Al-Natour, Sameh
Andrews, Ian
Apaak, Clement
Atkins, Stella
Beynon, Peter
Bourke, Brynn
Blackman, Roger
Brokenshire, David
Clayman, Bruce
Copeland, Lynn
D'Auria, John
Driver, Jon
Dunsterville, Valerie
Gerson, Carole
Gordon, Robert
Grimmett, Peter
Haunerland, Norbert
Higgins, Anne
Horvath, Adam
Jackson, Margaret
Kemper, Michelle
Krane, Bill
Love, Ernie
Mathewes, Rolf (representing W. Davidson)
Mauser, Gary
Percival, Paul
Peters, Joseph (representing B. Lewis)
Phipps, Kate
Th
andi, Ranbir
Van Aalst, Jan
Warren, Joel
Wessel, Silvia
Wong, Milton
Yerbury, Cohn
O
?
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of the meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
?
Monday, December 2, 2002 at 7:00 pm in Room 3210 WMC
Open Session
Present:
?
Stevenson, Michael
President and Chair of Senate
Poirier, Guy
?
In attendance:
Russell, Robert ?
Brockman, Joan
Smith, Don
?
Dinning, Mike
Tvab, Azam
?
Kimball, Meredith
Vaisey, Jacques
Waterhouse, John
Weldon, Larry
Zaichkowsky, Judith
Absent:
Aloi, Santa
Chen, Danny
.
?
Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services /Registrar
Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat
Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of November 4, 2002
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
Reference was made to the announcement by the Minister of Advanced
Education regarding funding for the new Technology and Applied Science
Complex to accommodate the expansion of programs in Computing Science and
Engineering Science. Senate was advised that this would complete the full
funding with respect to the Double The Opportunity Program (DTO).
The Chair reported that consultations had begun with respect to the
development of the budget for the next fiscal year. The Chair advised that the
budget has to be built around issues such as the downward adjustment of the
core grant as a result of the three year grant announcement last year; the cost of
inflation and the currency disadvantage of the Canadian dollar when buying
specialized research equipment and books; compensation increases that have
been properly signed with employee groups under compensation guidelines
approved by the preceding Government but not honored by the current
Government, and the restoration of quality in academic programs and in student
services as a result of a long period of budget constraint. All of these factors
represent significant financial problems in terms of the budget and the Chair
indicated that the university community would be widely consulted in the
budget process. In addition, as reported at the last meeting, impacts on
accessibility as a result of tuition fee increases were currently being examined
and the Chair will meet with individual Faculties in order to discuss specific
circumstances.
5.
Ouestion Period
Reference was made to an article published in the Vancouver Sun in which
statements concerning the quality of graduating students' basic skills and
knowledge outside their specialty areas and the introduction of entrance exams
were attributed to the Vice-President, Academic. The Vice-President, Academic
was asked if there was evidence that students were graduating without adequate
skills /knowledge outside their specialty areas; if the University was
contemplating entrance exams; and if he was misquoted what action was being
taken to correct the information.
The Vice-President, Academic advised Senate that there has been considerable
interest and a number of stories by the news on this matter. Although he felt he
had been misquoted, the Vice-President Academic felt that not much would be
gained in seeking either a retraction or by writing a letter to the editor since the
coverage was basically positive for the University.
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 3
0
?
6. ?
Reports of Committees
A)
Senate Nominating Committee
1) ?
Paper S.02-80 - Elections
Senate received information that one nomination had been received and that
Maureen Hoskyn, Faculty of Education was elected by acclamation to the
Research Ethics Board for term of office to May 31, 2005. All other vacancies
would be carried forward to the next meeting of Senate.
B)
University Board on Student Discipline/Senate Committee on
Disciplinary Appeals
i) ?
Paper S.02-81 - Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters - 2001/2002
(For Information)
The following persons were in attendance in order to respond to questions: J.
Brockman, Co-Ordinator of the UBSD, J
.
Peters, Senator and member of SCODA,
M. Dinning, Director, Campus Community Services, and R. Heath, Dean of
Student Services and Registrar.
In response to an inquiry concerning the large number of cases before the UBSD
• in the reporting period, Senate was informed that was the result of a unique
situation in which 46 students from one class (BUEC 333) were referred to the
UBSD. On average, the Committee dealt with approximately nine cases per year.
