28 April 2003

Dear Member of Senate:

I advise you that a meeting of the Senate of Acadia University will occur at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, 7 May 2003 in Room 132 of the Beveridge Arts Centre.  The AGENDA follows:

1)  Minutes of the Meeting of  14 April 2003

2) Announcements and  Communications
 
3) Approval of List of Graduates for the Convocation of May 2003 (023-79-CON)

4) Business Arising from the Minutes
 a) Nominating Committee - Report on Senate Committee Vacancies as handed out at the March meeting (023-78-NOM)

5) New Business
 a) Recording Secretary - Report on Senate and Senate Committee Vacancies
  (023-80-SEC) *
 b) Divinity College - Program Change Proposal - Faculté de Théologie Évagéliqué (023-81-DIV) *
 c) 2002-2003 Annual Reports from Senate Committees (023-82-REP)
  (i) Research Ethics Board *
  (ii) Admissions and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals) *
  (iii) Academic Program Review Committee *
  (iv) Timetable, Instruction Hours, and Examinations Committee *
  (v) Curriculum Committee *
 d) Report from Task Force on Academic Integrity (023-83-INT) *
 
6) Other Business
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 

Rosemary Jotcham
Acting Registrar and Secretary of Senate

Senate and Committee Vacancies for 2003 - 2004

Required from Faculty of Arts
Replacement on Senate for T. Voss term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Senate for S. Franceschet term begun by D. Looker term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
A. Quema replaced J. Sacouman for one year – will J. Sacouman return to complete the term he began OR
 will a replacement for another year be needed?  Please confirm.
J. Hennessy replaced R. Morrison for one year – will R. Morrison return to complete the term she began  OR will a replacement for another year be needed?  Please confirm.
Replacement on Library Committee for P. Rigg, completing a term begun by B. Moody term ends:  2003-
 2004 (1 year) ? K. Whetter
Replacement on Research and Graduate Studies Committee for P. Abela who was completing a term begun  by D. Looker (was on sabbatical) term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? J. Marontate
Replacement on Honorary Degrees Committee for W. Campbell term begun by M. Conrad ends:  2003- 2006 (3 years) ? G. Pyrcz
Replacement on Honours Committee for M. Tugwell term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? P. Doerr
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals) for G. Corbeil who is going on  sabbatical leave:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? M. Dennis
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Policy) for M. Dennis term ends:  2003- 2006 (3 years) ? N. Wyile
Replacement on Faculty Development Committee for J. Auger term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? A. Power

Required from Faculty of Professional Studies
Replacement on Senate (Bus) for at J. Helms-Mills [completing a term begun by R. Sparkman] term ends:   2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Senate (Ed) for D. MacKinnon term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Senate (Rec & Kine) for S. Markham-Starr term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Curriculum Committee for P. Lahey, completing a term begun by C. Vibert:
 2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Academic Program Review Committee for D. MacKinnon term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Library Committee for P. Lahey completing a term begun by M. Forrest term ends:  2003- 2005 (2 years) – please see attached for new appointment regulations
Replacement between 1Jul02-30Jun03 on Library Committee for S. Markham term ends:  2003-2006
 (3 years)
Replacement on Research and Graduate Studies Committee for S. Markham-Starr, finishing a term for G. Bissix term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Honours Committee for P. Callaghan term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals) for G. Hepburn term ends:   2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Policy) – Director Position, for H.  Hemming who has served a 3-year term:  2003-2006 (3 years)  - if she will continue, please  advise.
Replacement on Academic Discipline Appeals Committee for R. Lehr term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Scholarships, Prizes and Awards Committee for P. Heintzman term ends:
 2003-2006 (3 years)
Replacement on Faculty Development Committee:  2003-2005 (2 years)

