Frequently asked questions

Why was the decision made to amalgamate the arts and social sciences faculties?
A unified structure for arts and social sciences programs will enable the university to enhance the profile of liberal arts programs. Further, concentrating our efforts on one administrative structure will allow us to focus on three primary outcomes:

1) Improve the student experience by:

• Enhancing recruitment, retention and progression of highly qualified students.
• Simplifying a set of rules and regulations that unify standards and ease application and admission processes, improve course selection and availability, simplify processes for transferability between undergraduate programs, and streamline academic advising.
• Expanding graduate education and the range of potential supervisors.
• Promoting more effectively interdisciplinary programs.

2) Enhance opportunities for multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration including increased funding and research support.

3) Provide greater financial flexibility and planning capability to the arts and social sciences.

• The budget of the amalgamated structure will be the sum of all the current budgets of the four Faculties that combine to create this new amalgamated Faculty.
• The single holistic budget for the new Faculty will be created for April 2010.

It is also significant that the majority of our counterparts (10 of our G13 peers) have two or fewer arts and social science-type faculties.

Can we expect programs will disappear as a result of this decision?
The goal with this exercise is to preserve and build upon the best elements of every department and faculty included in the discussion. Our intention is not to weaken programs that are working well. The goal is to maintain the best elements and fix any elements that aren't working.

Is this about saving money?
A unified structure for the arts and social sciences will provide greater financial flexibility for these programs, including the ability to weather financial difficulty, and the planning capabilities of the arts and social sciences. The budget of the amalgamated structure will be the sum of all the current budgets of the four Faculties that combine to create this new amalgamated Faculty.

Will students be lost in the shuffle?
Any student currently in the system will earn the degree he/she started pursuing. Any changes would need to be phased in. These changes are being considered first and foremost to benefit students.

Will this affect courses required for students to complete their degrees?
No. Students will graduate in the degree program in which they are enrolled, based on the requirements at the time that they enrolled. Of course, students retain the option to switch to new programs if they so choose and one of the goals of a restructured faculty is to allow students to do with greater ease.

Will this affect the degree designations?
Students will still receive the degree they have been working toward. The only difference might be in name.  For example, instead of receiving a degree that says "BA in Canadian Studies conferred by the Faculty of Communication and Culture," the degree might say "BA in Canadian Studies conferred by the Faculty of [the name of the new faculty]"

Now that the decision has been made, what will the new faculty look like?
Arts and social sciences programs will fall under one faculty structure. A transition team will be put in place beginning July 1 and they will work to create an administrative structure and a streamlined set of regulations for admission into, transfer between and graduation from undergraduate programs. The team will also look at ways to enhance multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research and learning.

What will the process be for bringing the faculties together?
The transition team will:

• Consult with appropriate academic units and address issues raised in the Student's Union recommendation on amalgamation.
• Name the new faculty by Fall of 2009.
• Develop a single set of regulations for admission into, transfer between, and graduation from undergraduate programs for consideration of the new Faculty council.
• Look at ways to create opportunities for interaction among colleagues with the goal of enhancing multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary work and, by 2010, provide a recommendation for the administration of the non-departmentalized programs in the Faculty of Communication and Culture.
• Recommend roles for associate deans and professional and support staff in order that they may assist the Faculty in achieving the academic objectives underlying this amalgamation.
• Regularly update the UPC, GFC, Board, Student's Union, GSA, and campus community on progress on these items.

When will the transition be final?
The transition team will prepare to the launch the new faculty on April 1, 2010; however, some elements of the transition process will extend beyond the launch of the new faculty.

How does the Is² internal review fit into the amalgamation of the four arts and social sciences faculties?
The steering committee driving the Is² review is aware of and has considered the consolidation of the four faculties as has the external contractor for this process, PricewaterhouseCoopers. As recommendations from the Is² review and the amalgamation transition team evolve, we will have a better sense of how staff in support units will be affected.

Where can I go for more information?
The transition team will provide regular updates on its progress and a website has been created for information at www.ucalgary.ca/transitionteam