Committees

BMSUE Program Committee

The BMSUE Program Committee meets on a monthly basis to review and discuss affairs related to Basic Medical Science Undergraduate Education (BMSc Program and Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience), including policies and regulations, curriculum content, student performance, student enrolment, student counseling and student outreach activities.

Membership

  • Associate Dean, BMSUE (Chair)  - Dr. Brad Urquhart
  • Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Science  -  Dr. Jeff Hutter
  • Vice Dean, Basic Medical Sciences, ex officio  -  Dr. Candace Gibson (acting)
  • BMSUE Manager, ex officio - Joan Estabrooks
  • BMSUE Coordinator, ex officio - Kathy Boon
  • Academic Manager, Academic Counseling Services, ex officio  - Martha Fuller
  • E-learning Course Coordinator, ex officio  - Dr. Sarah McLean
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Biochemistry  -  Dr. Derek McLachlin
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics  - Dr. Neil Klar
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Medical Biophysics  -  Dr. Dan Goldman
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology  - Dr. Kelly Summers
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Pathology  - Dr. Lisa Cameron
  • Undergraduate Chair, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology  - Dr. Anita Woods
  • Departmental Counsellor IMS - Dr. Nicole Campbell
  • Director, Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience - Dr. Walter Rushlow
  • BMSc Representative, Science Students’ Council - Rishika Geda, SSC VP Academic - Year 3 BMSc

Meeting Dates

The committee meets on the last Monday of the month at 12:30 PM

2019-20 Meeting Dates:

August 26
September 23
October 28
November 25
January 27
February 24
March 30
April 27
May 25
June 29

Terms of Reference

Purpose: To provide high quality broad-based programs in the basic medical sciences that address the changing needs of students, the workplace and society.

In its deliberations and actions the Program Committee shall strive to:

  • Foster interactions and effective communication between the basic medical science departments, the undergraduate program in Neuroscience, the BMSUE office, and the Faculty of Science.
  • Make use of the expertise and knowledge of the faculty in the basic medical science departments and the undergraduate program in Neuroscience to deliver specific courses and modules within BMSUE
  • Recognize the contributions of all members/departments
    Encourage full participation of all members/departments

Committee Responsibilities: The committee shall meet on a monthly basis to review and discuss affairs related to Basic Medical Science Undergraduate Education (BMSc Program and Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience), including policies and regulations, curriculum content, student performance, student enrolment, student counseling and student outreach activities.

Policies and Regulations
  • Advise on policies and regulations about eligibility for the courses, modules and programs
  • Develop and recommend best practices for academic performance
  • Continuing Program review

Curriculum/Course Review
  • Review proposals for new courses/modules
  • Review proposals for changes in existing courses/modules
  • Review existing courses/modules
  • Suggest revisions to Medical Sciences courses and modules and Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences module
  • Compare curricula from the Basic Medical Science departments (including Neuroscience courses)
    • Develop cross-disciplinary modules (review courses with common themes, e.g. biology of cancer; neurosciences)
    • Ensure consistency in course content across departments
    • Ensure consistency in evaluation of student performance across departments
  • Recommend and review proposals for articulation agreements with Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, e.g. Fanshawe College

 BMSUE operations
  • Modular enrolment (consider and review under-subscribed as well as over-subscribed modules)
    • Number of spaces in research projects
  • Course enrolment
    • Reviewing constraints (priorities and restrictions)
  • Intent to Register
  • Adjudication
  • Convocation
 Student Recruitment, Retention and Advancement
  • Discuss outreach activities for Basic Medical Science departments, BMSc Program and Undergraduate Program in Neuroscience:
    • Fall Preview Day
    • March Break Open House
    • Ontario Universities’ Fair
    • Intent to Register
  • Discuss and review promotional materials (e.g. brochures, web sites)
  • Advise and assist in development of student exit surveys, including use of the data
  • Advise and assist in career development and career opportunities for BMSc students
Protocol
  • Assistant Dean, BMSUE, chairs the meetings
  • Voting:
    • Nine Undergraduate Chairs/Coordinators
    • Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Science
    • BMSc representative (excluding student appeals)
    • Associate Dean, BMSUE casts a vote in case of a tie
    • 50% of voting membership must be present for quorum
    • The vote is determined by a simple majority
    • Occasionally an electronic vote, distributed via e-mail, may be called for following a meeting; similarly a simple majority of the committee membership constitutes an affirmation of the vote
  • Committee to meet monthly; composition of committee and proceedings may vary depending on agenda items and topics of discussion/information
  • Additional stakeholders on topics of discussion (e.g. department EPC members) may be invited to meetings as required.


Educational Policy Committee (EPC)

As techniques advance and new discoveries are made, the courses being taught within departments must keep in step with these developments. The Educational Policy Committees within Western Science discuss the best means to pass along new knowledge and craft proposals for the governing bodies within Western University.  Basic Medical Science courses are discussed during the meetings of the Biological/Medical Committee.