FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL

MINUTES
 Friday, September 18, 2026
 A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:00 am via Zoom.  

Presentation:
Mr. Andrew Austin:     Research Security and Data Management Specialist
                                   Office of Research Services
                                   Supporting Researchers in our Faculty

A. Austin gave a presentation outlining what his role is in the Office of Research Services
➢ Research security risk assessment for research projects & out of country travel
➢ Controlled goods/export control compliance
➢ Background checks for international collaborations including visiting scholars and students
➢ Assistance with the development of research data management plans
➢ Data storage and cybersecurity guidance
A short discussion followed.
Link to Presentation:  Research Security & Data Management at Lakehead

Introduction of New Faculty:
Dr. Alexandre Turgeon
Tenure Track Assistant Professor:  Department of History (Thunder Bay Campus)
S. Jobbitt, Chair of the Department of History, introduced A. Turgeon:
I am very pleased to introduce Dr. Alexandre Turgeon, who joins the Department of History as Canadianist with a special focus on public history.  Dr. Turgeon has published extensively in the areas of public memory, political cartoons, and digital discourse, and is particularly interested in how Canadians use digital platforms to engage with historical narratives during federal and provincial election campaigns.

Dr. Taylor Green
Tenure Track Assistant Professor:  Department of Political Science (Orillia Campus)
E. Piersig, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, introduced Dr. Taylor Green who will join the Department this fall.  She stated that the department was looking forward to working with him.

Dr. Suzanne Sharma Narain
Tenure Track Assistant Professor:  Department of Interdisciplinary Studies/SJS (Orillia Campus)
J. Jarman, Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, introduced Dr. Suzanne Sharma Narain.
Dr. Narain will be leading the Social Justice concentration of the Interdisciplinary Studies undergraduate concentration and contributing to the Masters in Social Justice program.  We look forward to her contributions to our Lakehead community.

Introduction of Assistant Dean (Thunder Bay Campus)
Dr. Julie Rosenthal:  School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism
G. Bonifacio introduced Dr. Julie Rosenthal, our new Assistant Dean, Thunder Bay campus.  Dr. Rosenthal is an Associate Professor in the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism as well as their Assistant Director.  She will be focussing on student recruitment and retention as well as the program coordinator for the BA General.  

AGENDA
1.
Approval of Agenda
 It was moved by D. Hayes and seconded by L. Potvin that the agenda be approved.
            Carried.
2.
Approval of Minutes

It was moved by D. Akca and seconded by R. McVeigh that the minutes from May 1, 2026 be approved.
        Carried.
        
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.

4.
Calendar Change Requests
    i)  Gender & Women’s Studies
    It was moved by L. Chambers and seconded by J. Chisholm that the following calendar change request for Gender & Women’s   Studies be approved.
    2026-SOC-9400:  Course-Modification-UG-WOME-3613 - updating note
            Carried.

    ii) History
    2026-SOC-9222:  Programs-Major Modification-GR-HIST-Expanding to Orillia Campus
    It was moved by S. Jobbitt and seconded by D. Hayes that the following calendar change request for History be approved.
            Carried.

    iii) Indigenous Learning
    It was moved by J. Sanchez Martinez and seconded by C. Sanders that the following calendar change request for Indigenous Learning be approved.
    2025-SOC-9165:  Course-New-UG-Indigenous Learning-Indigenous Artivism (INDI 4017)
            Carried.

    iv)  Interdisciplinary Studies
    2026-SOC-9317:  UG Program - small changes to HBASC.MDST
    It was moved by R. McVeigh and seconded by D. Mackinnon that the following calendar change request for Interdisciplinary Studies be approved.
            Carried.

   It was moved by J. Jarman and seconded by R. McVeigh that the following calendar change request for Interdisciplinary Studies be   approved.
    2026-SOC-9235:  New Concentration - HBASC INTD with Concentration in Social Determinants
    of Health
            Carried.

    v)  Languages
    It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by E. Chugunov that the following calendar change requests for Languages be approved.
    2026-SOC-9305: UG Certificate - Small changes to French Certificates
    2026-SOC-9359:  Program Minors-UG-Discontinue -Languages
            Carried.

    It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by I. Lemée that the following calendar change requests for Languages be approved.
    2026-SOC-9307:  Program-UG-Small Changes-BABEd.FREN.IS and PJ
    2026-SOC-9310:  Programs-UG-Small changes to HBA French-Languages
    2026-SOC-9311:  Program-UG-Small changes to BA French-Languages Dept
    2026-SOC-9314:  Program-UG-Small Changes-HBABEd ENFR, FREN, FREN, FRHI IS and PJ
    2026-SOC-9315:  Courses-UG-Discontinued-Languages
    2026-SOC-9316: Courses-UG-Splits-Languages (associated with 9310, 9308)
    2026-SOC-9325:  Courses UG - Modifications - Languages Dept
            Carried.
    
