DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY HELD

ON MONDAY, MAY 9, 1988 KLAUS RIECKHOFF HALL, 7:00 P.M.

OPEN SESSION

Present:

Saywell, W.G., Chair

Absent:

Barn, P.

Alderson, E.

Barrow, R.

Almassy, E.

Busch, P.

Arnold, T.

Carr, S.

Berggren, J.L.

Cleveland, W.

Cercone, N.

Cooper, A.

Clayman, B.

Irvine, R.

DAuria, J.

Kazepides, A.C.

Dobb, T.C.

Magid, S.

Fowler, T.

Singh, M.

Freedman, A.

Slanz, P.

George, D.A.

Strate, G.

Goodman, D.

Swartz, N.

Heinrich, K.

Vining, A.

Hoegg, J.L.

Weinberg, H.

Ivany, G.

Jones, C.

Kennedy, P.

attendance:

Heath, N.

Love, E.

Hickin, T.

Mathewes, R.

Mauser, G.

Milton, S.

Nielsen, V.

Osborne, J.

Rae, B.

Reilly, N.

Rieckhoff, K.

Roberts, M.

Salter, L.

Saunders, R.

Shapiro, S.

Shapson, S. (representing J. Tuinman)

Warsh, M.

Winne, P.

Wotherspoon, A.

W. R. Heath, Secretary

Grant, B., Recording Secretary

S.M. 9/05/88

Page 2

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE

' OPEN SESSION OF APRIL 11, 1988

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

There was no business arising.

REPORT OF THE CHAIR

Budget

The Chair reported that although the budget looks to be in the range of 4.5 to

5.5

percent, final figures have not yet been confirmed. The problem determining

what last year's base budget was has still not been fully resolved but expectations

are that final figures will be clarified within the next week. Salary negotiations

have been delayed until budget details are confirmed.

Proposed University in Prince George

Referring to the recent press announcement that a study was to commence on

the viability and feasibility of a fourth institution in Prince George, the Chair

expressed opinion that until •funding levels for the three current public institutions

were adequate, he did not feel the establishment of a fourth institution was

appropriate. He noted, however, that it seemed highly likely that at some future

point the Government would seriously consider this issue.

Selling and Leasing Back Universit

y Assets

In response to an inquiry as to how the University

stood on this issue,

the

Chair briefly provided background information as to recent occurrences in Ontario

and Quebec where several major universities have sold assets, such as the Library

and major scientific capital equipment, to public institutions and then leased back

the facilities. The Chair indicated that Simon Fraser University has not commenced

a serious study into this question and does not have an official position on the

matter, but he intended to look into the situation.

Paper S.88-19 - President's Statement of Direction and Intent - For

Information

The Chair briefly explained that the University had been requested to provide

the Government with an outline of planning priorities over the next ten years.

Opportunity for feedback from the University at-large was not possible because of

time constraints so the final document was submitted to the Minister as an informal

statement under the President's signature.

Senate's attention was drawn to a

S.M.

9/05/88

Page

typographical error on page

2, second paragraph referring to the "Institute for

Agriculture Research" which should read "Institute for Aquaculture Research".

Brief discussion took place, following which the report was received by Senate for

information.

Paper S.88-20 - Procedures for the Limitation on the Intake of New Students

for Fall 1988 - For Information

In response to a concern that the use of the grade point average seemed to

conflict with recommendation two, G. Ivany pointed out that it would conflict if a

static GPA were used across all groups, but since the GPA will differ within each

group there would be no conflict. He further pointed out that the proposed

procedures will be used to effect a reduction to the different categories of new

students in such a way that the current, evolving proportions within the total mix

of the student population is maintained.

Speaking in response to an inquiry about the recommendation to limit

admissions to 3,000 new students in fall 1988, G. Ivany explained that the figure

was established as a compromise largely on budgetary criteria but that it still

represented a positive increment in the number of students being served on

campus in the Fall. In response to the point raised that the power to restrict

enrolments rested with the Board of Governors, G. Ivany indicated that the

• ?

document will be presented to the Board of Governors for consideration at its next

meeting.

It was noted that recommendation three concerning the conditions for

readmission did not change current practice. G. Ivany indicated that the intent was

that the University, if required to turn down qualified Grade 12 and transfer

students, was not prepared to automatically readmit failed students and that the

change in policy rested on the interpretation of the words 'more stringently

applied'.

Replying to a concern that the proposed recommendations allowed no

flexibility in looking at proportions of students applying from each group and no

flexibility with respect to standards, G. Ivany pointed out that these are target

numbers and will indeed be flexibly interpreted.

