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S.03-76..

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Senate Committee on University Priorities

Memorandum

TO:

FROM: ?

RE:

Master's of Pest Management External DATE:

July 29, 2003

Review

Two separate reports from the members of the External Review Committee for the

Master's of Pest Management Program (MPM) were submitted following the review site

visit November 27 and .28, 2002. The report of the Chair, Dr. G. Khachatourians, was

submitted on February 18, 2002. The second report was submitted by Drs. C. Scott-

Dupree and Dr. M. Kogan, the two other external members of the review team, on

March 5, 2002. The response of Z. Punja, Director for the Centre for Environmental

Biology and Program Director for MPM and the MPM faculty, was received on April 18,

2002 followed by that of N. Haunerland, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences

on May 23, 2002. Comments from the Dean of Science, W. Davidson, were received

on October 3, 2002. Drs. Davidson, Haunerland and Punja were invited to the

November 6, 2002 meeting of the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) to

provide input into the draft recommendations for the review and to respond to

questions. At its December 4, 2002 meeting, SCUP approved recommendations in

relation to the external review and forwarded them to the January, 6, 2003 meeting of

Senate. Senate did not approve the recommendations and requested that the

Department report back to SCUP by July, 2003. Subsequently, a revised program

proposal for MPM has been developed and approved by the Department of Biological

Sciences and the Faculty of Science and the Senate Graduate Studies Committee.

At its July 9, 2003 meeting, SCUP approved the MPM program proposal and

recommended the following motion:

Motion

That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the proposal for a

revised Master's of Pest Management Program in the Department of Biological

Sciences in the Faculty of Science as outlined in

S.03-76

end.

J. Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies

A. Harestad, Dept. of Biological Sciences

N. Haunerland, Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences

M. Moore, Dept. of Biological Sciences

M. Plischke, Acting Dean, Faculty of Science

SCUP03- 031

. ?

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

t ?

•

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Vice Prider

AGADDAIG

MEMORANDUM

To: SCUP ?

From: Norbert Haunerlanci

Chair

Subject: MPM revision

Date: ?

6/18/03

As requested by Senate on its meeting on January 6, 2003, the Department of Biological

Sciences considered the recommendations by SCUP regarding the Master of Pest

Management Program. Initial discussions took place in the Department Graduate

Studies Committee, which sought wide input from all faculty previously involved in

MPM matters. The Dean of Graduate Studies was invited to a DGSC meeting in which

the recommendations were discussed. In all those discussions it was apparent that the

revision of the program as recommended by SCUP was unworkable; not a single

member of the Department expressed any interest in a strictly course-based professional

program.

With the encouragement of the Dean, the enclosed proposal for a research-based MPM

program that requires fewer resources and is carried by the whole Department was

developed. Various drafts were discussed with the entire Department and the Dean of

Graduate Studies. Concern was voiced about further delay in the approval, which would

result in yet another year of no admissions to the program. The Dean suggested to move

the revised proposal quickly through the relevant levels of approval.

The final version was approved with a strong majority at a Department meeting and

subsequently by the FSGSC, as well as at a Faculty of Science meeting, and was sent to

the Senate Committee on Graduate Studies. We now ask for speedy approval by SCUP

and Senate, so that aggressive recruiting to the program can commence.

Through the generosity of Professor Thelma Finlayson, significant funds are available to

jump-start the program. Four one semester entrance scholarships will be available on an

annual base, with additional funds provided in the first year.

Comments to the specific recommendations by SCUP (printed in cursive letters) follow:

Program Structure and Fees

• ?

The program should be a course-based Master's level degree with a

project requirement, separate from the existing MSc program in the Department

of Biological Sciences;

• The program should be no more than two years in length (excluding a co-op

option);

• The program shall charge regular graduate tuition fees, however, a cost

recovery supplementary course fee for the summer field program should be

charged,

• The program should be encouraged to explore the possibilities of a cohort

based program

There

no interest at all for such a program in the Department. The program would

drain resources away from undergraduate teaching and research based graduate training,

at a time when students expect more service in exchange for their rapidly rising tuition

fees. The Department expressed strong sentiments to rather terminate the program than

offering a course-based professional degree.

Administrative Structure

The following administrative structure is recommended:

• MPM should be a program within the Department of Biological Sciences;

• The MPM Program should have a

Coordinator/Director

whose mandate is to

oversee the students and course of study in the MPM Program and who would

represent the Program on the Department's Graduate Studies Committee;

• The Department of Biological Sciences is responsible for hiring and allocating

faculty to staff the MPM program.

The Department agrees that MPM should be a program within Biological Sciences.