    It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by I. Lemée that the following calendar change request for Languages be approved.
    2026-SOC-9359:  Program Minors-UG-Discontinue Languages
            Carried.

    vi)  Music
    It was moved by E. Chugunov and seconded by A. Carastathis that the following calendar change request for Music be approved.
    2026-SOC-9236:  New UG Course - Music 2010 Keyboard Skills
            Carried.

    It was moved by E. Chugunov and seconded by A. Carastathis that the following calendar change requests for Music be approved.
    2026-SOC-9394:  New courses - UG - Music: Restructuring of Applied Performance Studies
    2026-SOC-9395:  Program Modification (less significant changes) - UG - Music: Restructuring of
    applied Performance Studies
    2026-SOC-9403:  MUSIC PERFORMANCE-SECONDARY COURSE DELETIONS
    2026-SOC-9402:  DELETION OF PERFORMANCE PRIMARY COURSES
            Carried.

    vii)  Sociology
    It was moved by C. Sanders and seconded by S. Jobbitt that the following calendar change requests for Sociology be approved.
    2026-SOC-9338:  Reinstate the 3-year BA sociology at Orillia
            Carried.

    It was moved by C. Sanders and seconded by S. Narain, that the following calendar change requests for Sociology be approved.
    2026-SOC-9342:  Discontinue UG Courses - Sociology (1.0 FCE Courses) (associated with 9357)
    2025-SOC-9357:  New UG Courses - Sociology (associated with 9342)
            Carried.

    viii)  Additional Dean Stage
    This request was relegated back to Social Work for confirmation of approvals from INDI and WOME.
    2026-HBS-9313-A-A:  Program_modifications_Social Work / SSH - small change to notes
            Carried.

    5.1
Department/School Requests.
A. den Otter reminded everyone that if they would like to invite a guest speaker to please contact her or S. Viitala directly.

5.2
Department/School Reports and Announcements.

 i)  Wildfire/Disaster Studies Working Group

C. Sanders provided an update on discussions regarding the development of wildfire studies
programming at Lakehead. Natural Resources Management has invited FSSH to explore how the Faculty
might contribute to an interdisciplinary approach to wildfire that considers its social, cultural, political,
historical, ethical, and health dimensions alongside ecological and management perspectives. G.
Bonifacio and the Provost strongly support a FSSH contribution to the program. Potential areas of FSSH
contribution include Indigenous perspectives on land stewardship and fire; disaster, health, inequality,
and community resilience; environmental sociology and philosophy; governance and public policy;
historical perspectives; and arts-based, literary, and cultural approaches. Possible contributions could
include existing or new courses and other programming. C. Sanders invited expressions of interest in
forming a small FSSH working group to explore these possibilities further. Please email him if interested.

ii)  Music

A. Carastathis noted the schedule for the LUMINA Concert Series for the 2026/2027 year is now available
on the Department of Music website.  The first concert will be held on September 29, 2026, in the
Jean McNulty Recital Hall, William H. Buset Centre for Music and Visual Arts 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Link to Music Department LUMINA Concert Series
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/news-and-events/events/events-archive/202...

6.
Dean’s Report.

Friday, September 18, 2026

WELCOME 2026/2027

New Tenure Track Faculty:

Dr. Alexandre Turgeon:  Department of History – Thunder Bay Campus
Dr. Taylor Green:  Department of Political Science – Orillia Campus
Dr. Suz Sharma Narain:  Department of Interdisciplinary Studies/Social Justice Studies – Orillia Campus

Introduction of Assistant Dean:  Thunder Bay Campus
Dr. Julie Rosenthal is the New Assistant Dean - Thunder Bay campus
J. Rosenthal started her position on September 1, 2026
Welcome All.!

Social Science & Humanities:  Priorities

Setting Two-year department course plan
•    November 30 due to Dean and December 24 due to Provost
•    Course mapping
•    Asynchronous delivery justification
•    Scheduling Timelines and Guidelines  
Program Innovation and Curriculum Vitality
•    Transfer pathways, ONCAT
•    Proposals: PhD Social Justice Studies, MA in Creative Arts
Recruitment and Retention/SEM

International partnerships
•    International Dual Degrees: MFAC, Political Science/Languages
•    NERPS 2027 Conference, Indonesia
SSH Strategic Framework: Critical, Creative, Collaborative

Research

Faculty Research Showcases
 
2026
September 29:  Dr. Max Haiven, CRC (English)
October:    Dr. Elsa Piersig (Political Science)
November:      Dr. Todd Dufresne (Philosophy)

2027
January:           Dr. Benjamin Maiangwa (Political Science)
February:          Dr. Shannon Webb-Campbell (English)
March:                Dr. Debra Mackinnon (Criminology/Interdisciplinary Studies)

