University Affairs

Students' Society of McGill University

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  • Senate Caucus Biweekly Report for Sept 2-26, 2016

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    This is an exciting time for the Senators, as they get a their first taste of their role for the year ahead. We present to you the first biweekly report of the SSMU Senate Caucus.

    A few highlights:

    • The Senators attended various kinds of training over the past two weeks, including during the SSMU Councillors and Senators retreat two weekends ago.
    • They also attended their first Senate meeting, in which they asked a Senate Question regarding for-cost course assessment software
    • We completed allocations of students to fill in more than 110 undergraduate representative seats in 47 University-level committees. The Senators themselves sit on many of these spots, and will work on many of their projects from this front. The list of committees (including the description of each committee) and the representatives are available here. Thank you to those who applied!
    • Students in many faculties now are allowed to have their first final exam deferral granted, without having to submit any supporting documentation (only for the first ever deferral during the student’s degree). Read about it in the report!
    • Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) have just launched a new Steering Committee to plan an Undergraduate Skills Program, which is created to enrich students’ undergraduate education experience by giving them skills they will need in the workforce and beyond.

    Minutes of each Senate Caucus meeting is available upon request via email.

    If you’re interested in attending a Senate Caucus meeting to learn more about what the Senators do, feel free to email me (the UA Secretary) to get more information. Senate Caucus meetings are held every Monday at 6:30 PM in the SSMU Office. We also sent out our first University Affairs Listserv! Click here to join the mailing list.

  • Sexual Violence Policy Focus Groups & Academic Summit Registration: September 29th Council Report

    As our first month of orientation and training is wrapping up, we’re working hard to kick off portfolio committees and term projects! There have been many developments in the University Affairs portfolio, from consultations on the draft McGill Policy Against Sexual Violence to the launch of registration for our 2nd Annual Student Academic Summit (sign up by Friday, October 7th at 5:00PM). Read my full report to the September 29th Legislative Council to find out more.

    Recent highlights:

    Fall goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):

  • Welcome to the Term: September 15th Council Report

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    Welcome to a new school year! My name is Erin Sobat and I’m incredibly excited to be serving as your SSMU VP University Affairs for 2016-2017. The UA team is responsible for university representation and academic affairs; research, advocacy, and policy development; equity programming and complaints; and the Library Improvement Fund. You can always get in touch via email or drop by my office hours on Thursdays between 10:00AM-12:00PM. Check out my first report to the SSMU Legislative Council to find out what I’ve been up to!

    Some project highlights:

    Fall goals completed to-date (italics = since last report):

  • Executive Goals & Objectives 2016-2017

    As an undergraduate student on the downtown campus, you are automatically a SSMU member. SSMU defends your interests to the University, the local community, and the government. It’s your advocate and support, providing you with resources and opportunities, ensuring that your money is put to good use, and voicing your concerns to the University and other groups.

    Do you want to know what each Executive does? What are their plans for this academic year? Check out the SSMU Executive Goals & Objectives (2016-2017).

    Some highlights from the Vice-President (University Affairs) include:

    • Working for the smoother integration of Mental Health & Counselling Services;
    • Combatting abuses of ancillary fees, including ending central overhead deductions;
    • Advocating for an effective McGill Sexual Violence Policy;
    • Implementing a Fall Reading Break in the academic calendar;
    • Passing a SSMU Policy Against Unpaid Internships;
    • Establishing dedicated racialized student support resources;
    • Developing a more consistent & equitable model of academic accommodations.

    Have questions about these objectives? Watch for bi-weekly reports from the VP University Affairs to the SSMU Legislative Council, or get in touch now.

  • Former McGill professor Otto Klineberg delivers expert testimony in the Brown v. Board case.

  • The Institute of Islamic Studies is founded.

    [timeline_excerpt]The establishment of McGill’s Institute of Islamic Studies in 1952 made it the first such institution in North America. Founder Wilfred Cantwell Smith felt that co-education of Muslims and non-Muslims was essential to the study of the Muslim world.[/timeline_excerpt]