Required from Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
Replacement on Senate (Chemistry) for S. Roscoe on sabbatical:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Replacement on Senate (Psychology) for D. Brodeur completing a term begun by S. Symons term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? D. Brodeur
Replacement on Curriculum Committee for D. Brodeur, completing a term begun by M. Lau:
 2003-2006 (3 years) ? S. Symons
Replacement on Library Committee for R. Raeside term ends:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? R. Raeside
 

Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals) for R. Segado term ends:
 2003-2006 (3 years) ? N. Clarke
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Policy) – Head or Director Position for S.  Symons term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? H. Teisman
Replacement on Timetable, Instruction Hours and Examination Committee for I Spooner term ends:  2003- 2006 (3 years) ? J. Diamond
Replacement on Scholarships, Prizes and Awards Committee for P. Cabilio term ends:
 2003-2006 (3 years) ? R. Evans
Replacement on Faculty Development Committee for J. Auger term ends:  2003-2006
 (3 years) ? D. Benoit

Required from Nominating Committee
Chair for the Senate – I. Wilks currently in the position:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? R. Raeside
Deputy-Chair for the Senate - G. Ness currently in the position:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? G. Hepburn
Replacement on Senate for lay person Gwen Phillips term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? J. Tillotson
Annual replacement on Executive Committee - Three members of Senate elected annually by Senate:   2003-2004 (1 year) ? P. Corkum, T. Archibald, J. Slights
P&ASc Replacement on By-Laws Committee for A. Mitchell  term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years) ? A.  Mitchell
Arts Replacement on By-Laws Committee for T. Voss  term as Senator ends:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? M.  Grieve
Faculty Elections Officer – R. Karsten currently in the position:  2003-2004 (1 year) ? J. Peng
Secretary to Faculty:   ? Jessica Slights

Required from Acadia Students’ Representative Council in September
(c/o President)
Representative on Senate for Arts: 2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Senate for Professional Studies: 2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Senate for Science: 2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Curriculum Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Library Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Archives Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative (Honours student) on Research and Graduate Studies:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Academic Discipline Appeals Committee: 2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative on Timetable, Instruction and Examination Committee:  2003-2004(1 year)
Representative (part-time student) on Board of Continuing Education:  2003-2004 (1 year)*
Representative from Faculty of Arts on Scholarship Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative from Faculty of Professional Studies on Scholarship Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)
Representative from Faculty of Science on Scholarship Committee:  2003-2004 (1 year)

Required from Alumni Affairs Office (c/o Director)
Replacement on Archives Committee for Enid Davidson (Alumni Appointee) term ends:
 30 Jun 2003 – 1 Jul 2006 (3 years) ? Debra Zinck
 

Divinity College
Representative on Library Committee (for Divinity College collection only) replacing T. Ashley term ends:   2003-2004 (1 year) ?  Glenn Wooden
Replacement on Admission and Academic Standing Committee (Policy) [for Theology matters only] for T.  Ashley retiring:  2003-2005 (2 years) ? R. Wilson
Replacement on Faculty Development Committee for T. Ashley retiring:  2003-2005 (2 years) ? J. Wilson
 
 
 

Required from Board of Governors in October
Representative on Senate for Neil Price term ends:  2003-2006 (3 years)

