Senate approved six new faculty and five new student member representatives, for terms beginning July 1, 2026.

Faculty Member Representatives:

• 聽Katie Lucas (Faculty of Science)
• 聽Gabriel Wainer (Faculty of Engineering & Design)
• 聽Janine Debann茅 (Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism)
• 聽Janet Mantler (Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences)
• 聽Pascal Gin (Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences)
• 聽Paul Williams (Faculty of Arts & Social Science)

Student Member Representatives:

• 聽Gabrielle Lachance (Science)
• 聽Nathan Bruni (Engineering & Design)
• 聽Brian Timmons (Public & Global Affairs)
• 聽Joshua Chicoine (Public & Global Affairs)
• 聽Madhav Nikhil Sewpal (Public & Global Affairs)

Artificial Intelligence Framework

Senate received and discussed 杏吧原创鈥檚 new Artificial Intelligence Framework, a guiding document that outlines principles for ethical, transparent and responsible AI use across teaching, research and operations. The framework is not a policy but is intended to 鈥渟upport the 杏吧原创 community by providing general principles and guidance鈥� on integrating AI in ways that uphold academic integrity, human accountability, accessibility, and Indigenous data sovereignty. It establishes a coordinated approach to AI adoption and creates an AI Advisory Group to support implementation and ongoing governance.

New Senate Question Period Guidelines

Senate adopted a set of Question Period Guidelines aimed at clarifying how questions for Senate Question Period are submitted, reviewed, and addressed. The guidelines will help to enhance an open and transparent process by making the workflow and decision-making steps more explicit.

Major Modifications

Senate approved a number of major modifications including the following:

• Changing the name of the minor in Integrated Science to minor in Interdisciplinary Science Application, to reflect a shift toward a broader, more flexible academic focus.

• Adding new Graduate Calendar language that permits programs to include a fast鈥憈rack option for exceptional first鈥憏ear Master鈥檚 students to transition into a PhD.

• Adding language to clarify continuous鈥憆egistration expectations for selected Master鈥檚 programs and regularly scheduled breaks for others.

• Clarifying expectations and requirements for the Integrated Thesis and renaming it as Manuscript鈥慴ased Thesis to better reflect its structure and purpose.

At the undergraduate level, removing specific year-status prerequisite requirements from the Engineering & Design undergraduate regulations. Progression is to be managed through individual course prerequisites or university year standing, bringing practice in line with other programs across campus.

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Over 1,300 杏吧原创 Degrees Approved

Senate has approved the graduation of 811 undergraduate students and 576 graduate students for Winter 2026 graduation. The university congratulates all successful graduates and looks forward to celebrating their achievements at this year鈥檚 Spring Convocation in June 2026.

Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) Review Update (Provost)

The Provost provided an update on the EAF Review and Implementation process.  The presentation outlined key opportunities in cost-saving, revenue generation and non-financial efficiency, and outlined the effect some of these opportunities might have, given different budget scenarios.  The report underscored the need for continuing efforts to address the structural deficit. The Provost also used the opportunity to provide highlights on the recent provincial government funding announcement and what it means for 杏吧原创.

Senate Executive Committee Terms of Reference Revised

Senate approved revised Terms of Reference for the Senate Executive Committee.  Changes include a new responsibility for reviewing the Senate Question Period submissions, and the incorporation of two empowering motions as regular duties of the committee.

Senate Receives Benchmarking Study

Senate received a targeted benchmarking study of governance practices at universities across Canada, specifically focused on who serves as the Chair of Senate.  The study highlighted the range of practices nationally, the logistical and governance considerations associated with alternative models, and the advantages and challenges experienced at institutions with elected faculty in the role of Senate Chair.

Senate Receives Library Report

Senate received its first annual Library Report, highlighting ongoing service improvements, resource stewardship, and support for research and teaching across the university. The Report noted strong overall performance and steady demand for core services, with survey results showing high satisfaction in service delivery and information resources, alongside continued pressure for more group and quiet study space. The report also cited space improvements, an Innovation Award for MacOdrum Library from the Buildings Without Barriers Challenge, and consistently strong satisfaction ratings in national student surveys.