Graduate Speaker Series    

Foundational Meeting:  SPARC: Social Policy Action Research Circle (Orillia)

Updates
•    Indo-Pacific Fellowship (SSH faculty) and Scholarships (SSH graduate students)
•    Education:  Changes to 12-month program
•    Annual hiring cycle:   Faculty Hiring Request Forms are due to the Provost October 1, 2026
•    SS&H Recognition: Faculty, students, and staff
•    SMA4 (2025-2029)

7.
Assistant Deans’ Report
i)  Dr. Jennifer Jarman:  Orillia Campus – Friday, September 18, 2026
This summer I worked to support many of the initiatives occurring in our faculty, including outreaches by Dean Glenda Bonifacio through the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines with respect to recruitment opportunities and possible collaborations with universities with similar programming.  These outreaches are now waiting on Lakehead’s International Office to create the agreements.

I sit on the Orillia Space Committee, which had its first meeting with the architect planning the new building. We discussed its preliminary presentation on the design of the next Orillia building, which will be primarily designed to integrate the Education department onto the main campus, although the plan is that the building will be designed in such a way that multiple uses could occur in future.

I also met with Georgian College’s General Arts and Science/College Foundations Program Advisory Committee.  This program is involved in a thorough curriculum revision to remove duplicate programming and make the program more appealing to domestic students.   Further work is planned to review the articulation agreement with Lakehead and update as necessary.

ii)  Dr. Julie Rosenthal:  Thunder Bay Campus – Friday, September 18, 2026
J. Rosenthal stated that she is currently in the process of familiarizing herself with her new position.  She will be working with the BA General students as their advisor.  She will also be working on recruitment and retention and will be meeting with all the chairs over the coming months.

8.
Other Business.
None.

9.
Next Faculty Council Meeting:  
The next Faculty Council meeting with be held in October 16, 2026, via Zoom.  Deadline for submissions for the agenda:  October 9, 2026.

10.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:57 am.

ATTENDANCE
 
Thunder Bay Campus

K. Brooks
K. Burnett
A. Carastathis
L. Chambers
J. Chisholm
E. Chugunov
R. Kimani-Dupuis
D. Hayes
K. Holmes
D. Ivison
S. Jacoba
J. Leggatt
S. Jobbitt
I. Lemée
B. Parker
E. Piersig
L. Potvin
T. Rollo
J. Sanchez-Martinez
C. Sanders
A. Turgeon

S. Viitala - recording

Orillia Campus
D. Akca
G. Bonifacio
P. Das
A. den Otter
T. Green
J. Jarman
N. Lochhead
S. Narian
R. McVeigh
S. Olutola
M. Stevenson
K. Walton

Regrets
D. Jobin-Bevans
L. Forbes
S. Islam
D. Mackinnon
R. Maundrell
B. Maiangwa
S. Webb Campbell

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL

MINUTES

 Friday, May 1, 2026
 A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 10:00 am via Zoom.  

GUEST

Dr. S. Jacoba
Instructors at LU have been eager for a tool they can use in their classrooms, while they await guidance from administration on AI use at our institution. It is in that context that Kelly Brennan of the Teaching Commons will be presenting a pilot project to STLC. If endorsed by STLC, the pilot project would involve instructor use of the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS), which the Teaching Commons adapted from Leon Furze’s model in collaboration with Joel Symonds of Student Conduct (the AIAS was presented at Teaching and Learning Week 2025). A Google Form soliciting volunteers would be sent out. Please consider volunteering so that members of our faculty can have our voices heard about the impact of AI on learning in our various SSH disciplines.

REPORT
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair of Faculty Council.
D. Ivison reported that A. den Otter had been nominated for the position of Chair.  She accepted and will serve as Chair of Faculty Council for an additional year.  

As there were no nominations submitted for the position of Vice-Chair, D. Ivison asked if anyone at our Council meeting would be willing to serve.  I. Lemée volunteered to be the next Vice-Chair.

Both nominations were approved unanimously.
D. Ivison thanked A. Carastathis and S. Pound for their involvement on the Nominations Committee.

AGENDA

1.
Approval of Agenda
 It was moved by R. McVeigh and seconded by M. Stevenson that the agenda be approved.
            Carried.
2.
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by D. Akca and seconded by J. Jarman that the minutes from April 10, 2026 be approved as amended.
        Carried.
        
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.

4.
Calendar Change Requests
    i) Additional Dean
    It was moved by C. Sanders and seconded by I. Lemée that the following calendar change request be approved.
    2025-SOC-9160:  Major Modifications to BENG Mechatronics Program (TBay and Barrie)
                Carried.

