DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY HELD
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1989 KLAUS RIECKHOFF HALL, 7:00 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
Present:
Saywell, W.G., Chair
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Addison, G.
Blackman, R.
Blaney, J.
Brown, R.
Cercone, N.
Clayman, B.
Cleveland, W.
Dahl, H.
D'Auria, J.
Dill, L.
Djwa,S.
Dobb, T.
Faith, K.
George, D.
Gray, P.
Green, C.
Hendrickson, T.
Hoechsmann, M.
Hoegg, J.L.
Jones, C.
Kazepides, A.C.
Kennedy, P.
Palmer, E.
Palmer, L.H.
Partridge, J.
Reilly, N.
Rieckhoff, K.
Rudrum, A.
Salter, L.
Shannon, D.
Shapiro, S.
Sicking, C.
Stewart, M.L.
Swartz, N.
Tjosvold, D.
Tuinman, J.
Verdun-Jones, S.
Wade, S.
Warsh, M.
Winne, P.
Wotherspoon, A.
Heath, W.R., Secretary
Grant, B., Recording Secretary
Absent Barrow, R.
Bedford, B.
Calvert, T.
Carlson, R.
Covell, M.
Dickinson, J.
Falcon, K.
Freedman, A.
Giffen, K.
Gill, J.
Goodman, D.
Munro, D.
Nielsen, V.
Nyvik, S.
Pinfield, L.
Rae, B.
Saunders, R.
Vining, A.
In attendance
Bartlett, M.
Komorous, R.
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On behalf of Senate, the Chair welcomed newly elected Senators M. L. Stewart
and C. Sicking to the meeting.
1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF OCTOBER 2. 1989
Although it was not included in the Minutes, J. D'Auria indicated he had
inquired whether the GST would apply to university tuition and requested
that the response be noted in the Minutes. The Chair indicated that although
there is no definitive answer at this time, it was his understanding that
tuition fees, the purchase of books, etc. would be excluded although he was
not sure if the process would be in an exemption format or a
pay/reimbursement process.
Referring to page 3 of the Minutes where reference is made to a formula
whereby the scholarship budget is increased by percentage against tuition fee
revenue, P. Kennedy indicated that although the Minutes may accurately
reflect what was said, they were misleading in that the formula is a
percentage against the level of tuition fees rather than the total revenue
brought in and he requested that the Minutes be revised to reflect this
clarification.
Following the above comments, the Minutes were approved.
3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
i)
Cariboo College/Simon Fraser University
In response to a request from the Chair to clarify the ambiguity in the
language of the agreement between Cariboo College and Simon Fraser
University - Faculty of Business Administration concerning the length of
the agreement, S. Shapiro confirmed that the agreement is locked into a
five year term.
ii)
S.89-32 - Attendance of Visitors at Senate Committee Meetings
Senate paper S.89-32 which reviewed prior Senate decisions about
attendance of visitors at Senate committee meetings was received by
Senate for information.
4. REPORT OF THE CHAIR
i)
Vice-President Academic Search Committee
The Chair reported that the Search Committee is working diligently and
hopes to have its work concluded by the Christmas break. Until the final
decision is made, however, the Chair indicated that the process remains open
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to further nominations from the University community.
ii)
Simon Fraser University Alumni
The Chair reported on the success of the sixth annual Alumni Awards
reception wherein some of the University's most distinguished alumni in
areas of athletics and community service received awards.
The Chair was also pleased to report the successful inauguration of the
Toronto Chapter of Simon Fraser University Alumni at which approximately
60 members of alumni from the Toronto area attended a reception.
iii)
Faculty
The Chair extended congratulations to A. Rudrum, Department of
English, who gave a lecture at the Vancouver Institute lecture series, and to
A. Lebowitz, Department of English/Women's Studies who recently won the
prestigious 3M teaching award. The Chair noted that there are only a limited
number of these awards given across the country each year and that
Professor Lebowitz was the third person from Simon Fraser University to
receive the award. He was also pleased to acknowledge that two of the SFU
recipients were members of the Department of English and conveyed Senate's
•
congratulations to the Department for this achievement.
iv)
Space
The Chair informed Senate that the Vice-President Academic and the
Associate Vice-President Academic were working in conjunction with
Analytical Studies with regard to inequities in budget shortfalls and space
problems.
He also advised that he had submitted an urgent, emergency
request to the Government for immediate extra capital funds to allow the
construction of additional lecture and office space. A definitive answer is not
yet known but the initial reaction from the Ministry has been receptive.
5.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
a) SENATE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
i)
Paper S.89-33 - Elections
•
The Chair reported that no nominations were received to fill vacancies
on the Senate Graduate Awards Adjudication Committee or the Senate
Undergraduate Admissions Board and that a further call will go forward for
the next meeting of Senate.