Senate Spotlight: David Mendeloff

David Mendeloff is Associate Dean (Faculty Affairs) in the Faculty of Public & Global Affairs, and an Associate Professor in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA). He previously served as Interim Director of the Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs from 2024-25, Associate Dean (Academic) from 2018-2023,  and Director of NPSIA鈥檚 Centre for Security and Defence Studies (CSDS) from 2006-15. David is also the current Secretary for the Faculty of Public & Global Affairs Faculty Board.

David鈥檚 research focuses on theory and practice of international and transitional justice, and accountability mechanisms.  He is a specialist in the politics of accountability for wartime atrocity and the impact of international criminal justice on wartime civilian violence, war termination, and post-war state-building. At NPSIA, he teaches courses on international conflict analysis, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction, and transitional justice. 

In addition to his role on Senate, David currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Curriculum Admissions and Studies Policy and sits on the Senate Academic Governance Committee and the Senate Quality Assurance and Planning Committee. 

The post Inside Senate February 27, 2026 appeared first on Senate.

The 杏吧原创 University Senate met in person on January 30, 2026.  Here are some highlights from the meeting:

Fall 2025 Enrolment Report

Suzanne Blanchard, Vice-President (Students & Enrolment) and University Registrar, provided an update on Fall 2025 enrolment numbers and admission statistics. Overall domestic undergraduate enrolment remains stable with modest increases between 2024 and 2025.  Domestic enrolment for Masters students has increased, and PhD enrolment remains stable.  杏吧原创 is implementing a number of initiatives to respond to continuing declines in international enrolment, including early offers, a 12-month four-year housing guarantee for international students and a new international tuition structure which would ensure predictability and stability from 2026 to 2029.

New Engineering Program Approved

Senate approved the introduction of a new undergraduate program in Systems Security Engineering, to begin in Fall of 2027.  This four-year Bachelor of Engineering program (five-years with COOP) focuses on the analysis, evaluation and design of secure computer communications and distributed systems.  

Major Modifications

Senate approved a total of 34 major modifications including the following:

• Closure of the Certificate in Multidisciplinary Studies in Mental Health & Well-Being
• Closure of the type 3 Graduate Diploma in Work and Labour
• Closure of the Graduate Diploma and Concentration in Indigenous Policy & Administration
• Deletion of the Minor and Concentration in Drama Studies
• Major modifications to PhD programs in Computer Science, Mathematic & Statistics, Earth Sciences, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Engineering, and Physics
• Addition of the collaborative specialization in Data Science to the MASc programs in Mechanical, Aerospace and Materials Engineering
• Introduction of the stream in Financial Planning to the B. Com. program

Suspension of Program Admissions

Senate was informed of the upcoming suspension of admissions (in Fall 2026) for the MBA weekday in-person program and for the Graduate Diploma (Type 2 & 3) in Architectural Conservation.  Admissions to these programs are to be suspended for two admission cycles; any subsequent modifications related to program reinstatement or closure will be brought to Senate for approval.

Senate Approves new Engineering Faculty Board Constitution

In 2023, Senate passed a motion requiring all disciplinary Faculties to revise their constitutions to support the transfer of authority for graduate curriculum approvals from the former FGPA to the Faculties.  Using a standardized template to ensure consistency, a new Engineering Faculty Board Constitution was created in accordance with this directive, and was approved by Senate with support from the Engineering Faculty Board and the Senate Academic Governance Committee. 

Senator Spotlight: Gabriel Wainer

Gabriel Wainer is a Professor in the Department of Systems & Computer Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering & Design at 杏吧原创.  He is also Director of the Advanced Real-Time Simulation Lab, a cutting-edge Modeling and Simulation Research lab at 杏吧原创.  His research interests include DEVS formalism, Real-Time modelling, Cellular models, Modelling and simulation methodologies and tools.  Professor Wainer is an expert in forest fire modeling and simulation, cyber-physical systems, modeling wireless networks, high performance computing, and geospatial modeling and simulation.

Professor Wainer is the recipient of the Presidential Award for Enabling the Modeling and Simulation Discipline and 2022 McLeod Founder Award for distinguished service to the profession from the Society for Modelling and Simulation International (SCS). He is a Fellow of SCS and received an IEEE Outstanding Engineering Award (Ottawa Section) in 2019, for contributions to the field of discrete-event modeling and simulation.

Professor Wainer has served on Senate since 2023 and is currently the Chair of the Senate Review Committee.

The post January 30, 2026 appeared first on Senate.

