S. 12-26
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    MEMORANDUM
    ATTENTION
    FROM
    RE:
    Senate
    Jo Hinchliffe, Assistant Registrar
    Secretary, Senate Calendar \ ..
    Committee
    ^<sMJ-
    Academic Dates 2012-2015
    date
    December 14, 2011
    pages
    1/2
    At its meeting of 9 December 2011 the Calendar committee reviewed, for approval by Senate, the
    schedule of dates for future semesters commencing Fall 2012 and finishing Summer of 2015. This
    includes revisions to the previously approved schedule to accommodate the new B.C. Government Family
    Day statutory holiday. The committee is proposing to move the Reading Break a week later in February
    to include Family Day.
    The committee also reviewed a concern with regard to the difficulties experienced by lab courses,
    particularly in the sciences, when term starts in the middle of the week. We have taken into account the
    various factors including teaching requirements, orientation requirements, statutory holidays and believe
    we have developed a schedule that accommodates all concerns.
    SFU has a three-term in-take system, which challenges the university when it comes to orienting new
    students at the beginning
    of each term, and also evaluating students' academic standing or graduation
    eligibility at the end of each term. In order to provide students with the best academic and university
    experience, the following principles have been adopted in determining the optimal academic calendar of
    dates.
    Principles
    1. Each semester has 63 teaching days. (Senate Paper 03-56)
    2. Exams
    may be scheduled on Sunday if required. (Senate Paper 05-127)
    3. There is a week long Reading break in February of each year starting in 2011 (Senate Paper 08-70)
    4. All instructors submit grades on-line by the deadline date to allow for quicker end-of-term evaluations.
    5. Orientation for new students is a vital component for student retention, development and creating a
    positive university experience.
    Motion:
    "That Senate approve a Schedule of Academic Dates 2012-2015."
    Reminder: if Senate approves this schedule, it will require that the May Senate meetings be moved to the
    Tuesday following the May long weekend.
    Specificallythe dates are: May 22 2012, May 21 2013, May 20 2014, May 19 2015.
    Academic Dates 2012-2015

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