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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

sI16.p/.1

MEMORANDUM

To: Senate

From:

Senate Committee on

Undergraduate Studies

Senate Committee on

Academic Planning

Subject:

School of Computing Science -

Date:

December 12, 1985

Proposed Undergraduate

Enrolment Quota

Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate- Studies at its

meeting of December 10, 1985 and by the Senate Committee on Academic

Planning at its meeting of December 11, 1985, gives rise to the following

motion:

MOTION:

"That Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors, as set forth in 5.86-12, the proposed undergraduate

enrollment quota in the School of Computing Science."

SiMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

5(JS

8539

? MEMORANDUM

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ASU. 85-7. 

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Computing Science. 

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thistrative.

Asis.tant,

Faculty of Applied Sciences. 

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Decemb0/8. 

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At a meeting of the Faculty of Applied Sciences Undergraduate 

Studies Committee held on Tuesday, December 10/85 members of the committee 

approved the above-noted submissions from the School of Computing Science. 

Would you please place these items on the agenda of the 

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies for consideration. 

Attachments. 

.

Proposal ?

Undergraduate Enrollment Quota

School of Computing Science

Background:

For many years, Computing Science has been under heavy enrollment pressure. The

demand for enrollments into Computing Science courses has consistently grown at a

faster pace than the resources available. Since 1982, we have required Students applying

for admission to our Honors and Major programs, to achieve a minimum level of CGPA

for the first two years of their program. Recently, a quota was introduced to restrict

the percentage of visa students in ourprogram. Despite these measures, our problem

of chronic shortage of resources does not appear to have been resolved.

First of all, the number of declared computing science students continues to increase.

The last summer semester (85-2), alone, saw an increase of 100 in the number 'of. declared

Computing Science Majors. According to

all

available statistical enrollment data regarding

lower division course offerings in the last two years, it is highly unlikely Ahat this trend

will be reversed in the near future. On the other hand, our faculty complement has

suffered a net decrease during the last 3 years. To cope with the ever increasing demand,

we decided to increase the number of course offerings with, the help of sessional instructors

while, at the same time, to petition the University for additional resources. As a result,

the number of courses taught by non-faculty is disturbingly high. This number in percentage

has increased to 53% of all course offerings at the undergraduate level. The quality

of undergraduate teaching will definitely suffer if this number-is maintained

. for .

much

longer. Finding qualified sessional lecturers to teach upper division courses is, becoming

increasingly difficult

and

time consuming. At the same time, it impedes good planning

to depend on "soft money" to provide for a substantial part of the regular teaching services.

..2

Proposal

The

The School of Computing Science proposes that restrictions be imposed on the number

of undergraduate students granted entry to Computing Science Honors, Major, and Minor

programs, Management & Systems Science program, the Mathematics/Computing Joint

Honors Program, and the Digital System Design Honors Program. The exact numbers

may vary each year as resources permit. We also request that the latest version of

our regulation on enrollment limitations which was approved by Senate on December

2nd be amended as shown in Appendix I, to reflect our proposed implementation of these

restrictions.

Other Options:

We have explored several other

options to solve our enrollment problems and found

them infeasible, unacceptable and/or inadequate as follows:

(1)

Acquiring more resources: Our view here is that the University will satisfy

• -

our needs..

(2)

Reducing course offerings: We are going to cut back our course offerings

to match the resources available to us. This by itself is inadequate, however,

because it is unfair to accept students into our programs without the expectation

of program completion within a reasonable time.

(3)

Raising-the entry requirements: This is an awkward and inaccurate way to

impose enrollment restrictions. Besides, it has not worked well in the past

• ?

• : for us or Business Administration.

(4)

Increasing class sizes: All of our upper division courses have class size limits.

