Senate Reference No. 06-6

Question Time

With regards to the VCAA Memo, August 14, 2006, re: Office of Academic Counseling and Career Services (ACCS) and proposed departmental liaisons,

1.   Many career-oriented departments (i.e., those teaching directly employable skills) already have specific career counseling and internship placement procedures.  How is this ACCS initiative not redundant with existing services already provided departmental majors and closer to their needs?

2.   Was this plan to coordinate/centralize career counseling developed with departments’ input?  If not, why not?

3.   The request for each department to “confirm” its selected liaison with the VCAA by Friday, September 8, 2006 does not appear voluntary.  Can a department vote to opt out of creating such a liaison?  Is such a liaison mandatory?

Anson Shupe

Department of Sociology