S.98-62

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC

MEMORANDUM

To: ?

Senate

From: ?

D. Gagan, Chair

Senate Committee on Academic Planning

Subject

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School of Resource and Environmental Management -

Revised Proposal for Cooperative Resource Management Institute

(SCAP Reference: SCAP 98-27)

Date:

?

June 15, 1998

Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to

the following motion:

Motion:

"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors

as set forth in S.98 -62 , the proposed Cooperative Resource

Management Institute, as a Schedule A institute."

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SCAP 98 - 27

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

?

SCHOOL OF RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

MEMORANDUM

TO: Alison Watt

?

DATE: 25 May 1998

Director, Secretariat Services

Registrar's Office

FROM: Peter Williams

Professor and Director

School of Resource and Environmental Management

SUBJECT: Revised proposal for Cooperative Resource Management Institute

Please find attached a revised proposal for the Cooperative Resource Management Institute,

which SCAP tabled at a previous meeting. We have made revisions to the proposal to respond to

the concerns raised at the meeting and conveyed to us afterwards by memo from David Gagan.

Specifically, we have amended the proposal to reflect the broader range of institutes,

centres, and departments at SFU that are potentially interested in the topic area. We have also

discussed the proposal with faculty members in other departments on campus and have added

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several to the list of charter members. Furthermore, we have consulted with the directors of the

two most relevant SFU institutes and centres, the Institute of Fisheries Analysis and the

Community Economic Development Centre. They have written letters of support, which are

attached at the back of the proposal. These letters support the proposed Cooperative Resource

Management Institute and indicate that its work will complement, rather than overlap, their work.

We look forward to discussing this further with SCAP at its meeting on 10 June. Thank

you.

Petr Williams

cc:

R. M.

Peterman

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A Proposal For

Cooperative Resource Management Institute

at

Simon Fraser University

submitted by:?

School of Resource and Environmental Management

25

May 1998

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Summary of Proposal

The proposed Institute will stimulate, encourage, and enhance cooperative research

between faculty at Simon Fraser University and personnel in resource management

agencies. The Institute will provide a focal point for frequent interaction between those

who are involved with management of natural resources and SFU faculty, graduate

students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates. The university will also benefit

from greater concentration of expertise in resource management on campus and from

new opportunities for multidisciplinary, collaborative university-agency research

programs. The Institute may also occasionally offer professional development courses to

help working professionals upgrade their skills.

The Institute will be a schedule A centre. The administrative officer will be the Dean

of Applied Sciences.

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The Director of the Institute, nominated,

the Institute to the Dean of Applied Sciences,

University who will be appointed by the Dean

years, renewable.

elected, and recommended by members of

will be a full-time employee of Simon Fraser

The term of the Director will be for three

The Director shall submit an annual report to the administrative officer on all Institute

activities, and a financial statement showing all revenues and expenditures; for the 12

months ending March 31 of each year, no later than June 30 of each year. The Centre will

be a self sufficient entity, and as such will require no start up costs to SFU, nor will it incur

a financial deficit.

The Institute will act in accordance with all university policies, and in a manner

consistent with the goals and objectives of Simon Fraser University.

An Advisory Board representing a cross section of university faculty, government

researchers, and industry personnel will provide guidance to the Institute.

S

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Introduction

Global population growth and economic expansion over the last several decades

has resulted in increasing pressure to develop and exploit natural resources. As demand

for these resources has increased, so has the complexity of resource management, as

growing numbers of resource users and interest groups demand both a share of a limited

quantity of resources and a greater degree of input into how those resources should be

managed. However, shrinking government budgets reduce the capacity of resource

management agencies to deal with this increased demand and carry out the research

required for managing the complexity of natural resource systems.

As these problems intensify, natural resource management agencies require more

innovative and comprehensive approaches. Resource managers need the most up-to-

date information on the ecological, economic, and sociological components of natural

resource systems, as well as the latest developments in qualitative and quantitative

methods of analysis, interpretation, and forecasting. Since such advances in knowledge

and methods are often made in universities and government laboratories, effective

management of natural resources requires close communication between people in such

institutions.

A successful model for how to deal with these challenges is provided by the

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units that are located at 40 different universities

in the United States. These "Co-op Units" house government research and management

personnel on university campuses in order to improve the interaction between university

researchers and government staff. Some of these units in the U.S. have operated for

over 50 years, and many have gained reputations as major centres of applied research in

resource management and sources of innovative training and solutions to management

problems.

Another successful model on which to build is provided by the NSERC Industrial

Research Chair at SFU, which is funded partly by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

According to Dr. Fred Cooke, holder of this chair, his group has built strong links between

the university and the CWS but it does not have full-time government staff on campus.

However, SFU researchers do work closely with CWS staff on numerous projects.

The Opportunity

The lengthy history and success of such arrangements at U.S. universities and the

recent success of the Canadian Wildlife Service-NSERC Chair at SFU suggest that

British Columbians will benefit greatly from a Cooperative Resource Management Institute

(CRMI) at Simon Fraser University. The current pressing need for research and training

in resource and environmental management, as well as the current decreases in

government budgets, provides a favorable situation for pursuing this initiative.

The School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM) in the Faculty of

Applied Sciences at Simon Fraser University is prepared to take a leadership role in

establishing such a cooperative unit and involving faculty from other parts of the

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university in it. The faculty, graduate students, and associated researchers in the

university conduct applied research in a wide variety of disciplines related to management

of natural resources. These researchers are found in various SFU institutes or centres

(e.g. Institute of Fisheries Analysis, Community Economic Development Centre, Centre

for Pest Management) as well as SFU schools and departments (e.g. School of Resource

and Environmental Management, Departments of Geography, Biological Sciences). A

Cooperative Resource Management Institute at Simon Fraser University could be

structured to include a broad range of environmental agencies (e.g. those responsible for

energy, water, forest resources, fisheries, and wildlife). These agencies would potentially

include both provincial and federal levels of government, as well as agencies other than

the Canadian Wildlife Service, which is already well involved with SFU researchers

through the Canadian Wildlife Service-NSERC Chair.

Objectives

Consistent with the goals and objectives of Simon Fraser University, the particular

objectives of the Institute are:

1)

To improve the management of natural resources by creating an Institute that will

facilitate interactions between university researchers and personnel from

government agencies that are involved in management of natural resources.

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2) To help develop solutions to difficult multidisciplinary issues in resource

management agencies by establishing an environment where personnel from

different management agencies such as forestry, fisheries, and wildlife work side-

by-side along with university researchers on a continuous basis, thereby gaining

trust and working toward a common goal.

3)

To promote the dissemination of knowledge through professional development

courses.

The Cooperative Resource Management Institute will meet these general objectives

through the following activities.

1)

Create a stimulating environment for frequent interaction between university

faculty and associated researchers and those who work in resource management

agencies.

Initially, a focal point for such interactions could be joint, multidisciplinary research

projects. The presence of some of the clients for university research on campus will

generate numerous benefits for the university and government agencies, as

described below.

2)

Provide non-credit professional development courses to upgrade the skills of

working professionals.

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Like many other fields, resource and environmental management is changing

rapidly. New methods and perspectives are emerging constantly. There is

growing recognition that professionals in resource management agencies must be

trained in a wider range of disciplines than in the past. Some professions such as

pharmacy already require regular professional upgrading courses to maintain

certification and it is reasonable to expect that this may also become true in natural

resource management in the future. SFU will be well positioned to offer such

courses if such requirements come into force.

Benefits of the Research Activities

A. Government agencies will benefit from having some of their managers or scientists

based for specified periods on campus in the Cooperative Resource Management

Institute because this will allow them to:

1)

stimulate joint university-agency research projects on pressing management

problems that are also scientifically challenging,

2)

"leverage" the effectiveness of each government agency person to 2 or 3 person-

years because of joint work with students and faculty on specific projects,

3)

keep up to date on recent developments in their field through auditing courses

and informal interactions with university research groups, and

4)

identify the best students to fill job openings in agencies.

5)

As well, the Cooperative Resource Management Institute would be a low-cost

way to implement integrated resource management, an approach that has been

discussed extensively by many government agencies.

6)

Benefits are not limited to researchers only; they will accrue to both operations

and research branches of agencies (such as the Canada Department of Fisheries

and Oceans and the B.C. Ministry of Forests, for instance).