However, rather than re-creating another unit within the Department, with a director and

separate resources, the Department feels that is essential to mount a program that is

carried by the entire unit. In fact, the fragmentation of the Department into too many

units with special interests was criticized in various external reviews, and we do not

want to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Centre for Environmental Biology

Given the proposed changes outlined above, it is advisable that the Centre for

Environmental Biology (CEB) be dissolved. Iffacuizy members decide that it is

important to have the equivalent of a CEB to give them a profile outside of the

University, then it is recommended that they form a Schedule A centre along the

lines of the Behavioural Ecology Research Group, the Centre for Wildlife Ecology

and the Chemical Ecology Research Group which currently exist within the

Department of Biological Sciences.

c2.

• ?

The Department supports this recommendation.

4. Curriculum

In view of the proposed changes to the program structure and administration,

SCUP recommends that the proposal for a revised curriculum be revisited with the

Dean of Graduate Studies, ensuring that the needs ofpresent andfuture students

are considered. In addition, the MPM Program is advised to consider the

introduction of a co-op option.

The revised program structure and curriculum was developed with the Dean of Graduate

Studies, as recommended.

Recruitment and Graduation of Students

In order for the MPM Program to utilize resources most effectively, it is anticipated

that an intake of 10 or more students per year would be needed. To achieve this

goal, the Department will be required to undertake appropriate recruitment efforts

for students and to ensure that they have sufficient course offerings for students to

complete the program within the 24-month timeframe (excluding a co-op option).

Although the number of students is less critical in a research-based program with a lower

• course load, the Department agrees that aggressive recruitment is required to revive the

MPM program. Funds have been set aside to develop a high-impact web site, and to

design and distribute posters and other recruitment material within Canada and beyond.

6. Budget

The Faculty and Department need to allocate realistic budgetary resources to the

MPM Program, including a sufficient number offull-time equivalent CFL faculty

members, in order to ensure the success of the program.

The, costs of the program and the allocation of faculty will be done in the same manner as

for any other undergraduate or graduate program in the Department.

7. Reporting Requirements

SCUP requests that the Dean of Science, the Department of Biological Sciences

and the Master's of Pest Management provide ajoint annual report. The focus of

the report will be to outline the progress that has been made with respect to the

implementation of the recommendations and to identify any problems arising The

report should be presented on an annual basis to the January meeting of SCUP for

a period of three years (with the possibility of an extension of this requirement if

SCUP deems it necessary).

The Department feels that it should be accountable for the program in the same manner as

for other programs. We feel that an annual report to SCUP is an unnecessary and

unjustified requirement unprecedented in similar programs. The evaluation of the

program by Senate should be included with the next Department review. Of course,

progress will continually be monitored by the Department, the Dean of Science, and the

Dean of Graduate Studies, as it is common practice for all our programs.

In closing, I like to add a personal observation. While the review of the MPM program

was difficult and divisive, the Senate of Simon Fraser University must be commended for

facilitating a solution that is not imposed but developed by the Department. In my

opinion, this is a excellent example of how Senate should work.

Cc: Jon Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies

Mike Plischke, Acting Dean of Science

iL•

SIMON FRASER UN! VERSIfl

To: ?

Senate Committee on University Priorities

From: J. Driver, Dean of Graduate Studies

Subject: Curriculum Changes, Faculty of Science - MPM Revisions

The Senate Graduate Studies Committee, at their Meeting on Monday, June 23, 2003, approved

the following:

Change in title and description for BiSc 842-3

Change in description for BiSc 849-0

Change in description for BiSc 816-3

Change in description for BiSc

852-3

Calendar entry change for MPM degree requirements

erit 

J. Driver

Dean of Graduate Studies

i^-

GS.2003.1

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

JUi12O3

MEMORANDUM

To:

From:

Dean of Graduate Studies

Faculty of Science

Subject:

MPM Revision ?

Date:

June 10, 2003

The Department of Biological Sciences approved the revision of the Master of Pest

Management degree April 22, 2003 and the Faculty of Science approved it May 26, 2003.

The proposal and Calendar Change forms are enclosed.

Please place this on the agenda of the next Senate Graduate Studies meeting.

Proposal for a Revised Master of Pest Management Program

Embracing Change to Chart a Future

Issues involving plants and animals as pests continue to occur and affect food

production, forestry, health and conservation. Three recent examples are mountain pine

beetles and salvage logging, mosquitoes and West Nile virus, and sea lice on farmed and

wild salmon. Pests have substantial economic, environmental, health and social

implications at local and international levels.

