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

Friday March 26, 2021 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Faculty Board Meeting

April 2, 2021
Good Friday (University closed, classes will not be held)

Friday April 9, 2021
Winter Term classes end

Saturday April 10, 2021 to Tuesday April 13, 2021
Winter Term pre-exam study period

Tuesday April 13, 2021 from 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Graduate Council Meeting
 
Wednesday April 14, 2021 to Friday April 30, 2021
Final examinations in Winter Term and multi-term classes

supportExam support for instructors

Preparing for the exam:
 Help with OnQ?
During the exam
  • OnQ timed exams: Be available on ITSC Chat for the duration your exam
  • Examity exams: Be available for the first three hours of your exam. ITSC and ASO will continue to troubleshoot as needed and contact you if necessary. 
deferWinter 2021 deferred final exams information for FAS instructors

The Faculty of Arts and Science has designated May 11 to May 14, 2021 as a common Deferred Exam period. The Exams Office will set a conflict-free schedule and the IT Support Centre will provide technology support for students writing Deferred Exams during this time.  Please note: The decision to defer an exam is at the discretion of the Instructor based on the extenuating circumstances and appropriate documentation.  Students can only write an exam early with approval from the Associate Dean (Studies) and support from the Instructor.  Approval is only granted in very exceptional circumstances. See our Deferred Final Exams Information Sheet.
gradesWinter 2021 Grades Memo

Please see the attached Winter Grades Memo, which includes deadlines and information on submitting grades. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
remoteRemote Teaching Support for Spring/Summer 2021

The Faculty of Arts and Science Remote Teaching support team is excited to welcome you to the Spring/Summer 2021 semester and we are looking forward to assisting you as you prepare your course. Join us at our upcoming workshop and/or drop in sessions:
  • Workshop: Getting Ready to Teach Remotely - moving to remote teaching, tips and tricks, setting up your onQ course, assessment best practices, and more on Wednesday, March 24 at 1pm, on Zoom (Meeting ID: 930 3541 5314 Passcode: 275763)
  • Remote Teaching Support Drop-Ins, Monday and Wednesdays from 2-3pm, starting March 29, on TEAMS
 Have a Question? Book a Consult by email: [email protected]
bevBev King retires, Wanda Beyer named LEADS director

Bev King is retiring as Assistant Dean, Teaching and Learning and Director, Learning Enhancement and Distance Studies in Arts and Science this summer. Bev shepherded Continuing and Distance Studies from a small, paper-based correspondence unit tucked in the basement of MacCorry and serving a modest number of students to today's large online unit serving thousands of students annually.  Bev put Queen's on the map as a leader in online and distance education due to her knack for choosing and nurturing a highly successful team. 

The faculty is pleased to announce that Wanda Beyer has been chosen as the incoming Director of the Faculty of Arts and Science's Learning Enhancement and Distance Studies (LEADS) unit. Wanda brings strong leadership, excellent interpersonal communication with faculty, staff and institutional leaders, and extensive experience developing and supporting teaching online and blended courses using evidence-based approaches.

Having returned to Arts and Science in 2019 as our Associate Director, Instructional Design and Curriculum Development, Wanda moved quickly last spring to design a successful remote learning strategy for the Faculty.

Wanda has played a major role in the growth and innovation of online and blended learning at Queens and we are excited at the prospect of her leading our team forward to even greater possibilities.  Please join us in welcoming Wanda who will take up her role Monday, March 29.
shoutoutArtsci Shoutouts

Over the past year we have all been working hard to adjust to the challenges that we have had to face. Working together and supporting each other has been essential. Whether it has been helping to set up a colleague's webinar or virtually welcoming a new team member, everyone has pitched in. We want to celebrate and shine a light on all of the little things that our coworkers do to help us excel in these difficult times.

Visit https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/artsci-shoutouts to post a shoutout to one of your colleagues and view what other staff & faculty are posting to each other.
changemakerDean's Changemaker Challenge Pitch Competition

The Dean's Changemaker Challenge is a new initiative this year for students across the Faculty of Arts and Science. Dean Barbara Crow challenged students to make meaningful changes that will improve the environment and experience here in Arts and Science and have an impact on our community. By learning to start and launch an entrepreneurial venture across the two courses, ASCX 200 and ASCX 300, students are turning their ideas into reality!

To conclude the new pilot, join us for the final pitch competition on April 7 from 2:30-3:30 pm. You will have the opportunity to see student teams pitch their prototypes to alumni judges, who will award seed funding for the best venture(s). You can also vote for your favourite pitch to help inform the judges' final decision. Come support our students, hear their pitches, and vote at this competitive event!


To learn more about the ventures and the Challenge, see QUartsci.com/challenge.
dropinsReminder - FAS timetabling drop ins

The university has decided to optimize the potential return of students to in-person classes on campus for the Fall and Winter, based on the assurance from KFL&A Public Health officials that it will be safe to do so by September. Academic units are being asked to construct a full timetable submission with no distancing restrictions. To that end, FAS is limiting enrolment in courses on campus to a maximum of 50.

Several FAS timetable drop ins have been scheduled to answer questions and to assist you with a timetable strategy, discuss your plans, and assist you in building an optimal timetable for your department and the Faculty. These sessions will be held between 10 and 11am on Fridays with the last session on March 26.

 
Meeting ID: 868 1897 0947 and Passcode: 031120
staaReminder - STAA (Accommodation) and Academic Consideration

With final assignments and exams around the corner, we wanted to send out a reminder of the difference between an STAA (Accommodation) and Academic Consideration.

STAAs (Short-Term Academic Accommodations) are provided to a student by a member of Student Wellness Services (SWS) who has assessed the student and determined what academic accommodations may be required in the short-term (i.e., usually no more than 1 term/up-to-3-months). These forms can be emailed from the student directly to an Arts and Science instructor to implement and do not need to be submitted to the Arts and Science online portal for requests for Academic Consideration. The requirements listed on an STAA are an accommodation, and as such are legally mandated under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Any questions about STAAs should be directed to the Provider who filled out the STAA.

Academic consideration is an action taken by an educator in response to a student with an extenuating circumstance. Requests for academic consideration are a request for a compassionate response from Professors based on the principle of good faith. While the Academic Consideration Team verifies that a student is experiencing an extenuating circumstance, ultimately, it is at the instructors' discretion to grant academic consideration. Any questions about academic consideration should be directed to [email protected]
catalystReminder - Catalyst Fund applications

The goal of the Catalyst Fund is to enhance areas of research excellence that are of strategic importance to the University by giving scholars an opportunity to accelerate their research programs. Ten awards will be allocated, in the amount of $25,000 with a funding period of two years. A minimum of six of the awards will be allocated to Early Career Researchers (ECRs), defined as those who are within 10 years of their first academic appointment. Applicants must hold Tri-Council funding or have applied for Tri-Council funding within the last two years of the full application due date. Notices of Intent are due March 31st and applications are due April 30th. 
Reminder - Student 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.
Reminder - Follow 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.