O ?
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on?
Monday, February 3,2003 at 5:30 pm in Room 3120 WMC
Open Session
Present: Stevenson, Michael
President and Chair of Senate
?
Absent:
S
S
Al-Natour, Sameh
Aloi, Santa
Andrews, Ian
Atkins, Stella
Bourke, Brynn
Chen, Danny
Clayman, Bruce
Copeland, Lynn.
Davidson, Willie
Driver, Jon
Dunsterville, Valerie
Garcia, Carlos
Gordon, Robert
Grimmett, Peter
Haunerland, Norbert
Higgins, Anne
Horvath, Adam
Jackson, Margaret
Jensen, Britta
Kemper, Michelle
Krane, Bill
Lewis, Brian
Love, Ernie
McArthur, James
McFetridge, Paul
Naef, Barbara
Percival, Paul
Peters, Joseph
Phipps, Kate
Pierce, John
Poirier, Guy
Russell, Robert
Smith, Don
Tyab, Azam
Vaisey, Jacques
Waterhouse, John
Weldon, Larry
Yerbury, Cohn
Zaichkowsky, Judith
Apaak, Clement
Beynon, Peter
Brokenshire, David
D'Auria, John
Gerson, Carole
Gupta, Kamal
Heaney, John
Hill, Ross
Jones, Cohn
Jones, John
Mauser, Gary
Poletz, Taira
Thandi, Ranbir
Van Aalst, Jan
Warren, Joel
Wessel, Silvia
Wong, Milton
In attendance:
Arifovic, Jasmina
Cameron, Rob
Kimball, Meredith
Little, Jack
Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services/ Registrar
Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat
Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary
S.M. 3 February 2003
Page 2
1.
Approval
The Agenda
of
was
the
approved
Agenda '
?
as distributed.
0
2.
. Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of January
6, 2003
The Minutes were approved as distributed.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the Minutes.
4.
Report of the Chair
Referring to the recent press attention respecting an issue of academic dishonesty
at Simon Fraser University, the Chair advised that he wished to read into the
record of Senate the unedited text of a letter he addressed to the Vancouver Sun
which was published with some editorial licence on February 1, 2003:
I am writing to address a misunderstanding over Simon Fraser
University's response to a question of academic dishonesty.
As recently as last fall, the University gained national credit for
applying zero tolerance in a plagiarism case involving 44 students:
the facts were determined fairly, discipline (including lengthy
suspensions) was applied, and the University reported publicly on
the outcome. I believe our record in dealing with dishonesty is
second to none.
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0
I am therefore very concerned that this record is being called into
question by confusion over a current case in which two students
turned in identical assignments. One student admitted to
submitting the work of another and subsequently accepted the
instructor's failing grade. This is a good example of the system
working to detect and respond to cheating. The second student
successfully appealed the failing grade, arguing authorship over
the work that the first student had plagiarized.
The exonerated student openly acknowledged employing a tutor.
This is common practice at all levels throughout the education
system and there is nothing dishonest about students attempting to
improve their understanding of a subject in this way. It is
fundamentally dishonest, however, if a student submits work done
by a tutor while claiming it to be their own. At the same time, it is
fundamentally unjust to penalize a student simply on the
assumption that plagiarism might be involved without first
establishing the facts of the matter. Because the consequences of
cheating are so significant for all concerned, zero tolerance for
academic dishonesty must be accompanied by fair and rigorous
examination.
The instructor was directed to re-evaluate the assignment and has
chosen not to do so. It nevertheless remains for the University to
conduct an objective and impartial re-examination of the student's
S.M. 3 February 2003
Page 3
work. If the student's claim to authorship is substantiated, an
appropriate mark will be awarded. If it is found that the work was
indeed plagiarized, appropriate consequences will result.
While the facts in this case remain to be established, important
questions can be raised about the role of tutors and about academic
honesty in the Internet Age where instant access to commercial
"paper mills" is available. These are difficult issues. The University
has responded by 'purchasing software that aids in identifying
plagiarism and by striking a Task Force on Academic Honesty to
explore these matters in depth. I expect the results will provide
clear assurances to students, faculty and the public that academic
honesty will remain a defining characteristic of academic life at
Simon Fraser University.
Yours sincerely.
The. Chair expressed concern that generalized and distorted readings of
complicated matters, especially when covered by the press, do considerable
harm to the University. If faculty, staff or students have major problems with
any matter, there are policies that allow recourse to action, or any member of the
senior administration could be asked to review a matter.
5.
Question Period
In response to a question as to whether the proposed budget for 2003/2004
would come before Senate, Senate was advised that SCUP had been asked to
provide advice to the President on the proposed budget model. SCUP discussed
this item at its last meeting and a draft set of comments will be reviewed at the
next meeting of SCUP. Senate was advised that neither the budget nor SCUP's
comments would be forwarded to Senate.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) ?