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Page
b) SENATE COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC PLANNING
i)
P
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.89-
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34 - Report of the Fraser Valley Planning Committee - For
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L. Salter reported that the comments received by the University
community during the consultation period were very thoughtful and the
Committee had been considering the issues and concerns raised. She
was in the process of responding to the specific concerns raised in some
of the letters and she indicated that the next step would be for the
report to be forwarded to the Senate Committee on Academic Planning,
and then, if appropriate, forwarded to Senate for consideration.
ii)
Paper S.89-35 - Proposed new graduate program - Master of Fine Arts
Moved by L. Salter, seconded by B. Clayman
"that Senate
approve and recommend
approval to
the Board of
Governors, the proposed Master of Fine
Arts Program
as
set forth in
S.89-35,
including the
new, courses
FPA 811-5
Interdisciplinary Graduate
Seminar I
FPA
812-5
Interdisciplinary Graduate
Seminar II
FPA
883-5
Studio in FPA I
FPA
885-5
Studio in FPA II
FPA
887-5
Selected Topics in FPA
FPA
889-5
Directed Study in FPA
FPA
898-10 MFA Graduating Project"
Director of the Centre, R. Komorous and M. Bartlett were in attendance as
resource persons.
In response to concerns about lack of library and faculty resources, it was
noted that since the proposal had been in preparation for eighteen months
most of the faculty requirements articulated in the report had already been
met through appointments justified by existing programs. Current faculty
and space resources in the Centre can accommodate the development of the
program since a number of graduate students were already involved in the
program under the rubric of Special Arrangements. It was also noted that
additional graduate student enrolments under Access funding will generate
resources for program expenses.
Reference was made to past practice of bringing new program proposals
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and funding and then proceed to Senate for final approval and
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• implementation. Clarification was requested as to what Senate approval at
this time meant and Senate was informed that this proposal was before
Senate for final approval and implementation, subject of course to approval
from the Board of Governors. It was noted that the next step in terms of
allocating resources to programs already approved was an administrative
step. Since such decisions could seriously effect other academic areas in the
University,. concern was expressed that Senate would have no further input in
the administrative decision to prioritize and fund such programs.
Concern was also expressed with regard to the fact that there appeared to be
a special connection between funding and the student's ability to finish the
• program, i.e. production expenses for the graduating project. Senate was
informed that these costs will be met out of the operating budget of the
program and in fact this is presently being done for students. operating under
the Special Arrangements rubric.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iii) Paper S.89-36 - Simon Fraser University at Harbour Centre
Annual Report and Proposed Programs
Motion #1
Moved by L. Salter, seconded by J. Blaney
"that Senate accept the Annual Report of the
SCAP/Harbour Centre Sub-Committee"
In response to inquiries about programs contained in sections C and D, Senate
was informed that they were simply included for the information of Senate
because they had received preliminary discussion. They would be
reconsidered by the Planning Committee when more detailed formal
submissions were put forward by Departments and Faculties.
Question was called on Motion #1,
and a vote taken.
MOTION #1 CARRIED
Motion #2
Moved by L. Salter, seconded by P. Gray
"that Senate approve the proposed programs
outlined in S.89-36
a)
Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing
b)
Centre for Policy Research in Science and Technology
c)
Community Economic Development
d)
Gerontology
S.M. 30/10/89
Page
e) Social Policy Issues
as appropriate for (re) location to Simon Fraser
University Harbour Centre"
Senate's attention was drawn to the fact that approval of this motion does not
obviate the need for full approval of the new programs through the
appropriate committee process but does approve the notion that such
programs, were they to come forward, would be appropriate for location at
Harbour Centre.
Clarification was requested as to which programs were to be located and
which were to be relocated at Harbour Centre. Senate was advised that the
intent was to relocate the existing Gerontology Program exclusively to
Harbour Centre; the existing Social Policy Issues program would be relocated
at Harbour Centre but courses would be offered in both locations. Intent is to
locate the Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing, the Centre for Policy
Research in Science and Technology, and Community Economic Development
at Harbour Centre. These units are currently operating as Centres and have
no teaching programs associated with them. However, it was noted that a
graduate degree program is currently under development in the area of
publishing.
With regard to the
Centre for Policy Research in Science
and Technology it
was noted that the
membership of the Centre did not include anyone from the
Faculty of Science.
D. George advised that the Centre had
been formed by a
group of
people with
common bonds
of
interest
both at
Simon
Fraser
University
and the University of British Columbia and that
anyone from the
Faculty of
Science interested in the Centre's activities
was
most welcome to
join the group.
Opinion was expressed that faculty members active in both their departments
and programs on campus as well as in the activities of these research centres
which are to be located at Harbour Centre would find it difficult to divide
themselves between a range of duties and responsibilities and therefore
make it difficult for students to have easy access to them.
