AGENDA ITEM NO: 9.6
UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE
REQUEST FOR DECISION
PRESENTED BY:
Gordon Hill, Chair, Academic Programs Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
June 18, 2009
SUBJECT:
College Admissions policy changes
DECISION REQUESTED:
It is recommended:
That Council approve the deletion of the Sask First admission
requirement for the College of Education.
That Council approve change in English proficiency admission
requirements for the College of Nursing.
PURPOSE:
Under the University Act, University Council is required to approve and report to University
Senate a decision to change academic and other qualifications required for admission as a
student.
Several changes in admissions procedures by colleges have been made over the last year and
have been reported to the University Community through the University Course Challenge
procedure. In the case of these proposals from Education and from Nursing, however, the
Academic Programs Committee agreed that these were changes in admissions policy, rather than
in procedures; they would require approval by Council and would be reported to the Fall meeting
of Senate.
SUMMARY
College of Education
The College of Education is ending its policy which gave admissions preference to students
defined as “Saskatchewan residents”. Education is the last college to delete this admissions
preference following implementation of the university’s Enrolment Plan.
College of Nursing
The College of Nursing is increasing its admission standard for English proficiency, to promote
student success and to bring University of Saskatchewan admissions policies into line with other
Canadian nursing schools.
The Committee discussed these proposals with the University’s director of admissions as well as
with college representatives. At its June 2, 2009 meeting the Committee agreed to recommend
that Council approve these changes.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposal documentation from the College of Education and the College of Nursing
College of Education
Rationale for Change to Policy on Residency of Applicants (Undergraduate)
Lynn Lemisko
Assistant Dean (Undergraduate Programs & Research)
College of Education
Background
The College of Education has maintained a relatively stable year-to-year combined enrollment in
our undergraduate programs of about 1100 students (see table below). Of this number, about 900
are full-time and another 200 part-time (most of these in the ATEP and Certificate programs).
There are about 600 teacher candidates in the Concurrent and Combined programs – of these,
about 400 are in the ATEP programs, 100 in Combined programs, and 100 in Practical and
Applied Arts.
2008-09 FULL AND PART TIME ENROLLMENT
PROGRAM
FULL
CACE – Certificate in Adult & Continuing Education
0
CTHL – Certificate in Post Secondary Tech Voc Ed
0
CTV – Certificate in Methods of Teaching Heritage Languages
0
EDEL – Sequential Elementary
242
EDKI – B.Sc.(Kin.)/B.ED. Combined
37
EDSE – Sequential Secondary
168
EMUS – B.Ed./B. Mus. (Mus.Ed.) Combined
57
PAA-HE – Practical and Applied Arts: Home Economics
58
PAA-IA – Practical and Applied Arts: Industrial Arts
41
ITEP – Indian Teacher Education Program
164
NONE-ED – Non-degree
2
NORTEP – Northern Teacher Education Program
24
PDCE – Post Degree Certificate in Education: Special Education
1
SUNTEP-PA – SK Urban Native Teacher Ed Program- Prince Albert
81
SUNTEP-SK – SK Urban Native Teacher Ed Program- Saskatoon
63
TV – Technical Vocational
5
TOTAL
943
PART
26
0
0
2
0
1
4
1
0
20
0
42
85
1
1
5
188
TOTAL
26
0
0
244
37
169
61
59
41
184
2
66
86
82
64
10
1131
Although we have retained a relatively stable total enrollment in our programs, there have been a
declining number of applicants to the sequential programs. For example, the table below indicates the
number of individuals who have applied for the sequential programs in the recent past:
Year
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Number of Applicants
603
591
494
398
344
Aligning with University Policy
The existing residency policy for the College of Education reads:
‘Saskatchewan residents are normally given priority in admission, except for targeted teaching
areas. A Saskatchewan resident is defined as a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who has lived
in the Province of Saskatchewan for at least one continuous year immediately prior to the date you
intend to begin classes. RESIDENCY CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED WHILE REGISTERED AS
A FULL-TIME STUDENT. If a parent or spouse is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan,
the applicant will be considered a resident. Detailed information regarding the criteria and the
admission process is available from the College of Education.”
