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S.98-44

S ?

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

kis am°

Office of the Vice-President, Academic

Memorandum

To:

From: ?

Gagai/f/17

Proposed Amendments to the

Date: ?

April 23, 1998

University Policy on International

Activities (GP 23)

Attached is the proposed revision of GP 23 University Policy on International

Activities which has been reviewed and approved by the Senate Committee on

International Activities.

Motion:

That Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors as set out in

4 the proposed revised University Policy

on International Activities.

POLICY ON INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

1.0 GENERAL

International activities at Simon Fraser University include: study-abroad

programmes for domestic students; an international student presence on

campus; student and faculty academic exchanges with foreign institutions; afi4

initiatives taken by individual faculty members as part of their regular research,

either in Canada or abroad. The University also engages in development

assistance projects that contribute to an improved quality of life in de.velopin 44-

countries, complement the University's academic mission and support the

- University's role as a responsible and responsive international centre of higher

learning.

These activities impose on the University and its members the responsibility to

ensure that international activities are consistent with institutional values,

. ?

especially when the policies and practices of a host government overseas may be

subject to criticism.

2.0

POLICY PURPOSE

Whether Where international activities require approval are spenseFed by

individuals or by the institution, policy guidance is required to. safeguard the

University's reputation ensure the proper disposition of University resourcesir

and assist in making informed judgements about the desirability of specific

international agreements; and ensure that these activities support the

University's mission.

This Policy provides conditions, assessment principles and procedures to guide

decisions affecting University participation in cases where the institution's name

or resources are associated with an international activity.

3.0

POLICY APPLICABILITY

3.1 This Policy applies to all international activities that are to be conducted in

whole or in part outside Canada and that are to be undertaken by the

University on the basis of a eontrac-t,

contribution

agreement or letter of

understanding signed by the President or which require approval by

Senate or the Board of Governors are

undertaken in the name of the

Draft

March 3, 1998

MY 4ITh W

Mot -^WAIW 

[ii

3.2 International

activities not requiring the signature

of the President or

approval by Senate or the

Board

of Covernors

that are entered

into by

academic or

administrative units shall

be compatible with the

spirit

of this

Policy

and

shall be reported for information to the

Senate

Committee on

International Activities. Where such

activities involve

credit instruction,

they

shall

require the approval of the

involved

the

34al International activities undertaken

individual faculty, staff

students

on their own

behalf are

not covered by this

Policy.

4.0 ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES

The following conditions

shall

taken

into account when

assessing

the

desirability

of entering izto an international

agreement

4.1 the

activity

complements the University's academic mission

and meets its

academic standards;

the activity conforms to

all

current

University policies

with particular

attention to those policies governing academic freedom,

research and

ethics;

4.3 the activity conforms to

the

legal rights

and

obligations

enshrined in

international laws, covenants

and

declarations to

which

Canada is a

signatory;

4.4 ?

the activity mitigates rather

than

abets the violation of human rights;

4.5 ?

the activity has either a neutral or a beneficial effect on the environment;

4.6 ?

the activity supports the equitable participation of women;

4.7 ?

the activity supports the participation of minority peoples;

Draft March 3, 1998

4.8 the activity, in both its planning and its implementation, embodies

practices that advance partnership with the people most affected by the

undertaking;

4.9 ?

the activity is designed to protect the safety of University personnel on

overseas assignment;

4.10 the activity guarantees University control over student access to its study

programs; and

4.11 the activity acknowledges University authority to select and administer its

own personnel.

5.0

HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS

From time to time, international activities will be proposed in countries where

there may be ethical concerns about the possible denial of human rights. It is the

University's responsibility to determine to the best of its ability that the activities

it engages in contribute to the dignity and well being of its foreign partners and

do not act as instruments of abuse.

When assessing the human rights implications of any international activity, the

following principles shall apply:

5.1 The practices of an international activity taking place within a country

governed by an abtisive political regime should be assessed on their own

merits.

5.2 The closer the connection between an international activity and a foreign

agency that is known to abuse human rights, or the closer the connection

to the offending practices themselves, the less acceptable the University's

participation.

5.3 Individuals who live under an abusive regime should not be additionally

penalized by being denied access to assistance through international

cooperation.

5.4

The desirability of University involvement in an international activity

should increase in proportion to the benefits bestowed locally on

individuals and communities as a consequence of the activity.

5.5 ?

Without abrogating the University's academic values, the culture of a host

country should be taken into account and treated with sensitivity when

assessing the human rights implications of an international activity.

5. ?

Draft

March 3, 1998

5.6

While respecting cultural differences, the principle of academic freedom

must be upheld in all international activities involving the University

and a foreign partner.

5.7 ?

International activities should assist local recipients of assistance to make

informed judgements about human rights.

6.0

THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

(S CIA)

6.1 ?

Designation

The Senate Committee on International Activities (SCIA) is a Standing

Committee (Reporting Category "B".)

Vice President, Academic

Chair

(or designate)

Senator (Faculty Member)

Elected by and from Senate

2 years

Senator (Faculty Member)

Elected by and from Senate

2 years

Senator (Faculty Member)

Elected by and from Senate

2 years

Senator (At-large)

Elected by and from Senate

2 years

Urd er vduok.'

Gd.io1e

Senator (Student)

4ciwqe)

Elected by and from Senate

2 years

Secretary (Non-voting) ?

Executive Director, External Relations

Director. Office of International Cooperation

mmittee snan meet at least once each semester prat the call of the Chair.

Quorum shall be a simple majority of the voting members...

The Committee may strike sub-committees as required. such as the International

Student Exchange Committee.

enuve.

broad

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4proi! favi.

propol

6.3 Terms of Reference

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hecor'.

6.3.1 ?

To ensure that proposals for international activities requiring

presidential siature er appreval by Senate er the Beard ef

Covcrnor& meet the conditions and criteria established by the

Draft

March 3, 1998

University Policy on International Activities, and by the University

Policy on Service Contracts.

6.3.3 ?

To advise the Vice-President. Academic

Prczidcnt

with respect to

the desirability of entering into international activities that are to be

conducted in whole or in part outidc Canada and that are proposed

to be undertaken by the University on the basis of a contract,

contribution agreement, letter of understanding, or similar

6.3.i4

To maintain an overview and familiarity with international

agreements not requiring the signatufe of the Prccidcnt

that are

entered into by academic or administrative units.

6.3.4 ' ?

To report annually to Senate.

6.4

Procedures

1•

6.4.1 ?

The Committee shall;be provided with copies of international

activity proposals and whatever other information is needed to

administer this Policy, based on procedures to be determined by the

Committee.

6.42 ?

Every proposal shall indicate that it has the approval of the

appropriate ChairDirector._and-er Faculty Dean and shall contain

a statement of goals and objectives, a clear disclosure of the

proposed activities and a budget.

6.4.3 ?

Proposals shall be accompanied by verification that the prospective

parties to the activity have been given a copy of the University

Policy on International Activities.

6.4.4 ?

Proposals shall be submitted to the Secretary of SCIA for

distribution to the Committee.

6.4.5 ?

The Committee shall review each proposal to ensure compliance

with the University Policy on International Activities and shall

recommend acceptance, modification or rejection to the Vice-

President. Academic President arid/or to the Senate, as may be

required. Where approval of the Senate or the Board of Governors

is required. the Vice-President. Academic shall inform the

appropriate body(ies) of the Committee's recommendation.

6.4.6 International agrccmcnt& not requiring the President's ignaturc

that have been entered into by academic or administrative units

shall be reported for information to the Senate Committee on

Draft

March 3, 1998

International Aetivities by the Seeretary of SGIA. Per this purpose,

it is the responsibility ef the signateries to sueh agreements te

provide the Seer-e" with apprepriate deeumentatien.

6.4.1F ?

Where there is concern on the part of SCIA that any international

activity which uses the University's name or resources may be in

non-compliance with this Policy, the Committee shall be entitled to

receive further information and shall report to the Vice-President.

Academic. P-recidcnt regarding any violations that may be

discovered.

6.4.Z9

Copies of international activity contracts or other agreements shall

be jded kept on

the Office of International

Cooperation and-where they shall be kept on file and be open for

inspection by members of the University community.

7.0 INTERPRETATION

Questions of Policy interpretation or application shall be referred to the

President whose decision shall be final.

1,. ?

Draft March 3, 1998

APPENDIX A

Illustrative List of International Activities to Which the Policy

Applies

The

Policy

applies to

all international activities undertaken in the University's

name e&c=f where explicitly excepted. such as research activities requiring the

approval of the Vice-President, Research. -

Examples of international activities to which the Policy applies, include: -

exc

a

?

mestic studenti. and non-credi 

inte 

a

hona lii!1MI !

o education and training l2rogjams for intemational clients 

0

arTangements for the delivery. sale or ficensing outside Canada of the 

UniversiJ3^s credit and no-n-credit courses, and 

—

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-

i

ntemational deve

l

opm

e

t

TJJikiitsC

1

2roj

cts

P ?

Ce)! th q I'

iT14Li4the

that trade on the 

Universiti-15 name aiid rel2utation 

International research projects undertaken

in the name of the institution shall

discretion of the Vice-President. Research.

Draft March 3, 1998