2024 Bachelor of Political Science Cyclical Program Review Implementation Update of Cycle 2

Implementation Plan

Recommendation Proposed Follow-up Responsibility for Leading Follow-up Timeline for Addressing Recommendation
1. The Committee recommends the mainstreaming of gender in the Political Science curriculum. Program will work with professors offering existing courses at RMC. Department Head and departmental members In fall 2023, the course on Gender issues was proposed and approved. The course will be offered for the first time during AY 2024-25.
2. The Committee recommends that the Department consider expanding the indigenization of the curriculum. A committee on the Indigenization of curriculum for RMC is pending.  Will require departmental input. Dept. will identify SME within for continuous engagement.

Department Head; Departmental members; Associate Vice principal

In addition to PO301, indigenous issues are now also covered in PO102 and PO205, both of which are mandatory courses for Political Science students.

The Department also awaits the recommendations of the College-level committee on the indigenization of the RMC curriculum. 
3. The Committee recommends ending the discrepancy in teaching loads across departments at RMC. The Dept. will review the findings of the workload committee report. Subsequent recommendations for work reductions will be reviewed by the Dean to ensure consistency across all program.

Department Head; Dean of SSH; VPA; Principal; CMCFA

The Department continues to advocate for equity in workloads across departments within SSH and across the College more broadly.

The Workload Committee’s report is now available. The Department awaits its implementation and will call on the Dean, the VPA and the Principal to follow the report’s recommendations.
4. The Committee recommends that the Department examine how to reduce administrative hurdles faced by Faculty, notably in their research endeavours. Department will review and make recommendations to the Dean of SSH on possible improvements.

Department Head; Departmental members; Dean of SSH; Principal; CMCFA

 Proposal to the Dean of SSH by Winter 2025
5. The Committee recommends that mechanisms be put in place to help cooperation, limit overlap and maximize complementarity between the Political Science program at RMC Kingston and the International Studies program at RMC St. Jean. The Dept. Head of Politics with Program Chair of MSS to open regular communication with RMC-SJ faculty. The department representative in existing discussions with RMC-SJ will propose establishing a more institutionalized arrangement for cooperation and discussion. Discussion will include the expansion of dual-delivery and online options for RMC and RMC-SJ students. As a preliminary step the Dean of SSH will speak with Dr. Parenteau to determine RMC-SJ support.

Department  Head; RMC registrar; Dean of SSH; CMR’s Director of Academics

 This is an ongoing project. The Department continues to discuss the way forward with RMC-SJ. Hurdles include the difficulties in synchronizing the timetables for the two schools. A policy on how dual-delivery courses should be counted needs to be in place to facilitate this. In this respect, implementation of the Workload Committee’s report will be important (see above). However, on our side, there are several Dual Delivery courses, which could be taken by RMC-SJ students.
6. Review Curriculum and course offerings 

Department head to establish a committee(s) to complete the following tasks:

  • Advise on balance of electives and mandatory courses
  • Consider certificate offerings and course combinations
  • Audit course Learning Objectives (LOs) against Degree Level Expectations (DLEs)
  • Ensure consistency and logic in the course distribution across the programme's structure
  • Develop a list of courses not offered in the last five years and consider removing them from the inventory
  • Ensure minimum overlap across course offerings
  • Student discussion forum

Dept. Head; Person in charge (faculty member)

 A department committee undertook a significant curriculum review. The results address all of these issues. The department as a whole reviewed the proposed changes, and have agreed on the path ahead. Documentation is being prepared (summer 2024) for submission to the Syllabus Committee in Fall 2024 with expected implementation in Fall 2025.
7. Develop a communications strategy to ensure students have a better understanding of the structure of the program and its requirements Dept. Head to designate faculty member to complete this task. Use of student forum on Moodle as a communications tool.

Dept. Head; Person in charge (faculty member)

 This will occur in the context of recommendation 6 above. Once the proposed curriculum changes are in place the department will develop a communications strategy to ensure the changes and the programme as a whole are well communicated to students.
8. Promote Politics major to Francophone students Reach out to first year Francophone students to encourage them to choose Politics as a major. Consider appointing an academic advisor for Francophone students.

Dept. Head; Person in charge and Student representative

 A Francophone academic advisor will be appointed for AY 2024-25.
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