Teaching & Learning: Teaching & Learning: The View from SenateThe View from Senate

Clayton Smith, Ed. D.Clayton Smith, Ed. D.

Vice-Provost, Students & Vice-Provost, Students & RegistrarRegistrar

A Limited ConversationA Limited Conversation

Focus only on topics contained within Focus only on topics contained within Senate bylaws & policiesSenate bylaws & policies

But there is more information in:But there is more information in: Collective AgreementCollective Agreement Public laws: FIPPA, Human Rights ActPublic laws: FIPPA, Human Rights Act Student Disability Services, Human Student Disability Services, Human

Rights Office, Legal Counsel’s OfficeRights Office, Legal Counsel’s Office

A Little about SenateA Little about Senate

Powers of SenatePowers of Senate

Ultimate and final responsibility for the Ultimate and final responsibility for the academic well-being of the university:academic well-being of the university: Institution/terminationInstitution/termination of academic of academic

programsprograms ReductionReduction in programs for in programs for fiscal/economic fiscal/economic

reasonsreasons (but no budget decision-making (but no budget decision-making authority)authority)

Reviews Budget Committee proposalsReviews Budget Committee proposals and and forwards feedback to the Budget forwards feedback to the Budget Committee and the Board for considerationCommittee and the Board for consideration

Composition of SenateComposition of Senate Ex-Officio MembersEx-Officio Members Faculty/Library RepresentativesFaculty/Library Representatives Board of Governors RepresentativesBoard of Governors Representatives Student RepresentativesStudent Representatives Alumni RepresentativeAlumni Representative Faculty Association RepresentativeFaculty Association Representative Non-Faculty Professional Staff Non-Faculty Professional Staff

RepresentativeRepresentative Aboriginal Council RepresentativeAboriginal Council Representative

Current Senate includes 84 members

How Senate OperatesHow Senate Operates

3 Substantive Senate Committees:3 Substantive Senate Committees: Academic Policy CommitteeAcademic Policy Committee Program Development CommitteeProgram Development Committee Student CommitteeStudent Committee

Senate Steering CommitteeSenate Steering Committee President chairs SenatePresident chairs Senate Meetings (monthly) are normally openMeetings (monthly) are normally open Support provided by the Office of the Senate Support provided by the Office of the Senate

SecretariatSecretariat Follows Robert’s Rules of Order, where Follows Robert’s Rules of Order, where

procedures not listed in our bylawsprocedures not listed in our bylaws

Senior Academic Appointments Senior Academic Appointments (Duties)(Duties)

PresidentPresident Provost & Vice-President, AcademicProvost & Vice-President, Academic Vice-President, ResearchVice-President, Research Associate Vice-President, ResearchAssociate Vice-President, Research Associate Vice-President, Academic AffairsAssociate Vice-President, Academic Affairs Vice-Provost, Students & RegistrarVice-Provost, Students & Registrar Vice-Provost, Teaching & LearningVice-Provost, Teaching & Learning Deans of FacultiesDeans of Faculties Associate DeansAssociate Deans AAU HeadsAAU Heads

Areas of Focus: Senate Areas of Focus: Senate BylawsBylaws

Types/Terms of AppointmentsTypes/Terms of Appointments Renewal, Promotion & Tenure ProceduresRenewal, Promotion & Tenure Procedures Criteria for Promotion & TenureCriteria for Promotion & Tenure Academic Evaluation ProceduresAcademic Evaluation Procedures Student DisciplineStudent Discipline Senate Rules of Procedure & Standing Senate Rules of Procedure & Standing

Committee Mandates/Rules of ProcedureCommittee Mandates/Rules of Procedure Powers & Rules of Procedure for AAU’s & Powers & Rules of Procedure for AAU’s &

FacultiesFaculties

Areas of Focus: Senate Areas of Focus: Senate PoliciesPolicies

Admission RequirementsAdmission Requirements Course & Program ChangesCourse & Program Changes Final Examination ProceduresFinal Examination Procedures Faculty Duties & ResponsibilitiesFaculty Duties & Responsibilities Protection of PrivacyProtection of Privacy Mature StudentsMature Students Residence RequirementsResidence Requirements Student Evaluation of TeachingStudent Evaluation of Teaching Student Code of ConductStudent Code of Conduct Web CalendarsWeb Calendars ……etc. (not an exclusive list)etc. (not an exclusive list)

Teaching & Learning:Teaching & Learning:Broad TopicsBroad Topics

Learning-Centredness Learning-Centredness DefinedDefined

Our first commitment is to Our first commitment is to advance advance learninglearning by preserving, promoting, by preserving, promoting, producing & disseminating knowledge.producing & disseminating knowledge. To understand & accommodate To understand & accommodate different different

learning styleslearning styles;; To provide To provide academically-challenging and academically-challenging and

personally-enriching educational experiencespersonally-enriching educational experiences (intellectual, creative, social, ethical, physical, (intellectual, creative, social, ethical, physical, spiritual, emotional);spiritual, emotional);

To provide a To provide a caring, engaging, welcoming & caring, engaging, welcoming & supportive campus environmentsupportive campus environment that is built on that is built on a partnership in learning characterized by a partnership in learning characterized by mutual respect and meaningful interactions;mutual respect and meaningful interactions;

Learning-Centred (Cont.)Learning-Centred (Cont.)