    5.1
Department/School Requests.
i)  K. Holmes suggested that we invite D. Baxter, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, and T. Moses Niijii Indigenous Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator, to one of our Faculty Council meetings in the fall.  She stated that she would like more information with regard to recruitment events and other activities both on and off campus.

5.2
Department/School Reports and Announcements.
i) It was moved by C. Sanders and K. Burnett that Dr. Laura Bisaillon be appointed as External Adjunct
Professor for the Department of Sociology for a four-year term.
        Carried.
6.
Dean’s Report.
Friday, May 1, 2026

Congratulations!  Dr. Kevin Brooks now has a permanent appointment in the Social Justice Studies
program.

Canada Impact+ Research Award Nominees (Intake 2)

FOCUS 2: SSH in LU’s 60 years

Recommendation Committee [3]:  Assistant Dean, Thunder Bay

ConEDU Calendar Clearing/Reform: Suspension of program offerings

Strategic Working Group Consultation
Thunder Bay:      Tuesday, May 26 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am in the Ingenuity Theatre [CASES]
Orillia:        Tuesday, June 2, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm in OA 3041

Convocation Dates:
SS&H Convocation:    
Thunder Bay Campus:  Thursday, May 28, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm:  Thunder Bay Auditorium
Orillia Campus:        Wednesday, June 3 from 9:00 am to 12 noon:  Casino Rama Resort

Last Faculty Council:  What a ride! Enjoy Summer!

7.
Assistant Deans’ Report
i)  Dr. Jennifer Jarman:  Orillia Campus – Friday, May 1, 2026
General Arts and Science Liberal Students and College Foundations Program Advisory Committee.  At the last meeting, it was announced that the Georgian College’s Liberal Arts program is suspending its intake next year for low enrolment.  This program regularly supplies 5-6 transfer students to Lakehead interested in disciplines such as Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.  This is not a permanent suspension, but rather a suspension to allow the program to be revamped.

IQAP compliance with respect to online modes of delivery. Following the Dean’s concern presented last month that many of the Faculty’s programs may not be in compliance with respect to IQAP delivery, I have had a detailed email correspondence with the Deputy Provost and Vice Provost (Teaching and Learning) concerning the issues.

Community outreach.  A small budget has been confirmed with the Lakehead Principal’s office for a follow-up SSHRC application for a Connections grant for the disaster planning workshop.

ii)  Dr. Doug Ivison (Acting Assistant Dean) – Thunder Bay Campus – May 1, 2026
As I wasn’t able to report at last Faculty Council, I’d like to begin by noting that it was a pleasure to represent the Dean at the Lakehead Leaders Student Awards and the Visual Arts Juried Exhibition at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, both in late March.

Three SSH faculty members, including me, attended the Thunder Bay Applicants’ Reception on April 23. We were kept busy answering questions from students about SSH programs and courses.
I met with the Deputy Provost earlier this week to discuss IQAP submissions for programs exceeding the 20% threshold for online and hybrid courses. We discussed the need for the Deputy Provost’s office to provide clear guidance for what exactly we need to submit to ensure our programs our in compliance. In addition to the IQAP compliance issue, the Deputy Provost would like the Calendar to more clearly reflect program mode of delivery.

8.
Other Business.
i)  Faculty Consultation Session:  Lakehead University’s 2027-2032 Academic and Research Plan
It was decided that we will schedule the consultation on a Friday morning in May or June.  Arrangements will be made to find out when G. Balfour and L. Roy will be available. Once the day/time has been confirmed, a calendar invitation will be sent out.

ii)  iQAP Requirements
A. den Otter stated that we now have two dates in May to meet with R. Koster with regard to the iCAP requirements.  The dates are:  Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  It was agreed that the meeting should be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2026.

iii)  SS&H Minutes on our Website
A. den Otter raised the question with regard to having the minutes from our Faculty Council meetings posted on our website.  This requirement is stated in our Constitution.  No one objected so we will continue to follow what we do now.    

9.
Next Faculty Council Meeting:  
    The next Faculty Council meeting with be held in September, 2026, (TBA) via Zoom.  Deadline for submissions for the agenda:  TBA.

10.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 am.

ATTENDANCE
 Thunder Bay Campus
K. Brooks
K. Burnett
A. Carastathis
L. Chambers
J. Chisholm
L. Forbes
R. Kimani-Dupuis
K. Holmes
D. Ivison
I. Lemée
L. Lochhead
B. Maiangwa
B. Parker
E. Piersig
S. Pound
C. Sanders
B. Vernier
R. Warburton
S. Viitala - recording

Orillia Campus
D. Akca
G. Bonifacio
P. Das
A. den Otter
J. Jarman
R. McVeigh
S. Olutola
M. Stevenson
K. Walton

Regrets
S. Jobbitt
D. Jobin-Bevans
S. Webb Campbell