B. The research programs of university faculty and their graduate students, post-doctoral

fellows, and research associates will benefit from:

1)

frequent exposure to a large array of current research questions directly relevant

to management agencies, as well as knowledge of limitations and constraints

faced by resource managers,

2)

greater concentration of expertise on campus for continuous feedback between

researchers and clients,

3)

exposure to new ideas and methods developed by government agency personne

(such ideas might otherwise take considerable time to become more widely

known outside of the agency), and

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4) opportunities for joint university-agency research programs.

C. Graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates will:

1)

conduct research on current management problems,

2)

gain first-hand knowledge of workings of resource management agencies, which

should help them with career choices, and

3)

have improved chances of getting jobs in these agencies because potential

employers will be familiar with their abilities.

Benefits of Non-credit Professional Development Courses

A. Managers and researchers who take non-credit courses will benefit because they will:

1)

be brought up to date on developments in the field,

2)

broaden their background to other disciplines, and

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3) learn immediately about new methodologies and findings developed by university

researchers.

B. The university will benefit because:

1)

offering professional courses will enhance the reputation of SFU as a leader in

the development of innovative approaches and techniques in natural resource

management,

2)

revenue from such courses will augment the existing budget of the instructor's

home department.

C. Faculty and their associated researchers will benefit because:

1) by developing materials for professional development courses that are tailored to

the needs of the management agencies, faculty and students will better

understand key management issues.

1]

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Organizational Structure

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SFU

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Administrative Officer

I

Advisory ?

>>

Director

I

Board

Administrative

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- ?

I

Assistant

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rMEMBER5

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Terms of Reference and Membership

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1.

Administrative Officer

* Under Simon Fraser University's Policy R40.01 for Centres and Institutes, the

Institute will be a Schedule A centre with the Dean of Applied Sciences as the

Administrative Officer.

2.

Director

The Director is a full-time employee of Simon Fraser University, recommended by

the Administrative officer. The Dean of Applied Sciences will use SFU Policy A

13.02 (Appointment of Department Chairs and Directors of Schools) as a guide in

identifying a person to be recommended as Director. The principle in appointing a

Director will be that the recommended person will

be

nominated, elected, and

recommended by members of the Institute, to the Dean of Applied Sciences. The

appointment will be concluded by the Administrative Officer (Dean) and reported to

the V.P. Research for record keeping.

• The Director's term will be for a duration of three years, renewable.

• The Director approves all contracts to be undertaken in the name of the Institute,

conjunction with the Administrative officer.

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* The Director submits an annual report on Institute activities, including a financial

statement, to the Administrative Officer for the 12 months ending March 31, no

later than June 30. The Administrative Officer shall report results of that review to

the governing committee for Centres by August 31 of each year.

* At least once per year, the Director calls a meeting of the membership to discuss

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policy and direction of the Institute, and any other concerns of general import.

3. Members

* There will be two types of members in the Cooperative Resource Management

Institute: faculty members at Simon Fraser University and appropriate highly

qualified personnel from off campus, usually from government or private agencies.

All applicants for membership will be evaluated by the CRMI for their suitability, as

described below.

A.

On-campus members

* Membership in the CRMI shall be by application to the Director, circulation and

evaluation of a Curriculum Vitae, and a majority vote of the membership in favor,

subject to appeal to the Director (for Simon Fraser University personnel only).

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* Membership shall be for a three-year term, renewable by the Director with input

and advice from the Advisory Board.

* Any member may withdraw from the Institute by delivering a written letter of

resignation to the Director of the Institute.

B.

Members from off-campus

* The Institute shall encourage the possible membership from a range of qualified

researchers, to encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas and to promote the

application of research findings in as many fields of resource management as

possible.

* The Director will invite appropriate off-campus research and resource management

personnel to submit a Curriculum Vitae and other background documentation to

demonstrate the potential mutual benefits for the applicant and the university of

having the applicant work on campus in the CRMI. Such applicants will be invited

to SFU for an interview and seminar. Membership will be approved upon by a

majority vote of the CRMI membership in favor.

* Membership shall be for the term negotiated in each individual case, renewable by

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the Director with input and advice from the Advisory Board.