A focus on A focus on student learning and successstudent learning and success:: To continually improve and adapt learning To continually improve and adapt learning

experiences to address the needs of our experiences to address the needs of our diverse diverse student basestudent base;;

To To infuse learning-centred activities in all aspects infuse learning-centred activities in all aspects of university lifeof university life: teaching, learning, research, : teaching, learning, research, student development services, campus student development services, campus environment and administrative practices; andenvironment and administrative practices; and

To provide To provide friendly and responsive non-academic friendly and responsive non-academic servicesservices

Academic FreedomAcademic Freedom

Academic freedom is intended as a Academic freedom is intended as a safeguardsafeguard against all those who would against all those who would challenge the legitimate autonomy of the challenge the legitimate autonomy of the University, or who would seek to utilize its University, or who would seek to utilize its resources exclusively for the propagation of resources exclusively for the propagation of their own ideologiestheir own ideologies

The proper exercise of academic freedom is The proper exercise of academic freedom is contingent upon the contingent upon the recognition and recognition and adequate discharge of duties and adequate discharge of duties and responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Freedom of DiscussionFreedom of Discussion

Mutual respectMutual respect of student and teacher of student and teacher is fundamental to the learning processis fundamental to the learning process

Freedom is Freedom is limitedlimited:: A reasonable right for students to A reasonable right for students to

question and commentquestion and comment upon material upon material under discussionunder discussion

Instructor to Instructor to ensure freedomensure freedom of discussion of discussion for all studentsfor all students

Right of AssemblyRight of Assembly

The University supports the right of The University supports the right of assembly and the open expression of assembly and the open expression of ideas and opinions.ideas and opinions.

Right of assembly is Right of assembly is limitedlimited:: Responsibility Responsibility to not interfereto not interfere with the with the

rights and privileges of others or the rights and privileges of others or the continuitycontinuity of the educational process. of the educational process.

Fair TreatmentFair Treatment

All people are treated fairly without concern All people are treated fairly without concern to:to: ReligionReligion RaceRace ColourColour National originNational origin GenderGender Sexual orientationSexual orientation DisabilityDisability AgeAge

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

Respect must be accorded the Respect must be accorded the essentially confidential relationship essentially confidential relationship between the University and its between the University and its students by preserving to the students by preserving to the maximum extent possible the maximum extent possible the privacy of recordsprivacy of records relating to each relating to each studentstudent

Student ConductStudent Conduct

RespectRespect for the dignity & individuality of all for the dignity & individuality of all persons, and the rights and property of otherspersons, and the rights and property of others

To To practicepractice personal and academic personal and academic integrityintegrity To To take responsibilitytake responsibility for their own personal and for their own personal and

academic commitmentsacademic commitments To To contributecontribute to the University community to gain to the University community to gain

fair, cooperative and honest inquiry & learningfair, cooperative and honest inquiry & learning To To respect and strive to learn from differencesrespect and strive to learn from differences in in

people, ideas & opinionspeople, ideas & opinions To refrain from & To refrain from & discourage behaviours which discourage behaviours which

threatenthreaten the freedom & respect that every the freedom & respect that every individual deservesindividual deserves

Teaching & Learning:Teaching & Learning:Some of the DetailsSome of the Details

Teaching ExcellenceTeaching Excellence

Involves both Involves both method & contentmethod & content Requires Requires good communicationgood communication with with

studentsstudents Informed by Informed by student evaluationsstudent evaluations Effectiveness in Effectiveness in promoting students’ promoting students’

academic pursuitsacademic pursuits and where appropriate and where appropriate stimulating interest in continued study of stimulating interest in continued study of the disciplinethe discipline

Day-to-day Day-to-day availability to studentsavailability to students

Research ExcellenceResearch Excellence

Best Best evaluatedevaluated by reputable by reputable academics in his/her fieldacademics in his/her field

Outside appraisers needed in fields Outside appraisers needed in fields where published research is not where published research is not requiredrequired for academic excellence for academic excellence (e.g., creative scholarship)(e.g., creative scholarship)

Academic & Professional Academic & Professional Responsibilities of FacultyResponsibilities of Faculty

University committee and administrative University committee and administrative work expected work expected when reasonably when reasonably requestedrequested

Contributions to the Contributions to the activities of learned activities of learned & professional societies& professional societies and other and other community services utilizing professional community services utilizing professional expertise is to be highly regardedexpertise is to be highly regarded

