FACULTY RESTRUCTURING

Details on the Faculty's Administrative Restructuring
by Ron Wardell

The new structure is summarized below and in the diagram.

Degree Programs

A degree program is a set of courses and an MDP which leads to one of the degrees offered by the Faculty. Faculty members are affiliated with one or more degree programs for the purposes of developing and delivering the curriculum and providing the administrative services required for the program(s). A degree program may subsume one or more areas of concentration or specialization.

Each degree program designs its own administrative structure in order to meet its particular needs. Some degree programs have adopted a structure that has one or two coordinators who have most of the responsibilities necessary to manage that degree program. In other programs, the degree coordinator is the central information source, spokesperson, and coordinator of degree program activities, while other administrative duties are distributed among other faculty members.

Dean's Advisory Committee (DAC):

The Committee provides advice to the Dean on such matters of policy and action that he/she requests. DAC deals with matters of Faculty management and administration including, but not limited to, operating and capital budgets, academic and support staffing, Faculty planning, and advice to the Dean on assignments of course managers and instructors, sessional appointments, teaching assistants, and course budgets.

Academic Program Committee (APC)

The Committee recommends to Faculty Council or, as appropriate, to the Dean or Associate Dean (Academic) on policy and action with respect to academic programs and student affairs. APC deals with matters which include academic regulations, calendar, programs of study, courses, degree requirements, grading, master's degree projects, establishment of new academic programs and modification of existing programs, student appeals, evaluation of student progress, orientation, student and peer evaluation of teaching and supervision, enrollment and admission quotas, and advice to the Dean on assignments of course managers and instructors, sessional appointments, teaching assistants, and course budgets.

Research Policy Committee (RPC)

The Committee provides internal advice to the Dean or Associate Dean (Research) on policy and action with respect to research and outreach. RPC deals with research and outreach policies, directions and priorities, and EVDS research resource allocations.

Research and Outreach Advisory Committee (ROAC)

The Committee provides external advice from key persons in research and environmental design practice to the Dean or Associate Dean (Research) on policy and action with respect to research and outreach.

Town Hall Meetings

The need for open discussions which previously occurred in the Academic Program Group will be addressed by the concept of Town Hall Meetings. Town Hall Meetings are intended to be open and democratic forums for the discussion of a range of Faculty matters. They are not meant to be decision making events but rather an opportunity of openly discussing matters of concern, at times reaching consensus on these discussions and advising the Dean of this consensus. All members of faculty, students as well as support staff are eligible to attend and participate in Town Hall meetings. Any individual, committee, or group can submit items for Town Hall discussion.

Associate Dean (Academic)

The Associate Dean (Academic) administers academic programs and student affairs in the Faculty. This administration includes curriculum development, academic regulations, Calendar and Handbook, admissions, orientation, registration, evaluation (grading, Mid-Year Review, Year-End Review), MDP's, graduation, appeals, withdrawals, programs of study, and student funding. S/he prepares assessments of faculty members for annual merit increments and promotion jointly with the Associate Dean (Research).

Associate Dean (Research and Outreach)

The Associate Dean (Research and Outreach) administers research, creative and scholarly activity, and outreach in the Faculty. This role includes information dissemination, promotion to fund development and granting agencies, research policy development, and policies such as outside professional activity, conflict of interest, intellectual property, biosafety, and ethics of human studies. S/he prepares assessments of faculty members for annual merit increments and promotion jointly with the Associate Dean (Academic).


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