Faculty Council Meeting - October 17, 2025

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL

MINUTES

 Friday, September 12, 2025
 A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 10:00 am via Zoom.  

PRESENTATION:

Mr. Joel Symons:      Manager, Student Conduct & Case Management
                                 AI and academic integrity
J. Symons gave a presentation on AI with regard and how it affects student assignments, tests, and exams.  It also included an update on the use of detection tools currently used to identify when AI is suspected of being used.  A discussion followed noting the following:

•    Need a standard detection tool(s) for the entire university to use;
•    Cost to be covered by Administration rather than by each faculty or department;
•    Revert back to the “old” ways, eg. In class written tests rather than online;
•    Consider the effects on the environment.

Link to Presentation for more Information:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IzMDI8H0CiZtIYfhjP2ymx_XT4bZufhV...

Introduction of New Faculty

Dr. Shannon Webb-Campbell – Tenure Track Appointment:  Department of English (Orillia Campus)
D. Hayes welcomed Dr. Webb-Campbell to the department and mentioned that everyone was looking forward to working with her, both at the Orillia and Thunder Bay Campus.

Ms. Céline Wick – Tenure Track Appointment:  Department of Indigenous Learning (Thunder Bay Campus
Ms. Wick was introduced by K. Burnett as the newest member of the Department of Indigenous Learning.  She stated that Ms. Wick is an exciting addition to the department and that everyone was happy to have here, and were looking forward to working with her.  Ms. Wick is currently working on her Ph.D. and is hoping to complete it soon.

Dr. Neven Lochhead – Two Year Limited Term Appointment:  Department of Interdisciplinary Studies: Media, Film and Communications (Orillia Campus)
A. den Otter introduced Dr. Never Lochhead as the newest faculty member in the MDST program.  Everyone is excited to have him start and to begin work on various projects in collaboration with faculty and students.

1.
Approval of Agenda
 It was moved by C. Sanders, and seconded by S. Jacoba that the agenda be approved.

        Carried.
2.
Approval of Minutes
Approval of the minutes from May 9, 2025.  (D. Krupp and D. Hayes)
The minutes were accepted as presented.
        
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.

4.
Calendar Change Requests

i)  English
It was moved by D. Hayes and seconded by K. Burnett that the following calendar change requests for the Department of English be approved.

    2025-SOC-8837:  Minor Modification
    2025-SOC-8838:  Specialization in Cultural Studies
    2025-SOC-8842:  Course New UG ENGL Life Writing
    2025-SOC-8843:  Minor Modification x3
    2025-SOC-8922:  program discontinuing UG ENGL
    
    Carried.

i) Gender & Women’s Studies
It was moved by L. Chambers and seconded by D. Krupp that the following calendar change requests for the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies be approved.

2025-SOC-8897:  Course-Modification-UG-Gender and Women's Studies-Housekeeping change for SOCI-operated course (SOCI 4033)
2025-SOC-8926:  Program-Modification-GR-Gender & Women’s Studies-Housekeeping change clarifying Program Requirement for GWS specialization
2025-SOC-8942:  Course-Modification-UG-Gender and Women's Studies-Minor change to clarify course category (Core, Group 1 & 2) for WOME 2012, 3132, 3603 & 4012

        Carried.

ii) Indigenous Learning
It was moved by K. Burnett and seconded by D. Ivison that the following calendar change request for the Department of Indigenous Learning be approved.
2025-SOC-8860:  Program-Major modification-UG-Indigenous Learning-IL Fall Back Degree (4yr BA)

        Carried.

iii) Interdisciplinary Studies
It was moved by D. Krupp and seconded by D. Mackinnon that the following calendar change request for the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies be approved.
2025-SOC-8833:  Course-New-UG-INTD

        Carried.
    
iv)  Languages:
It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by K. Burnett that the following calendar change request for Languages be approved.
2024-SOC-8671:  FRENCH 4012 La grammaire est une chanson douce
    
        Carried.

It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by K. Burnett that the following calendar change requests for Languages be approved.
2025-SOC-8850:  Change of title and course description to reflect course content.
2025-SOC-8851:  Change of title and course description to reflect course content.
2025-SOC-8852:  Change of title and course description to reflect course content.
    
        Carried.

