Senate will discuss exam conflicts

The university senate — UW’s academic governing body — will meet this afternoon and is expected to hear from student leaders with a plea not to approve proposed changes to the exam regulations.

The regulations are just one item on the agenda for today’s monthly meeting, which starts at 4:30 in Needles Hall room 3001. But they’re attracting more attention than many issues on senate’s plate, including a front-page story in Friday’s issue of Imprint and a motion approved Saturday by students’ council.

Justin Williams, president of the Federation of Students, issued a statement Friday: “As the first senate meeting of the Fall term approaches, student senators are preparing to continue the opposition shown by students at the Senate Undergraduate Council to proposed changes to accommodations made for students writing back to back examinations. The amendments to the exam accommodations policy would see the elimination of accommodations for students who are faced with back to back exams or exams that take place in the evening and then again the next morning.

“After discussion with an array of students, it is clear that the loss of accommodations for students writing exams one after the other is unacceptable.”

The current rule says that no student should have more than two exams in one day, have two exams in a row, or have an exam in the last period on one day and the first period next day. Since changes that were introduced in 2005, there are four exam periods in a day, starting at 9:00, 12:30, 4:00 and 7:30, and the maximum length of an exam is two and a half hours.

A memo to senate from UW registrar Ken Lavigne says that his office arranges “relief examination sittings” for students who would otherwise have to write more exams in a day than the rule allows. “The takeup rate by students has been very low,” he reports: in the winter term, for instance, just 7 per cent of students who were eligible to write an exam at a different time actually did so. “It is hard to justify the overhead required to administer the process.”

At the same time, more students will be facing such conflicts because of the rising number of on-campus students taking distance education courses. “DE examination days are normally scheduled on the Friday and Saturday of the first weekend of the examination period. Because of [the regulations as they stand], examination slots before and after the DE examination slots are rendered useless at a key time early in the examination timetable. This problem will be exacerbated when DE requires a fourth slot.”

So he’s recommending that senate approve a change: “The University will schedule examinations so that no student will write more than two examinations in one day,” and a student who would be faced with doing so can still have “alternative arrangements”. But the rule against two exams in a row, or a night exam immediately followed by a morning exam, would disappear. The change comes to the senate with the endorsement of one of its key committees, the Undergraduate Council.

Williams counters that “Students should be given the fairest opportunity to demonstrate their comprehensive understanding of course materials while writing examinations. . . . The current accommodations allow students the chance to rest physically, emotionally, and mentally.”

Among other agenda items for today’s senate meeting:

• A planned new “global engagement specialization” available for students in the arts-and-business program.

• A report from provost Amit Chakma and acting dean of engineering Leo Rothenburg about progress on UW’s proposed branch campus in Abu Dhabi.

• Terms of reference for a new Clinical Research Ethics Committee to oversee research on human participants in fields such as pharmacy and optometry.

• Reports on academic program reviews in three academic units (geography, planning, and sociology).

• Announcement of the honorary degrees to be awarded at fall Convocation ceremonies next month.

The senate has a total of 91 members, including elected faculty and students as well as deans and other officials, alumni members and representatives of the board of governors.

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'Art of cartography' opens in gallery

“Maps as you have never seen them before” — like the one pictured at left — are promised in a show that runs for just this week in the Modern Languages building art gallery.

“At first glance, you may think you’re looking at a Picasso or Monet, but under study you’ll see the beauty of the Earth as never before,” says Eva Dodsworth of the University Map Library, who helped to develop the exhibition, titled “Geo-Abstract: Fine Art of Cartography”.

It runs for five days in the ML gallery, which will be open 1:00 to 4:00 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 4:00 to 7:30 on Wednesday.

The exhibition was created by the map library in collaboration with Render, UW’s art gallery. “Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology and geographical resources,” a release explains, “Map Library staff have created graphical and photographic representations of the earth and its people. Created with a flair of abstract artistry, the images are cartographic compositions reflecting land, water, ground elevation and population profile census information.

“Using only true representations, and without artistic distortion, you will be astounded by the colours, and natural patterns reflected in these cartographic compositions. Learn about the geographical resources and technology used to create the pieces. Find out how displaying information in a graphical format can enhance our ability to interpret our natural and human made features, providing vast benefits to all members of society.”

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New 'preferred' computers, and more

"In June 2005," says a memo from Paul Snyder of information systems and technology, "IST initiated a 'desktop rollover' program to provide a regular renewal of desktop computers in the academic-support areas of the University. The preferred vendor was selected through an RFP process for a three-year period. In June of this year, a new RFP was issued and we are pleased to announce that Metafore has been selected as our preferred supplier of Lenovo computers (you may recall that Lenovo purchased IBM's PC division a few years ago)." The desktop pictured above is one of the recommended models. "A Web page is being developed to simplify the ordering process," Snyder goes on, "but pricing information is now available. Academic-support departments participating in the rollover program may contact Bob Hicks for more details. Note that other departments may also purchase equipment through this program. Contact Donna Foreman for details."

Saturday night's heavy rain left its traces in the Math and Computer building in a big way. I don't have extensive details yet, but Bruce Campbell, director of network services in the information systems and technology department, sends a brief report: “There has been a flood in MC from the construction site,” he writes, “about midnight. There was about 3 inches [8 cm] of water under the raised computer room floor, and about 0.5 to 1 inch over about half of the main floor. The water has been removed and cleanup is in progress, with about 50 fans and dehumidifiers deployed. Some equipment and items on floors in storage rooms, and offices, has been damaged. To my knowledge, no services were affected.”

Members of UW's staff association are invited out at noontime today. In the words of Jesse Rodgers of information systems and technology, the association's president: "From 11:45 to 12:30 the UWSA Executive will be hosting a Town Hall in Davis Centre 1302 to introduce our Executive Manager and provide information for anyone interested in joining the Executive. If you don't think you have the time, aren't sure what being on the Executive involves, not sure what the UWSA does or have any other questions then please come out. There will be snacks and refreshments."

Staff and faculty members can expect to see a memo from UW president David Johnston today, inviting them to be on hand for Homecoming events later this month. "Homecoming is just around the corner," says the memo, "and I want to invite you to celebrate UW with our alumni, students and the KW community. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see Single & Sexy (or just want to see it again), catch a special 20th anniversary performance on Friday night. On Saturday morning, lace up your running shoes for the AHS Fun Run and plan to spend the day. Visit the East Asian Festival Family and Culture Day at Renison College; be sure to bring the kids by the Homecoming Family Carnival on north campus to meet Diego and Dora the Explorer; make a stop at the Modern Languages Art Gallery for the Fine Arts Exhibition and Silent Auction; bring a lawn chair and cheer on our Warriors football team as they face the Laurier Golden Hawks at the first 'Battle of Waterloo' on our own Warrior Field; and stay for a free concert with The Trews after the game. With a full day of events, we anticipate thousands of UW community members will be on campus — and I hope you are one of them."

CAR

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