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S.03-68

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Senate Committee on University Priorities

Memorandum

TO:

FROM: ?

RE:

Great Northern Way Campus

DATE:

June 19, 2003

Academic Vision

At its June 11, 2003 meeting, the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)

considered the Great Northern Way Campus (GNWC) Academic Vision document

(attached). This document was created by the four institutional partners, SFU, UBC,

BCIT and ECIAD in an effort to develop an academic vision statement for what the

GNWC might become. A document providing background information on the campus

and outlining the development of the academic vision is also attached for information.

Over the past few months, each of the four institutions has taken this vision document

through their respective academic review and approval processes. To date, the

document has received approval from the other three institutions and SFU is the final

institution to consider it.

During its review of the document, SCUP raised the following concerns:

Issue - Where the funding for the campus would come from, the ongoing costs of

the campus that SFU would be responsible for and whether SFU would have the

option now of exiting from the consortium.

Discussion -

The current costs of the campus are covered by rent collected on

existing facilities on the campus. Longer term, the plan is not to seek FTE

funding from the Government but rather to recover costs through student tuition

and other sources such as corporate or government training grants. It is

expected that future land development initiatives will cover some of the capital

costs for the campus. SFU's "share" of the gift is approximately $7 - $8 million

and it is part of a consortium along with three other institutions.

Issue - Whether student representatives have been involved in the planning

process for this campus.

Discussion -

It was noted that the initial Finning Planning Committee, which was

active in the latter part of 2001 and the winter and summer of 2002, did have

student representation. In the Fall of 2002, this committee was replaced by the

SFU Academic Planning Committee. Efforts to find a student representative to

serve on this committee were not successful. Concern was expressed that the

document does not mention any student participation into its creation nor does it

appear to allow for future student input into the planning process.

• Issue - The overlap between the proposed initial areas of program focus for the

GNWC and the SFU Surrey campus.

Discussion -

Considerable concern was expressed around the proposal to

have initial areas of focus in New Media and Entertainment Arts, Arts, Culture

and Design and Applied Business as all of these areas appear in direct

competition with the proposed areas of focus being developed for the SFU

Surrey campus.

Given that the four post secondary partners have decided not to seek FTE

funding for the campus, it was envisioned that the target student audience

would be comprised of non-traditional students, seeking lifelong learning

opportunities and who would pay cost recovery tuition fees.

Issue - The proposed research vision for the campus, a commercial/industrial

collaboration, does not appear to recognize that research can be done for its

own sake.

Discussion -

Concern was expressed that the research activities of GNWC

would be compromised if they focused primarily on research for profit or

research directed by a particular company's agenda as proposed by the vision

document.

Issue - The vision in the proposal seems to be solely focused on technology

and innovation.

Discussion -

For its long term success and viability, it would seem to be more

appropriate that the campus broaden its vision.

In order meet its obligations as a member of the consortium, SFU needs to

provide its decision on the Great Northern Way Campus Academic Vision

document by July, 2003. Due to the extent and nature of the concerns raised in its

review of the Great Northern Way Campus Academic Vision document, SCUP

would recommend approval in principle but with the following provisos:

Motion:

It is moved that Senate approve in principle the Great Northern Way Campus

Academic Vision document with the following caveats:

That before SFU participates in or offers any academic courses or programs at the

Great Northern Way Campus due diligence is undertaken to ensure that the

proposed offerings:

• Do not compete with existing and proposed SFU academic

course/program offerings;

• Will not seek FTE funding and will target non-traditional learners;

• Have a targeted labour market and identified student demand;

• Are financially viable;

• Have appropriate human, fiscal and physical resources;

• Enhance and contribute to the overall University mission and strategic

plan;

o Have been reviewed and approved through the regular academic

approval channels of the University culminating in approval by Senate

prior to their offering.

c: R. Marteniuk ?

Members of SCUP

SCUP 03 - 025

A Vision Statement for the Great Northern Way Campus

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WU) ?

A Submission to the Senate Committee on University Priorities

MOTION: That SCUP approve in principle the attached Vision Statement for the

GNWC.

BACKGROUND

Finning International donated to SFU, the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, BCIT

and UBC a parcel of land located on Great Northern Way, just east of False Creek. The

gift was provided to all four Institutions who agreed that they would explore the

possibility of offering academic programs on the site. The Presidents of the four

institutions, in June of 2002, created a "Charter of Principles" that set out broad

guidelines for the development of the campus which was envisaged as a "new integrated

learning and research environment that will build on the various strengths of the

partners." This document is attached for information.