Pest problems offer opportunities for research of the biological processes

involving pests. They also extend responsibility to the university to educate scientists that

can provide leadership in managing these pests. The traditional M.Sc. degree focuses on

research seeking to understand biological phenomena, and is less concerned with the

application of such knowledge. A Master of Pest Management (MPM) Program is one

way the university can meet its responsibility and allow our students to access the

opportunities in the management and research of pests.

The Need for Change

While having a distinguished record, there is a need for a major revision of the

existing Master of Pest Management Degree. Originally conceived as a course-based

professional program, most graduate students in the past expanded their research to equal

. that of an M.Sc. thesis, and a research based degree remains the clear preference of

students and faculty. Also, there have been dramatic changes in pest issues and

technology that parallel those of other disciplines of the biological sciences. We expect

such changes will continue to occur in the future. Moreover, changes to faculty

associated with the MPM Program, either through retirements or in their interests, have

altered the Department's capacity to offer the program in its past format. Hence, a revised

program is required that matches our capacity and incorporates flexibility and

adaptability to its curriculum. Revisions need to be implemented in a manner that retains

opportunities for graduates of the MPM program to pursue further studies.

Distinctiveness of the Master of Pest Management

The MPM is clearly different from an M.Sc. The MPM is distinctive because it

uses strong applied approaches to learning and discussion of biological principles, and it

provides experience interfacing science with problems facing society. Its curriculum uses

theory to guide practice but recognizes guidance must be effective and workable. A core

of 800-level graduate courses is available to MPM graduate students. These courses,

while theoretically based, extend the principles of biological systems to practices that

reduce the impact of pest organisms. The program is made even more distinctive through

its field courses where pest biology and management are examined and assessed within

their environmental and human contexts.

The Master of Pest Management degree is recognized for its unique professional

aspects that students gain, in part, from valuable contributions of research scientists and

/1.

MSPM revision 5/26/03

managers who participate as guest instructors. The MPM curriculum will remain broad

and cover diverse aspects of pest management. The MPM program provides a unique

opportunity for students by offering a combination of basic research with the practical

applications of pest management principles. As new technologies and skills emerge with

which pest problems can be solved, there are exciting research opportunities for both

students and faculty. Society is faced with formidable challenges because management of

pests is becoming increasingly complex while constrained by limited resources and

concerns of environmental sustainability. Hence, new and innovative approaches to

management of pests are being developed that include biological control, biotechnology,

and chemical ecology.

General research areas of faculty in Biological Sciences that could participate in

the MPM Program include apiculture, behavioural ecology, biological control,

biotechnology, chemical ecology, chemical toxicology, insect biochemistry and

molecular biology, disease vectors, plant pathology, plant stress physiology, vertebrate

pests, and plant ecology. Students may study pests of agricultural crops and forests, small

fruits and orchards, urban environments and recreational areas, rangeland and livestock,

aquaculture fisheries, and those concerning human health.

Revised Master of Pest Management Program

This proposed revision to the Master of Pest Management Program has greatly

reduced course requirements and increased research components. The program

requirements are two graduate field courses, four 800-level graduate courses and a

research-based thesis.

Graduate Field Courses

The field courses combine classroom lectures with field demonstrations and

problem-based learning. The students are provided with an overview of pest control

methods as they are currently practiced in agriculture, forestry, and urban environments.

The courses include visits to working farms, commercial forest operations, grain

elevators, and various research laboratories as well as the demonstration of pesticide

applications. Instruction is supported by specialists from government agencies, extension

services, industry, and pest control companies. When feasible, students participate in pest

management activities, such as field sampling, diagnosis of pest problems, and

calibration and use of equipment.

Students must take two field courses (8 days each):

BISC 6012* Agriculture, Horticulture and Urban Pest Management

A broad range of agricultural pests and their management, with emphasis on

insects, crop diseases, and weeds in greenhouses, orchards and field crops. Pest

problems in urban environments, including stored products in and near buildings.

BISC 6022* Forest Pest Management

/1.

MPM

revision 5/26/03

Management of insect, microbial, vertebrate and plant pests of forests and forest

products, including seed orchards, nurseries, dryland sorting areas. Emphasis is

placed on diagnosis, decision-making, interactions and techniques for forest pest

management.

Some aspects of these courses could be offered best during seasons when particular

biological events or management practices are occurring. Besides the discipline specific

information offering practical experience, current problems and realistic approaches,

these courses are important to students by facilitating team building of the student cohort

and networking with practicing professionals. The courses will be offered in alternating

years; in this way, first and second-year MPM students will take each course as one

group.