Senate Welcomes New Members

Senate ratified the appointment of three new members, for service beginning immediately unless otherwise indicated:

• Erin Harlan (Student – FASS)
• AbdelRahman Abdou (Faculty member – Computer Science)
• Juan Carlos Jimenez (Faculty member – Industrial Design) 鈥� beginning January 1, 2026

Graduate Major Modifications

Major modifications approved by Senate include the following:

• The deletion of the graduate concentration in Arts Management, effective Fall 2026.
• The degree change in Economics from an MA to an MSC, effective Fall 2026.

Suspension of Program Admissions

Senate was informed of the suspension of admissions to the following program:

• Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Economics, effective immediately

Senate was also informed of extensions to the existing suspension of admissions to the following program:

• Minor in Health Sciences

Quality Assurance & Cyclical Reviews

Senate approved the Final Assessment Reports and Executive Summaries from the Cyclical Reviews of the following programs:

• Graduate programs in Sustainable Energy
• Graduate and undergraduate programs in Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies

Revised Terms of Reference for Senate Committees

Senate approved revised terms of reference for the following Senate Committees:

• Senate Committee on Student Awards (renamed from Senate Committee on Undergraduate Student Awards)
• Senate Medals and Prizes Committee

Update on Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) Review

The Provost and Vice-President (Academic) provided an update on the Efficiency and Accountability Fund (EAF) Review that has been mandated by the Ministry of College, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES). 杏吧原创 University has been selected for the 2025鈥�2026 EAF round, with a review underway of its spending and revenue practices. A preliminary report, along with a letter signed by President Tettey, has already been submitted to MCURES. The university is working to identify opportunities for cost containment, revenue generation, and overall efficiency, with recommendations covering both financial and non-financial improvements while emphasizing strong operational efficiency. The final EAF report and implementation plan will be presented to the Board of Governors in December and submitted to MCURES in January.

Presentation on the Modification Process for Program Closures

The Vice-Provost (Academic and Global Learning) delivered a presentation to Senate on the process for program closures. The presentation outlined the required approval steps and the information included in the executive summary, including rationale for closure, impact on other programs and students, impact on resources, and transition plans for current students.

Motion on the Closure of Undergraduate or Graduate Programs

Senate approved a motion proposing that any future Senate motion to close an academic program (undergraduate or graduate, including certificates and diplomas but not minors, concentrations, or collaborative specializations) must include a comprehensive rationale. This rationale should parallel the level of detail provided for new program approvals including:

1. The reasons for closing the program, with relevant enrolment data.
2. How resource considerations such as faculty availability, administrative support, space, and finances contributed to the decision.
3. The expected impact of the closure on other programs and on students, including effects on courses, service teaching, TA positions, and experiential learning opportunities.

Report on General Faculty Board Meeting and Motion

The Clerk of Senate provided a report on a meeting of the General Faculty Board (GFB) that took place on November 27.  The meeting was called to discuss the proposed Institutional Impartiality Policy, and to propose a recommendation to Senate. A motion from GFB proposing that Senate recommend that the Board of Governors reject the Impartiality Policy was considered.  The motion was defeated.

Senator Spotlight: Beth MacLeod

Beth MacLeod is an Associate Professor at 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 School of Linguistics and Language Studies. She is also the Director of the Experimental Linguistics Research Hub.

Beth earned her B.Math from the University of Waterloo, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Toronto.  She teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses at 杏吧原创.  Her research broadly encompasses the production and perception of phonetic variation in speech and falls into three main areas: phonetic imitation, sociophonetics, and second language acquisition.

Beth is currently the co-recipient of three research grants: one from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) infrastructure grant, a SSHRC Insight Development Grant, and a SSHRC Insight Grant. Her research program follows two main strands: 1. Exploring patterns of phonetic imitation and what these can tell us about the nature of language, and 2. Testing the methods we used to study both the perception and production of phonetic imitation.  In her teaching, Beth aims to provide students with hands-on experience in a variety of research methods and works to help students develop an understanding of how their degrees are preparing them for more advanced research and employability in the workplace.

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Fall Graduation Approvals

Senate approved the fall graduation of 575 undergraduate students and 612 graduate students, for a total of 1,187 students.
Senate also approved 50 medals and prizes for outstanding academic achievement. These included 16 graduate medals and 34 undergraduate medals.
The university congratulates all successful graduates and medalists.