Following discussion, the report was received by Senate for information.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Senate Committee on Academic Planning

i) ?

Paper S.88-21 - Annual Report

The Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Academic Planning was

received by Senate for information.

S.M. 9/05/88

Page 4

ii) ?

Paper S.88-22 - Proposal for a Department of Earth Sciences

Moved by G. Ivany, seconded by C. Jones

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to

the Board of Governors, the proposal for a

Department of Earth Sciences, as set out in S.88-22"

T. Hickin, Department of Geography, joined the meeting to respond to

questions.

Concern was raised about the current shortage of instructional resources on

campus. It was noted that there was no indication in the proposal with respect to

implications this program would have on other instructional areas in the University

or where the instructional complement would come from to cover approximately

one-third of the proposed course offerings. Should additional funding of the kind

needed to implement this program be secured, it was questioned whether that

funding ought to go toward a new venture rather than towards the resolution of

current problems. G.

Ivany

expressed opinion that academic planning has to be a

thoughtful, ongoing process whereby the University itself debates where it wants to

go and what it wants to become. He explained that five or six years ago academic

planning had stopped because no funds were available and when funds had

suddenly become available SFU had no officially approved proposals to bring

forward. He therefore felt the University should be continually involved in

academic planning but stressed that there was no intention of proceeding with this

program until new funding was found. He explained that many people in the

University believe that the University is deficient in an important and essential

area of scholarship by

not having a Department or program of Earth Sciences

and

the proposal was before Senate to see if Senate supports this particular discipline.

Brief discussion followed with respect to the anticipated demand for the

program and what effect, if any, it would have on the Department of Geography. It

was estimated that the program would have approximately twenty majors a year

and that the outcome should be positive for Geography.

In response to a concern that the estimated budget appeared to be very low,

Ivany

agreed that although the budget was out of date it indicated the line items

which would be required to implement the program and he pointed out that should

funds become available the budget would have to be costed out.

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

S.M. 9/05/88

Page

Senate Policy Committee on Scholarships. Awards & Bursaries

i) ?

Paper S.88-23 - Proposed Special Entrance Award

Moved by P. Kennedy, seconded by K. Rieckhoff

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to

the Board of Governors the proposed Special

Undergraduate Entrance Award"

P. Kennedy indicated that the document resulted from concerns expressed at

a previous Senate meeting and the motion he felt was a compromise reflecting a

variety of views expressed by Senators.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

? MOTION CARRIED

Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board

i) ?

Paper S.88-24 - Proposed Public Universities Transfer Credit

Committee

0 ?

Moved by R. Saunders, seconded by K. Rieckhoff

"that Senate approve the establishment of a Public

Universities Transfer Credit Committee and

associated procedures, as set out in S.88-24"

N. Heath, Director of Admissions, joined the meeting to respond to questions.

R. Saunders introduced the paper by explaining that the proposal establishes

procedures to allow the four degree granting institutions (SFU, UBC, UVic and OLA)

to evaluate private colleges for transfer credit.

reply to an inquiry concerning

membership of the committee, R. Saunders indicated that the committee is a sub-

committee of the Tr-Universities Presidents' Council with one academic and one

administrator nominated by and from each institution.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

6. OTHER BUSINESS

N. Cercone was proud to report that at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian

Information Processing Society, eleven scholarships were awarded to Simon Fraser

University students. He also wished to draw Senate's attention to the fact that at

the recent Science World competition three out of the four judges were faculty

members from Simon Fraser University.

S.M. 9/05/88

Page 6

The Chair wished to compliment and extend his thanks to all those involved,

most particularly K. Mennell, Director of University News Service, for the success of

the Annual Meeting of the Science Writers Association of Canada which was held on

campus. It received excellent national press and brought great distinction to the

University.

The

Chair ?

was

pleased

report

that, ?

a ?

result

a ?

private

donation,

excavation

had ?

begun

for ?

the

Halpern

Centre, a

building ?

that

should ?

provide

absolutely

first-class ?

social space

for the

institution

as a whole.

The Chair reported that the University had held its first ever dinner to thank

significant donors. It had been very successful with a remarkable turnout and he

was happy to report that SFU has been receiving very good feedback since the

event.

NOTICES OF MOTION

There were no notices of motion.

INFORMATION

The date of the next regular meeting of Senate is scheduled for Monday, June

6, 1988.

The Assembly moved directly into Closed Session at 8:30 p.m.

W. R. Heath

Secretary of the Senate