This parcel of land is tentatively called "The Great Northern Way Campus" primarily

because of its address:

555

Great Northern Way. The Vice-Presidents Academic of the

involved Institutions formed an Academic Steering Committee and this Committee,

aided by the Chairs of the four institution specific GNWC academic planning

committees, has worked over the past year to develop an academic vision statement as to

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what this campus might become.

The site will be developed with new buildings to suit the agreed upon academic purposes

for the site and to house commercial use which will generate funds to partially support

the academic mission. The finished development will include up to one million sq. ft. of

academic space available to the four academic partners.

Currently, the existing buildings on the GNWC are being used by UBC, Emily Can and

BCIT for some of their academic programs. These facilities, over the next three to ten

years will be replaced by new buildings.

The timeline for development of the GNWC is not definite, with a window of three to ten

years being the best estimate at this time. This timeline will be influenced significantly

by various factors, including available funding for new buildings and funds for ongoing

operating costs of any programs offered there.

The GNWC is not envisaged as a new, independent University. Any degrees granted to

students taking courses or programs at GNWC will be awarded by one or more of the

four Institutions. For example, SFU could offer one of its own programs at GNWC and

award its own degree upon completion of the program. Alternatively, two or more of the

Institutions could offer a joint program with some agreement being made about which

Institution(s) will award the degree.

One issue is clear: Before SFU offers any new courses or programs at the GNWC, either

as stand alone courses/programs or in cooperation with one or more of the other

Institutions, SFU Senate approval would have to be obtained before doing so. There is a

clear understanding among the Institutions that each Institution would have to seek the

appropriate approval for any courses/programs offered at the GNWC.

To facilitate SFU's involvement in the GNWC planning process, an SFU Academic

Planning Committee was established and is responsible for identifying and coordinating

the needs of SFU in regard to the use of the GNWC. Members include: Ron Marteniuk

(Special Advisor to the Academic Vice President who serves as Chair of this

Committee); Fred Popowich (Faculty of Applied Sciences); Tom Perry (Faculty of Arts);

Gloria Sampson (Faculty of Education); Rolf Mathewes (Faculty of Science); and Laurie

Summers (ex officio), Director, Academic Planning.

In May of 2002 John Waterhouse, in a memo to all faculty, asked for expressions of

interest in regard to SFU's possible role into this academic vision. Since that time, the

SFU GNWC Academic Planning Committee has been approached by a number of

interested individuals/groups.

Most notably, the following initiatives have been brought forward for possible inclusion

in the GNWC:

a. A Centre for Sustainable Urban Environments (lead-Jock Munro)

Bioinformatics (lead-Willie Davison)

c. Forensic Science (lead - Psychology)

d. Ergonomics (lead - Jim Morrison)

Centre for Quantum Computing (lead Morley Lipsett)

Workplace Transitions Centre (lead - Evan Alderson)

Over the past year, the above input from SFU, along with the ideas and needs from the

other three institutions, have been used to develop the draft Academic Vision for GNWC

(this document is attached). The Committee for this initiative is composed of the four

VPs Academic and the Chair of each of the institution specific planning committees.

This Committee wrote the Vision Statement with the aid of a professional writer and the

document was altered somewhat by the Presidents of the four Institutions.

The composition of the above committee consists of: BCIT (Tony Tanner and Heinekey,

Marsh); Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (Monique Fouquet and Marika

Morissette); SFU (John Waterhouse and Ron Marteniuk); and, UBC (Barry McBride and

Neil Guppy)

Along with the above process, two consultations regarding the GNWC were held at SFU

Burnaby (Wednesday, May

28th)

and at SFU Harbour Centre (May

30th)

where all

interested SFU faculty were invited to participate in a discussion of the DRAFT version

of the Vision Statement for the purpose of soliciting feedback about this document.

Charter Principles

Great Northern Wa

Campus

A Consortium of UBC, SFU, BCLT and ECIAD

June 28, 2002

Preamble

The four institutions have acquired the property known as the Great Northern Way

Campus for the purposes of creating a new integrated learning and research environment

that will build on the various strengths of the partners. It is important that the

development of the academic vision be reflective of a number of guiding principles that

have been agreed upon by the undersigned.

Guiding Charter Principles

• The Consortium agrees that the educational models to be used will be innovative

and include new methodologies and pedagogical strategies among a variety of

academic areas across all four educational institutions. There will be a significant

emphasis on inter-institutional integrated programming.

• Where feasible there should be a "one stop" provision of services for students

(one registration office, one financial aid office, etc.).

• The project is not a "real estate deal" but appropriate real estate decisions will be

made to further the achievement of the educational goals.

• The vision must be sensitive to the economic development objectives of the City

of Vancouver and consultation with the surrounding community will take place in

determining the long-term vision for the campus.

