As budgetary challenges and low enrolment persist, the future of three academic programs remains uncertain as Queen’s temporarily suspends admission.
The first Senate of the year on Sept. 26 didn’t go according to its agenda, with protesters rallying against proposed cuts to the Queen’s Graduate Award—which have since been renegotiated—while also voicing opposition to the University’s investments in weapon manufacturers, and Palestinian human rights concerns.
As a result, senators couldn’t proceed with their usual agenda, which included an information session about three programs which either temporarily suspended admissions or extended their suspensions.
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The programs facing suspensions include the Bachelor of Mining Engineering Technology (BTech), the Certificate in French for Professionals, and the Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health. The primary reasons cited for their status were budgetary challenges and low enrollment in these courses.
Bachelor of Mining Engineering Technology (BTech)
In a letter to the Senate, Julian Ortiz, professor and head of the Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining, recommended the temporary suspension of admissions to the BTech program, which took effect in Jan. 2023 and is set to extend until at least Jan. 2027, primarily due to low enrollment. Ortiz originally recommended the temporary suspension of BTech in Oct. 2022.
Developed in 2015, the BTech program was created to offer engineering technologists a pathway to get a bachelor’s degree while working full-time. Initially supported by a $1 million grant from the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer. However, fewer than six students enrolled per course on average, despite efforts to boost participation.
“The temporary suspension is an opportunity for the department to evaluate resource allocation between the BTech program and current (as well as potential future) academic offerings, to better fulfil its academic mission while maintaining and enhancing its world-class reputation,” Ortiz said in the letter. The letter also outlines the program’s background, enrollment numbers, and the rationale behind the suspension.
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The letter cites low enrollment is in part due to the difficulty of obtaining licensure as the program is not accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board or recognized by organizations like Professional Engineers Ontario despite attempts to gain recognition.
The Department of Mining will continue supporting current students, ensuring they complete their degrees. In the meantime, the department has introduced alternative academic offerings, including a Certificate in Mining Technologies and starting professional development courses, which draw from the BTech program’s existing course content.
French for Professionals Certificates
Questions about the future of specialized language programs remain a mystery.
The Senate’s agenda included a recommendation to temporarily suspend admissions to the Certificate in French for Professionals program for two years, in Dec. 2023. The Faculty of Arts and Sciences suspended admission to all fully online certificates, effective Jan. 2024, due to the University’s ongoing budgetary challenges. The certificate followed a 12-credit structure, allowing students to tailor their learning path according to their French level.
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This certificate program launched in 2018, offering both online and partially online options. It’s designed to prepare students and professionals with the language skills needed for bilingual work environments specifically in fields such as healthcare, government, and law.
According to the letter written by Interim Dean Bob Lemieux, which recommends the suspension of the Certificate in French for Professionals program, the program is facing several challenges. The letter, which includes background information and the rationale for suspension, cites an internal analysis by the Department of French Studies. Among the challenges are high resource demands, particularly in the context of the University’s budgetary constraints and evolving strategic priorities, especially regarding the delivery of online courses.
“Temporarily suspending admissions to the French for Professionals certificates will allow French Studies to better understand the shifting landscape of online course delivery at Queen’s and determine if, and when, the department will have the resources to commit to instruction of this suite of courses under the new ASO [Arts and Science Online] delivery model,” Interim Dean Bob Lemieux in the letter.
During the suspension, the Department of French Studies plans to assess the University’s evolving landscape for online course delivery, emphasizes the suspension is temporary, and explained efforts will be made to develop a sustainable model for the program’s future.
Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health
In the same Senate agenda, the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and Smith Engineering requested a two-year extension to the temporary suspension of admissions for the Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health program. This extension would bring the total suspension period to six years, starting from Oct. 2020.
The prolonged suspension is due to financial viability concerns, as the Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health program has consistently failed to meet its enrollment targets. The program aimed to attract 10 students in its first year, 15 in the second, 20 in the third, and reach a steady enrollment of 25 students in subsequent years, which is essential for “breaking even” by the seventh year. This was outlined in the letter submitted to the Senate by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and Smith Engineering to Senate.
Outlining the rationale behind the extension, the letter cited factors including workforce and capacity constraints within the Department of Civil Engineering, which initially sponsored the program, have been unable to assign faculty to the program, and the need to reevaluate resource allocations amid current budgetary pressures. This extension will allow Smith Engineering to assess the resources needed to deliver high-quality programming.
The department is currently exploring potential collaborations with the School of Environmental Studies to assume responsibility for the diploma and is reviewing marketing strategies to attract more graduate students.
Tags
Admission Suspension, budget cuts
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