Other Graduate Courses

Academic standards comparable to other graduate degrees will be assured through

four regular 800-level graduate courses. Of these, one must be BISC 847 Pest

Management in Practice, and two additional 800 level

courses must be selected from the

following list of BISC graduate courses that are particularly relevant to pest management.

Students can select one elective from other graduate courses in Biological Sciences or

elsewhere with approval of their supervisory committee.

Courses of Particular Relevance to Pest Management

These 800-level graduate courses are usually offered biannually during the fall or

spring semesters, depending on faculty availability and student demand. Some courses

may not be offered in every two-year cycle. Faculty members who normally teach these

courses are indicated.

BISC 8163* Biology and Management of Insects. Bionomics, ecology, economic

impact, and management of the major groups of insects, based on intensive reviews

of information on representative species. (Gries)

BISC 817-3 Evolution of Social Behavior. Study of the proximate and ultimate causes

and consequences of alternative social systems in non-human animals. (Crespi,

Winston)

BISC 841-3 Plant Disease Development and Control. An examination of the major

factors that lead to development of soil-associated and foliar plant diseases in

cultivated crops, in relation to the nature, underlying principles, application and

limitations of various types of control practices. (Punja)

BISC 8423* Molecular physiology of insects. An examination of hormonal and

nutritional factors that influence growth and development, as well as energy

metabolism in insects, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved in

their regulation. (Haunerland)

BISC 843-3 Applied behavioural Ecology. Concepts and methods from behavioural

ecology and population dynamics are used to solve problems of an applied nature

MPM revision 5/26/03

(e.g., pest management, harvesting policies, management of human diseases).

Model building and analysis feature prominently. (Roitberg)

BISC 844-3 Biological Controls. Principles, theory and practice of the use of living

organisms in the natural regulation and the applied control of pest organisms.

Emphasis will be on parasitic insects, and will include host specificity, genetic

controls, and the evolution of host-parasite associations. (Roitberg)

BISC 846-3 Insecticide Chemistry and Toxicology. The chemistry of insecticides, with

emphasis on their toxicology, metabolism and molecular mechanism of action.

(Nicholson)

BISC 847-3 Pest Management in Practice. Status and special problems of research,

development and implementation of pest management programs in different kinds

of ecosystems; consideration of factors such as management systems, economics,

communication, legal and social constraints, and ethics in the practice of pest

management. (Winston, Roitberg, Harestad, Gries, Punja)

BISC

851-3

Vertebrate Pests. Evaluation of the biology of vertebrates that are in conflict

with human activities; discussion of control strategies and economic and social

impacts. (Harestad)

BISC 852_3* Biology of animal disease vectors. Physiological, molecular, and

behavioural interactions between parasites of human importance and their insect

vectors. Emphasis placed on current literature relating to modem approaches in

reducing parasite transmission. (Lowenberger)

BISC 884-3 Special Topics in Pest Ecology and Management. A course that provides

graduate students with an in-depth analysis of a topic in pest ecology and

management. The course content will change from year to year to reflect student

interests and topical research, and can be taught by any faculty member of the

Department of Biological Sciences.

Thesis

Students enrol in BISC 849 and write a laboratory or field-based research thesis.

The thesis involves some aspect of pest biology and management. In their theses,

students are encouraged to include sections where their research is interpreted to offer

guidance for the management of pests. The MPM thesis has an applied orientation, which

distinguishes it from the M.Sc. program.

BISC 8490* Thesis in Pest Management. An independent research thesis based on

laboratory or field-based research and focused on some aspect of pest management.

The research may be supervised by any faculty member in the Department of

Biological Sciences, under the same standards and procedures as M.Sc. research.

The research can be conducted in collaboration with other organizations or

institutions willing to sponsor the project.

Program Delivery

Although the program can be completed in 2 years, it is anticipated the normal

completion time would be slightly longer (2.5 years). To ensure sufficient number and

'10.

MPM revision

5/26/03

• topics of courses are offered, the Department would need to mount, on average, three

relevant 800 level courses/year, as listed above. These courses will be open to M.Sc and

Ph. D. students as well. Faculty in Biological Sciences normally teach one graduate

course every two years; this would amount to the regular graduate teaching load of 6

faculty.

After the retirement of Dr. Rahe in 2004, eight faculty would remain who were

previously affiliated with the MPM Program: Drs. Gries, Harestad, Punja, Lowenberger,

McMullen, Roitberg, Nicholson, and Winston. However, Dr. Winston is currently

seconded to other activities, and Dr. Nicholson, while offering a key graduate course for

the program, is more aligned with the Master of Environmental Toxicology Program.