Comment was made that the report was very informative and suggestion was
made that it would be useful if the report were on the Web so that students could
be directed to this information when the issue of academic dishonesty was being
discussed at the beginning of each semester. The Chair indicated that this would
be done.
Reference was made to UBSD case 01-9 and an inquiry was made about the
unusual procedure which was followed in this particular case. Questions were
raised as to why normal procedures were not followed and why the case was not
referred to the Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals.
Since the questions were directed to the President, J. Waterhouse, Vice-President,
Academic took over as Chair at this point.
The President advised that after reviewing the report of the case and the
submission made by the student, an alternate course of action was proposed that
could not subsequently be carried out. Eventually, an agreement was made
with the student because of the unusual circumstances of the case.
. It was noted that the University has well developed procedures to deal with
incidents of academic dishonesty and concern was expressed that the wording of
the summary in this particular case did not give the appearance of openness or
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 4
that justice had been carried out. The authority of the President to overturn the
findings of the UBSD as opposed to changing a penalty recommendation was
questioned and request was made that the policy be reviewed and a response to
this issue be provided at a meeting of Senate in the near future.
M. Stevenson resumed the Chair.
Brief discussion followed with respect to the role of a "tutor" involved in some
cases, and whether or not he/she was also subject to penalties for academic
discipline. Senate was advised that the tutor in these cases was not employed by
SFU so the University had no jurisdiction but if the tutor had been at SFU,
he/she could be disciplined for engaging in academic dishonesty.
Senate's attention was drawn to page 8 of the document and the following
corrections were noted. The first sentence should say that "The Senate
Committee on Disciplinary Appeals dealt with four appeals...." and the last
sentence should read "A summary of the cases...".
On behalf of the University, the Chair thanked the Co-ordinator and members of
the UBSD for the quality of work and their service to the university community
in this regard.
C)
?
Senate Committee on University Priorities
i)
Paper S.02-82 - New Program: Minor in Gender Studies
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors of the proposal for a Minor in Gender Studies in the
Department of Women's Studies in the Faculty of Arts as outlined
in S.02-82"
M. Kimball, Chair, Department of Women's Studies was in attendance in order
to respond to questions.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Paper 5.02-83 - External Review - Faculty of Education
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by P. Grimmett
"that Senate concur with the recommendations from the Senate
Committee on University Priorities concerning advice to the
Faculty of Education on priority items resulting from the external
review as outlined in S.02-83"
Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 5
• ?
iii) ?
Paper S.02-84 - Dissolution of the SFU-UBC Centre for the Stud
y
of
Government and Business
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors the dissolution of the Schedule B SFU-UBC Centre for
the Study of Government and Business as outlined in document
S.02-84"
Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
D) ?
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
i)
Paper S.02-85 - Facult y
of Arts - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved three new courses, deleted
four courses, and revised existing courses within the Department of French; and
revised an existing course in the Department of Women's Studies.
ii)
Paper S.02-86 - Facult
y
of Science - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions
• ?
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved revisions to existing
programs and courses in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences,
Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and
Biochemistry, Physics, and Statistics and Actuarial Science.
iii)
Paper S.02-87 - Faculty of Education - Undergraduate Curriculum
Revisions (For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved revisions to existing courses
and programs in the Faculty of Education.
iv)
Paper S.02-88 - Faculty of Applied Sciences - Undergraduate Curriculum
Revisions (For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved changes to existing courses
and programs in the School of Computing Science and the School of Kinesiology.
E) ?
Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules
i) ?
Paper S.02-89 - Change in membership: SCUP and SCEMP
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 6
Motion 1
Moved by J
.
Waterhouse, seconded by P. Percival
"that Senate approve the revision of the membership /selection of
the Senate Committee on University Priorities relating to the
positions of Faculty Senator, so that in the event that a Faculty
Senator from a Faculty that is not represented by a Dean, is unable
to attend a meeting of SCUP, the Faculty Dean is authorized to
appoint a replacement"
Senate was advised that some Faculties were represented on SCUP by the
Faculty Dean and if the Dean could not attend the meeting, the Acting Dean
attended in his/her place. Other Faculties were only represented by a Faculty
Senator and under the current procedures if the Faculty Senator was absent there
was no representation from that Faculty. Due to the nature of SCUP's business,
it was felt that it was important that all Faculties be represented and the motion
provided a procedure for a short term replacement if a Faculty Senator could not
attend a meeting. Brief discussion followed.
