Student Affairs Committee

 

Mandate

The Student Affairs Committee (SAC) is a standing committee of the Faculty of Education at McGill University and reports to the Associate Dean, Academic Programs. The SAC works closely with the Internships and Student Affairs (ISA) Office. The SAC serves the Faculty of Education in several ways:

  1. serves the ISA in an advisory capacity for policy development related to student affairs
  2. ensures the regulations from the McGill Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures are respected;
  3. ensures the regulations from the McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates are respected;
  4. addresses issues arising from the interpretation and implementation of Faculty and University regulations.
  5. acts as a sub-committee for appeal as follows:
    1. any B.Ed. or MATL teacher candidate who wishes to appeal their grade and/or academic standing in reference to a failed Field Experience or Internship course.
    2. any B.Ed. or MATL teacher candidate who wishes to appeal a Disposition from McGill Principles of Practice, Behaviour and Ethical Conduct for Teacher Candidates

SAC will maintain the option to invite a speaker to present at meetings as appropriate, for example departmental advisers, field supervisors, representatives from the Student Accessibility and Achievement Office. SAC shall report back to Faculty Council with a brief written report at least once during the academic year.

Structure and Rotation

The SAC meets twice per fall and winter terms and once per summer term. Meetings are called by the Associate Dean, Academic Programs who serves as the chair of the committee. The SAC is composed of 6 members:

  1. Associate Dean, Academic Programs (Chair)
  2. Director of Internships & Student Affairs[1]
  3. Program Director (or delegate) from each academic unit (DISE, ECP, KPE)
  4. Internships & Student Affairs Administrator (voice without a vote)

SAC members from each academic unit are generally appointed for a three-year term.
Note: per the University's obligations under Quebec and Canadian laws and under University’s policies with regard to maintaining the confidentiality of student information, students may not serve as members of the SAC, as it would give them inappropriate access to academic and other personal information regarding their peers.

 

Procedures for SAC Meetings with Teacher Candidates and/or Advocates

A meeting of the SAC will be convened and the date and time communicated to the teacher candidate. Teacher candidates are not required to present their case in person; however, they are always invited to do so by the SAC. In the interests of universal design and accessibility for all teacher candidates, alternative options include:

  1. Submit the request and supporting documentation to the SAC in writing only (teacher candidate is not present);
  2. Have a McGill advocate present the case (teacher candidate is present). Teacher candidates are permitted to bring an advocate, per the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (i.e. a member of the University community…who has agreed to act in an advisory capacity and who may accompany a student…to any hearing, summary hearing, or interview; advisors are not paid for their services). It is recommended to select an advocate through McGill’s Legal Information Clinic's Student Advocacy service.
  3. Please note: (i) In the event that neither the teacher candidate nor an advocate is present at the time of the meeting, the SAC will render a decision based on the existing evidence; (ii) Third parties present on behalf of students are not normally permitted to attend SAC hearings.

 

The Office of Internships and Student Affairs will be responsible for gathering all documentation relevant to the case from the teacher candidate and the Director of the ISA for presentation to members of the SAC. Teacher candidates must provide the ISA with copies of relevant documentation at the time of their request. Please note that any request for appeal may be rejected without complete documentation at the time of the request. Any requests for additions not included in the original documentation may be considered by the Associate Dean up to 14 days before the SAC meeting date. No additional information will be accepted after this time.

The teacher candidate will receive a copy of all relevant documents no less than one (1) week prior to the date of the SAC meeting. It is the responsibility of the teacher candidate to share relevant documentation with their McGill advocate in a timely manner. To provide adequate time for the committee to review the case, all relevant documentation provided by the Director of the ISA as well as the teacher candidate will be provided to members of the committee no less than one (1) week prior to the date of the SAC meeting. All information should remain confidential. To ensure the greatest degree of fairness, committee members should refrain from speaking to one another about the case prior to the hearing. An administrative member from the ISA will record minutes of the meetings and will distribute the minutes to committee members within one week of the SAC meeting.

 

Order of Meeting for Appeals

Participants Task Timing
SAC only 1. A review of the documentation submitted by all parties (closed committee) 20 minutes
All parties 2. The Associate Dean calls the meeting to order 10 minutes
All parties 3. Teacher candidate (and/or advocate, if applicable) presents documentation for the appeal 20 minutes
All parties 4. Questions are posed to the teacher candidate (and/or advocate, if applicable) and answers provided 10 minutes
All parties

5. The Director of Internships and Student Affairs presents documentation

20 minutes
All parties

6. Questions are posed to the Director of Internships and Student Affairs and answers provided

10 minutes
All parties 7. Teacher candidate (and advocate, if applicable) and other invited parties leave; also, in cases where the ISA Director rendered the initial decision, they recuse themselves N/A
SAC only

8. Committee deliberates and reaches a decision (closed committee)

*In cases where the original judgement leading to the appeal was rendered by the Director of the Office of Internships and Student Affairs, the Director will recuse themselves from any deliberations for the outcome of the appeal process.

N/A
Associate Dean 9. Within two weeks, The Associate Dean communicates this decision to the teacher candidate in writing. N/A
Duration   90 minutes

 

SAC Committee Membership 2021-2022

Position Name Term
Associate Dean, Academic Programs (Chair) Sheryl Smith-Gilman Ex-officio
Director, ISA Yasmine Zein Ex-officio
Administrator, ISA Gabrielle Ohayon  Ex-officio
Program Director (or delegate) from DISE Hannah Chestnutt 2022-2025
Program Director (or delegate) from ECP Jessica Ruglis  2022-2025
Program Director (or delegate) from KPE Jessica Mociella 2023-2026

 

 

 

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