
admission to the credential and faculty of second choice and, if
that too is unavailable, to the most
appropriate other credential and faculty.
If
the student's intended faculty/credential is not approved, the unapproved faculty/credential
shall be retained for advising purposes as an intended goal. Faculties may choose to create specific
quasi-programs for intended majors in other faculties
if this would assist with advising (e.g. the
Faculty of Arts might choose to create a pre-BUS stream).
Only one faculty/credential combination may be approved for a student. A student in a program
which includes components from different faculties shall be approved by the faculty offering the
highest credential sought. If these are equal, the student shall be permitted to choose her/his
prime faculty.
Implications
Students normally enter in levels 1 - 5. Entries beyond level I carry transfer credit.
APSC
All programs limited entry.
• ?
All
programs separate admission requirements (expected by 99-3)
'Approved' only Program admission.
Admissions approves Faculty/credential and program type/subject only on
recommendation of schools.
Requires enhancements to existing process between -Admissions and schools to ensure that all
new students are considered for direct program entry, every semester. This process is currently
limited to new students entering from secondary school to Fall semester. Selected candidates will
be offered direct program entry.
ARTS Most programs unlimited entry.
Admissions approves faculty/ credential.
Department approves program type/subject, normally after admission.
Little change except that many new students will have intended programs outside the Faculty,
such as APSC BA MAJ CMNS or BUS BBA MAJ BUS. Special quasi -programs may be set up to
assist in the identification of these students, but are not required.
BUS ?
Separate admission requirements and limited entry to Faculty (expected by 98-3).
Admissions approves Faculty/ credential and program type/subject only on
recommendation of FBA.
•
Requires establishment of process between Admissions and FBA to ensure that all new students
are considered for direct program entry, every semester. Selected candidates will be offered direct
program entry.
Many intended BUS majors will be offered admission to an alternate faculty
3
EDUC Entry requires admission to PDP - separate admission requirements and limited entry
Admissions will normally admit and approve candidates to an alternate
faculty/ credential.
All Level I and most other intended EDLIC students will be offered admission to an alternate
faculty.
SQ
?
?
Separate admission requirements and limited entry to Faculty
?
All programs unlimited entry.
Admissions approves to faculty/ credential.
Department approves program type/subject, normally after admission.
No changes.
Advising
Advising shall be the responsibility of the student's approved faculty except:
A student in ARTS who is seeking entry to a program in ARTS may seek advice from ARO.
A student in ARTS or SCI who is seeking entry to a program in APSC may seek advice from the
appropriate APSC school or from ARO.
A student in ARTS or SCI who is seeking entry to a program in BUS may seek advice from the
Faculty of Business Administration.
A student in ARTS or SCI who is seeking entry to a program in EDUC may seek advice from
the Faculty of Education or from ARO.
Any faculty may choose to track and offer academic advice to a student in another faculty who is
intending to gain approval into its program.
If the student has a composite program (e.g. Major/Minor) the student's adviser may refer the
student to another adviser (inside the faculty or in another faculty) for additional advice relating
to a sub-set of the student's overall program.
Examples
A) Applicant from BC secondary school seeks BUS BBA. She selects SCI as her alternate faculty.
1)
Meets admission criteria for direct entry to BUS?
?
No
2)
What is alternate faculty?
?
SCI
3)
Meets SCI entry requirements? ?
No
4)
Meets SFU general admission requirements?
?
Yes
5)
What is most appropriate other faculty /credential?
?
ARTS BA
6)
Offer admission with approved faculty/credential ?
= ARTS BA
and intended faculty/credential & program type/subject
?
= BUS BBA MAJ BUS
Data displayed on Unofficial Student Record as:
CREDENTIALS/PROGRAMS ?
CLASS INTRO WDN APRV
?
GRADUATION STATUS
ARTS ?
BA ?
98-3 ?
98-3
BUS ?
BBA ?
98-3
MAJ
?
BUS ?
98-3
r
0
B) Applicant transferring from a university with 60 transfer credits, seeking EDUC BED MIN
LRND. He selects APSC as his alternate faculty.
1) Meets admission criteria for direct entry to EDUC/PDP?
No
2) What is alternate faculty?
.
APSC
3) What is most appropriate school?
CMNS
4) Meets CMNS entry requirements?
No
5) Meets SRi general admission requirements?
Yes
6) What is most appropriate other faculty /credential?
ARTS BA
7)
Offer admission with approved faculty/credential
= ARTS BA
and intended faculty/credential & program type/subject = EDUC BED MEN LRND
Data displayed on Unofficial Student Record as:
CREDENTIALS/PROGRAMS ?
CLASS INTRO WDN APRV
?
GRADUATION STATUS
ARTS
?
BA ?
98-3 ?
98-3
EDUC ?
BED ?