Lab courses, which are not only central to our curriculum but also to that

of Engineering Science, have yet smaller class sizes due to equipment and

space limitations. Even so, our average class size for the upper division courses

is 30 which-compares favorably with the university's average in 82

3 of 26 •

and 14, respectively, for 300 and 400 level courses. This average class size

is bound to increase when we cut back our course offerings, as the students

will have fewer courses to choose from. It might be possible to further increase

...3

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class size of some courses with additional TA help; however, the School finds

it difficult to satisfy its TA requirements with qualified individuals even.

now. Without such help, increased class sizes will be detrimental to the quality

of our programs and may well result in the loss of hard-to-replace faculty.

Admission Procedures:

1. Each semester, the School establishes a quota which determines the number of Major-equivalent

students that can be accepted into the computing science program family (Computing

Science Minor/Major/Honors and other joint programs). Applications for entry to

our program will be accepted during-the first five days of classes each semester.

Acceptance of a student into any Computing Science program will be based both

on overall academic performance as measured by the CGPA, and on specific academic

performance in computing-related material as measured by the Computing-Related

Grade Point Average for Declaration in the given program. The CGPA is calculated

based on

all

course work completed at .SFU as described in the

General Regulations

section of the calendar. The Computing-Related GPA for a given program is the

grade point average calculated over all courses used to satisfy the lower division

course requirements of that program and any other Computing Science courses taken.

Only courses taken at SFU are used in these calculations.

A student may apply for formal acceptance as a declared student in any one of these

programs involving Computing Science upon completion of 57 semester hours including

the lower division course requirements for the program. For direct admission, based

on CGPA and on Computing-Related CPA, the student must have completed at least

12 semester hours of computing-related courses at SFU.

After the closing date for admission each semester, the School will determine an

Admission GPA for the semester based on the

number of places available and subject to the 

Dean's approval. 

Every applicant for a Computing program whose CGPA and

CPA will be admitted; no admission to a program will be granted to any applicant

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who has either a CGPA or a Computing-Related GPA forthe program which is less

than the Admission GPA for the semester.

A transfer or second-degree student who has not completed at least 12 credits of

of overall credit and has the credit for all the lower division requirements of a program

may apply to the School for special admission consideration based on transcripts

from other post-secondary institutions.

The applicant will be notified toward the end of the first month of the semester

whether or not his/her application has been accepted.

The applicant has the right to appeal to the Director of Undergraduate Programs

regarding the decision on his/her application.

Grandfather clause: students completing more than half of their lower division

required courses for CMPT by the time this change becomes effective will be able

to declare either with a CGPA of 2.6 or with a CGPA of 2.5 and a CPA of 2.5 in

the lower division required courses for Computing.

Impact on Other Programs:

Engineering Science: This is probably the onl

significant discipline which will be

affected by this proposal. Negotiation with the Director of the School of Engineering

Science is underway to determine the number of engineering students that will be

enrolled in Computing Science upper division courses each year. This proposal, undoubtedly,

will restrict the number of students the School of Computing Science can accept

into some streams of their programs (e.g. Computer Engineering). We argue that

this proposal will eliminate an uncertainty in their program planning and reduce

possible conflicts between the two schools.

Other Related Programs:

These include Applied Physics, Management Science &

Systems Science (MSSC), and Cognitive Science which require upper division courses

in computing science. MSSC is considered an equivalent to a minor in computing

science for the purpose of enrollment, and is a part of the computing science program

family. The rest of the programs are not high enrollment programs and require

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only a few computing science courses. There should not be any problems in accommodating

students in these programs.

3. Other Disciplines: Students in other desciplines will benefit from the proposal.

We are committed, philosophically, to the principle of computer literacy on campus.

There will be no enrollment limitation to our lower division courses. Furthermore,

we encourage students regardless of their majors to take our lower division courses

because we believe all students who are serious about programming should be exposed

to the same programming techniques as our majors. They may be awarded a certificate

of computer programming, the details of which will be worked out at a later

date.