In response to an inquiry as to what was meant by the term 'window access',
J. Blaney referred, as an example, to the Community Economic Development
Centre which is centered on campus but the intent would be to have a contact
for this service downtown to respond to inquiries and set up appointments
and meetings.
Clarification was requested with regard to what was implied by the word
'program' and what the intent of the motion was in relation to centres in
S.M. 30/10/89
Pagel
• particular since Centres are only comprised of the people involved and
moving the Centre downtown surely did not imply moving the faculty
involved downtown. J. Blaney advised that the word program has been used
in a general sense and refers to the five components listed in the motion and
confirmed that while many of the activities will be held downtown and some
of the Directors of the Centres will be relocated at Harbour Centre,
participating faculty members will retain offices on the Burnaby campus.
It was pointed out that discussion has moved around from different aspects
of the five programs and suggestion was made that in future multi-faceted
proposals of this sort be separated into individual items to allow discussions
to take place separately so that there will be some rationale and focus to the
debate. The Chair indicated he would address this issue with the Senate
Committee on Agenda and Rules.
Moved by C. Sicking, seconded by N. Swartz
"that the motion be divided in order to deal with
each item individually"
Question was called on the, motion to divide,
and a vote taken.
MOTION TO DIVIDE FAILED
Question was called on the motion,
and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
6. REPORTS OF FACULTIES
a)
Faculty of Arts
Paper S.89-37 - Change in Terms of Reference of the Faculty of Arts
Curriculum Committee and change in Terms of Reference of the Faculty
of Arts Graduate Studies Committee
Moved by R. Brown, seconded by B. Clayman
"that the Terms of Reference of the Faculty of Arts
Curriculum Committee be amended to include the
following:
that the Faculty of Arts Curriculum Committee
may establish, from time to time, sub-
committees to which it can delegate all such
powers of the Faculty of Arts Curriculum
Committee as may be deemed necessary; and
that the Terms of Reference of the Faculty of Arts
S.M. 30/10/89
Page 8
Graduate Studies Committee be amended to include
the following:
that the Faculty of Arts Graduate Studies
Committee may establish, from time to time,
sub-committees to which it can delegate all such
powers of the Faculty of Arts Graduate Studies
Committee as may be deemed necessary"
An amendment to capture the spirit of the motion and extend it to all
Faculties in the University was ruled out of order as being ultra vires to the
powers of Senate as stipulated under the University Act.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
7. OTHER BUSINESS
P. Gray brought to Senate's attention a piece of unreinforced concrete which
he advised had fallen from
the AQ and could have resulted in injuries. He
inquired about the University's
liability position, whather an engineering
study has been done concerning the likely life span of the building, and
whether or not the University has a maintenance schedule which is being
adhered to.
The Chair emphasized that concerns of individuals in this regard should be
brought to the attention of the appropriate authorities in the University so
they can be dealt with as quickly as possible. He went on to say that the
University is liable to the extent it is negligent in providing appropriate
maintenance, safeguards and quick action on problems brought to its
attention and that, in addition to in-house expertise in Facilities Management,
consulting engineers are brought in on a regular basis to conduct safety
studies on the physical plant. The university is constantly being inspected by
officials from federal and provincial jurisdiction with regard to safety
regulations under which the University must operate. In response to inquires
about whether or not the University carries earthquake insurance and how
well the University would withstand an earthquake, the Chair confirmed that
the University does carry earthquake insurance and advised that in terms of
seismological standards, the University is reasonably well off because of its
location, its fairly recent construction, and the form of construction.
N. Swartz informed Senate that he had previously requested hand rails on the
outside stairs in the Mall area because of the treacherous nature of the steps
in the winter time. He had been informed that a signed contract with the
architect allowed the architect to restrict certain external modifications
including hand rails for outside stairs. The Chair indicated that it was his
understanding that while other architects could be used, final plans for
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S.M. 30/10/89
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additional new buildings and modifications had to be shown to the original
architect to see if they were aesthetic to the original design concept but he
would check into the matter and report back to Senate.
In response to an inquiry concerning updated information with regard to
enrolment limitations and enrolment targets over the past year, Senate was
informed that the Vice-President Academic was in the process of conducting a
detailed analysis of the situation over the past year and that a summary of
the report would be provided to Senate when available. The Chair also
indicated that since enrolment targets for the last year had been exceeded by
a considerable amount, he had requested additional retroactive funding from
the Ministry but had not yet received a definitive answer to the request.
8.
NOTICES OF MOTION
There were no notices of motion.
9.
INFORMATION
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday,
November 27, 1989.
The Assembly moved directly into Closed Session at 8:20 p.m.
W.R. Heath
Registrar and Secretary of Senate
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