New Certificate in Science Foundations
At its May 16 meeting, Senate approved a new 30-credit Certificate in Science Foundations in the Faculty of Arts and Science, designed to allow students to develop the necessary background for further study in undergraduate degree programs in science.
The new certificate is expected to attract students who have completed a CEGEP program in an area other than science but may have decided they want to pursue a university-level science program. It would require the students to complete introductory science courses from the Department of Biology, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Department of Physics.
New Certificate in Science and Technology
Senate also approved a new Certificate in Science and Technology, proposed by the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science (ENCS). Designed to serve the needs of students who are thinking they may want to qualify for admissions to an ENCS program, the certificate requires the successful completion of 18 credits of basic mathematics, and 12 credits of ENCS courses.
Academic Plan year-end report
Benoit-Antoine Bacon, Concordia’s provost and vice-president of Academic Affairs, provided an overview of the university’s accomplishments vis-à-vis the five main goals of the Academic Plan: expanding the university’s research strengths, promoting program quality and innovation, building support for student success, increasing experiential learning and community engagement, and improving academic leadership and administrative support.
Assisted by several members of Senate, the provost highlighted more than 20 initiatives currently underway. He also outlined several priorities for 2014-15, including the transformation of the R. Howard Webster Library, new programs and curriculum enhancement, digital and experiential learning options for students, recruitment and retention, and ensuring the sustainability of current investments that have been made under the Plan.
Budget Presentation
Patrick Kelley, the university’s chief financial officer, delivered on Concordia’s 2014-15 operating budget. The budget projects total revenues of $394.8 million and total expenditures of $397.6 million, resulting in a deficit of $2.8 million. The budget takes into account annual cuts of $13.2 million to the university’s operating grant, announced by the Government of Quebec in 2012. These cuts were made permanent in 2013-14.