New Master鈥檚 Program Approved

Senate approved the introduction of a new Master鈥檚 in Mineral Exploration and Resource Management, as presented, to commence in Fall 2026. This is a full cost-recovery program offered online, providing a concentrated course of study on the science and practice of mineral exploration.

Quality Assurance & Cyclical Reviews

Senate approved the Final Assessment Reports and Executive Summaries from the Cyclical Reviews of the following programs:

• Joint graduate programs in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Graduate and undergraduate programs in Applied Linguistics and Discourse Studies
• Graduate and undergraduate programs in Music

Senate Election Procedures Approved

Senate approved the following Senate Election Procedures:

• Senate Internal Election Procedures
• Senate Appointment Procedures for the COU Academic Colleague, Alumni Representative, and Clerk of Senate
• Senate Procedures for Elections to Other Bodies

These three procedures outline clear and consistent processes for nominations and elections to Senate, ensuring transparency, fairness, and compliance with 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 bylaws.

Suspension of Program Admissions

Senate was informed of the suspension of admissions to the following programs:

• M.Eng. Infrastructure Protection and International Security, effective Fall 2026
• M.Eng. Infrastructure Protection and International Security with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity, effective Fall 2026

These suspensions were initiated by the respective academic units, endorsed by the Deans and the Vice-Provost (Academic and Global Learning), and all necessary administrative actions have been completed by Admissions, the Registrar鈥檚 Office, and Graduate Studies.
Senate was also informed of extensions to the existing suspension of admissions to the following programs:

• Bachelor of Information Technology 鈥� Optical Systems and Sensors
• Food Science (B.Sc. (Hons) & minor)

Discussion of proposed Institutional Impartiality Policy

A significant part of the Senate meeting was devoted to a dialogue between Senators and the President about the newly proposed Institutional Impartiality Policy, during which he addressed several questions raised.

Senator Spotlight: Janine Debann茅

Janine Debann茅, BArch, MArch, is an Associate Professor in 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism and has been at 杏吧原创 since 2001. Prior to her role at 杏吧原创, she was a full-time professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. During six years in Detroit, in addition to teaching, she practised in a local architectural firm and carried out research on the theme of lived modernist architecture, revisiting Mies van der Rohe鈥檚 renowned residential district Lafayette Park (1959-1964) as a participant observer. Her prior experience also includes practising at architectural firms in Ottawa, Gatineau, and Toronto.

Since returning to Canada, her research and publications have focused on Ottawa鈥檚 regional modernist houses of the 1960s, investigating them as the domestic architectural corollary of the process of building Canada鈥檚 capital city in the postwar years. Reaching what she light-heartedly calls her career鈥檚 mature years, she has been reflecting on her
decades of teaching to write on architectural pedagogy, contributing for example to the book Teaching and Designing in Detroit: Ten Women on Pedagogy and Practice (Routledge 2019).
In addition to having performed administrative roles in her department over the years, Janine teaches various architectural theory, history, and design courses, including a course titled Canadian Architecture recently renamed Architectures in Canada; a workshop in architectural drawing; and design studios that integrate local, national, and international travel, while training students in site- and building-design as poetic problem solving.

Born in Ottawa, Janine maintains close ties to her community by writing articles for local media outlets on current areas of interest such as the Canadian suburb, zoning, and dwelling and neighbourhood form, helping to promote public dialogue of architecture and community. Proud of her mixed English-Canadian and Lebanese-Francophone heritage, Janine鈥檚 cultural background informs her interest in transculturality and fuels her pursuit of an inclusive Canadian identity and language of architecture.

The post October 31, 2025 appeared first on Senate.

Call for Nominations: Faculty members to serve on TPAC and UPC

The 杏吧原创 University Senate is calling for nominations for full-time CUASA faculty members to serve on the Tenure and Promotions Appeal Committee (TPAC) and the University Promotions Committee (UPC) for the 2025-26 academic year. The deadline to submit a self-nomination is November 30, 2025. Click on each committee name to learn more about eligibility criteria and how to apply.

