S.96-29
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF TUE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
MEMORANDUM
To:
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Senate
From: ?
D. Gagan, Chth
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Senate Committee on Academic Planning
Subject ?
Centre for Labour Studies
Date:
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March 14, 1996
Action undertaken at the meeting of the Senate Committee on Academic Planning on
March 13, 1996 gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
"That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors
as set forth in S.96 -29 , the establishment of the Centre for Labour
Studies as a Schedule B Centre."
SCAP 96 - 12
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH
TO: Alison Watt
?
FROM: Bruce P. Clayman
Secretary, Senate Committee
?
Vice-President, Research
on Academic Planning (SCAP)
RE: Centre for Labour Studies
?
DATE: March 1, 1996
I attach a proposal from Dr. T. Nesbit for the establishment of the Centre for Labour
Studies as a Schedule B Centre (centres that have a university-wide mandate). His
attached memorandum of February 27,1996 confirms that the Centre will require no
start-up costs and will cause no financial burden to the University to operate.
The Governing Committee for Centres and Institutes recommends that the Centre be
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granted approval by SCAP at its next meeting. Once approved by SCAP, the proposal
is to be forwarded to the next meeting of Senate, followed by submission to the Board of
Governors.
Bruce P. Clayman
Vice-President, Research
David Gagan
Vice-President, Academic
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Attachments
1.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
?
Continuing Studies
?
Labour Program
MEMORANDUM
TO: Dr. B. Clayman
?
FROM: Tom Nesbit
Vice-President, Research
?
Program Director
RE: Application for Centre
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DATE: February 27, 1996
for Labour Studies
Thank you for your memo of February 13th. The Labour Program Advisory
Committee anticipates that such a Centre can be established at zero cost to the
University. The main costs of the Centre (staff salaries) would remain a at
present with both the Director and Assistant being paid under their present
arrangements as Director and Assistant of the Labour Program in the Office of
Continuing Studies. The space requirements would similarly remain
unchanged.
Once the Centre is established, I regard fundraising as an immediate aim. In
fact, to this end, Dr. Jack Blaney and I have already had a very positive
meeting with the BC Federation of Labour Executive Committee. They
wholeheartedly support the establishment of a Labour Studies Centre at SFU
and are prepared to make overtures to the Provincial Government to secure
some initial funding. In addition, several provincial unions have already
made initial approaches towards developing research possibilities with SFU.
I hope this answers your queries. If you require more information please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Nesbit, Ph.D.
Director,
Simon Fraser
Labour
University
Program
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Dr. M. Wexier
cc:
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Dr.
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH
TO: Dr. Tom Nesbit, Director ?
FROM: Bruce P. Clayman
Labour Program ?
Vice-President, Research
RE: Application for Centre for ?
DATE: February 13,1996
Labour Studies
I have received your request for the establishment of the Centre for Labour Studies
under Policy 40.01.
In the present fiscal environment, it is essential that you provide more information
about the provision of resources to the proposed Centre. Specifically, information is
needed on start-up costs and continuing costs. This would include both direct costs and
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indirect costs, such as space. In addition, the sources for these resources - to the extent
known - should be identified.
This information is required prior to the review of your request by the Governing
Committee for Centres and Institutes. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
C: ?
J .
Blaney
M. Wexler
0
3.
Simon Fraser University ?
Continuing Studies
?
Labour Program
Memorandum
To: ?
Dr. Bruce P. Clayman ?
From: Dr. T. Nesbit
Vice-President, Research
?
Director, Labour Program
Re: ?
Application for ?
Date: January 30, 1996
Centre for Labour Studies
Please find attached an application for a Schedule B Centre for
Labour Studies at Simon Fraser University.
c,.
Tom Nesbit
EI
cc: ?
Dr. J. Blaney
Dr. M. Wexler
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FEB11996
[11
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Application for Creation of a Schedule B Centre
CENTRE FOR LABOUR STUDIES AT SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY?