98-3
MIN LRND
?
98-3
nhNov
97
S
S
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
Office of the Registrar?
MEMORANDUM
.
To: ?
Dr. James Ogloff, Chair, Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
From: ?
David P. Gagan, Chair,
Senate Committee on Enrollment
Management and Planning
Subject:
?
Admission by Faculty
Date: ?
28 October, 1997
At its meeting on 22 October, 1997, the Senate Committee on Enrollment
Management and Planning discussed the concept of Admission by Faculty - see R.
Heath's paper Admission of New Undergraduate Students into Academic Faculties
at SFU (attached). Below are the draft minutes from SCEMP:
R. Heath introduced the paper on Admission to Faculty indicating the intent
was to ensure that all new admissions to SFU starting in Fall 1998 would be
admitted to a specific Faculty, and that "intendeds" would be channelled into
Faculties in Fall 1999. Current admission requirements would be
implemented, and Faculties would not be able to recommend more stringent
admissions requirements until Fall 1999.
It was acknowledged that controlling admission controlled only part of the
total workload issue faced by Faculties. W. Wattamaniuk would probably be
in the best position to estimate/predict total fte workload in relation to
admissions.
It was moved by
J.
Osborne, seconded by J
.
Waterhouse:
w l'ha
t
SCEMP accept the proposal on Admission to Faculty in principle, and
refer it to SCUS for detailed consideration."
Carried. Referred to SCUS
With this memo, I am asking you to initiate a detailed consideration of this
proposal by SCUS, with a view to having a recommendation back to SCAP on this
matter by the end of the year, so that this matter could be addressed by SCAP in
January 1998 and by Senate in February. If everything is positive, the intention is
that this would be implemented for new admissions to SFU in Fall 1998 and it
would be preferable if it was possible for this change to be reflected in the
University's 1998/99 Calendar.
Enclosure:
?
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cc
y
R. Heath
?
L
W. Wattamaniuk
N. Heath
.
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PROPOSAL
Commencing in Fall, 1998, each new undergraduate entering SFU will be admitted
into one of the five Faculties at SFU. Each student will be registered in one Faculty
only, and transfer into another Faculty will be subject to an approval process. Limits
will be placed on the number of majors and minors students may declare.
BACKGROUND
New undergraduates who register at SFU are normally admitted under general
admission provisions and indicate that they intend to pursue study in the Faculty of
Applied Sciences, Arts, Business Administration or Education. Separate admission
criteria allow a target number of students to be admitted into the Faculty of Science.
General admission does not guarantee admission into any program.
In a few cases a limited number of students are admitted directly into programs
from secondary schools; these are Computing Science, Engineering Science, and
Kinesiology. Similarly, some students transferring from one of the provincial
colleges or another university may be admitted directly to a specific major or
program without first completing some courses at SFU. Newly admitted students
who wish to take a post-baccalaureate diploma (PBD) or a further undergraduate
• ?
degree must obtain program approval from the Faculty or Department offering the
program prior to registering in courses.
The current system of admission has a number of problems. First, it allows many
students to form unreasonable expectations of degree program goals because of the
limited number of places available in some programs. Students may now select and
enter an intended Faculty and major program without prior approval or.
consultation. Thus there are many more students who are "registered" in the
Faculty of Business Administration and who "intend" to major in Business with a
BBA as a goal than will approved because of the highly selective nature of the
program. Perhaps as many as half of these students will have the required CGPA in
their first year and be allowed to enter the program; the remaining spaces in the
program are filled from applicants who have completed about two years of study.
The other students who were "intended Business" will either complete majors in
other Faculties or leave the University. Because of the highly competitive nature of
entry into the Business program, students may severely limit the variety of electives
they take as they attempt to maximize their CGPA and grades in specific required
courses. A similar problem exists in the Faculty of Education where students are
registered as 'intended' within the Faculty with the objective of becoming teachers
but may never be accepted for entry into PDP and hence will not qualify for the B.
Ed. degree.
Secondly, from an enrollment management and planning point of view, the suspect
nature of the statistics of 'student faculty' and 'intended program' of student provide
.
?
small comfort in being able to predict flows of students into programs and the
subsequent orderly planning of course places and the marshaling of instructional
resources. The Faculty of Arts has seen firsthand the problem created by students
1-.
who have been turned away from Business and who then attempt to enter
Economics, or failing that, some other Major within Arts.
?
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SPECIFIC PROPOSALS BY FACULTY
1.
Science
The admission processes into the Faculty of Science will remain unchanged. New
students will enter directly from secondary schools or from college transfer
programs. Specific subject admission requirements apply and admission is limited
to the established target. Students who enter Science will be expected to major in
one of the Science disciplines although some may choose to transfer into an Applied
Science Program such as Computing Science or Kinesiology. While in Science,
these students will be registered as intended students in their preferred
program/major. Over time, the target will be adjusted to accommodate the
proportion of students who transfer into other Faculties.
