McGILL UNIVERSITY SENATE Memorandum Office of Student Life and Learning James Building, Room 621 Tel: 514-398-3672 TO: FROM: Senate Kathleen Massey, Executive Director (Enrolment Services) and Registrar Ollivier Dyens, Deputy-Provost (Student Life and Learning) SUBJECT: Calendar of Academic s for 2018-19 and 2019-20 DATE: May 11, 2016 DOCUMENT #: D15-59 ACTION INFORMATION APPROVAL/DECISION REQUIRED: ISSUE BACKGROUND & RATIONALE Key Academic s are set by Senate each year to guide the structure of the academic year and scheduling of classes. The Calendar of Academic s for Fall 2018, Winter 2019, Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 are presented for approval. The Senate guidelines, approved in April 2011, have been observed. PRIOR CONSULTATION SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS IMPACT OF DECISION AND NEXT STEPS MOTION OR RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL The dates were provided to the Enrolment and Student Affairs Advisory Committee (ESAAC) and the Committee on Enrolment and Student Awards (CESA). Normally, the guidelines call for a 10-day final exam period. An 11-day final exam period is proposed for both fall terms to alleviate some exam conflicts and to reduce the clustering of exams, improving the exam experience for both students and instructors. The dates will be published in the usual manner, including at this webpage: https://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/key-dates/future-dates Be it resolved that Senate approve the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Key Academic s as presented in Appendix A. APPENDICES Appendix A: Calendar of Academic s: 2018-19 & 2019-20
For approval: Calendar of Academic s for 2018-2019 and 2019-20 May 11, 2016 See page 3 for the detailed notes regarding these recommendations D15-59 Appendix A Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 FALL 2018 Term End s T Tues, Nov. 27 Classes Start Tuesday, Sept. 4 W Wed, Nov. 28 Classes End Wednesday, Dec. 5 TTh, Th Thurs, Nov. 29 Exam Prep Sat-Sun, Dec. 8-9 WF, TThF, F Fri, Nov. 30 Exams Thursday, Dec. 6 M* Mon, Dec. 3* Begin Exams End Thursday, Dec. 20 MTTh Tues, Dec. 4 (11 days) MW, MWF Wed, Dec. 5 (66 lecture days) *there is a loss of 3 contact hours for the Monday schedule pattern. WINTER 2019 Term End s Classes Start Monday, Jan. 7 M Mon, Apr 8 Reading Week Mon-Fri, March 4-8 T Tues, Apr 9 Classes End Friday, April 12 MW, W Wed, Apr 10 Exam Prep Sat-Sun, April 13- TTh, MTTh, Th Thurs, Apr 11 14 Exams Begin Monday, April 15 F, WF, MWF, Fri, Apr 12 TThF Exams End Tuesday, April 30 (10 days) (65 lecture days) There are no lost contact hours for any schedule pattern. 1
Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 FALL 2019 Term End s T Tues. Nov. 26 Classes Start Tuesday Sept. 3 W Wed. Nov. 27 Classes End Thursday Dec. 5 Th, TTh, Thurs. Nov. 28 Exam Prep Sat.-Sun. Dec. 7-8 F, TThF, WF Fri. Nov. 29 Exams Begin Friday Dec. 6 MTTh Tues. Dec. 3 Exams End Friday Dec. 20 MWF, MW Wed. Dec. 4 (11 days) M* Thurs. Dec. 5* (67 lecture days) *Thurs, Dec. 5 will follow a Monday schedule. There is no shortfall of contact hours for any schedule pattern. WINTER 2020 Term End s Classes Mon. Jan. 6 M Mon. Apr. 6 Start Reading Mon.-Fri. Mar. 2- T Tues Apr. 7 Week 6 Classes End Tues. Apr 14 MW, W Wed. Apr. 8 Exam Prep Wed. Apr 15 & Thurs Apr 16 Th, TTh, MTTh Thurs Apr. 9 Exams Begin Friday Apr. 17 TThF*, F*, WF*, MWF* Tues Apr. 14 Exams End Thursday Apr 30 (10 days) (65 lecture days) * Tues. Apr 14 will follow a Friday schedule. There is no shortfall of contact hours for any schedule pattern. 2
April 26, 2016 Enrolment Services proposes the above academic dates to ESAAC, CESA, and Senate. Please note that the proposed schedules follow the 2011 Senate-approved guidelines: https://www.mcgill.ca/senate/files/senate/d10-63guidelinesandcalendarofacademics.pdf. The schedules include: A 13 week term A minimum of 130 teaching days over two terms in each academic year (required for Engineering accreditation purposes) Winter terms that end by or on April 30 Lengthy December breaks (17 days in 2018-19 and 16 days in 2019-20) Proposed 11-day exam periods each fall to reduce some pressure for students and instructors by alleviating some exam conflicts. Further notes: Fall terms: o In each case the fall term begins the first Tuesday after Labour Day and final exams end several days before the end of the term, allowing for an extended winter break between terms. o Fall 2018: The trade-off to have an 11 day exam period will be a 3 hour shortfall in contact hours for Monday-only classes in this term. If a 10-day exam period is chosen instead, exam conflicts will increase but there will be no shortfall in class contact hours. Exams must conclude before Dec 21 st due to the need for one day for the delivery and grading of exams (the University is closed on Monday, Dec 24). Academic units wishing to make up the lost hours for the Monday-only class meeting pattern may contact Enrolment Services for assistance scheduling a time and location. Winter terms: o In both years they begin one week into January, further extending the winter break. o They start on a Monday, making use of the majority of the week (rather than starting on a Thursday or Friday). o Winter 2020: Proposed start date of exams is April 17 to avoid holding exams on the last day of Passover, reducing the potential for conflicts. Note: M=Monday T=Tuesday W=Wednesday Th = Thursday F=Friday 3