• Tenure and Promotions Appeal Committee (TPAC)
• University Promotions Committee (UPC)

Please send a statement of candidacy to Kathy McKinley, Assistant University Secretary (Senate)

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The Senate met in person on September 26, 2025. Here are the highlights:

Senate Welcomes New Members

Senate welcomed 26 new Senators to their first Senate meeting including:

• 2 representatives from the Board of Governors,
• 1 new Alumni Representative
• 12 new elected students
• 10 new faculty members
• and the Interim Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Design

Creation of the College of Global Studies

Senate approved a recommendation to the Board of Governors for the establishment of the College of Global Studies, effective Fall 2026.

The new college will consolidate the Bachelor of Global and International Studies, graduate programs in Migration and Diaspora Studies, and both undergraduate and graduate programs in Russian and Eurasian Studies. As part of this reorganization, the Institute of European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (EURUS) will be closed as a separate academic unit.

This initiative marks the creation of the first College of Global Studies in Ontario and reinforces 杏吧原创鈥檚 and FPGA鈥檚 reputation as leaders in global and international education and research.

The update represents an administrative restructuring of existing programs and will not involve the creation of new curricula, degrees, or calendar changes.

Quality Assurance & Cyclical Reviews

Through an omnibus motion, Senate approved the Final Assessment Reports and Executive Summaries arising from the cyclical reviews of the following academic programs:

• Undergraduate programs in Economics
• Bachelor of Information Technology 鈥� Information Resource Management
• Graduate program in Political Management

Suspension of Program Admissions

Senate was informed of the suspension of admissions to the following programs:

• MSc in Northern Studies, effective Fall 2025
• PhD in Social Work, effective Fall 2026

These suspensions were initiated by the respective academic units, endorsed by the Deans and the Vice-Provost (Academic), and all necessary administrative actions have been completed by Admissions, the Registrar鈥檚 Office, and Graduate Studies.

Senate Committee Reports:  Annual Submissions

Senate received annual reports from the Senate Student Academic Integrity Appeals Committee, Senate Graduate Student Appeal Committee, Senate Undergraduate Studies Committee, and the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Student Awards.

The report from the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Student Awards highlighted the approval of 36 new undergraduate scholarships and bursaries.

Senator Spotlight: Dr. Shane Hawkins

Dr. Shane Hawkins joined 杏吧原创 in 2005 and has served as Director of the College of the Humanities since 2016. He teaches Ancient Greek and Latin, classical mythology, Greek literature and civilization, and occasionally Old Persian and Old Norse. With degrees from the University of Minnesota, Oxford, and UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Fulbright at the University of Vienna, Dr. Hawkins brings deep expertise in Indo-European linguistics, Greek lyric poetry, and Digital Humanities. His current projects include Greek Iambic Poetry and a co-authored Outline of the Historical and Comparative Grammar of Ancient Greek.

Next Meeting: October 31, 2025

The next Senate meeting will be held on October 31, 2025 at 2 pm. The full meeting schedule, associated meeting materials and minutes will be available on the Senate website. Meeting minutes are posted once they are approved at the subsequent meeting.

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The Senate met in person on June 6, 2025. Here are the highlights:

Class of 2025 Spring Graduate Approved

The Senate approved the spring graduation of 3,352 undergraduate and 778 graduate students, for a total of 4,130 students.

In addition, the Senate approved the awarding of 199 academic medals, recognizing 183 undergraduate and 16 graduate students for their exceptional achievements.

Spring Convocation ceremonies will take place over 15 sessions, scheduled from June 16 to 20, 2025.

Operating Budget Report

Provost Rankin presented an overview of 杏吧原创鈥檚 financial outlook and strategic planning to the Senate, highlighting key elements of the 2025-26 budget. The Operating Fund, which supports core academic and administrative functions, continues to face pressure due to a significant decline in international student enrolment鈥攑rojected to drop 86% from its 2018 peak. Rising staffing costs, driven by collective agreement commitments, further contribute to the projected deficit.

To address these challenges, the university is leveraging increased government grants, launching new academic programs, and implementing a $24 million budget reduction campaign. Investments include funding for new degrees in Nursing, Engineering (Mechatronics), Data Science, and Cybersecurity, alongside operational enhancements.

The Mission Sustainability Framework is guiding efforts to improve service efficiency, review staffing, and regain international enrolment. Additionally, a government-mandated Efficiency and Accountability Fund Review, conducted in partnership with Deloitte, is underway, with a final report due in December.

The 杏吧原创 community can expect regular updates, including an interim report to Senate in October.

