Faculty Council Meeting - May 1, 2026

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL
MINUTES

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

GUEST

Dr. Langis Roy:  Vice-Provost, Research and Innovation
L. Roy gave an overall view of what Research and Innovation does and what their mandate is.  He stated how important the Faculty of Social Sciences & Humanities is regarding research activity in all areas.  This importance will grow and expand as we move through the coming years.  
L. Roy will be coming back for a faculty consultation session regarding Lakehead University’s 2027-2032 Academic and Research Plan.

Discussion followed.

Link to Research and Innovation Home Page for more Information:
https://www.lakeheadu.ca/research-and-innovation/vice-president-research...

AGENDA
1.
Approval of Agenda
 
It was moved by K. Burnett and seconded by S. Pound that the agenda be approved.
          Carried.
2.
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by J. Jarman and seconded by M. Stevenson that the minutes from March 13, 2026 be approved.
        Carried.
        
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.

4.
Calendar Change Requests
    i) Interdisciplinary Studies
    It was moved by R. McVeigh and seconded by J. Jarman that the following calendar change request from the Department of   Interdisciplinary Studies be approved.
    2026-SOC-9218:  BASC.INTD/HBASC.INTD (online)

            Carried.

    iv) Additional Dean
    The following calendar change request was tabled until more information could be provided.
    2025-SOC-9160:  Major Modifications to BENG Mechatronics Program (TBay and Barrie)
    
        5.1
Department/School Requests.
i). S. Jocoba will be presenting the proposed AI Assessment Scale at our May 1, 2026 Council meeting.
H. Murchison and R. Koster will be invited to come to Faculty Council in the fall of 2026.

5.2
Department/School Reports and Announcements.
i) Student Work Study Position for Recruitment for SS&H
D. Ivison reported on the possibility of hiring a student under the OSWP program who would work in the areas of recruitment and marketing and possible student events.  L. Potvin will supply more information.  This position could be based out of the Dean’s Office.

ii) Interdisciplinary Studies
J. Jarman stated that the Media Showcase this year was very successful.  There was a large turnout for
this event.  N. Lochhead did an amazing job of organizing it.  There were short films and documentaries,
some of which will be shown at future community events.

iii) Music
E. Chugunov stated that there will be a concert on April 13, 2026, at 7:00 pm featuring New Music Norh at
the Jean McNulty Recital Hall.

iv)  Visual Arts
S. Shahsahabi asked everyone to join him on April 17 at 7 p.m. to view the compelling documentary
Coup 53 followed by a short conversation afterward. This would be a great opportunity to learn
more about Iran and exchange ideas in a friendly environment.  For more information, please contact S.
Shahsahabi directly.

6.
Dean’s Report.
Friday, April 10, 2026

1. EVOLUTION, 2030

a. Implementation with Deans as Leads, Co-leads, Partners, or Consulted

b. SSH Strategic Working Group

c. Consultations:

Thunder Bay – May 26, CASES FB 2005
Orillia- 1st week June (?)

2. SMA4 (Year 2)
PhD in Social Justice Studies (Ad Hoc Committee)

3. EDI in SSH Research Practice: Graduate Students’ Workshop
Thunder Bay – May 20 and May 27
Orillia (?)

4. Opportunities for collaborative programming [discussion stage]

a. MBA in SSH [joint]

b. Wildfire and Disaster Studies [interdisciplinary]

c. Career explorations

5. SSH Audit

a. IQAP (Institutional Quality Assurance Process) 2023

Sec. 4.1.3 (c)
significant changes to the program’s delivery, including to the program’s faculty and/or to the essential
physical resources as may occur, for example, where there have been changes to the existing mode(s) of
delivery (e.g., different campus and/or online/hybrid delivery); [requires Major Modification]

Sec. 4.1.4 (a) significant change threshold at 20%

b. Approved SSH online programs: HIST and BA General

c. Online courses: Zoom and WEB (asynchronous), 2026/27

d. Course Management
Splitting of 1 FCE courses
Required core courses – regular faculty load

7.
Assistant Deans’ Report
i)  Dr. Jennifer Jarman:  Orillia Campus – Friday, April 10, 2026

Faculty are reminded that we need two members for the awards committee for the Indo-Pacific Awards.  If you are planning on applying or having one of your students apply for these awards, this would be a conflict of interest, so we just need volunteers who do not intend to be applicants.   

I have started discussions with the Lakehead Principal about a broad-based Orillia strategy for addressing issues facing at-risk students, onboarding supports, and strategies to support BIPOC students.  Our staff support that was originally put in place for 400 students has not increased despite the fact that Orillia now hosts 2,400 students.  I am working with her to identify needed resources and how better support might be achieved.

Despite meetings over the past year with various members of the International Office team aimed at strengthening the internationalization of the university and especially overseas recruiting, things appear to be stalled. I’ll follow up this month to get updates.

I am hearing reports that there are problems with Orillia students in Zoom classes in terms of spotty WIFI and inability to have cameras on given that students are sitting in common areas.  I have had a meeting with Chris Glover, Associate VP Administration, but this is the first he’s heard about the problem.  If Zoom instructors are noticing problems, these need to be ticketed. It is also helpful to find out exactly where students are sitting, as the Orillia buildings are divided into WIFI zones so sending technicians out to specific locations that are problematic will shorten the debugging time.  The larger issue of increasing the number of Zoom room spots is more difficult to solve, but time will be allotted to trying to address this problem over the summer.

Course-based Master’s in Wildfire Management.  Attended initial meeting that the Provost is putting together to hear what is planned with this interdisciplinary initiative.

ii)  Dr. Doug Ivison (Acting Assistant Dean) – Thunder Bay Campus – March 13, 2026
No report was available.

8.
Other Business.

i)  Assistant Dean Vacancy:  Thunder Bay Campus
G. Bonifacio will be sending notification soon with regard to forming the committee for the selection of an Assistant Dean (Thunder Bay Campus).  An “interest to serve” notification will follow.
            
9.
Next Faculty Council Meeting:  
The next Faculty Council meeting with be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 10:00 am via Zoom.  Deadline for submissions for the agenda:  Friday, April 24, 2026.

10.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12:04 pm.

ATTENDANCE
 
Thunder Bay Campus
K. Brooks
K. Burnett
A. Carastathis
L. Chambers
J. Chisholm
E. Chugunov
L. Forbes
D. Hannah
D. Hayes
K. Holmes
D. Ivison
I. Lemée
J. Liu
B. Maiangwa
R. Maundrell
E. Piersig
S. Pound
T. Puddephatt
C. Sanders
S. Shahsahbi
B. Vernier
R. Warburton
C. Wick

S. Viitala - recording

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

Regrets
D. Jobin-Bevans
L. Potvin