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Preamble & Background

The Teaching and Academic Affairs Committee (TAAC) continues academic leadership coordination at Queen’s. Prior to 2023, the Provost’s Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee (PTLAC) advised the Office of the Provost on teaching and learning matters, formulated institutional policy and priorities, and promoted alignment between teaching and learning services and Faculty priorities. In April 2023, the PTLAC was disbanded and replaced with a more focused Associate Deans (Teaching and Learning) group offering peer-based discussion and consultation amongst Associate Deans on items related to teaching and learning.

In 2025, following the work of a short-term Academic Operations Committee convened during a labour disruption, a debrief identified the opportunity for a standing forum to address academic operations in a regular, coordinated way. As the Associate Deans (Teaching and Learning) group had already begun to broaden its scope to include such matters, it was timely to formalise both its collaborative and advisory roles. TAAC reflects this evolution, preserving a confidential space for peer exchange while adding a structured coordinating and advisory function to support institutional priorities.

Purpose

TAAC serves a dual role:

1. Peer exchange: Providing a closed forum for senior academic leaders to share initiatives, challenges, and practices related to teaching, learning, and academic operations in a candid and collegial environment.
2. Coordination and advice: Acts as a formal venue for consultation and coordination on matters of teaching, learning, and academic operations that require cross-Faculty discussion and, when appropriate, communication beyond the group.

Through these functions, TAAC strengthens coordination among Faculties and Schools and, when appropriate, provides input, through the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), to inform institutional policy and planning.

Scope and responsibilities

TAAC will:

1. Teaching and learning

• Share practices, challenges, and innovations in pedagogy and curriculum delivery.
• Review and advise on initiatives that impact teaching quality, learning outcomes, and the student experience.
• Provide input on proposals related to digital and online learning, as requested.

2. Academic operations

• Coordinate on cross-Faculty operational issues such as program delivery and classroom use. This committee may communicate with other committees in these areas (e.g. the University Timetable Committee) but does not supersede their decision-making.
• Discuss the operational implications of institutional or Faculty-level academic decisions (for example, those related to enrolment, curriculum, or scheduling).
• Identify issues of alignment with central academic services where these affect teaching and learning, with the Chair determining when and how to raise them in other forums
• Serve as a venue for consultation on academic policy changes and procedural matters.

3. Advisory Role

• Act as an advisory body to the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning).
• Through the Chair, provide input to other institutional governance bodies and offices as appropriate (e.g., Queen’s Digital Planning Committee).

Membership 

Core members: Associate Deans (Teaching and Learning), Associate Deans (Academic), or equivalent academic leaders from each Faculty and School.

Chair: Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning).

Delegates: Members may designate a delegate when unable to attend, provided the delegate also holds an academic leadership role within the Faculty or School.

Standing invitees: Individuals in designated institutional roles (for example, Special Advisors in the Office of the Provost) may receive agendas and have the option to attend the Committee Session when relevant to their responsibilities.

Guests: Guests may be invited at the discretion of the Chair for specific agenda items where their participation would support the Committee's work.

Membership is intentionally focused on academic leaders to enable candid discussion and effective coordination.

Changes to membership (e.g., the addition of new roles or units) may be made at the discretion of the Chair, in consultation with the committee.

Membership List: