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

Friday April 9, 2021
Winter Term classes end

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

Friday April 16, 2021 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Faculty Board Meeting

fallPlanning for the fall term

r2wReturn to work requirements reminder

As a reminder, we must ensure that all employees complete the screening assessment module in the SeQure App each day prior to accessing facilities. It can be downloaded from the Campus Security and Emergency Services web page. An online web version of the COVID-19 Screening Assessment is also available for those unable to use the App. A paper version of the screening assessment is also available if required. Employees must submit the written version to their supervisor prior to accessing the facilities if they do not use the App or on-line version.

The only exception to the SeQure App process is if there is an alternate screening assessment process in place that has been reviewed and approved for use by the University.  Please contact your supervisor should you have any questions about which screening assessment tool you should be completing.
extenuatingExtenuating circumstances and incident reports during exams

If a student experiences some kind of emergency or extenuating circumstance that prevents them from being able to complete an exam, they must report to the e-proctor before exiting the exam and an exam incident report will be sent to the Faculty Office and the instructor. The Associate Dean (Academic) and instructor will consult to determine if the exam attempt is valid or invalid. See Academic Regulation 8.4 for details concerning extenuating circumstances and exams.

If an incident or breach of exam hall regulations occur during an exam, an exam incident report will be sent to the Faculty Office and the instructor. If any incident or breach appears to be a potential departure from academic integrity we encourage instructors to initiate an academic integrity investigation. See the instructor guidelines and forms.

Any questions about exams, regulations or academic integrity can be directed to [email protected].

considerationAcademic consideration and accommodation

The Academic Consideration team is hosting an information session for faculty and staff on Academic Consideration and Academic Accommodation on Tuesday, April 13 at 10:30 am. The session will provide an overview of each and leave half of the time for any questions you may have.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuc-2gqD8qG9OWlyQjR77Mv5QqmeC7oo4J

proposalsCall for proposals - open education resources

Queen's University Library invites faculty members and instructors to get involved in the development of open course materials by submitting proposals for the 2021 Call for Proposals: Open Education Resources. Open Education Resources (OER) are freely accessible, openly licensed learning materials that can be adapted or re-used depending on instructor requirements. They increase the affordability of education for students and provide greater flexibility for instructors.

Queen's has previously funded 13 new open textbooks that provide approximately $500,000 of savings per year for Queen's students. This year's call opens applications to include other types of OER beyond textbooks to broaden the ways instructors can meet student needs.

This year's call for proposals builds on the successful, funded projects of 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 to create open textbooks. Over the last three years the library has acted on the recommendations of the Open and Affordable Course Materials Working Group with support from the Provost's Advisory Committee on Teaching and Learning to provide funding to facilitate the creation of open educational resources at Queen's.

Two funding streams are available in 2021:
  • Adapt an Open Education Resource ($2,500 available for each project)
  • Create an Open Education Resource ($7,500 available for each project)
To learn more about the 2021 Call for Proposals, email an Open Scholarship Services specialist, visit Open Education Resources and attend the April 7th drop-in session.

The proposal deadline is April 15, 2021.
quaqeQUAQE annual general meeting

Queen's University Association for Queer Employees (QUAQE) is a 2SLGBTQ+ ERG Employee Resource Group (ERG) here. Join us if you are a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and are employed at Queen's join us for our AGM which will take place Thursday, April 15 from 4:00 to 5:30pm.

At the AGM we will be providing information on what the organizing committee has been up to over the last year, asking for your input, and recruiting for roles within the ERG. After the AGM we will also hold space for a social.

To help us ensure the event runs smoothly, we are asking for RSVPs at bit.ly/quaqe-agm-2021. Once you are registered a calendar invite with the zoom link will be sent.

supportReminder - Exam 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. 
deferReminder - Winter 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 (Academic) and support from the Instructor. Approval is only granted in very exceptional circumstances. See our Deferred Final Exams Information Sheet.
gradesReminder - Winter 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].
shoutoutReminder - Artsci 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.
changemakerReminder - Dean'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 2:30-3:45 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.
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.