Preamble
The Labour Program Academic Advisory Committee formally applies to create a
university-wide Centre for Labour Studies at Simon Fraser University. In its
opinion, such a Centre would: (a) build upon the excellent reputation of the
existing Labour Program; (b) harness and coordinate the work of those faculty
members already teaching and conducting research in the area of labour studies; (c)
provide a focus for developing new work in the areas of teaching, research, and
training; and (d) strengthen university-labour links and allow for the development
of other supportive activities.
Develovine Teachin
There are few centres for teaching labour studies or industrial relations in Canada.
Within British Columbia, no institution provides long-term opportunities for those
who wish to study labour and industrial relations issues in an academic setting.
A Centre for Labour Studies would encourage the coordination and development of
credit and non-credit courses about working people, their organizations, and labour
issues from comprehensive and multi-disciplinary social, cultural, historical,
political, and economic perspectives. Further, labour organizations have a
responsibility to train their own staff and lay officials. Simon Fraser University has a
strong reputation of working with local labour organizations and a Centre for
Labour Studies would be well-placed to offer competitive training opportunities and
facilities. Finally, there is a constant demand by trade union representatives,
government officials, and business leaders for short-term courses and seminars that
deal with various aspects of labour and industrial relations issues. The enhanced
profile of a Centre for Labour Studies would enable more active course
development and
attract more of this work into the university.
Developing Research
At present, research at Simon Fraser University on labour-related issues is
conducted by individual researchers in their respective faculties. There is very little
team or group research, and few integrated research programs. Further, the results
of such research is neither disseminated widely across disciplines within the
university nor to the labour community at large. A Centre for Labour Studies would
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encourage the greater development and dissemination of labour-related research
(both within Simon Fraser University and within multi-university collaborations)
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and would pursue funding for further research initiatives. In addition, such a
Centre would facilitate the work of those outside of academic communities
interested in the study of labour movements and workers in society through
systematic interaction with university-based researchers. Although many unions
employ research staff, few are well-versed in social science research methods or
have either the time or expertise to mount anything but the most basic research
programs.
Developing Other Initiatives
A Centre for Labour Studies would also encourage other initiatives such as the
development of international links between union researchers, the creation of an
archive of labour-related documents, the compilation of a directory of local labour
researchers, the creation of supportive links between the university and labour
communities, the wider dissemination of research results, the coordination of grant
applications and the raising of revenue for research, and the facilitation of exchange
activities to lessen the insularity often felt by labour leaders. Each of these activities
would enhance the reputation of Simon Fraser University within both the academic
and labour communities.
Mission Statement
The Centre for Labour Studies promotes the study and understanding of labour, ?
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working people, and their organizations from a comprehensive social, cultural,
historical, political, and economic perspective. The Centre aims to provide a range
of taught courses and programs (both credit and non-credit), offer research
opportunities and assistance to both Simon Fraser University students and
provincial labour organizations, and create mutually supportive and beneficial links
between the academic and labour communities.
Governance
Schedule
The Centre for Labour Studies shall be a Schedule B University Centre.
Administrative Officer
The Vice President, Research shall be the Administrative Officer responsible for the
Centre of Labour Studies.
is
. Director
The Centre for Labour Studies shall have a Director who will be a regular employee
of Simon Fraser University. S/he will be elected by the membership for renewable
three-year terms. Day to day administration of the Centre shall be the responsibility
of the Director who will exercise the rights of the Centre under the terms of Section
5.1 of R 40.01 and shall meet the obligations set out in Section 52 of R 40.01.
Membership
Regular membership in the Centre for Labour Studies shall be through a majority
vote of existing members following application to the Director. Initial membership
will be:
from the Faculty of Arts:
History: ?
A. Seager
Political Science:
? S. McBride
Political Science & Women's Studies:
?
M. Cohen
from the Faculty of Business Administration:
S.
Haviovic, M. Wexler
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from the Office of Continuing Studies:
?
J. Blaney, T. Nesbit
The initial membership will meet following issuance of a Charter to elect a Director.
In addition, membership will be offered to members of other Faculties that have an
academic interest in Labour Studies and to representatives of the BC Federation of
labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.
Obligation to Act in Accordance with University Policy
The Centre for Labour Studies acknowledges its obligation to conduct its activities in
accordance with University. policies.
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