Undergraduate and Graduate Major Modifications

The Senate approved five major modifications to undergraduate programs, effective Fall 2026. This includes:

• The introduction of the concentrations in Government and Professional Communication; Media and Entertainment Industries; and Public Engagement and Civic Culture to the B. CoMS.
• Name change to the undergraduate Economics concentration in Development and Environment.
• Deletion of the Earth Sciences concentrations in Finance: Resource Valuation; Geophysics; Resource Economics; and Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoecology.
• Major modification to the undergraduate Earth sciences programs in Vertebrate paleontology and Paleoecology.
• Major modifications to the BSc program and concentrations in Linguistics.

Suspended program admissions

The Senate received for information a list of 16 programs with suspended admissions effective Fall 2025.

Each request for suspension of admissions was submitted by the units, then approved by the Deans and the Vice-Provost (Academic).

Unless otherwise indicated, admissions to the programs will be suspended for two admission cycles. The Office of Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives will be responsible for following up with the units to ensure appropriate action (i.e. program reinstatement or closure) is taken.

Revised Faculty Board Constitutions

Following a Senate motion on June 2, 2023, and subsequent restructuring of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA), all disciplinary Faculties were instructed to revise their Faculty Board Constitutions.

Using a standardized template to ensure consistency, the Constitutions of the Science Faculty Board and the Computer Science Faculty Board were revised, reviewed by the Senate Academic Governance Committee (SAGC), and approved by their respective Faculty Boards, before being approved at Senate.

Senator Spotlight: Christopher Smelser

Christopher W. Smelser received his B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Toronto in 1998, followed by an M.Sc. in Physics from the University of Waterloo in 2001, where he conducted research under the supervision of Nobel Laureate Donna Strickland. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Ottawa in 2007.

From 2001 to 2012, Dr. Smelser was a Research Scientist at the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In 2012, he joined the Faculty of Engineering and Design at 杏吧原创 University and is currently an associate professor in the Department of Electronics.

Dr. Smelser鈥檚 research focuses on laser-assisted fabrication of photonic components, hybrid optical devices, nonlinear optics, and optical sensors, with an emphasis on their practical applications.

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The Senate met in person on April 25, 2025. Here are the highlights:

Senate Approves Revised Sprott Faculty Board Constitution

Following a Senate motion on June 2, 2023, and the restructuring of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (FGPA), all Faculties were instructed to revise their Faculty Board Constitutions and processes to take over authority for graduate curriculum.

Using a standardized template, the Sprott Faculty Board Constitution was revised, reviewed by the Senate Academic Governance Committee (SAGC), and approved by the Sprott School of Business Faculty Board, before final approval by the Senate.

Financial Update

Provost Paulin Rankin delivered an update to the Senate regarding the university’s current financial status. Despite implementing significant cost-containment measures, the university faces a projected base operating budget deficit of $32 million.

Key contributing factors to this deficit include a reduction in international student enrollment and the financial impact of retroactive salary increases following the repeal of Bill 124. Furthermore, the Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program (VRIP) will necessitate a one-time payout of $21 million, which is accounted for in the 2024/25 budget. Although this may appear unfavorable, it will result in an $18 million reduction in salary expenditures for the 2025/26 fiscal year.

The budget challenge has been partially offset by increases in government grants, potential investment income, and tuition fee increases for out-of-province domestic students and international students.

A follow up budget webinar is scheduled for the 杏吧原创 community in May. Additionally, a comprehensive update on the 2025-26 Operating Budget will be presented at the June 6 Senate meeting.

Updates on the operating budget will be made available on the Provost鈥檚 website.

Framework for Suspending Admissions

David Hornsby, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic), presented a Framework for Suspending Admissions to Senate for information. This framework details the procedure for suspending admissions to a program.

To initiate the suspension of admissions, the Dean or Associate Dean must submit a written request to the Vice-Provost (Academic). Admissions to a program can be suspended for a maximum of two cycles. After this period, the program must be either reinstated, redesigned, or closed.

Discussion and revision of the Framework remain ongoing.

Read the full Framework for Suspending Admissions (pg. 30).

Dr. Kim Hellemans reappointed as Senate COU Academic Colleague

The Senate has approved Dr. Kim Hellemans for another three-year term as Council of Ontario Academic Colleague, starting July 1, 2025.