SENATORS TERM ENDS - 2003:
1 Chairman Ian Wilks 1 yr  2003 ?
1 Deputy-Chair Gary Ness 1 yr  2003 ?
1 President, Student Union (Non-Vote) Michael Peddle  ex-officio --        ?
1  Board of Govenors Neil Price 3 yr 10/2003
1 Arts (Sociology) James Sacouman 3 yr 2004 Returning After Sabbatical?     1 Arts (German) Thomas Voss 3 yr 2003
1 Arts (Sociology) Dianne Looker 3 yr 2003 S Franceschet during Sabbatical
1 Arts (Music) Ruth Morrison 3 yr 2004 Returning After Leave?
1 Prof. St. (Dir.-Bus) Stephen Ash 3 yr 2003 Continuing?
1  Prof. St. (Bus) Jean Helms-Mills 3 yr 2003
1 Prof. St. (Ed) David MacKinnon 3 yr 2003
1 Prof. St. (Rec & Kine) Susan Markham-Starr 3 yr 2003
1 P&A Sc. (Chemistry) Sharon Roscoe 3 yr 2004 On Sabbatical1Jul03-30Jun04
1 P&A Sc. (Dir-Computer) Andre Trudel 3 yr 2004 ? Returning After Sabbatical
1 P&A Sc. (Psychology) Sonya Symons 3 yr 2003  ? D. Brodeur
1 Student (Arts) Jess Clemons 1 yr 2003
1 Student (Science) Jaclyn Mosher 1 yr 2003
1 Student (Prof. St.) Chantel Saulnier 1 yr 2003
1 Student (VP Academic) Jeffery Britton 1 yr 2003 ? J. Mosher
1 Student (Graduate) Matthew West 1 yr 2003 (dealt w/in Sep 03)
1 Lay person Gwen Phillips 3 yr 2003 ? J. Tillotson

Secretary to Faculty (elected by Senate) – J. Slights
 

?  HAS BEEN FILLED OR IS IN THE PROCESS AS OF THIS DATE
 

24 April 2003/dlm
 

Motion from ADC Senate, April 24, 2003

It is moved that Faculté de Théologie Évangéliqué  eliminate the Hebrew prerequisite for those students whose area of study is in Practical Theology. Students in Bible, Theology, History or Apologetics would continue to follow the present requirements.
 
 

Robert S. Wilson
Associate Dean and Professor of Church History
Acadia Divinity College
Wolfville NS B4P 2R6
Tel. 902-585-2223
 

Admissions and Academic Standing Committee (Appeals)
Annual Report to Senate, May 2003

Committee membership: M. Leiter, R. Proulx, G. Corbeil, G Hepburn, E. Callaghan, R. Segado, J Hooper, j. Britton, R. Jotcham

The committee met on a number of occasions during the year. A total of 64 appeals were considered.
There were 48 appeals against dismissal; 32 were granted, 16 denied. Of the 32, twenty-five students were invited to take part in the Academic Support Program.
One appeal was made against probation. This was denied.
There were 6 appeals against the Acadia University residency requirements (the need to complete the last 60h of the degree at Acadia.) Five of these were granted.
Nine other appeals were launched related to specific academic requirements. Of these four were granted and five denied.

Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Jotcham

Academic Program Review Committee
Annual Report to Senate

Committee Membership: M. Leiter, C. Bell, L. Larocque, D. Macintosh, D. MacKinnon, R. Jotcham

The committee met on two occasions during the academic year.

A review of the School of Business and the recreation management degree program is underway. The review should be completed during the fall semester of the 2003/2004 academic year.

The grammar test taken by entering students was discussed. Use of the information gained from the test is being considered.
 

Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Jotcham

Timetable, Instruction Hours, and Examinations Committee
Annual Report to Senate

Membership:
J. Sanford, J. Marontate, D. Reid, I Spooner, J Britton, C Saulnier, R Jotcham

The committee met on three occasions with additional email consultations.
The dates for the upcoming academic year were compiled for Senate’s consideration.

The location of final April exams was changed from the main gym and the auxiliary gym to the arena. Students, faculty, and staff received this change favourably. The committee will meet again to access feedback after the exam period before making a recommendation on a permanent change.
 

Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Jotcham
 

Curriculum Committee
Annual Report to Senate

Membership:
S. Lochhead, J. Marontate, R. Worvill, M. Corbett, F. Mendevil, J. Britton, J. Mosher, R. Jotcham

The committee met on four separate occasions to consider changes proposed by academic units to courses and programs offered on campus.
Four new programs were approved and over 200 course and program additions, deletions, and modifications were considered. The committee met with representatives of the relevant departments, schools, and faculties to discuss their proposals.
The committee recommended and Senate approved the principle that course additions and deletions be balanced. In the event that the balance cannot be made, departments are required to provide justification to the Committee for the imbalance.

Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Jotcham

REPORT TO SENATE

TASK FORCE ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

MAY 2003
 

MANDATE

At the September 9, 2002 meeting of Senate, Senate passed the following motion to create a Task Force on Academic Integrity:

That Senate create a Task Force on Academic Integrity to examine the nature and magnitude of the threats to academic integrity at the University and to recommend comprehensive, pan-university policies, measures, and procedures to deal with the issue.

The Task Force shall include a Chairperson appointed by Senate, one member of Senate from each Faculty, one student – Senator, one Librarian and the Registrar.  The Task Force on Academic Integrity will report to Senate at the February 2003 meeting.

At the October 15, 2002 meeting of Senate, the Nominating Committee pursuant to the September 9, 2002 motion, nominated seven people to serve on the Task Force.  These nominations were approved by motion of Senate on that date.

Chair: Jean Dewolfe – Lay Member of Senate

Senator from each Faculty:

 Malcolm Grieve – Faculty of Arts
 Gary Ness – Faculty of Professional Studies
 Andrew Mitchell – Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
 Robert Wilson – Faculty of Theology

Student Senator – Jeffrey Britton

Librarian – Tanja Harrison
 

TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES

The Task Force met on eleven occasions between November 2002 and April 2003.
 
 

SURVEY OF FACULTY

A faculty survey was prepared and sent electronically to all full and part-time professors (numbering approximately 250).  84 responses were received.

The Faculty Survey asked for responses post-September 2000 when the Acadia Advantage program became fully operational.  The Task Force felt that this would more accurately reflect current concerns.

Of those who responded, 73% said they had experienced instances where they believed students had cheated or plagiarized.  Various concerns were raised, the most consistent being the need for a uniform, predictable, pan-University process for dealing with academic dishonesty, and the need for education and publicity regarding the issues and the process.  Several faculty respondents felt that many students were misinformed or uninformed with respect to plagiarism.  They also expressed concern regarding the ability to adequately proctor examinations especially in classrooms or large examinations.
 

STUDENT SURVEY

Students input was informally sought by posting a  “question of the week” on the ASU website, seeking comments on academic integrity.  Unfortunately, very few responses were initially received.  Senator Britton reports that this question is still posted and activity has recently increased.
 

ANALYSIS OF CURRENT POLICIES/SURVEY OF OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Our current policies and procedures on Academic Integrity are found at page 28 of the University calendar.

The Task Force compared these policies to those at ten other institutions.  Institutions such as Simon Fraser University, Saint Francis Xavier University, University of New Brunswick and St. Mary’s University have much more detailed and specific policies and procedures in the area of academic integrity.

It is of interest to note that Mount St. Vincent University is currently engaged in a similar review of their policies and procedures.  A member of their Committee indicated that they expect the process to take in excess of one year.  At the time of her correspondence she stated that their Committee had:

“. . . found a wealth of information to support the approach that the value which an institution places on academic integrity must be visible and when upheld, incidences decline.”
 
 
 

OUTCOMES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

It would appear that most of current academic integrity policies and procedures are workable and efficient.  However, the Task Force is of the opinion that the issues and

process need to be further clarified; that reporting and penalties require campus-wide consistency; and that substantial improvements could be made in educating our students and faculty.
 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Writing Center

That Acadia University establish a “writing center” to assist students in understanding the parameters of “plagiarism”, and to avoid academic dishonesty.

• Central Registry

That a Central Academic Integrity Registry be established through the Registrar’s Office, and that all academic integrity interviews - conducted when suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are investigated - be reported promptly using a standardized format.  Information from this Registry would be available to all faculty on request.

• Centre for Academic Integrity

That Acadia University become a member of the Centre for Academic Integrity.  The cost of this membership is $300.00 annually.  The Centre provides a wealth of current information on the issue.

