Important messages, dates and news from the Faculty office.
Important Dates

Monday November 9
Fourth-year FAS students able to adjust their Winter schedule, and register for Summer 2021

Tuesday November 10 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm EST
Graduate Council Meeting

Wednesday November 11
Remembrance Day observance (Classes cancelled 10:30 - 11:30 a.m EST.)

Thursday November 12
All FAS students able to adjust their Winter schedule, and register for Summer 2021

Friday November 13 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm EST
Committee of Departments Meeting

Sunday November 15 from 9:00am - 2:00pm EST
SOLUS will be out of service to permit crucial updates

Wednesday November 18 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm EST
Virtual Convocation Celebration - Class of 2020

Monday November 23 from 2:30pm to 4:00pm EST
Undergraduate Chairs Meeting

studyspaceMackintosh-Corry Hall Student Study Hub  

University study space is being provided for the Fall Term to support students who are living in the Kingston area and enrolled in classes offered either in person on campus, or remotely, who need access to reliable internet; a quiet, controlled workspace as an alternate to current living conditions; and/or a waiting space between classes to study. A suite of 5 classrooms in Mackintosh-Corry Hall has been designated as a student study hub, with protocols in place to ensure student safety and usage tracked to determine the extent of the need. Please share this information with your students! For more information, please see: https://library.queensu.ca/help-services/bookable-seats
Academic Consideration Update 
consideration
As you are aware, during remote delivery of courses for the 2020-21 school year, academic considerations are being provided to students with unforeseen technological challenges beyond a student's control (e.g., computer malfunction, intermittent internet access, reduced access due to firewalls in some countries). At this point in the semester, there are two points that we want to clarify
  • This policy is intended to apply to individual circumstances- if a technological issue occurs for the whole class (e.g. OnQ malfunction) this does not require students to submit requests for academic consideration, and should instead be handled by the instructor 
  • For students with technological issues accessing exams/test/assessments in OnQ or Examity, students are first to reach out to ITS (https://www.queensu.ca/its/contact-us). Once a student has accessed a test or exam, they are no longer eligible for academic  consideration. If a student has been unable to access the assessment during the allowable time period and requires a deferral of that assessment, then they should apply for academic consideration. Please note that if a student states they have not accessed the assessment, we will require confirmation from their instructor. 
We recognize that there is room for interpretation within these definitions, so if you have any questions or would like further clarity on the process or a specific student's request feel free to reach out to the academic consideration team at asc.consideration@queensu.ca

tajeoReport on Teaching Assistant Training and Support at Queen's

Over the past three decades, Teaching Assistants (TAs) across North America have not been sufficiently prepared or supported for their teaching responsibilities. This problem is the central focus of this report, developed through a collaboration at the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the Faculty of Arts and Science (led by Dr. Jill Atkinson), which outlines the historical context, TA programming practices at Queen's and their alignment with best practices at other Canadian teaching support centres. There are high quality training opportunities available for TAs at Queen's University but we must do more to connect our TAs with the available supports. View the report.

There is a vacancy for the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Arts and Science beginning July 1, 2021.
 
Faculty members within the Faculty of Arts and Science are invited to apply for this position which involves collaborating with the senior leadership team to realize the vision of the Strategic Plan.
 
The Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) is responsible for leading and coordinating enhancements in teaching and learning, in particular enriching the student experience by expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary and experiential learning and incorporating anti-oppression education and practices. We are interested in candidates who are excited by the possibilities of remote, hybrid, and face-to-face learning and being part of a creative and dynamic team.
 
Experience in all aspects of teaching and learning, including curriculum development, course design, blended and online teaching formats, as well as pedagogical innovation and evidence-based practices, is important.  In addition, applicants should be familiar with the Cyclical Program Review Process (Quality Assurance). 
 
A curriculum vitae and a covering letter, outlining the applicant's motivation and qualifications for the position, should be sent to Dean Barbara Crow at deanartsci@queensu.ca by November 20, 2020. Interviews will take place mid-December.

Please see the attached memo, which includes the deadlines for submitting mid-year and final grades for Fall 2020 Undergraduate courses. The memo also includes information on grade changes from the Summer 2020 term, for Fall degree list candidates.
assuASUS Report on Student Feedback on Remote Learning  

Attached are two documents from the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) summarizing student feedback on remote learning this term. The first is a summary  and the second is the full report. ASUS presented these reports to Academic Operations, Heads and Undergraduate Chairs before the break. We also asked those at the Undergraduate Chairs meeting in October to consider the feedback and identify changes that could feasibly be implemented in the last 5 weeks of term, which are included in the attached report,  Feedback from the Undergraduate Chairs Meeting.  
 
You will note that they fall into three broad categories:
  • Building a learning community to address students' isolation
  • Addressing stress due to workload
  • Supporting students in managing their workload in this remote environment
Many of you are already doing some of these, but if you see something new that you would like to implement and need help, please do not hesitate to email ascremote@queensu.ca
 
You can also contact the CTL or ITS as needed and we will work with your or your TA to get this going in your course.  We have all added resources to better support you in your remote teaching work. For any questions about your remote teaching this term or next, please also do not hesitate to contact Wanda Beyer at wb26@queensu.ca or Jill Atkinson at jill.atkinson@queensu.ca

University Research Services 2021 SSHRC bootcampInsight Development Grant Boot Camp
 
This virtual two-part boot camp will introduce researchers to best practices for SSHRC Insight Development Grant applications. Research Projects Advisors Diane Davies and Adrian Kelly will guide researchers through key application components using examples from successful applications. Participants may attend one or both sessions:
  • November 17 Introduction to the IDG Compelling Project Summaries & Detailed Descriptions Creative Knowledge Mobilization Plans
  • November 19 Student Training Plans Effective Budgets & Budget Justifications Timelines 
Please register by November 13. Registered participants will be provided with a meeting link a day in advance of the session. Questions? Please contact adrian.kelly@queensu.ca or diane.davies@queensu.ca.
convocationVirtual Convocations and the FAS Virtual Convocation Celebration

The School of Graduate Studies Virtual Convocation is November 10 and the Faculty of Arts and Science Virtual Convocation is November 12. The university has invited our fall graduates to these virtual convocations. For more information, please see queensu.ca/registrar/students/graduation/ceremonies/fall-2020
 
The Faculty of Arts and Science will be having a Virtual Convocation Celebration for all of our 2020 graduates (spring and fall 2020). It will take place at noon on November 18. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for? It's going to be a virtual celebration like we have never had before! Register now: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/convocation2020
contagionContagion Cultures Lecture Series
 
This series is a Faculty of Arts and Science collaboration which helps to make sense of this pandemic through the expertise and insights of Arts and Science faculty members.

The series is live-streamed on Zoom every Tuesday at 4:00 PM EDT.

Upcoming events:

November 17 -"A divine infection": Religious communities and the epidemiology of COVID-19: Shobhana Xavier, Department of Religious Studies, Eun-Young Lee, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies

November 24 - Political Litigation Regarding COVID - Gregory Tardi, Institute of Parliamentary and Political Law

For more info on the series and to register please visit: https://www.queensu.ca/sps/events 
studentStudent E-Newsletters

For the latest student eNewsletters, please see queensu.ca/artsci. You can find our emails to students in the bottom right corner of our homepage.
TwitterFollow Us on Twitter!

Don't forget that we have a Twitter account for Arts and Science Faculty and Staff! Get news and updates from the Faculty and the rest of the University, as well as another place to access the Staff & Faculty E-newsletter. Follow us @QUASfacultynews.