It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by K. Burnett that the following calendar change requests for Languages be approved.
2025-SOC-8915:  New course (FREN-1210) 0.5 to replace half of FREN-1200
2025-SOC-8916:  New course (FREN-1211) 0.5 to replace half of FREN-1200
2025-SOC-8917:  New course created FREN-2212 0.5FCE to replace part of FREN-2201
2025-SOC-8918:  New course created FREN-2213 (0.5 FCE) to replace part of FREN-2201
2025-SOC-8919:  New course created FREN-2110 (0.5 FCE) to replace part of FREN-2101
2025-SOC-8920:  New course created FREN-2111 (0.5 FCE) to replace part of FREN-2101

        Carried.

It was moved by S. Jacoba and seconded by K. Burnett that the following calendar change requests for Languages be approved.
2025-SOC-8923:  Languages (French): New course to replace honours thesis course
2025-SOC-8924:  Languages (French): New course to replace honours thesis course

        Carried.

vi) Music
It was moved by E. Chugunov and seconded by A. Carastathis that the following calendar change requests for the Department of Music be approved.
2025-SOC-8816-A:  MUSIC PROGRAM CHANGES - Education Program Related
2025-SOC-8816-B:  MUSIC PROGRAM CHANGES
2025-SOC-8986:  Music admission requirement changes

        Carried.

vii) Outdoor Recreation
It was moved by J. Rosenthal and seconded by D. Mackinnon that the following calendar change requests for the Department of English be approved.
2025-SOC-8885:  ORPT Housekeeping
2025-SOC-8981:  ORPT Prerequisite Updates

        Carried.


v)  Social Justice Studies Program
It was moved by D. Mackinnon and seconded by D. Ivison that the following calendar change request for the Social Justice Studies Program be approved.
2025-SOC-8949: Course-Modification-GR-Social Justice Studies-SOCJ 5018 special topic minor housekeeping

        Carried.

ix)  Sociology
It was moved by C. Sanders and seconded by I. Lemée that the following calendar change requests for the Department of Sociology be approved.
2025-SOC-8883:  Discontinue Course
2025-SOC-8944:  New Third Year Course
2025-SOC-9008:  Remove SOCI 3011 from Calendar
2025-SOC-9009:  New Second Year Course

        Carried.

x) Visual Arts
It was moved by K. Holmes and seconded by D. Ivison that the following calendar change request for the Department of Visual Arts be approved.
2025-SOC-8938:  Visual Arts MINOR PROGRAM DELETIONS AND NEW PROGRAM PROPOSAL

        Carried.

    5.1
Department/School Requests.

i)  Request that the Provost & Vice-President (Academic be invited to a Faculty Council meeting.

5.2
Department/School Reports and Announcements.

i)  Gender & Women’s Studies
International Day of Peace Event by Gender and Women’s Studies, Social Justice Studies and Mendlife Canada invites the Lakehead University community to a hybrid International Day of Peace event on September 19, 2025, from 1:00PM to 4:00 PM. The event will be held at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses, as well as via Zoom. This engaging program will feature a documentary from the Gender & Climate Activism course, led by Mohit Dudeja (Contract Lecturer) during the Summer of 2025, alongside presentations from students across the Faculty of Education, Social Justice Studies, Gender
& Women’s Studies, and the Department of English.


ii)  History
M. Stevenson recommended that Dr. Michel Beaulieu be appointed as External Adjunct Professor in the
Department of History for a four-year term.  (Recommendation Memo from Dr. Stevenson; CV for Dr.
Beaulieu; (Please contact S. Viitala if you wish to view Dr. Beaulieu’s CV.)
Approved.

iii)  Indigenous Learning
J. Sanchez Martinez will be hosting a discussion on Indigenous Water Views on October 22, 2025 in the
Library at 5:30 pm.

iv)  Music
E. Chugnov stated that the first LUMINA concert will take place on September 23, 2025.  Please check the website for more information.

6.
Dean’s Report.
Friday, September 12, 2025
WELCOME!
EVOLUTION 2025-2030: SSH Faculty Strategic Plan process [and new Provost’s Academic Plan] Curriculum Sustainability Annual Department Report due 22 September
60th LU anniversary: SSH Focus #2 department highlights due 30 Oct
SSH Faculty Awards: certificate of recognition and gift, Dec 2025 (?)
•    Teaching [annual, from Contributions to Teaching Award nominees)
•    Staff (biennial, nominations by students or faculty)
•    Students (annual, undergraduate and graduate, nominations by faculty)
Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians, Global Affairs: LU proposal by SSH and NRM, August 6, 2025) • Gender and Climate Change in Indo-Pacific Region: Mitigation, and Adaptation for Sustainable Development
• Fiji, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vanuatu; 8 MA students, 8 faculty researchers
Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) 2026 Conference, Tokyo, Japan
Exploring international degree pathways: MFAC
Revitalize Centre for Northern Studies
After the Ice Storm: Sharing Stories and Building Disaster-resilient Communities, Nov 7, Orillia [symposium-workshop]