However, the University of Saskatchewan developed an Institutional Enrolment Plan (A
Framework for Action: University of Saskatchewan Integrated Plan 2003–07) encouraging the
expansion of admission procedures across the provincial and international borders. The
Enrolment Plan clearly states:
“The University of Saskatchewan must reach out to new students, within the province and from
elsewhere in Canada and the world, to ensure its future. Saskatchewan demographics rule out a
continuation of our existing recruitment and retention practices.”
More specifically the university will:
“Expand our student recruitment efforts beyond Saskatchewan towards a more diverse student
body primarily through increased recruitment of other Canadian and international students.”
Approval
At its March 27, 2009 meeting, the Undergraduate Program Committee recommended that the College
remove the Saskatchewan residency requirement for applicants to our undergraduate programs in order to
match University priorities, to enhance the capacity to recruit a more diverse student population into the
College of Education, and to address the possibility that there may be a continuing decline numbers of
applicants to the University and the College. This was approved at the April 29, 2009 Faculty meeting.
Implications
We think that removing the current residency policy will smooth the application process for out-ofprovince applicants. While these applicants are not completely barred from entering our programs under
our former policy, we think the possibility exists for an increase in out-of-province applicants to our
programs when the residency requirement statement is removed from our website and promotional
materials. It is likely that applicants for our undergraduate programs will initially come from other
Canadian post-secondary institutions after completing a minimum of 60 credit units of Arts & Sciences
courses, but we may be able to attract international undergraduate applicants in the future.
Proposal for Curriculum Change
University of Saskatchewan
to be approved by University Council or by Academic Programs Committee
1. PROPOSAL IDENTIFICATION
Title of proposal: Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (NEPS) request for English language
admission criteria for International students.
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Field(s) of Specialization: n/a
Level(s) of Concentration: n/a
Option(s): NEPS (Regular and SDEO)
Degree College: College of Nursing
Department:
Home College:
Contact person(s) (name, telephone, fax, e-mail):
Dr. Karen Wright
Assistant Dean Undergraduate Programs
Phone: 966-6228
Fax: 966-6621
Email: karen.wright@usask.ca
Date: April 1, 2009
Approved by the degree college and/or home college:
NEPS Administrative Committee - approved November 20, 2008
NEPS Admissions Committee – approved March 3, 2009
College of Nursing Faculty Meeting – presented for information on March 31, 2008
NEPS Faculty Meeting - presented for information on April 22, 2009
SIAST Deans Council – approved April 16, 2009
College of Nursing Faculty Meeting – to be taken for approval May 8, 2009
Proposed date of implementation:
May 2010 Admissions:
2. TYPE OF CHANGE
Requiring approval by Council
A new Degree-Level program or template for program.
A new Field of Specialization at the Major or Honours Level of Concentration or template for a
major or honours program
Conversion of an existing program from regular to special tuition program.
A change in the requirements for admission to a program
A change in quota for a college
Program revisions that will use new resources
A replacement program, including program deletion
A program deletion (consult Program Termination Procedures, approved by Council in May 2001)
Requiring approval by Academic Programs Committee
Addition of a higher Level of Concentration to an existing Field of Specialization.
Addition of a new Field of Specialization at the Minor Level of Concentration.
A change in program options
A change in the name of a Degree-level Program or Field of Specialization.
A change in the total number of credit units required for an approved degree program.
Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan (NEPS) Request for English Language
Admission Criteria for International Students
3. Rationale:
The Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan is requesting Academic Programs Committee approval
to change the admission requirement relating to the current English language proficiency requirements in
the NEPS (College of Nursing and SIAST Nursing Division) to align criteria for admissions with other
Canadian colleges/schools of nursing. These students in our programs are facing learning two languages
simultaneously – English and the unique language used in health care. For some, this proves to be an
insurmountable task, resulting in attrition from the program and great personal cost to the students,
financially and personally.
The current criteria for assessing English language proficiency have been problematic and resulted in the
failure of international students, landed immigrants, and Canadian citizens whose first language is not
English. These students clearly have the ability to achieve academically but struggle in the area of spoken
English and English language comprehension.