Amendment moved by J. D'Auria, seconded by R. Russell
"that the words 'faculty member' be inserted prior to the word
'replacement' in the last sentence"
Opinion was expressed that faculty members had slightly different ways of
viewing issues from administrators and the intent of the motion was to ensure
that the replacement was a faculty member rather than another administrator. It
was noted however that Deans were faculty members and many of the issues
before SCUP required background knowledge of the issues within the Faculty.
The Dean would be in the best position to have that knowledge or to find an
appropriate replacement.
Question was called on the amendment,
and a vote taken. ?
AMENDMENT FAILED
Question was called on the motion,
and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
Motion 2
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman
"that Senate approve the revision of the membership of the Senate
Committee on Enrolment Management and Planning to include the
Associate Vice-President, Academic as a non-voting member"
Question was called, and a vote taken.
? MOTION CARRIED
?
0
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 7
• ?
ii) ?
Paper S.02-90 - Proposed Policy R20.05 - Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety
(For Information)
Senate received information with respect to the proposed policy on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Safety and the type of sources covered by the policy. A senator
inquired about why the Safety Officer would be a nonvoting member of the
University Radiological Safety Committee (URSC). Senate was advised that the
URSC dealt mostly with policy related issues and since the Safety Officer was
essentially an administrative appointment with duties to carry out procedures
mandated by the policy, it was important for him/her to attend meetings as a
resource person but in terms of decision making it made more sense for the
person to be a non-voting member.
7. ?
Other Business
i) ?
Paper S.02-91 - President's Agenda (For Information
The Chair explained that this information was required in terms of the policy
governing the performance appraisal of the President and the documentation
before Senate was an update of the fuller policy statement on the President's web
page and presented to Senate last year.
One Senator asked why there was no reference to the Burnaby Mountain
• Development. The Chair explained that although he sits on the Board of
Directors and represents the University's interest in that capacity, the issue was
not strictly speaking his agenda. The management of the affairs of the Simon
Fraser UniverCity Community Corporation and the trust that will hold the
income from the development for the benefit of the University has been fixed by
agreements between the Corporation and the Board of Governors.
Reference was made to the paragraph concerning faculty renewal through
Leadership Chairs and Canada Research Chairs and a comment was made that
all new faculty renewals should be treated equally, rather than some being given
special status.
Referring to the statement about senior administrators becoming more involved
in external fundraising concern was expressed that this would give them less
time to carry out their administrative responsibilities. The Chair expressed his
belief that the senior academic leadership of the University should be actively
engaged in external fundraising but that this should not in any way compromise
their ability to fulfill their administrative duties. He felt that the Deans are best
positioned to provide the advocacy needed on the academic content of projects
and programs within Faculties and that the most effective fund raising was done
on a team basis which included the academic leaders of an institution.
Discussion turned to the improvement in student services. The Chair expressed
• his belief that the University has not provided sufficient residence
accommodation in relation to growth in student population and hoped to go
forward beyond the project currently underway to build a new undergraduate
S.M. 2 December 2002
Page 8
student residence. With respect to facilities for Athletics and Recreation, the
Chair reiterated his concern that facilities have not matched the growth in
student numbers and he believed efforts should be made to explore possibilities
and budgetary options to improve the state of recreation and athletic facilities on
campus.
In response to an inquiry about improved student financial assistance, the Chair
explained that one of his priorities was to lobby the Government for grant
improvements, especially full funding for the Government's New Era
commitments. Continued efforts were being made to convince the Government
to restore funding and honour the commitment that higher education would be
protected against a decline in funding. With respect to student financial
assistance, the Chair stressed that one of his top objectives was to sustain and
improve student financial assistance with respect to bursaries and scholarships
so that tuition increases do not negatively impact accessibility. Consequently,
one of the priorities of fund raising must be to secure funds from private sources
that go to the improvement of financial assistance endowments.
ii)
?
Paper S.02-92 - Notice of Senate Vacancy (For Information)
Senate received information that Alison Gill would be absent from Senate until
August 2003 and that a by-election to seek a replacement for the period of her
leave would be necessary.
8. ?
Information
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate will take place on
Monday, January 6, 2003.
The Open Session adjourned at 8:20 pm. Following a brief recess, Senate moved into
Closed Session.
Alison Watt
Director, University Secretariat
0