Neither, however, can replaceNeither, however, can replace the need the need for teaching and research excellencefor teaching and research excellence

Academic EvaluationAcademic Evaluation

Must provide Must provide meaningful feedbackmeaningful feedback to to students on their in-course performance prior students on their in-course performance prior the voluntary withdrawal deadline (20%)the voluntary withdrawal deadline (20%)

Course outlineCourse outline by first day of each course, by first day of each course, with no changes made after the 1with no changes made after the 1stst 2 weeks 2 weeks of classes; a hard copy must be submitted to of classes; a hard copy must be submitted to the AAU Head by the end of the 2the AAU Head by the end of the 2ndnd week of week of classesclasses

No No single evaluative proceduresingle evaluative procedure worth more worth more than 50% of the final gradethan 50% of the final grade

Non-optional, meaningful final assessmentNon-optional, meaningful final assessment (written test, oral interview, take-home test)(written test, oral interview, take-home test)

Academic Evaluation (Cont.)Academic Evaluation (Cont.)

Must be Must be 2 full calendar days2 full calendar days between the last day between the last day of class and the beginning of the final exam periodof class and the beginning of the final exam period

Students who have 3 Students who have 3 final exams scheduled for the final exams scheduled for the same calendarsame calendar day may request one of their exams day may request one of their exams be rescheduled on a supplemental exam daybe rescheduled on a supplemental exam day

Unofficial final gradesUnofficial final grades to be submitted to the Dean to be submitted to the Dean no later than 7 calendar days after the final exam no later than 7 calendar days after the final exam has been writtenhas been written

Examinations, essays, lab exercises and Examinations, essays, lab exercises and assignments should never be left in assignments should never be left in public placespublic places

Students have the Students have the right to reviewright to review the the marking/answer guide and to examine their final marking/answer guide and to examine their final examination answer papersexamination answer papers

Academic Evaluation (Cont.)Academic Evaluation (Cont.)

Students may Students may appeal their final gradeappeal their final grade on the on the basis of incorrect evaluation or irregular basis of incorrect evaluation or irregular procedure provided they do so within 3 weeks of procedure provided they do so within 3 weeks of the grade being postedthe grade being posted

The Student Evaluation of Teaching (The Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETSET) must be ) must be administered within the final 2 weeks of the termadministered within the final 2 weeks of the term

Plagiarism prevention softwarePlagiarism prevention software is permitted is permitted (Turnitin.com)(Turnitin.com)

Students may make a Students may make a complaintcomplaint to the Vice- to the Vice-Provost, Students & Registrar regarding Provost, Students & Registrar regarding discrimination, bias, sexual or other forms of discrimination, bias, sexual or other forms of harassment or procedural irregularities with harassment or procedural irregularities with respect to academic instruction or appeals respect to academic instruction or appeals

Audio-RecordingAudio-Recording

Students may audio-record lectures Students may audio-record lectures if if they have been provided with they have been provided with permissionpermission by the Student by the Student Disabilities Services (formerly Special Disabilities Services (formerly Special Needs) Office related to an approved Needs) Office related to an approved accommodationaccommodation

SabbaticalsSabbaticals

Normally granted to enable faculty Normally granted to enable faculty members to engage in members to engage in research/scholarly/creative activitiesresearch/scholarly/creative activities, , which are appropriate for the faculty which are appropriate for the faculty member’s disciplinemember’s discipline

Provides opportunity for Provides opportunity for intellectual intellectual renewalrenewal

Special NeedsSpecial Needs

The The most appropriate accommodationmost appropriate accommodation is one that most respects the dignity is one that most respects the dignity of the individual with a disability, of the individual with a disability, meets individual needs, best promotes meets individual needs, best promotes integration and full participation, and integration and full participation, and ensures confidentialityensures confidentiality

Accommodation is a Accommodation is a processprocess and is a and is a matter of degreematter of degree

Student Evaluation of Student Evaluation of TeachingTeaching

Provide Provide information based on student information based on student opinionopinion for input in the promotion & for input in the promotion & tenure processtenure process

Provide Provide feedback to instructorsfeedback to instructors on on their teaching for the purposes of their teaching for the purposes of teaching improvementteaching improvement

Provide information for Provide information for students for students for choosing courseschoosing courses

CalendarCalendar

The official calendars are the The official calendars are the Undergraduate & Graduate Undergraduate & Graduate WebWeb calendarscalendars

Panel Discussion: Faculty Panel Discussion: Faculty Challenges on Implementing Challenges on Implementing

Senate Bylaws & PoliciesSenate Bylaws & Policies

•Kai Hildebrandt, Associate Dean, FASS•Phil Dutton, Associate Dean, Faculty of Science

For More InformationFor More Information

Office of the Senate SecretariatOffice of the Senate Secretariat

Ext. 3317Ext. 3317

www.uwindsor.cawww.uwindsor.ca/senate/senate