Students remain skeptical of proposed Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) degree requirement changes.
The recent Arts and Science Faculty Board meeting saw Jenn Stephenson, associate dean (academic) introducing a new motion that’s been in development for the past year-and-a-half regarding significant changes to its degree requirements. The proposed changes will transition the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or BAH, Bachelor of Computing (Honours) or BCmp, Bachelor of Science (Honours) or BSc, and Bachelor of Music (BMus) programs to a modular degree structure, allowing departments to set minimum requirements.
Currently, BAH Majors require 60.0 units and BSc Majors require 72.0 units, with Minors needing 30.0 units. The new framework reduces this to a minimum of 48.0 units for BAH Majors, 60.0 units for BCmp and BSc Majors, plus 12.0 supporting units. Minors will require at least 24.0 units.
In response to these proposed changes, those in first, second, and third year pursuing a degree in History, Religion, Political Studies, Languages Literature and Cultures, or Classics and Archaeology and other Department Student Councils (DSCs) across multiple faculties invited students to attend an information session on Nov. 4, hosted by Stephenson to address student concerns.
A survey conducted by the History DSC found 68 per cent of students were unaware of the Modular Degree Framework, with over 80 per cent unfamiliar with the proposed changes, according to a post on their Instagram.
READ MORE: Academic vision or conformity? FAS Faculty Board faces critical decision
During the information session, Stephenson highlighted Queen’s budget issues in the FAS, noting, “We [the FAS] can’t keep doing the same thing that we’re already doing.” To address this, FAS plans to adjust degree requirements, as Queen’s currently demands more units than other universities.
“We learned that our degrees at Queen’s are out of alignment with these other universities. Our degrees are heavier, they’re more intense than what’s required at these other universities,” Stephenson said.
READ MORE: What should students know about Queen’s budget cuts?
Stephenson explained she’s been involved in conversations about these changes for the past 18 months in an effort to try and gather feedback.
“We’ve done 500 hours of consultation since August of 2023. We’ve talked to faculty, staff, and students across Arts and Science and across the University. So, this has really been a collaborative effort in developing the project and developing the details, and we’re just right now moving it through various stages of approval and the idea that it will be a reality in May,” Stephenson said.
After the information session, students still had questions and concerns. Eoin Thompson, History DSC co-president, was among one of the students frustrated by the degree cuts.
“The majority of people don’t actually know what’s happening. When she’s [Stephenson] saying they had 500 hours of consultation, the majority of those are not with students. More importantly, if they’re with students, it’s with student leadership, when really, we need an open forum,” Thompson said in an interview with The Journal.
While adding Queen’s did offer an online meeting over reading week for students to make their voices heard, Thompson explained it wasn’t sent to students through e-mail or properly advertised, which limited student engagement. Thompson further explained the information session was organized by various student DSC’s, which added to their frustration.
“While I do appreciate Jenn Stephenson’s support in offering this little information seminar we did today, I’m really worried that it took a student organized response to actually have this happen,” Thompson said.
Thompson wishes there would be some sort of administrative action, even just an e-mail or website coming from the administration to inform students on this matter.
“I just feel very frustrated that we [students] had to be the ones to organize something like this.”
Tags
Faculty of Arts and Science, FAS, Jenn Stephenson, Modular Degree Framework
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