Dr. Hellemans is an Assistant Professor and Associate Dean of Science (Student Recruitment, Wellness, and Success) at 杏吧原创 University. She has received several awards for her dedication to teaching and co-hosts the podcast .

Senator Spotlight: Lynn Marshall

Dr. Lynn Marshall is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at 杏吧原创 University’s Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, specializing in Computer Systems Engineering and Software Engineering. She earned her B.Math (Honours Cooperative Computer Science) from the University of Waterloo in 1983 and her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Manchester in 1986.

In addition to Dr. Marshall鈥檚 distinguished career in Software Engineering and teaching, she has consistently ranked in the Top 10 Masters swimming rankings every year since 1986. Since 2001, Dr. Marshall has been a coach of the 杏吧原创 Ravens Swim Team and the 杏吧原创 Masters Swim Team. She is currently the Manager and an Assistant Coach of the 杏吧原创 Ravens Swim Team, and the Head Coach of the 杏吧原创 Masters Swim Team. In addition, she works with 杏吧原创 Advancement as the President of the 杏吧原创 Ravens Swim Team Alumni Chapter. These roles support 杏吧原创’s student-athletes and keep her actively involved in the sport.

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Senate met in person on March 28, 2025. Here are the highlights:

Senate Appoints 23 New Members

Senate approved the following new appointments, effective July 1, 2025:

Faculty:

• Computer Science: Ahmed El-Roby (acclaimed)
• Faculty of Engineering & Design: Mostafa El Sayed (elected), Cristina Ruiz Martin (elected), Niall Tate (elected), Winnie Ye (elected)
• Faculty of Public and Global Affairs: Jeni Armstrong (elected), Sean Burges (elected), Achim Hurrelmann (elected), Irena Knezevic (elected)
• Faculty of Science: Kevin Graham (acclaimed), Inna Bumagin (acclaimed)
• Sprott School of Business: Rebecca Renfroe (acclaimed)

Undergraduate Students (all acclaimed):

• Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences: Ashley Paiva, Emma Peirce, Kuma Nyediin Buoy
• Faculty of Public & Global Affairs: Isabella Alma, Stella Duncan, Nir Hagigi
• Faculty of Engineering & Design: Nathan Bruni, Xavier Haziza
• Sprott School of Business: Nolan Giroux-Laplante
• Faculty of Science: Gabrielle Lachance

Additionally, James Brunet has been appointed as faculty member representative on Senate from the School of Information Technology, effective immediately.

Senate Approves the Revised Senate Review Committee TOR

Senate has approved the revised Terms of Reference for the Senate Review Committee. This change follows the decision to disband the Senate Library Committee, requiring the Senate Review Committee to add the review of the annual Library Report to its responsibilities.

Senate Approves Revised Medals Policy

Senate has approved updates to the Senate Medals Policy to reflect changes due to the restructuring of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and the suspension of the Fall Convocation. Other changes include:

• Addition of new Master’s Level Senate Medal: A new medal for research projects has been introduced to ensure fair competition, separating research essays/projects from theses.
• Revised Evaluation Criteria for Graduate Medals:
  • GPA has been changed from a primary to a secondary evaluation criterion.
  • The publication record has been expanded to include various research outputs such as publications, conference presentations, public engagement, and other relevant activities.
  • For Master’s students who have written a thesis, a statement from the external examiner is now required in addition to the supervisor’s statement.

Senate Passes Motion Related to Program Closures

Senate passed a motion to ensure that motions related to program closures at the undergraduate or graduate level are presented as unique motions to Senate, and are not included in omnibus motions.

Senator Spotlight: Julia Wallace

Julia Wallace, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Affairs), collaborates with units within the Faculty of Science on developing new undergraduate programs and modifying major/minor undergraduate curricula. She also evaluates undergraduate academic integrity violations.

In addition to her primary responsibilities, Julia chairs the Science Faculty Board (SFB) and the Science Committee on Academic Planning (SCAP) meetings. She represents the Faculty of Science on the Senate Quality Assurance and Planning Committee (SQAPC), the Senate Committee on Curriculum, Admission, and Studies Policy (SCCASP), and the Undergraduate Affairs Committee. Julia also oversees academic integrity policy violation cases in undergraduate courses within the Faculty of Science, except for those in Computer Science.

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