Senate Nominating Committee
i) ?
Paper S.03-18 - Elections
The following are the results of elections to Senate committees. There were
insufficient nominations to fill all positions; vacancies will be carried over to the
next meeting of Senate.
Committee to Review University Admissions (CRUA)
One Graduate Student Alternate to replace Felix Tang for term of office to May
31, 2004.
Candidates: P. Liljedahl, G. Placonouris, B. Waldern, S. Wu
Elected:
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Peter Liljedahl
Senate Committee on International Activities (SCIA)
One Undergraduate Student Senator to fill an existing vacancy for term of office
to May 31, 2003. ?
No nominations received
S.M. 3 February 2003
Page 4
One Faculty Senator to replace Paul McFetridge for term of office to May 31,
2003.
Elected by acclamation:
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Judith Zaichkowsky
Undergraduate Curriculum Implementation Task Force
One Undergraduate Student for one year term of office.
Elected by acclamation: ?
Michelle Kemper
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
One Undergraduate Student (at-large) to replace D. Chen for balance term of
office to May 31, 2003.
Elected by acclamation:
?
Adam Picotte
Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
One Student Senator Alternate for term of office to May 31, 2003.
Elected by acclamation ?
Michelle Kemper
B)
?
Senate Committee on University Priorities
i)
?
Paper S.03-19 - External Review - Department of Women's Studies
S
Moved by J
.
Waterhouse, seconded by J. Pierce
"that Senate concur with the recommendations from the Senate
Committee on University Priorities concerning advice to the
Department of Women's Studies on priority items resulting from
the external review as outlined in S.03-19"
M. Kimball, Chair of the Department, was in attendance in order to respond to
questions.
The question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
ii) ?
Paper S.03-20 - External Review - Department of History
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by J
.
Pierce
"that Senate concur with the recommendations from the Senate
Committee on University Priorities concerning the advice to the
Department of History on priority items resulting from the external
review as outlined in S.03-20"
J .
Little, Chair of the Department, was in attendance in order to respond to
questions.
The question was called, and a vote taken.
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MOTION CARRIED
El
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S.M. 3 February 2003
Page 5
.
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iii)
Moved by J
.
Pierce, seconded by B. Clayman
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors the establishment of the Centre for Research on
Adaptive Behaviour in Economics as outlined in S.03-21"
J. Arifovic, Department of Economics, was in attendance in order to respond to
questions.
The question was called, and a vote taken. ?
MOTION CARRIED
C)
?
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
i)
Paper S.03-22 - Faculty of Science - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions
Motion 1
Moved by W. Davidson, seconded by J
.
Waterhouse
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors the deletion of the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in
Environmental Toxicology, as set forth in S.03-22, effective 2003-3"
The question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
Motion 2
Moved by W. Davidson, seconded by J
.
Waterhouse
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors the deletion of the Minor in Quaternary Studies, as set
forth in S.03-22, effective 2003-3"
The question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved the new course MBB 323 in
the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. SCUS also approved a
two semester time lag waiver for early offering of the course.
ii)
Paper S.03-23 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of
Business Administration
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved two new courses BUS 417
and BUS 419 and a change of prerequisite for all 400-level Business courses.
.
S.M. 3 February 2003
Page 6
A question arose about whether BUS 360 would be required as a prerequisite for
Management and System Science students as it was noted that it was not is
generally part of their required courses. Senate was advised that several joint
major programs do not require BUS 360 and it was believed that Management
and Systems Science was one of those programs. In response to an inquiry as to
whether BUS 360 could be taken as a co-requisite, Senate was advised that the
information currently before Senate changed BUS 360 from a co-requisite to a
prerequisite so that students complete BUS 360 before they take any 400-level
course.
iii)
Paper S.03-24 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of
Applied Sciences
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved a reorganization of the first
year coursework in the Applied Sciences One Program; restructuring and
changes to program requirements in Computing Science, minor revisions to
existing courses in Computing Science and Communication, and the deletion of
two courses in the School of Communication, CMNS 205 and CMNS 224.
D) ?
Senate Graduate Studies Committee
i)
Paper S.03-25 - Change of credit hours - Special Arrangement Courses
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting
under delegated authority, approved a change in credit hours for four Special
Arrangement courses.
ii)
Paper S.03-26 - Graduate Curriculum Revisions -
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting
under delegated authority, approved a change to course requirements and
number of credit hours required for the PhD program in Computing Science, and
minor revisions to existing courses in the School of Resource and Environmental
Management.
7. ?
Other Business
There was no other business.
The Open Session adjourned at 5:55 pm and Senate moved directly into Closed Session.
Alison Watt
Director, University Secretariat