7.
Assistant Deans’ Report

i)  Dr. Jennifer Jarman – Orillia Campus
    Friday, September 12, 2025

Social Science and Humanities Research Chair Competition
The Lakehead Social Science and Humanities Research Chair Awards Committee is delighted to announce that the first Lakehead Social Science and Humanities Faculty Research Chair holder is Dr. Debra Mackinnon.  This faculty-based research chair has been established to enhance the research culture within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and contribute to the broader scholarly environment at Lakehead University.

Dr. Mackinnon is an Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department. Her research explores the intersections of urban governance, technology, surveillance, security, and social justice. 

Dr. Mackinnon’s research project, Libraries as Critical Social Infrastructure, starts from the recognition that public libraries increasingly reflect and have become sites of broader intersecting social problems including the opioid epidemic, mental health care crisis, lack of affordable housing, and changing perceptions of public safety. Her project will focus on the changing role of small to medium-sized public libraries through a collaborative study that will investigate current challenges, successes as well as opportunities for community and capacity building.

Enrolments

Great news.  Our faculty enrolments are higher than they there last year.

I have done a rough estimate of the relationship of our faculty’s enrolment to this year’s IPA projections for each program. The Institutional Planning and Analysis enrolment data for the year will not be available till November, so I’m approximating based on what is available through MyInfo.   If this MyInfo data is structured the same way as the IPA data, the IPA enrolment projections are very close to the actual enrolments for most programs.  Using the data, the faculty’s biggest programs (Criminology, English, History, BA General, and Interdisciplinary Studies) hit or slightly exceeded their projections.   Smaller programs where the actual enrolments are within 1 or 2 students of the projections include Gender and Women’s Studies, Music,  Outdoor Recreation, and Languages.
I still have unanswered questions about the data for the departments of Political Science,  Sociology, Indigenous Learning, and Philosophy.
If the Myinfo data is structured the same way as the IPA data, all the faculty’s graduate programs match or exceed their projected enrolments.  
In other words, with respect to the enrolments in programs in our faculty, there is a lot to be positive about.

Other Initiatives
This summer I worked to support many of the other initiatives occurring in our faculty, including the possibilities of collaborating with York University’s Disaster Studies Phd, supporting 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, efforts to support space management in Orillia, finding a home for the MA SJS and a possible doctoral program in SJS.  I am also working on a Lakehead Orillia team planning a November 2025 workshop to discuss the impact of the April 2025 Orillia ice storm on organizations working with members of Orillia’s vulnerable sector and on another team working to bring a large national conference focusing on food insecurity and sustainability to the Orillia campus.

ii)  Dr. Doug Ivison (Acting Assistant Dean) – Thunder Bay Campus
     Friday, September 12, /2025

Faculty orientation which was held on Friday, August 29, 2025 had a good turn out with roughly 25 to 30 students attending.  The biggest cohort was from Outdoor Recreation.  Most departments were represented.

The Ontario University Fair is scheduled for the weekend of September 27 and 28. Myself and L. Potvin will be going.   If anyone has any programs they would like highlighted, please let me know.  

I am continuing to work on the grad programs as well as the Ph.D. proposal.

8.
Other Business.
None.

9.
Next Faculty Council Meeting:  
The next Faculty Council meeting with be held in Friday, October 17, 2025 at 10:00 am via Zoom.

10.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 am.

ATTENDANCE
 Thunder Bay Campus
G. Bonifacio
K. Brooks
K. Burnett
A. Carastathis
L. Chambers
J. Chisholm
E. Chugunov
D. Hannah
D. Hayes
S. Jacoba
D. Jobin-Bevans
K. Holmes
D. Ivison
I. Lemée
B. Maiangwa
R. Maundrell
B. Parker
E. Piersig
J. Rosenthal
J. Sanchez Martinez
C. Sanders
B. Vernier

S. Viitala - recording

Orillia Campus
D. Akca
P. Das
A. den Otter
S. Jeppesen
D. Krupp
D. Mackinnon
M. Stevenson
S. Webb-Campbell

Regrets
L. Forbes
J. Jarman
R. McVeigh
L. Potvin
S. Shahsahabi