SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY S.03-4
1. Memorandum
Course Accessibility Task Force

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

S.03-4

Senate Committee on University Priorities

b Sy*e

Memorandum

TO:

Senate

FROM:

John Waterh'u77I

Chair, SCUF,4-

Vice Presir. Academic

RE:

Terms of Reference for Various Task

DATE:

Decembr', 2002

Forces and Groups to Implement the

Recommendations of the Ad Hoc

Senate Committee to Review and Develop

the Undergraduate Curricula

The Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) reviewed for information the

following documents in relation to the implementation of the recommendations of the

Ad Hoc Senate Committee to Review and Develop the Undergraduate Curricula at its

December 4, 2002 meeting:

• Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force Terms of Reference

• Writing Requirement Support Group Terms of Reference

• Quantitative Requirement Support Group Terms of Reference

• Breadth Requirement Support Group Terms of Reference

• Course Accessibility Task Force Terms of Reference

• Approvals Process

These documents are provided to Senate for information.

end.

Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force

Terms of Reference

Mandate

To implement the Writing, Quantitative and Breadth Principles in accordance with

the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Senate Committee to Review and Develop

the Undergraduate Curricula and related motions passed at the October 7, 2002

meeting of Senate.

Reporting and Approval Process

The Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force will report to the

Vice-President, Academic. Any decisions emanating from the work of the Task

Force will be considered in accordance with existing university approval

processes and structures.

Membership

• Chair (appointed by VP Academic for two year term)

• 5 Faculty Representatives (elected for two year

• I

Undergraduate Student Representative (ppei

i1r one year term by

the VP Academic, can be renewed for a second year)

• Chair of SCUS

• I

representative from the Registrar's Office (non-voting)

• Director, Academic Planning (non-voting)

Length of Appointment

Appointments are as indicated otherwise all other members of the task force are

ongoing appointments.

Frequency of Meetings

B i-weekly

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

The chief purpose of the Task Force is to serve as an enabling structure which

will work with the academic units to facilitate the implementation of the

undergraduate writing, quantitative and breadth oegree requirements. Specific

tasks and responsibilities include:

December 6, 2002

• In consultation with the W, Q and B assessors, develop and approve the

standards for evaluation of what constitutes writing intensive, quantitative

intensive and breadth courses;

• Identify the resource requirements for the implementation and

maintenance of the undergraduate curriculum requirements;

• Compile an inventory of the number of new/revised/existing W, Q, B

courses required in the immediate and long term to assist students in

fulfilling these requirements including projected costs of development;

• Review requests by Departments for exemptions from W, Q and B

requirements;

• Recommend calendar entries as required;

• Liaise with colleges and university colleges regarding the requirements

and their implications for transfer students;

• Review evaluation instruments to assess language and math proficiency;

• Develop a communications strategy and mechanism for the

implementation process;

• Develop overall strategy and timeline for the implementation process

• Develop an assessment and evaluation framework for courses and

programs implemented as a result of the UCC recommendations;

• Liaise with W, Q and B Requirement Support Groups as required.

December 6, 2002

Writing Requirement Support Group

Terms of Reference

Mandate

To provide content expertise in the review, evaluation and development of writing

intensive courses to enable the implementation and maintenance of the

undergraduate writing requirement.

Reporting and Approval Process

The Writing Requirement Support Group will report to the Undergraduate

Curriculum Implementation Task Force. Any documents or decisions emanating

from the work of the Group will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Curriculum

Implementation Task Force and approved in accordance with existing university

approval processes and structures.

Membership - appointed by the Vice President, Academic

• Chair (appointed for a two year term)

• 2 Faculty Representatives (appointed for a two year term)

• I

Undergraduate Student Representative (appointed for a one year term,

can be renewed for a second year)

• I

Staff Coordinator (non-voting)

Length of Appointment

Appointments are as indicated otherwise all other members of the group are

ongoing appointments.

Frequency of Meetings

Bi-weekly

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Propose standards for evaluation of what constitutes a writing intensive

course;

• Identify Departments that wish to implement writing intensive courses;

• Review and evaluate proposals by Departments for writing intensive

courses;

• Review and recommend an appropriate language proficiency evaluation

instrument;

• Recommend writing support mechanisms for students;

December 6, 2002

• Provide information and training to academic advisors and other members

of the university community regarding fulfillment of the writing requirement.

December 6, 2002

Quantitative Requirement Support Group

Terms of Reference

Mandate

To provide content expertise in the review, evaluation and development of

quantitative intensive courses to enable the implementation and maintenance of

the undergraduate quantitative requirement.

Reporting and Approval Process

The Quantitative Requirement Support Group will report to the Undergraduate

Curriculum Implementation Task Force. Any documents or decisions emanating

from the work of the Group will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Curriculum

Implementation Task Force and approved in accordance with existing university

approval processes and structures.

