Senate Meeting Synopsis for June 6, 2022

The seventh Senate meeting of the 2021-22 session was held on June 6, 2022 and was chaired by President Charlotte Yates.

Dr. Michèle Preyde, Professor and Chair, Committee on Quality Assurance, commenced the meeting with a territorial land acknowledgment.

Leadership Updates

The President, Dr. Charlotte Yates, offered oral remarks and began by congratulating students for completing their year of study and thanking faculty and staff who supported student achievement.

Dr. Yates relayed a message, shared with the University community earlier in the day, announcing that the University will pause its mask mandate on July 1, 2022. The President added that masks will be required for Convocation ceremonies however graduates would have the option to remove their masks as they cross the stage.

President Yates remarked on government relations that advocacy to advance the needs of the sector would continue.  The President then provided an update on current federal advocacy items.

Dr. Yates welcomed Dr. Melanie Spence-Ariemma as the new Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer for the University of Guelph-Humber, provided an update on the first in-person Convocation ceremonies in more than two years, and provided information about the installation of Dr. Mary Anne Chambers as the University’s new Chancellor.  

The President announced the imminent approval of The Centre for Biodiversity Genomics (CBG) and the Bench to Bedside Institute for Translational Health Research and Innovation, and highlighted that June is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month.

The Provost & Vice-President (Academic), Dr. Gwen Chapman, provided remarks on plans for returning to primarily in-person instruction this fall, adding that the University continues to work on ways to incorporate varied methods of delivery to its academic offerings moving forward. Dr. Chapman announced that the fall course schedule is now available including information about the methods of delivery. The Provost shared preliminary offer acceptance rates for the University for fall 2023, noting that the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) would post the official numbers on June 15, 2022, and remarked on the University’s need to diversify intakes in the future. The Provost concluded by providing an update on the budget.

The Vice-President (Research), Dr. Malcolm Campbell, provided remarks on three items related to the research enterprise: the success of the last year, future success and challenges ahead. Dr. Campbell highlighted the success of our faculty in securing tri-agency funding and shared information about research proposals coming forward this summer. Dr. Campbell provided an update on improvements being made to the workflow for research ethics approval.

A strategic discussion was held and feedback sought from Senators on the strategic framework renewal and forthcoming Strategic Plan. The Global Engagement Plan 2022-25 was also presented.

Key Business Items and Approvals

Other key items of business at the meeting included:

• Approval of revised terms of reference for the Boards of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies
• Approval of a new Council of Ontario Universities’ Academic Colleague and Alternate
• Approval of 2022-23 Senate standing committee memberships
• Approval of an extension to an admission pilot making SAT/ACT test scores optional
• Approval of revised regulations regarding registration at other post-secondary institutions
• Approval of revisions to all academic calendars related to the Serving Scholars Program
• Approval of Co-op Options for undergraduate programs in Neuroscience, Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences, Honours Agriculture, Animal Science, Crop Science, Horticulture
• Approval of a major modification to the University of Guelph-Humber Justice and Public Safety program
• Approval of revisions to the Policy on Appointment to Graduate Faculty Status
• Approval of changes to admission requirements for the Master of Bioinformatics
• Approval of the deletion of the Graduate Diploma in Leadership (Type 1) program
• Items presented for information: Anti-Racism Policy Statement, Update on the Senate Governance Review, IEDI Senate Governance Work Plan, Update on EDI Committee, Update from the COU Academic Colleague, Senate Evaluation Survey results, undergraduate and graduate curriculum changes, graduate faculty appointments, non-degree program approvals and changes and quality review reports.

More Information

The complete meeting agenda package is available on the University Secretariat’s Governance Portal and includes detailed information on the items listed above.  The official record of the meeting is the meeting minutes, which will be available following their approval at the next regularly scheduled Senate meeting.

Upcoming Senate Meeting

The next regular meeting of Senate is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 3, 2022.

Meetings are open to the public and visitors who wish to attend are invited to contact the University Secretariat at univsec@uoguelph.ca