Implementation dashboard
Below are updates on Academic Plan implementation activities and information on who’s involved. For more information or to get involved in particular initiatives, please get in touch by email.
Active initiatives
Action 3.3.1
Status: A small grant has been made to the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, and Code Administrator, who are analyzing patterns of academic integrity violations. Their results will help develop strategies to address this issue.
Participants:
- Miranda D’Amico, Associate Dean, Student Academic Services, Faculty of Arts and Science
- Mebs Kanji, Code Administrator, Faculty of Arts and Science
Actions 2.1 and 4.1.2
Status: Academic Cabinet has approved funding to support innovation in curriculum and program design, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Support will take the form of an innovation fund that faculty can apply to starting fall 2013, as well as dedicated staff expertise in the School of Graduate Studies for the re-evaluation and revision of graduate programs.
In addition, the Faculty of Arts and Science’s Sustainability Action Pilot Project has been given a small funding allotment over three years to identify opportunities to develop sustainability components in existing curricula, provide workshops and training sessions for faculty members, and engage students in the work of curriculum planning. This is a joint initiative between the Faculty, student and staff groups.
Finally, an ad hoc committee has been working with the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning to draft a revised curriculum review process. The committee is seeking to clarify and streamline requirements for creating new programs, undertaking major program changes, and facilitating curriculum innovation.
Participants:
Curriculum innovation funding
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Vivek Venkatesh, Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Development, School of Graduate Studies
Sustainability Action Pilot Project
- Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Arts and Science (Chair)
- Two faculty member fellows
- Sustainability Coordinator, Sustainable Concordia
- CEO, Sustainability Action Fund
- V-P Sustainability, ASFA
- V-P Sustainability, CSU
Curriculum review process
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning (Chair)
- Vivek Venkatesh, Associate Dean, Programs and Development, School of Graduate Studies
- Frederica Martin, Academic Programs Analyst, School of Graduate Studies
- Émilie Martel, Special Projects Coordinator, Office of the Provost
- Francie Beresford, Curriculum Administrator, Office of the Provost
- Saul Carliner, Associate Professor, Department of Education and Centre for Teaching and Learning Services E-learning Fellow
- Paul Joyce, Associate Dean, Academic Programs, Faculty of Arts and Science
Action 3.6.2
Status: In spring 2013, Senate approved a set of guiding principles for e-learning development at Concordia. A roadmap for e-learning development is being prepared under the guidance of the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning for discussion at Senate during the 2013/14 academic year. Meanwhile, e-Learning Fellow Saul Carliner is providing ongoing support for blended and online learning, and a series of opportunities for learning and support will be available to faculty in a follow-up to the spring 2013 e.Scape conference.
Participants:
- Lisa Ostiguy, Deputy Provost
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Saul Carliner, Associate Professor, Department of Education and Centre for Teaching and Learning Services E-learning Fellow
- Jason Ens, Executive Director, Academic Policy, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Provost
- Ad hoc planning committee for e.Scape
Action 1.5
Status: As part of the continuing effort to improve the Library's capacity to support research and creative activity, a small contribution is being made from the Academic Plan to support the Open Access Author’s Fund. The Fund supports Concordia faculty who wish to publish in Open Access journals, which charge author processing fees to cover costs of publication.
Action 3.6.1
Status: A new downtown space has been found for the Centre for Teaching and Learning Services in the Faubourg Tower. Plans are now being developed for the space in keeping with the Centre’s mandate to develop effective ways to share and build knowledge around teaching and learning, facilitate faculty professional development, and assist in the production of learning resources—videos, apps, web interfaces, etc.—for teachers.
Participants:
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Centre for Teaching and Learning Services staff
- Think Tank on Teaching and Learning
- An ad hoc group of interested faculty
Action 1.3.1
Status: In consultation with the Provost, the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies will be circulating a second call for letters of intent for strategic faculty hiring opportunities. The hires will be above normal replacement hiring, in areas that bolster institutional leadership in current or emerging areas of research strength. Currently, four hires are being advertised in the areas of digital media, learning and games; synthetic biology (2); and sustainable energy engineering and building-integrated renewables. Additional funds have been earmarked to cover any extraordinary startup costs associated with these hires.
Participants:
- Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies
- Provost and Vice-President, Academic Affairs
- Faculty Deans
Action 3.4.3
Status: Building on the work of previous ad hoc groups, the Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning is steering the planning work for a skills centre that provides assistance for students in writing/communication and math skills.
Participants:
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Marcie Frank, Professor, English
- Fred Szabo, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Action 1.3.2
Status: In keeping with Academic Plan priorities, the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies has created a special envelope to support the development of applications for major grants. The money will be used to hire contract staff and pay consultancy fees, as needed, to help Concordia obtain sizable grants that support faculty research agendas and engage graduate students.
Action 3.4.2
Status: Academic Plan funds have been used to purchase a modular, online training resource for TAs that is now available through GradProSkills.
Participants:
- Catherine Bolton, Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning
- Faculty Associate Deans
- David Price, graduate student, Department of Education
- Janette Barrington, Acting Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning Services
Action 3.1.2
Status: The Office of the Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies awarded 50 Concordia Undergraduate Student Research Awards for students to engage in research-creation activities during summer 2013. The number of applications far outstripped the available awards. Academic Cabinet will take a decision on 2014 funding levels during the fall.