• Additional Proctoring

That additional resources be made available to permit additional proctoring in large examinations, or where examinations are being written a classroom (e.g. midterms) on request.

• Use of ID’s

That all students be required to bring and display their photo ID’s during examinations.  This will deter the writing of exams for/by others as has occurred in the past.
 

• Standing Committee

The Task Force has amassed a wealth of material and information, and has drafted revisions to existing policies and procedures regarding academic integrity to provide added detail and specificity.  However, the Task Force feels that it is now necessary for Senate to give direction to a smaller standing committee to further develop and implement recommendations and to report back to Senate in due course.

It is proposed that this standing committee be composed of five members:  one from each of the Library, Registrar’s Office and the Student body, and two members of faculty (to

be chosen from different faculties).  For continuity, one member of the standing committee should be a member of the Task Force.

The mandate of the standing committee would be as follows:

1. To develop methods of educating faculty and students regarding academic integrity, including:

• development of a webpage to form part of the Registrar’s Office website.  This would provide resources for professors and students, guidelines in avoiding cheating/plagiarism for students and faculty, and perhaps a “chat line” for professors to exchange information on ways to prevent/hinder academic dishonesty.  The site should include links to existing campus resources (Library, AITT, and other) which would assist students and faculty with these issues.

• creation of a student educational resource package to be distributed to first year students prior to or upon their arrival at Acadia.

• consideration of other ways of promoting academic integrity in the student body, e.g. setting up on “Academic Integrity Week” (as occurs at other institutions), and developing articles to be published in the Athenaeum.

• development of a module for educating new faculty regarding implementation of the academic integrity process and advising them as to existing academic integrity resources as part of new faculty orientation, and the Human Resources Program, “Get Connected”.  This should include training in the use of and limitations of Turniton.com.

• development of training modules in conflict resolution to assist new professors in conducting academic integrity interviews with students.
 

2. To develop a standardized warning with respect to academic integrity to be included in all course outlined, and which would refer students to the academic integrity webpage.

3. To review current proctoring and invigilating processes.

4. To consider the advisability and feasibility of adding questions on academic integrity to course evaluations conducted by Departments/Schools or the campus wide course evaluation.

5. To continue monitoring developments in academic integrity policies at other institutions, e.g. Mount St. Vincent University.

6. To present recommended academic integrity policies and processes (working from the draft prepared by the Task Force), after considering and addressing the following factors and issues:

• The advisability of standardizing penalties based on type and frequency of offence, and whether an offence is deliberate or not.

• The advisability of limiting students’ right to appeal with respect to penalties imposed with respect to final marks only.

• The advisability of adopting a modified “Honour Code” (as exists at other institutions), and the consequent use of “Declarations of Authenticity” and enhanced participation by students in the academic integrity process.

• The advisability of establishing an independent tribunal or ombudsman in the academic integrity process.

• The advisability of establishing a formal settlement process in the academic integrity process.

• The development of appropriate rules of fairness to be followed throughout the academic integrity process.

• The development of expanded and more specific definitions of plagiarism and cheating (as is common at other institutions).

7. To act as liaison with the Centre for Academic Integrity.

8. To address related issues which were raised in the course of the Task Force’s deliberations, but which the Task Force was unable to address.  These issues include:

• Falsification or Misrepresentation of documents to create an incorrect perception of a student’s academic position or credentials on admission.

• Distance Education

• Special Examinations (NOTE – the Registrar’s Office is working on a policy).

• Use of electronic devices during exams, e.g. electronic dictionaries.

•
•

• Issues relating to academic integrity of Professors, particularly in research. (Refer to a 1995 motion regarding Research Integrity).

• Special considerations for persons whose first language is not English.

Finally we seek guidance from Senate as to the extent to which and the manner in which the issues and recommendations of this report are divulged to the public.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

Jean M. Dewolfe
Chair, Task Force on Academic Integrity