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Senate approved:

  • Senate Executive’s recommendation to suspend Bylaw 6.2.2 regarding notice for this meeting
  • Summary of decisions to address the completion of the winter 2024 semester following job action.  Motion 1:
    • Moved that, in light of teaching days lost to the recent job action and two weather cancellations on Mondays (January 29, 2024 and February 5, 2024), the approved 2023-2024 academic Calendar dates be amended as follows to reduce the adverse impact on classes, while also preserving instructor discretion about how to complete the term:
      •  

        Allow one synchronous remote class on Monday, April 1, for Monday classes that were suspended during the job action, if instructors choose.

      • End classes on Thursday, April 11, instead of Wednesday, April 10.
      • Designate Thursday, April 11, as a “Monday in lieu” class day to allow course instructors in classes that were suspended during the job action an opportunity to make up a missed Monday, if they choose.
      • Remove the scheduled Reading Day on Thursday, April 11.
      • Adapt the Friday, April 12, exam schedule as follows:  Reschedule final exams for Monday classes that were also suspended during the job action to an exam slot later in the scheduled exam period.
  • Motion 2:  In keeping with the principles of fairness and academic integrity, moved that instructors of classes that were suspended during the job action be authorized to adjust their Winter 2024 and 2023-2024 full-year course outlines (including deadlines, dates, requirements, methods of evaluation, and modality of delivery) to reflect revised academic dates, to cover and assess learning outcomes, and to make reasonable efforts to meet the needs of individual students impacted by the Winter 2024 job action.
  • Motions 3 & 4 to further amend academic Calendar dates:
    • Last day to drop a course without academic penalty (WF) be moved from March 11, 2024, to April 11, 2024
    • Last day to report exam conflicts and/or exam accommodations to the Registrar’s Office be moved from March 15, 2024, to March 25, 2024
  • Motion 5:  Reflecting academic rights and responsibilities, moved that students remain responsible for fulfilling requirements in courses that were suspended during the job action, but that students who are unable to participate in academic instruction during rescheduled classes (specifically 7 March, 8 March, 1 April, 11 April, and exams moved from 12 April) shall not be penalized for absence or late submission of work and shall be given reasonable alternative access to material covered during their absence and reasonable alternative provision for completing assignments or other requirements.
  • Motion 6:  Moved that, since strike protocols did not require that students work during the labour disruption, and while instructors are planning for changes to their due dates, Senate requires instructors of courses that were suspended avoid, until March 14, 2024, holding midterms or requiring submission of assessments that would require a substantial effort from students (e.g. lab reports and major assignments) or where students require consultation time with instructors before submission.
  • Motion 7:  Moved to encourage instructors of courses which were suspended to exercise responsible pacing of course content and flexibility in the redesign of their course and in line with their pedagogic approaches 

Senate approved:

  • Minutes of November 24, 2023
  • Revision to Academic Implications of a Significant Disruption of Operations Policy
  • Undergraduate curriculum changes (See agenda for details)
  • Calendar revision to Regulation 2.2.26, Student Judicial System
  • Four nominations for an honorary doctorate degree

Senate received for information:

  • Academic Calendar dates for 2024-25
  • Report on external review of Women and Gender Studies
  • Undergraduate curriculum changes (See agenda for details)