4. Description of Program Characteristics:
The NEPS Admissions Committee, comprised of representatives from University of Saskatchewan, First
Nations University of Canada, and SIAST, has made the following recommendations regarding language
admission criteria for English proficiencies for international students effective beginning with the 2010
intake of students:
•
The minimum required scores on the English language proficiency tests be revised.
•
The list of acceptable English language proficiency tests be revised.
•
Applicants who self-identify on the NEPS application form as being ESL or EAL applicants
(including those who are Canadian citizens) are required to undergo English language testing to
determine admission to the program.
Elements
Existing
Proposed
Moratorium on international Admit foreign students to program
admissions for the 2009 based on language requirements.
admission cycle only.
5. Available Resources and Tests
Tests
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet based test (TOFL – IBT)
Subcomponents
Reading
Writing
Speaking
Listening
TOEFL – Paper Based
Test of Spoken English (TSE) – listening and speaking
Test of Written English (TWE) – writing and reading
Current
Minimum
Requirements
81
Proposed Minimum
Requirements
19
19
19
19
20
20
26
22
550
See note 1
580
50 in each component
90
5.0
Tests cont’d
Current
Minimum
Requirements
6.5
International English Language (CAEL)
Proposed Minimum
Requirements
7.0 (academic
module)
Speaking Component
At least 7.0
Canadian Academic Language (CAEL)
Subtest for speaking
Sub-scores of no less than 60
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
60
60
85
Speaking Test
Tests
Current
Minimum
Requirements
Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTEST)
Sections
Speaking
Listening
Reading
Writing
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE)
Secondary Education
(Successful completion of English course(s) [or equivalent] required for
admission to the program plus a minimum of three years of successful,
formal, full-time secondary level of study)
4.5
4.5
4.0
Grade C
Completed
Advanced Level (University Preparation II) from U of S, U of R
Completed
18 credit units of transferable coursework from a recognized post- Completed
secondary institution where English is the language of instruction and
examination.
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
9
(students testing at a score of 8+ will be considered to have met level 9)
70
70
85
3+
Proposed Minimum
Requirements
5.0
4.5
4.5
4.5
Grade C
A final mark of >70%
must be achieved in
Grade 12 English
Language Arts
courses. If
completion of
secondary standing
occurred more than 5
years ago, additional
proof of English
proficiency will be
required.
Delete
See Note 2
Delete
See Note 3
8+
See Note 4
Note 1: An intermediate score range is defined as 14 to 21 and does not meet the needs for nursing
education. A high range is defined as 22 to 30; the NEPS (College of Nursing) proposed score of
26 for “speaking” is therefore in the middle of the high range. NEPS College of Nursing is opting
for the higher “speaking” score as this is the area in which our students have experienced the
most difficulty. Note: University of Lethbridge requires a score of 26 and Grant McEwan
College and the University of Calgary require a score of 27 on the spoken language component
on the TOEFL.
Note 2: The level of skill achieved at the end of this course of study is unable to be determined. Potential
NEPS students who completed Advanced University Preparation II are advised to take one of the
above tests of proficiency to demonstrate required skills. Students admitted with this admission
criterion in the past have experienced difficulty in their course of study.
Note 3: The last four international students who were unsuccessful in the NEPS were admitted under this
criterion. Students take their 18 credit units in courses in which spoken English is not a major
requirement.
Note 4: Saskatchewan does not provide testing capacity beyond 8 level.
6. Relationships and Impact on Implementation
The English language proficiency requirements are being changed to promote student success. It is
important that students be proficient in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in English to ensure success
in the NEPS. It has been the NEPS College of Nursing experience that students must have a good grasp of
English prior to commencing studies in the nursing program in order to be successful in acquiring the
appropriate nursing and health care terminology required in the nursing profession. [Some students have
been able to pass academic courses to the required minimum level, but then are unsuccessful in clinical
experiences because they cannot communicate with clients for whom they are providing care]. Two
internationally educated physicians who entered the Second Degree Entry Option Program were required to
discontinue due to language deficiencies. They were engaged in intensive English language programs
through a variety of community agencies and were readmitted after successfully reaching required language
admission scores.