•

The vision must be sensitive to the needs of the British Columbia economy.

• The vision should be broad enough to allow for the development of a world class

future-oriented hi-tech environment that is inclusive of both full and part time

instruction (lifelong learning), multiple delivery formats, pure and applied

research/technology transfer, traditional and non-traditional students, research

incubators and partnerships with the private and public sectors.

Aronvynowles

President, BCIT

)E,^, 

Did Michael Stevens-on

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Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page 2

The Goal

Four academic partners - the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the Emily

Can Institute of Art

Design, Simon Fraser University and the University of British

Columbia - will:

Create a unique and integrated centre of excellence:

facilitating the convergence of science and technology with art,

culture and design; and,

focusing on renewing the urban environment within the context of

a knowledge-based economy.

The Great Northern Way Campus (GNWC) is envisioned -ai an acaidèniiô anchor

for a high-technology precinct that will attract and interact with -industr

y

- educating

future workers, sharing research and inspiring and facilitating commercial applications

and development. Built from the proceeds of complenieniary high-tech industrial,

commercial and residential real estate development, aswel1 as from the resources of

industry and government, the campus will house acadcniic prograhis that are unique in

scope and international in appeal.

This collaborative campus will immediately expand academic choice in B.C. It

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will spark and inspire economic, artistic and technical innovatioi; through research,

development and commercialization. It will

plrovide

direct economic stimulation - and

corresponding financial opportunities for the partner institutions and their students -

through close cooperation with industry; and itwillsfnd as a regional, national and

international showcase for exemplary high-density urban design.

Fully integrated inthë redeveloped False Creek flats, the campus will draw

inspiration, insight and resources froin its tenants,enants,

"

4

collaborators

"

and neighbours,

including related industries and businesses and the new residents who these entities

support. Accordingl

y

, the GNWCeconôthic impact will be regional, provincial and

national, and its reputation and aóademic draw will be international.

In shortthe timely creãtiónof a Great Northern Way Campus will fulfill four

critical and urgent social and academiC goals:

1.....

. ..Innovation - The GNWC will concentrate on innovation in all areas,

...from developing research capacity with a strategic focus on the new

•

^ .. 

economy to modeling best practices in teaching and program design. It

il1 also strive to remain nimble in structure to assure the flexibility

ec

essary for ongoing innovation.

2. Integration -

The GNWC will make available the strengths of four

leading institutions to students whose academic and professional goals

cannot easily be met by any one of the four alone.

Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page 3

Enhancement -

The academic collaboration among institutions will

create synergies; the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts.

Stimulation -

The New Economy demands a talented pool of

citizens who will continue to educate, innovate and stimulate economic

growth in the local, provincial and national economies. GNWC will

provide that talent.

The History

In 2001, Finning International Inc. donated

7.5

hectares— the equivalè'iiff six

city blocks between Main Street and Clark Drive in Vancou er - to four top-of-their-

class educational institutions: UBC, SFU, ECIA+D and BCIT. This $33.8-million'gif

was intended to do more than provoke synergies among these postsecondary leaders. It

was to inspire a collaboration that would also include indiistry and government, creating

benefits that would flow to all the citizens of Vancouver - indeed- all British

Columbians and Canadians.

Municipal and regional governmentofficials immediately recognized the potential

value of a GNWC development. This innovative, institution offcrs

the promise of

maintaining the "industrial" use of this importàntpropérty, attracting high-tech

businesses that would create employment in the citys core without bringing the social

dislocation or environmental degradation sometimes associated with "industry." The site

- which can accommodate a muôh as 2.5 milliori square feet in new development - lies

conveniently along major transportation and telecommunications corridors, making it an

ideal location for a high-density residential, cQmthercial and industrial centre. All that

was missing was a focus.

, .

GNWC might be presented as an opportunity whose time has come. It is certainly

clear that the time forrnu1tidisiplinàry, inter-institutional collaboration is upon us - that

a collaborative model can reveal sfrengths in research and scholarship that surpass the

expertise and potential of any single partner. Given the state of the national Innovation

Agenda, itis also timely to leverage the potential benefits of collaboration between

academia and industry - especially between these particular institutions and the high-tech

and design-oriented industries for which Vancouver already has a significant reputation.

This is unquestionably the right time. And now, with Finning's donation of the

GNW lands, the opportunity has come.

The Vision

The GNWC partners propose to break new ground using the best of their proven

tools and talents. in the immediate term, each of the individual elements of the academic

Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page 4

program may look familiar to one or several of the existing institutions. The academic

innovations - the new tools, techniques and synergies - will arise from these combined

strengths being available in one location.