Other faculty with current research interests that have implications to biology or

management of pests include Drs. Elle, Haunerland, Moore, Plant, and Gail Anderson

(Criminology). These faculty could contribute to the program in various ways, e.g.,

through graduate courses in their area of specialty or through guest lectures in BISC 847,

BISC 601/602 or other courses.

When fully operational, the total enrolment would be no more than 20 students.

There is sufficient capacity in the Department to ensure supervision of MPM students and

offer enough 800-level courses to meet their needs. Ms. McMullen could teach the two

field courses as part of her regular teaching assignment. Besides the faculty listed above,

any other interested faculty member in the Department could supervise graduate students

•

in the MPM Program, or offer a relevant special topics course.

Students would be assessed and admitted to the MPM program using the same

procedures used for the M.Sc. program. A faculty supervisor must be identified prior to

• ?

admission. The graduate courses and the MPM requirements will be listed in the calendar

together with the Department of Biological Sciences.

MPM students will be charged regular graduate fees. For the field courses, the

Department would provide transportation, but students would pay their expenses for food

and lodging.

* denotes courses with changed course title or description

ii,.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Course Change Form

Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 842-3 Insect Development and Reproduction.

Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:

Course Number:___________ ?

Credit Hour: _____________ ?

Title: ?

Description:

x ?

Prerequisite: _____________ ?

Vector:

From:

BISC 842-3 Insect Development and Reproduction.

Analysis of hormonal factors that influence growth, development, and reproduction in insects,

with emphasis on the use of hormone analogues and anti-metabolites for population

management.

To:

BISC 842-3 Molecular physiology of insects.

An examination of hormonal and nutritional factors that influence growth and development, as

well as energy metabolism in insects, with emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved in

their regulation.

The

Rationale:

course content has been expanded to include molecular mechanisms of hormone action in

insects. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.

Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that

students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.

Effective date: Calendar or

September 2003

1w?.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Course Change Form

Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 849-0 Master of Pest Management Thesis.

Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:

A supervised individual analysis in detail and depth of an aspect of pest management and the

preparation of a scholarly paper on it.

To:

An independent research thesis based on laboratory or field-based research and focused on some

• ?

aspect of pest management. The research may be supervised by any faculty member in the

Department of Biological Sciences.

Rationale:

The thesis is based on independent research in an area of interest to pest management of greater

depth than suggested by the original description. There is no longer an extended essay option.

The description is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.

Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that

students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.

Effective date: Calendar or

September 2003

/3.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Course Change Form

Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 816 Biology and management of forest insects

Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:

Biology and management of forest insects

Bionomics, ecology, economic impact, and management of the major groups of forest insects,

based on intensive reviews of information on representative species.

To:

Biology

and management of insects

Bionoinics, ecology, economic impact, and management of the major groups of insects, based on

intensive reviews of information on representative species.

Rationale:

The course content has been expanded to include economically important insects in agriculture

as well. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.

Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that

students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.

Effective date: Calendar or

September 2003

I',.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY?

Course Change Form

Existing Course Number/Title: BISC 852-3 Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Please check appropriate revision(s) being recommended:

BISC 852-3 Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

Analyses of problems in the management of insects and related organisms that directly harm or

that carry diseases of man or livestock.

To:

BISC 852-3 Biology of animal disease vectors.

. ?

Physiological, molecular, and behavioural interactions between parasites of human importance

and their insect vectors. Emphasis is placed on current literature relating to modern approaches

in reducing parasite transmission.

Rationale:

The course content has been updated to include molecular mechanism of disease transmission by

insects. The course is revised as part of the revision of the MPM program.

Does this course duplicate the content of a previously approved course to such an extent that

students should not receive credit for both courses. If so, please specify.

Effective date: Calendar or

September 2003

'S.

The Calendar entry should occur under Department of Biological Sciences (p

376)

Admission - Msc, MPM, and PhD

See "Graduate General Regulations" on page 298 for admission requirements

MSc and PhD requirements....

(unchanged)

MPM requirements

The Master of Pest Management is a research-based degree distict from an MSc in its

strong applied approaches to learning and discussion of biological principles, and in

interfacing science with problems facing society. The MPM program requires a thesis

based on original research with relevance to Pest Management (BISC 849).

Each MPM student must complete the following courses:

BLSC 601-2, BISC 602-2, and BLSC 847-3

Two courses selected from the following list:

BISC 816-3, BISC 817-3, BISC 841-3, BISC 842-3, BISC 843-3, BISC 844-3,

BISC 846-3, BISC 847-3, BISC

1-3, BISC 852-3, BISC 884-3.

One additional 800-level elective (3 credits).