When developing the recommendations, several principles guided the decision-making:
1. Student success, as described above, was the main underlying principle. The intent was not exclusion of
any potential student; the goal is to identify issues with English language proficiency prior to admission
and to ensure that prospective students are advised of ways to achieve the required level before they
enter this demanding course of study.
2. A second principle was that admission requirements for NEPS would be in line with those of other
colleges or universities in Canada which offer a nursing education program. The recommendations are
based on a survey of English proficiency requirements of such educational institutions. Many Colleges
of Nursing ask for specific speaking scores on testing rather than just aggregate scores; thus the spoken
language issue is not unique to the NEPS.
3. A third guiding principle was that the NEPS offer a sufficient variety of testing tools so that some type
of acceptable testing would be available in most, if not all, parts of the world, in order to be inclusive of
any and varied potential international and other EAL students.
Feasibility of the Proposed Revisions
The future applicant pool (including education equity applicant(s) - A one year moratorium on admission of
international students (2009 admissions) was instituted to allow sufficient time for the establishment of
English language requirements appropriate for the success of international students. This moratorium will be
lifted and international students will be admitted for the 2010 intake. International students will be in the
2009 admissions process.
Students currently in the program: (additional time, cost, travel, etc.) - There will not be any impact.
Consultations:
Yes/No
Other program/division impacted
Registration/Admission
Consultations
Yes
Yes
Date(s) of
Meetings
Nov. 1, 2007
Apr. 2, 2008
May 21, 2008
Oct. 29, 2008
Results of Meetings
The University of Saskatchewan
College of Nursing, First Nations
University of Canada, SIAST
Nursing Division, and SIAST
Registrar were involved in the
decision making process. All agreed
that changes in English proficiency
requirements (as recommended by
the NEPS Admission Committee
subcommittee) were necessary to
promote student success.
Feb. 13, 2009
Meeting with Dave Harvey, Jason
Mazzei, Marian Morrissey, and
Netha Dyck to discuss the types of
student support services required for
international students.
Mar. 2, 2009
The NEPS Admissions Committee
discussed the feedback from SIAST
Dean’s Council and reconsidered the
recommendations for change to the
ELP requirements. The committee
was adamant that the ELP
recommendations are appropriate
and should be resubmitted to Dean’s
Council for approval. The U of S
College of Nursing will submit the
proposed ELP changes to the
Academic Programs Committee and
then to the U of S Council for
approval at their April 2009 meeting.
FNUniv. will implement the
approved changes and does not need
to go through an approval process.
Meeting with NEPS Admission
Committee with Kathy Larsen
(SIAST and U of S Admissions
Committees).
Apr. 2, 2008
Apr. – Oct.,
2008
Maxine
Reimer,
Registration
Services Representative (RSR),
participated on the NEPS ELP
Subcommittee to investigate and
formulate the English Language
Proficiency Requirement.
May 21, 2008
NEPS Admissions Committee met
with Kathy Larson (SIAST).
Yes/No
Date(s) of
Meetings
Oct. 29, 2008
Results of Meetings
Meeting with NEPS Admission
Committee with Kathy Larsen and
Max Reimer participating.
New criteria were agreed upon by
NEPS
Admissions
Committee,
which included:
a.) Program administrators (Program
Heads and Assistant Deans) who
deal on a continuing basis with
students experiencing English
language difficulties.
b.) Registration Services representatives involved in admission and
discontinuation processes and
who understand the issues
inherent concerning the criteria
under
which
unsuccessful
students were originally admitted.
Dec. 9, 2008
Mar. 3, 2009
Learning
(LAC)
Assistance
Centre
Yes
Ongoing
whenever
students are
experiencing
difficulty
Meeting with Alison Pickrell, Kathy
Larsen and Netha Dyck (Dean
SIAST
Nursing)
to
discuss
admission related issues.
NEPS
Admission
Committee
Meeting was on March 3, 2009.
Representatives were SIAST, U of S,
and FNUniv. faculty. Approved.
SIAST LAC representatives give
episodic help whenever students are
referred to them, but do not have the
capacity to do long term remedial
work for students having difficulty
with spoken English.
Discussions with LAC, Open Doors
Society to provide language support
for students.
7.
Budget
No anticipated changes in current budget.