S e na t e C o m m i t t e e o n A c a de m i c D e v e l o p m e nt
Report to Senate - Meeting of May 28, 2013
Proposal to rename the Fine Arts Plan to the Visual Arts Plan in the Faculty of
Arts and Science
Introduction
The proposal to rename the Fine Arts Plan to the Visual Arts Plan in the Faculty of Arts and Science was reviewed by the Senate Committee on Academic Development (SCAD) at its meeting on May 8, 2013. K. Sellars, Director, Fine Arts Programme attended the meeting to speak to the proposal and answer questions from Committee members.
Members of SCAD were provided with the QUQAPs Modified Undergraduate Program Approval Form which is attached to this report.
Analysis and Discussion The following should be noted:
• Historically the term Fine Art has included painting, sculpture, photography, dance, theatre, music and film. Recently, the term Visual Arts has been adopted to describe studio-based professional and academic activities;
• The proposed change will help to clarify the nature of the discipline offered at Queen’s and will assist the Department and the Faculty with recruitment and admission because students will be able to easily identify the contents of the Plan as pertaining to painting, drawing, print making and sculpture only;
• Graduates of the Fine Art Program will continue to receive a Bachelor of Fine Art degree. The Program name will remain the Fine Art Program (in Visual Art); the Plan name will change from a Major in Fine Art to a Major in Visual Art;
• Students currently enrolled in the Fine Art Program will be able to choose whether they wish to be registered under the Fine Art or Visual Art Plan name.
. . . 2
P a g e 2 M o t i o n
that Senate approve the proposal to rename the Fine Art Plan to the Visual Art Plan in the Faculty of Arts and Science effective 1 September 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Laeeque K. Daneshmend, PhD, DIC
Chair, Senate Committee on Academic Development
Committee Members:
L. Anstey, PhD'15, Education M. Baird, Chemistry
L. Daneshmend, Deputy Provost (Chair) J. Emrich, Faculty of Law
D. Garvie, Economics
A. Gill, BCom’15 I. Johnsrude, Psychology L. Long, BComp (Honours)’13 K. McAuley, Chemical Engineering P. Oosthuizen, Academic Colleague
UG Program Approval 20Mar13.doc
P ROPOSAL FOR A N EW OR M ODIFIED U NDERGRADUATE P ROGRAM
Approval Form
Part A – General Summary
Name of (Proposed) Program/Plan*: Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) Major in Visual Art
Unit(s): Program in Fine Art
Proposed Start Date: September 2013
*substitute Subplan/Certificate/Diploma as appropriate
Contact Information (1) Contact Information (2)
Name: Kathleen Sellars Name:
Title: Director Title:
Unit: Fine Art Unit:
E-mail: [email protected] E-mail:
1. Type of Proposed Modification
Major modifications of UG degree Programs/Plans, Certificates and Diplomas typically fall under one or more of the four categories (1.1-1.4) listed below. Check all subcategories that apply.
1.1 Program/Plan requirements or structure that differ significantly from those existing at the time of the previous cyclical program review (CPR)
Merger of two or more UG Programs/Plans
Significant change in the laboratory time of an UG Program/Plan
Introduction or deletion of an UG thesis or capstone project
Introduction or deletion of a work experience, co-op option, internship or practicum,
or portfolio
Changes in admission or graduation requirements
Major changes to courses comprising a significant proportion of the Plan or
Program (typically up to 35-40%; consult with Dean(s) and Provost)
1.2 Significant changes to the learning outcomes of a Program/Plan
Changes to Program/Plan content, other than those listed above, that affect the
learning outcomes, but do not meet the threshold for a ‘brand new Program’
(consult with Dean(s) and Provost)
1.3 Significant changes to the faculty engaged in delivering the Program/Plan and/or to the essential resources [as may occur, for example, when there have been changes to the existing mode(s) of delivery (e.g. different campus, online delivery, inter-institutional collaboration)]
Offering of an existing UG Program/Plan substantially on-line where it had
previously been offered in face-to-face mode, or vice versa
Changes to the faculty delivering the UG Program/Plan (e.g. a large proportion of
the faculty retires; new faculty hires significantly alter the areas of research and
teaching interests, etc)
Change from full- to part-time UG Program/Plan options, or vice versa
Changes to essential resources, where these changes impair the delivery of an
approved UG Program/Plan
A change in the language of Program/Plan delivery
Establishment of an existing UG degree Program/Plan at another institution or
location
1.4 Other
Introduction of a new General Plan or Subplan
Introduction of a new UG Collaborative Program/Plan
Changes to degree names without a substantial change in Program/Plan
requirements or learning outcomes (e.g. LLB to JD)
X Renaming of an UG Program/Plan (e.g. Women’s Studies to Gender Studies)
Changes to a departmental name
Other (specify): ___________________
2. Rationale for Modification(s) (or new Collaborative Program/Plan)
2.1 In the textbox below, provide a brief (suggested 100 word maximum) rationale for the proposed major modification or new Collaborative Program/Plan.
