Academic plan extended for consultation

The upcoming deadline for the university academic plan has been extended into 2011

Woolf said the members of the Academic Writing Team are currently speaking with members of the Queen’s community.
Image supplied by: Journal File Photo
Woolf said the members of the Academic Writing Team are currently speaking with members of the Queen’s community.

The finalization of the University Academic Plan was originally set to begin in September but has been extended into 2011.

“Over the past several months, concerns have been expressed that the time for consultations in particular areas of the university was insufficient over the winter,” Principal Woolf wrote in an on June 30 email to the entire University.

The process for the Academic Plan began with the release of Woolf’s vision document ‘Where Next?’ which highlighted the Principal’s ideas for the university’s future. Faculties and administrative units were able to submit their feedback of the document by April.

Woolf told the Queen’s Journal through email receiving input to date from students, faculty and staff has been a gratifying part of the academic planning process.

“A lot of work went into faculty and unit-level submissions earlier this year; many meetings and conversations have taken place and individuals have provided thoughtful comments and ideas about our future direction,” Woolf said.

It became clear that the original timeline for finalizing a Plan (Sept-Dec 2010) was too short, he wrote.

“In some corners of campus, in particular in the large and diverse Arts and Science faculty, some people have felt the time for consultations wasn’t sufficient,” he wrote, adding that the extended period will allow for both inter-departmental and cross-disciplinary dialogues, which the winter consultation period did not allow due to time constraints.

“I have extended the process to ensure wide discussion and consultation in the months ahead,” he said.

Woolf said with the longer schedule, the Senate will take a larger role in the development of the proposals from the Academic Writing Team into a full plan during the fall and winter terms.

Woolf said there has also been a recent creation of a student committee chaired by the school Rector and the presidents of the AMS and SGPS, which will work towards a student perspective.

“I hope many students will participate. The Academic Plan, when completed, will help define our trajectory as we continue to make our mark around the world as a leading Canadian university.”Woolf said the six members of the Academic team are currently speaking with members of the Queen’s community. The Academic Writing Team will be holding town meetings and small group meetings for feedback. The team hopes to submit their recommendations for the Plan by fall. The Queen’s community is invited to get involved by visiting their website www.queensu.ca/awt.

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