The following announcement was issued yesterday by Vice-President Academic & Provost Sheila Embleton and Senate Executive:
Consistent with the guiding principles of academic integrity, fairness to students and timely information to students and others, in accordance with the Senate Policies on Class Cancellation and on the Academic Implications of Disruptions, the deans of all Faculties have, in conjunction with the chair of Senate, agreed that academic activities (with certain specified exceptions) will be suspended in their Faculties in the event of a strike by CUPE Local 3903.
“Academic activities” in this context means classes, examinations and other instructional activities, on or off campus, with the following exceptions:
- Non-degree credit activities, not involving CUPE 3903 employees;
- Activities already scheduled off campus, such as off-campus courses, practicums, placements or internships (unless the dean determines that they too should be suspended in his/her Faculty);
- Degree credit activities provided by the Osgoode Hall Law School at its downtown campus;
- Graduate degree credit activities at the Schulich School of Business.
These exceptions constitute activities the deans believe can be carried on with program integrity and clarity for students in the event of a CUPE strike.
It is important to note that should a student, enrolled in the activities noted as exceptions above, choose to exercise her or his right to not participate in academic activities owing to the strike, they would be “entitled to immunity from penalty, to reasonable alternative access to materials covered in their absence, to reasonable extensions of deadlines and to such other remedy as Senate deems necessary and consistent with the principle of academic integrity.” (Senate Policy on the Academic Implications of Disruptions or Cessations of University Business Due to Labour Disputes or Other Causes, 2.2.1).
For additional information on these and other Senate policies governing academic activities (e.g. the Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy), please visit the York University Secretariat’s Policies, Procedures and Regulations page.
Further communication from the Vice-President Academic & Provost and Senate Executive will be forthcoming as and when necessary.