* Any member may withdraw from the Institute by delivering a written letter of

resignation to the Director of the Institute.

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4. Advisory Board

the members of the Advisory Board represent a cross-section of university

administration, research, industry, and government personnel assembled to

provide guidance to the institute.

* The primary task of the Advisory Board is to help the Institute grow in size and

scope, while remaining committed to its mission.

* All Advisory Board meetings are open to members, and Institute members are

encouraged to attend.

* Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the Administrative Officer (Dean of

Applied Sciences), the Institute Director, one Simon Fraser University faculty

member who is a member of the Institute, two external researchers, one provincial

government representative, one federal government representative, and such

others as may be deemed capable of making an exceptional contribution to the

activities of the Board.

* Invitations for membership on the Advisory Board are issued at the sole discretion

of the Institute Director, except for those positions specifically designated for

Simon Fraser University personnel.

* Membership is for a three-year renewable term, except for designated personnel.

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* The Advisory board bears no legal responsibility for the actions of the Institute, and

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exercises no direct control over the actions of the Director, Institute members, or

staff.

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Membership

The charter members

of

the

Institute

are

listed below. Expansion of

the membership

through

joint

research with other

colleagues is a

high priority.

.

Cooke, Fred

Jaccard, Mark

Professor and CWS-NSERC Industrial Res. Chair

Associate Professor

Dept. of Biological Sciences

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Day, J. Chadwick

Knetsch, Jack

Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Professor

Dept. of Economics and School of Resource and

Environmental Management

Gill, Alison

Lertzman, Ken

Associate Professor

Dept. of Geography and School of Resource and

Associate Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Environmental Management

Gobas, Frank

Peterman, Randall M.

Associate Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

and Member of the Institute of Fisheries Analysis

Gunton, Tom

Pinkerton, Evelyn

Associate Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Associate Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

and Member of the Institute of Fisheries Analysis

Haider, Wolfgang

Routledge, Richard

Assistant Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Professor

Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics

and Member of the Institute of Fisheries Analysis

Harestad, Alton

Schwarz, Carl

Associate Professor

Associate Professor

Dept. of Biological Sciences

Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics

and Member of the Institute of Fisheries Analysis

Harvey, L. Edward

Williams, Peter

Associate Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Professor

School of Resource and Environmental Management

(CRMl4pro)

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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INSTITUTE OF FISHERIES ANALYSIS

Fax: 291-5716?

Tel. 2914893 ?

. DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

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It

93 11

ECONOMIC

COMMUNITY

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY, BURNABY, BC, CANADA V5A 1S6

Mark Roseland, PhD, MCIP, Director

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roselcnd@sfu.ca

(604)291-4161

May 11, 1998

Dr. Peter Williams, Director

School of Resource and Environmental Management

Simon Fraser University

Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

Re: Cooperative Resource Management Institute

Dear Dr. Williams,

On behalf of the Community Economic Development Centre (CEDC), I am pleased to provide

this letter of support to the School of Resource and Environmental Management in its

proposal for a Cooperative Resource Management Institute at Simon Fraser University.

The goal of the CEDC is to encourage accountable, sustainable and appropriate community

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economic development (CED) in British Columbia. The Centre provides research, training

and advisory services to the CED sector in BC through a team of associates drawn from the

university and CED practice. It is actively involved in community-based projects throughout

the province and offers a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Community Economic Development,

which is also available by distance education.

The focus of our Centre's activities is primarily on communities, local governments, and those

in senior government and the private sector with a mandate to focus on community-level

activities. We do not generally work with government research and management personnel in

the area of resource management

per Se,

except in cases where there is a clear community-

level interest, e.g., community forestry or community fisheries management. We do, however,

recognize the value of such university-agency collaboration, and wish you success in

bringing your proposed Cooperative Resource Management Institute to fruition.

The CEDC would be interested in collaborating with the Cooperative Resource Management

Institute to develop and implement local projects, and to lend our expertise in working with

communities on issues of planning, resource management, and community economic

development.

Sincerely,

Mark Roseland, Ph.D.

Director

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Tel: (604) 291-5850

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E-mail: psimpson@sfu.ca

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Fax: (604) 291-5473