We are also seriously considering the possibility of reserving a certain percentage

of spaces in each upper division course for open competition for students from all

disciplines. Thus, a highly qualified non-Computing Science major/minor may be

given an opportunity to take any of our upper division courses, although it is doubtful,

•

in practice, that there will be many of them taking advantage of this option. (According

to the data from the Office of Analytical Studies, 80% of the course spaces in 84-3

were taken up by CMPT majors. We suspect many of the remaining 20% were taken

up by CMPT minors or Engineering students).

APPENDIX 1

Revised regulation as approved by

Proposed:

Senate on December 2nd, 1985:

Enrolment Limitations

The School of Computing Science limits admission

the

upper dvlslon

of Its Major,

Minor and Honors programs and to related

joint programs.

Space In upper division

Computing

Science courses are

pthnadfy reserved

for students who have been formafly accepted lob such a program; only

such students

win

generally able to

obtain the upper division courses

necessary to complete the

program.

Acceptance of a student kite any Computing Science program will be

based both on

oecafl

academic performance as

measured

the

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and on specific academic

performance In computing-related material as measured by the Computing-

CGPA is calculated based on

course work completed at SFU as

described In the

General Rations

section of this calendar. The

calculated over

all courses used

satisfy the lower division course

requirements of that program

and any

other Computing Science courses

taken.

Only courses taken at SFU are used In these ca1aiiations

student may apply for formal acceptance as a declared student In any

one of these programs involving Computing Science upon completion of 57

semester hours including the lower division course requirements for the

program. For direct admission based on

CGPA and on Computing-Related

CPA

the student must

have completed at least 12 semester

hours of the

computing-related courses

at SF1).

Students having

both a CGPA

and a

Computing-Related GPA

of 2.5

or higher will be accepted Into the Schoors

programs regardess of the total number of applications, students below

225 will not be aocepteO under any circumstances.

A transfer or second-degree student who has not completed at least 12

credits of computing-related courses for a program, but who has at least 57

semester hours of overall credit and has the credit for

all

the lower division

requirements of a program may apply to the School for spedal admission

consideration based on transcripts from other post-secondary institutions.

To remain In a program In Computing Science a student will be

expected to maintain at least the minimum CGPA of 225.

Enrolment Limitations

The School of Computing Science limits admission to the upper division

of its Major. Minor and Honors programs and to related joint programs.

Space in

upper division

Computing Science courses are primarily reserved

for students who

have been

formally accepted into such a program; only

such students will be generally able to obtain the upper division courses

necessary to complete the program.

Acceptance of a student Into any Computing Science program will be

based both on

oveiafl

academic performance as measured by the

Cumulative Grade

Point Average (CGPA) and on specific academic

performance in computing-related

material as measured by the Computing-

Related Grade Pot

Average

for Declaration in the given program. The

CGPA is calculated based

on all course work completed at SFU as

described in

the

General

Regulations

section of this calendar. The

Computing-Related CPA for

a given program is the grade point average

calculated over all courses used to satisfy the lower division course

requirements of that program and any other Computing Science courses

taken.

Only courss taken at SFU are used In these calculations.

A student may apply for formal acceptance as a declared student in any

one of these Programs involving Computing Science upon completion of 57

semester hours kiucig the lower division course requirements for the

program. For direct admission based on CGPA and on computing-Related

GPA the student must have completed at least 12 semester hours of the

fifth day of

classes for

admission consideration in that semester.

The School will admit a limited number of students into its programs

each semester. After the closing date for admissions each semester, the

School will determine

Admission CPA for the semester based on the

nuirber

of places available and subject to the Dean's approval.

Every applicant

for a Computing program whose CGPA and Computing-Related CPA for

the program are both greater than or equal to the Admission CPA will be

admitted; no admission to a program will be granted to any applicant who

has either a CGPA

less than the Admission GPA for the semester.

A transfer or second-degree student who has not completed at least 12

credits of computing-related courses for a program, but who has at least 57

semester hours of overall credit and has the credit for all the lower division

requirements of a program may apply to the School for special admission

consideration based

transcripts from other post-secondary institutions.

To remain in a program in Computing Science a student will be

expected to maintain

least the minimum CGPA of 2.25.