2.
Business Administration
The Faculty of Business will begin to admit a limited number of students directly
from Secondary School into the BBA Major program in the Fall Semester of 1998. A
limited number of college and university transfer students who have
all the
required first year business courses will also be admitted into the program. The
students will be allowed to continue in the BBA program provided they continue to
meet a set of minimum continuance requirements. The remainder of the students
who enter Business will be students transferring from the Faculty of Arts (and
perhaps from Science or other programs) who have completed their business
requirements and qualify under
the
limited entry quota requirements. While these
students are
in
the Faculty of Arts
they
will classified as 'intended' Business
students.
3.
Applied Science
Only those students who have been accepted into the Engineering Science. Program
or who have been formally approved as Majors in Communication, Kinesiology, or
Computing Science will be admitted into the Faculty of Applied
Sciences.
Engineering Science will continue to accept students largely from secondary school.
Communication, Kinesiology, or Computing Science will accept as approved Majors
a limited number of direct entry students from secondary schools and from college
transfer programs. However, the remainder of their students will be approved to
Major by transfer from either the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science. While
these students are registered in the Faculty of Arts or the Faculty of Science, they will
be classified as 'intended' in their major of choice.
4.
Education
Since the Professional Development Program (one year teacher training program) is
an integral part of the B. Ed. degree requirements, only students who have been
accepted into PDP or the Education PBD will be admitted into the Faculty of
Education. All other students whose goal is to complete a B.Ed. will be registered in at
• ?
another Faculty but their intention to enter the Faculty of Education will be
recorded.
5, Arts
Arts will begin to admit new students to Faculty in 1998. A set of intake targets will
be developed with admission criteria largely similar to those in existence for 1997.
Students whose goal is to major in Communications, Computing Science or
Business and who do not gain direct entry, and those who want to enter the
teaching profession will be considered as Faculty of Arts students until such time as
they are approved and transfer into their respective majors in another Faculty.
However, while they are registered in the Faculty of Arts, they will be appropriately
identified as 'intended in Major xx' for advising purposes.
The Faculty of Arts may wish to consider the approval to major/program of those
students with high standing at admission. For instance, a student with excellent
grades in secondary school who enters with a major scholarship might be
considered for approval to their major or program choice.
Initially, the transfer of students who are in good standing from other Faculties into
the Faculty of Arts will not be limited provided the student satisfies the
requirements for approval into an Arts major. Students who do not meet the
academic standards for continuance in a program in another Faculty may be subject
to a quota.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
1.
Timing for implementation of admission to faculty should be a two stage process
with direct entry in fall, 1998 followed by a second stage in 1999 that addresses the
identification of continuing students with Faculties. By the Fall of 1999, it is
anticipated that many students will have already been accepted to a major in a
Faculty and this should minimize the number of students who will require a
change in Faculty affiliation. In general, those students who do not yet have an
approved Major/Program by the Fall of 1999 will be considered to be in the Faculty
of Arts.
The University already has a set of definitions and expectations as to when students
should have been 'approved' into a major and these will be used as guiding
principles in assisting these students to be assigned appropriately without limiting
the options that they may choose to exercise in the current system.
2.
Student who have been 'required to withdraw' may apply for re-admission to the
program/Faculty of their choice. These students will be considered in competition
with other applicants within the target numbers for that program/Faculty.
3.
Admission to Faculty policies should strive for simplicity. An objective will be to
keep administrative burden small.
• ?
4. Each Faculty/program will plan for intake targets for the Fall Semester of 1998.
The Office of Admissions will work closely with each Faculty/Program to achieve
the identified targets.
q.
?
6
5.
If the specific subjects required for admission to a Faculty/Program are to be
revised and especially when they are to become more restrictive or selective, these
new requirements must be approved by the Spring of 1998 and widely
communicated immediately. In no case will new additional specific subject
requirements not already approved be introduced earlier than for the Fall 1999
admissions cycle.
6.
The Registrar's office will review the calendar and recommend changes to
policies that may be necessary to implement admission to faculty. Any changes to
policy would be first discussed in the Faculties and then forwarded to SCUS and
Senate for approval.
7.
Each year Faculties will review the numbers of students that gain entry to their
programs/Faculty under each category (direct, external transfer, internal transfer) to
ensure that the 'mix' reflects demand and performance.
8.
The advising of students who are 'approved' into Faculties, Programs or Majors
will be the responsilility of the Faculty concerned. Students who are 'intended' will
be advised by the Academic Resource Office unless a Faculty/Program wishes to
assume that responsibility for students who are 'intended' for a program in that
Faculty. The Academic Resource Office will continue to advise students on general
issues at the request of the student.
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