Membership - appointed by the Vice President, Academic

• Chair (appointed for a two year term)

• 2 Faculty Representatives (appointed for a two year term)

• 1 Undergraduate Student Representative (appointed for a one year term,

can be renewed for a second year)

• I Staff Coordinator (non-voting)

Length of Appointment

Appointments are as indicated otherwise all other members of the group are

ongoing appointments.

Frequency of Meetings

Bi-weekly

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Propose standards for evaluation of what constitutes a quantitative-

intensive course;

• Identify Departments that wish to implement quantitative intensive

courses;

• Review and evaluate proposals by Departments for quantitative intensive

courses;

• Review and recommend an appropriate mathematics proficiency

evaluation instrument;

December 6, 2002

•

. Recommend quantitative support mechanisms for students;

• Provide information and training to academic advisors and other members

of the university community regarding fulfillment of the quantitative

requirement.

December 6, 2002

Breadth Requirement Support Group

Terms of Reference

Mandate

To provide content expertise in the review, evaluation and development of

breadth courses to enable the implementation and maintenance of the

undergraduate breadth requirement.

Reporting and Approval Process

The Breadth Requirement Support Group will report to the Undergraduate

Curriculum Implementation Task Force. Any documents or decisions emanating

from the work of the Group will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Curriculum

Implementation Task Force and approved in accordance with existing university

approval processes and structures.

Membership - appointed by the Vice President, Academic

• Chair (appointed for a two year term)

• 1 Faculty of Science Representative (appointed for a two year term)

• 1

Faculty of Arts Representative (appointed for a two year term)

• 1 Faculty of Applied Sciences Representative (appointed for a two year

term)

• I Undergraduate Student Representative (appointed for a one year term,

can be renewed for a second year)

• I Staff Coordinator (non-voting)

Length of Appointment

Appointments are as indicated otherwise all other members of the group are

ongoing appointments.

Frequency of Meetings

Bi-weekly

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

• Propose standards for evaluation of what constitutes a breadth course;

• Identify Departments that wish to implement breadth courses;

• Review and evaluate proposals by Departments for breadth courses;

December 6, 2002

• Provide information and training to academic advisors and other members

of the university community regarding fulfillment of the breadth

requirement.

December 6, 2002

Course Accessibility Task Force

Terms of Reference

M andate

To review and make recommendations to address the issues of undergraduate

course availability, accessibility and timely completion in accordance with the

recommendations of the Ad Hoc Senate Committee to Review and Develop the

Undergraduate Curricula and the related motion passed at the October 7, 2002

meeting of Senate.

Reporting Structure

The Course Accessibility Task Force reports to the Senate Committee on

Enrollment Management and Planning (SCEMP).

M em bership

Vice President Academic or Designate, Chair

2 Faculty Representatives (appointed by the VP Academic)

Director, Analytical Studies

Staff Representative from the Registrar's Office

2 Senior Staff Representatives from Faculties or Departments

I Senior Undergraduate Student (appointed by the VP Academic)

Director, Academic Planning

Timeline for the Task Force

The Task Force is expected to undertake and to complete its work during the

Spring 2003 term and to provide a final report to June 2003 Senate meeting.

Frequency of Meetings

B i-weekly

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities

The task force will be asked to focus on the following areas of concern:

Examine whether course accessibility is an issue;

Determine the causes of the problem;

Recommend a course of action to remedy the problem.

December 6, 2002

Approvals Process

Overall Undergraduate Degree Requirements Calendar Entry

Have the Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force draft an overall

statement of the W, Q and B requirements for undergraduate degrees for the university

calendar

Approval by SCUS required

.,1f

Approval by SCUP required

Approval by Senate required

Program Changes and Adaptations (i.e. new and revised courses, course

deletions and minor/major program revisions)

With the assistance of the various W, Q and B support groups, Departments can

identify, revise or develop course offerings, or program changes that will be required

in order to implement the W,Q, B requirements

Changes/proposals forwarded to the Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task

Force for review

Any course offerings that are identified, revised or developed as a result of this

curriculum initiative are required to go through the normal channels of review and

approval within the Dept.

Approval by the appropriate Faculty Undergraduate Curriculum Committee required

Approval required by the Faculty as a whole (Faculty of Science only)

Changes/proposals are forwarded to SCUS for review and approval. Those changes

that are of a major nature are recommended to Senate. For those changes that involve

proposed new courses, course deletions and program revisions of a minor nature,

SCUS provides an information report to SCUP and Senate as to how the curriculum

initiative is progressing. In the event of any disputes during this process, SCUS will

be the adjudicator

December 6, 2002

Changes to/Exemptions from W,

Q and

B Requirements

After consultation with the Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force and

the W. Q and B support groups, the Program submits a request and detailed rationale

for

any changes to or exemptions from the W, Q and B requirements

Approval by the appropriate Faculty Undergraduate Curriculum Committee required

.1..

Approval by the Faculty required (Faculty of Science only)

Approval by SCUS required

Approval by SCUP required

Approval by Senate required

December 6, 2002