The Curriculum Renewal Project

Overview | Committees | Milestones | Related Documents

Overview 

Although Ryerson’s current undergraduate curriculum model has built the foundation for highly regarded professional and professionally related programs, we recognize that society’s needs and students’ aspirations are rapidly changing in the 21st century.

Ryerson’s tripartite curriculum model has provided the University with a clear and valuable framework. It is fundamental to the entire curriculum structure. However, the academic plan, Shaping Our Future, proposed that the model be opened up to meet the needs of students in an increasingly interdisciplinary working world.

During the course of the 2010-2011 academic year, extensive community consultations were undertaken to inform the development of an amended tripartite curriculum model, along with revisions to the existing minors policy. On June 7, 2011, Ryerson’s Senate approved the new framework and the revised minors policy, positioning the University for historic curriculum change. Ryerson’s traditional strengths in providing students with an intentional curriculum, professional pathways and liberal studies are preserved in the new model, and these distinct features continue to define the University’s environment, culture and recruitment.

The new model enables a shift in curriculum choice toward greater student control, and becomes more innovative as students self-define and personalize their own paths of study to distinguish themselves from others. With revisions to the minors policy, they also have more flexibility in accessing a greater range of minors. A new funding model gives departments the financial incentive to meet their aspirations of offering new courses and curriculum packages, to mount more interdisciplinary courses, and to foster a liberal studies calendar that truly offers breadth across all faculties. With these changes, the University also opens up opportunities for accommodating increased access to government funding.

Committees

The Curriculum Renewal Committee was established in 2011 to make recommendations on how to effectively implement the new curriculum framework. The committee was chaired by Vice-Provost, Academic Chris Evans and over 30 members from the Ryerson community—including faculty, students and administrators from each faculty, and representatives from the Registrar’s Office—participated. Announcement of the Curriculum Renewal Committee members »

A recommendation of the committee’s final white paper was the establishment of a special Curriculum Implementation Committee which has been mandated to develop an effective plan to turn the Senate-approved framework into a full-fledged curriculum model. The implementation committee is chaired by Vice-Provost, Academic Chris Evans and co-chaired by Interim Secretary of Senate, Mark Lovewell.

Milestones

1. Extensive community consultation undertaken; over 300 students, faculty and staff contribute insight and feedback into model—April to May 2011
2. Blog for student participation launched—April 26, 2011
3. Special Senate workshops hosted—May 18 and 19, 2011
4. Senate approval of framework and revised minors policy—June 7, 2011
5. Curriculum Renewal Committee (CRC) established—September 2011
6. Green paper released to community for input—January 27, 2012.
7. Curriculum Renewal Town Hall—March 2012.
8. CRC develops a white paper that reflects community input—March to May 2012.
9. Presentation to Senate of the white paper—May 1, 2012.
10. White paper released to the community—May 3, 2012.
11. Final white paper presented to Senate—June 5, 2012.
12. Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC) established—June 2012.
13. Presentation of CIC green paper to Senate—May 7, 2013
14. Green paper released to the community—May 10, 2013

Related Documents