GNWC will capture international attention as a model for academic cooperation,

for economic integration and for an evolving program that recognizes and enhances the

interconnectedness of science and technology with art, culture and design.

The major, defining elements can be broken into nine parts:

Academic program themes

These will be:

• high-technology oriented;

• multidisciplinary; ?

• inter-institutional, breaking through traditional academic barriers;.

collaborative, not just among institutions, but also:ith input from

private experts.

A Signature Identity

While some course content may be seamless between what is offered at GNWC

and what is offered at the partner institutions, certain subject matter will

automatically suggest a GNWC connection. The list will surely

, evolve over time

to take advantage of new opportunities ànd.to meet demand, but the initial focus

will include: ?

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. -

• New media and entertainment arts

atiónnd computer technology

(digital convergençç

Cs,

ed iisualizations, human-machine

interfaces, virtua

• Art, culture,design

hitecture (computer animation, public art, green

architecture ' nanotec

y rchitecture, environmental technology,

interactive desiiii1

iFdesigri theatre and exhibition design, research

and deve1opment'in

, sound design, broadcast design);

. Applied business (e

:i*eneuria1 leadership, small business

start-up training, venture-capital initiatives) within

3. Tëthñôlogy-eñhanced Learning

A concenträtiôn of technological resources will enhance the interaction between

artists and designers and conventional "high-technology" students - computer

scientists and theoreticians. The program will therefore include:

• An innovative and experimental mix of learning technologies;

• Creative use of technology in the learning process;

• E-learning opportunities that will make important sections of the

programming available beyond the Lower Mainland.

Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page

4. Research

Setting aside the distinctions between what aspects of academic effort are

theoretical and what are vocational, GNWC partners will pursue research goals

that include the fundamental but which concentrate on the practically applicable.

These will include:

• Collaborative research involving academics, industry, government, the arts,

and public non-governmental organizations;

• An on-campus business incubator;

• Initiatives to enhance the public good, including attracting government and

private research funding and expanding opportunities for development in the

city's urban core; ?

..±

• An efficient framework for commercialization, knowledge and teçmologv

transfer;

• Value-added consulting for all non-academic pañners.

A Diverse Student Population

The GNWC will be flexible in serving the learning c

ty. It will offer

everything from modular courses to complete degree

ris.These might

include

Single courses, diplomas and certi

Undergraduate and graduate degrc

Short-stay opportuiiities for year-c

for senior undergraduates and

for graduate students. -.

ing techniques will be relevant and useful, and

norm in pedagogy and curriculum design, GNWC

approaches, including:

croject-based learning;

team-based learning.

Enha

Exchange of People

GNWC will provide a critical community link to this comprehensive academic

institution, including everything from research cooperation, as above, to public

spaces devoted to showcasing leading edge art, design, and technology. It will

Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page 6

also facilitate the flow of people among partner institutions. This will be

accomplished by

• Easy reciprocal flow of students and faculty to and from GNWC and partner

campuses;

• Facilitated student transfer among partner institutions;

• Strong connectivity between community and institution using public spaces

on campus to enhance private and community input;

• A compelling environment for international collaboration - attracting research

attention and funding, as well as committed learners and

expertsfrprn

around

the globe.

8. Commercial/Industrial Collaboration

As a leading research resource, as well as a source pf qualified personn

will attract compatible industries, creating opportunities for students as

industry/research synergies These might include

• Extensive student exposure to related industries thiough co-ops, internships

and participation in applied research;

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• Valuable industry input on potential directions for research and academic

programming; ?

• Immediate opportunity for faculty to test and ' ,_apply research results;

• Direct industry funding.

Kel

9. Institutional/Structural inte2ration

The four institutioiiswdüld s

infrastructure service as ire.

.. -Admissions';':

.7 .

.. information Technology;

• •Library;

• Career advising;

• Acadmicad:ising.

The Mechanism

grate as many of the support and

Examples include but are not limited to:

Organizationally, the GNWC will combine the strengths of its four partner

institutions with the collaborative input of community, industry and government.

Great Northern Way - An Academic Vision

January 27, 2003; Page 7

Structurally, it might benefit from the example of previous collaborations, such as the

example of the New Media Innovation Centre (NewMIC) at Harbour Centre.

Funding sources might include:

• GNVS T

real estate development;

• Commercial retailing at GNW;

• Industry tenants and partners;

• Governments (municipal, provincial, federal);

• Domestic student tuition;

• International Student tuition;

• International partners (public and private);

• Patents, royalties, licensing, and spin-off equity,

• Fundraising

The Timeline

The Great Northern Way Campus will move forward as expeditiously as is

consistent with the development of an agreed upon acaderiiic p1nand the availability of

capital and operating resources

•'VSV

SVS.

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