The term Fine Art has historically been used to differentiate the fine arts from applied arts and
crafts. Fine Arts are defined to include painting, sculpture, photography, dance, theatre, music,
and film. In recent years, the term Visual Art has become more commonly used to describe
studio-based professional and academic practices. Importantly, Visual Art more actually
identifies the current studio courses delivered in the Fine Art Programme at Queen's: painting,
drawing, print making and sculpture.
Fine Art departments at other universities normally include a number of creative disciplines. As
such, we often encounter student applicants, at both external and internal recruitment fairs, who
UG Program Approval 20Mar13.doc
expect the Fine Art program to include drama, film and music. A change of name to the Fine Art
Program in Visual Art, where completion of the Program continues to result in the awarding of a
Bachelor of Fine Art degree, would address this misunderstanding. The Program name remains
the Fine Art Program (in Visual Art); the Plan name changes from a Major in Fine Art to a
Major in Visual Art.
The name Visual Art would identify the visual component of current interdisciplinary courses,
such as IDIS 410 and IDIS 210, which incorporate aspects of the four creative (fine art)
disciplines at Queen's: music, drama, film and media, and fine art (Visual Art). Further to this,
the name change of the Plan from a Major in Fine Art to a Major in Visual Art, may also help in
exploring other course connections and collaborative academic planning between the four
creative areas.
3. Anticipated Impact of Modification(s) (or new Collaborative Program/Plan)
3.1 Major modifications of existing UG Programs/Plans/Diplomas/Certificates (or new Collaborative Programs) will have variable impacts depending on the modification proposed. Check all that might apply.
X Admissions/Recruitment
Structure of Program/Plan/Diploma/Certificate
Learning Outcomes/Assessment
Resources (human, financial, and/or physical)
Impact on other Academic Units/Plans/Programs/Diplomas/Certificates
4. Description of Existing UG Program/Plan/Diploma/Certificate(s), Nature of the Major Modification(s), and Rationale for Proposed Change (or Proposed Collaborative Program/Plan)
4.1 Summarize/expand (as appropriate) (i) the description of the existing UG Program/Plan/Diploma/Certificate to be modified, and the nature of the proposed Major Modification, or (ii) the Collaborative Program, and the rationale for the proposal. Comment on the impact it will have on the structure, UG Degree Level Expectations (UUDLEs), and learning outcomes of the existing Program (as appropriate). Explain (as appropriate) how the relevant stakeholders (e.g. faculty, staff, students) were consulted in preparing the proposal; and comment on additional resources required to implement the Program/Plan modification (or new Collaborative Program/Plan).
[suggested 2-page maximum]
The Faculty of Arts and Science currently offers two degree Programs in Fine Art:
1. a four-year Honours Bachelor of Fine Art Program (BFAH) within which students pursue a Major Plan in Fine Art (ARTF-M-BFH); or
2. a three-year Bachelor of Fine Art Program (BFA) within which students pursue a General Plan in Fine Art (ARTF-G-BFA).
The members of the Fine Art Program propose to retain the Program names Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) and Bachelor of Fine Art but wish to change the name of the Plan from "Fine Art" to "Visual Art." The proposal is to change the two degree Programs to the following:
1. a four-year Honours Bachelor of Fine Art Program (BFAH) within which students pursue a Major Plan in Visual Art (ARTV-M-BFH); or
2. a three-year Bachelor of Fine Art Program (BFA) within which students pursue a General Plan in Visual Art (ARTV-G-BFA).
As indicated in the "Rationale" outlined above (section 2.1), the members of the Fine Art Program wish to make this change to clarify the nature of the discipline offered at Queen's and to situate the nomenclature of the degree within the current standards used across most universities. This modification does not involve any change to the admission standards or procedures, curriculum, Degree Level Expectations, learning outcomes, or the
administration of the Programs and Plans. The members of the Fine Art Program will work closely with the Office of the University Registrar to make changes to recruiting materials and activities connected with advertising the new "Visual Art" identity. No additional resources will be required to make this change.
The members of the Fine Art Program would like to implement this change starting with the entry of the 2013- 14 class. It is understood that the opportunity to choose a "Visual Art" option was not part of the advertising for the incoming class, so it is proposed that students would be registered in the "Fine Art" Plan name but could choose to switch to the "Visual Art" Plan name. The incoming class of 2014 would all be registered under the "Visual Art" Plan name. Students currently in Years 1, 2 or 3 of the Fine Art Program would be able to choose whether they wish to be registered under the “Fine Art” or “Visual Art” Plan name. Students graduating in the Spring of 2013 and those who have already graduated would retain the "Fine Art" Plan name, since the effective date for this change would be 1 September 2013.
