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Selected Notes from University Senate 2017-1
 

Among the new academic programs approved: PhD in Health Quality (Nursing); PhD in Global Development Studies: MSc and PhD in Translational Medicine; MM in Artificial Intelligence (Smith School of Business), and a Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical and Health Care Management and Innovation (Nursing).  Admission was temporarily suspended for a two year period to the Graduate Diploma in Pain Care (Nursing).  A number of new undergraduate certificates were approved, including: French for Professionals; Mohawk Language and Culture; Mining Technologies; Urban Planning Studies; Global Action and Engagement; and Indigenous Languages and Cultures.

Winners of the annual Prizes for Excellence in Research were: Dr. Pascale Champagne, Civil Engineering; Dr. Liying Cheng, Education; Dr. Cathleen Crudden, Chemistry; Dr. Sam McKegney, English Language and Literature; Dr. Denis O’Donnell, Medicine. Dr. R. Ascough was named a 2018 3M National Teaching Fellow. Senate approved the Distinguished University Professors Program: http://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/senate/committees/academic-development-committee/distinguished-university-professors-program

Preliminary full-time enrolment for 2017-18 was 23,696.  The complete report is at: https://queensuniversity.civicweb.net/document/116994/2017%20Enrolment%20Report.pdf?handle=B22121E8275444C69DE4D949FCF67D90

Queen’s had over 42,000 applications for a September 2018 program start. The short-term enrolment planning report is at: https://queensuniversity.civicweb.net/document/125520/SEMG%20Short%20term%20Enrolment%20targets.pdf?handle=B88F3B71DAD84EBC9990B695F773F5E8

 

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre received a donation of 23 stone-cut and stencil prints from communities in Nunavik from Margaret McGowan (Artsci ’78). The donor has also created two bequests that will provide funds for a research studentship in Indigenous art and for children and youth to participate in programs at the Art Centre. The prints should be on display sometime in 2019.

The annual report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force noted that progress has been made on all 25 recommendations. including: Queen’s joining the Pathways for Indigenous Learners collective to develop pathway programming and support services for Indigenous students, and expansion of the Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre increasing capacity for ceremonies, a gathering area, study areas, and workshops.

Dr. D. Walker and Senator B. Crow have been appointed co-chairs of a working group to implement the recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Public Policy at Queen’s.

A team of Master of Planning students won the first Mayor’s Innovation Challenge. The students will receive internships from the City, a $10,000 budget and support from City staff to help implement their project to develop a multi-season cycling network in Kingston.

Queen’s Aboriginal Council reported that it has worked on the development of a partnership with the School of Graduate Studies on research with Indigenous peoples, and on the installation of the first “Queen’s Remembers” plinth that focuses on the history of the land on which the university sits.

A motion to remove the singing of God Save the Queen from the Queen's convocation program format was placed before Senate and defeated on a tied vote.

Queen’s Aboriginal Access to Engineering (AAE) initiative, part of Queen’s Engineering Outreach, has received $230,000 federal funding to enhance outreach activities directed at Indigenous youth and  STEM programming visits to local schools and First Nations communities.

Patrick H. Oosthuizen, RAQ Senate observer