*
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
-•
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY HELD
ON MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1990 KLAUS RIECKHOFF HALL, 7:00 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
Present:
Salter, L., Acting Chair
C ]
Addison, G.
Absent:
Barrow, R.
Blackman,
R.
Bedford, B.
Blaney,
J.
Calvert, T.
Bowman, M.
Cleveland, W.
Brown, R.C.
Dahl, H.
Carlson, R.
Djwa, S.
Cercone, N.
Falcon, K.
Clayman, B.
Giffen, K.
Covell, M.
Gill, J.
D'Auria, J.
Hoechsmann,
M.
Delgrande,
J.
Kazepides, A.
Dickinson, J.
Partridge,
J.
Dill, L.
Rae, B.
Dobb, T.
Rudrum, A.
Faith, K.
Saywell, W.
Freedman,
A.
Sicking, C.
George, D.
Tuinman, J.
Gray, P.
Vining,
A.
Green, C.
Warsh, M.
Hendrickson,
T.
Winne, P.
Hoegg, J.L.
Jones, C.
Luk, W.S.
Munro, D.
In
attendance:
Nielsen,
V.
Heath, N.
Palmer, E.
Laba, M.
Palmer, L.
Plischke,
M.
Pinfield,
L.
Riahi, F.
Reilly, N.
Stewart, W.
Rieckhoff,
K.
Yeomans, R.
Saunders,
R.
Shannon,
D.
Shapiro, S.
Stewart, M.L.
Swartz, N.
Tjosvold, D.
Verdun-Jones, S.
Wade, S.
Wotherspoon,
A.
Heath, W.R., Secretary
Grant, B., Recording Secretary
I.
3
S.M. 02/04/90
Page 2
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Following the withdrawal of Paper S.90-25 (Terms of Reference for Selection of Vice-
President Research and Information Systems) from item 4.(i), the Agenda was approved.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF MARCH
5.
1990
The Minutes were approved as distributed.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
"See ITh,,s. 4
IVo.yiqø
y
e, cLv'l c*f:oi
ç
i)
Paper S.90-24 - Report - Security Issues - For Information
B. Stewart, Director of Student Services and R. Yeomans, Manager of Traffic and
Security were in attendance as resource persons.
S
In reply to concerns about rnmpiiter theft on rmp11. R. Yeomans reported that a
new computer security system has been introduced. It is a system where each
computer is tied into an electronic alarm system and will allow computer access 24
hours a day, seven days a week. The new system will be introduced on a priority
System with new installations receiving priority one; priority two are
Departments/Schools that wish to have open access to their Computer Labs; and
priority three are buildings situated in high risk areas.
Opinion
was expressed that
additional
security
guards
should
be hired
in order to
increase
campus
patrols
and
suggestion
was
made
that
in
order
to
get a
better
calibre
of security
personnel
the
University
should
hire
directly
rather
than
purchasing
security
services
on
a
contract
basis.
Referring to
the report
before
Senate,
it
was
noted
that
along
with
directly
hiring
the
new Manager,
four
Security
Shift
Supervisor
appointments
have
been
approved
as
permanent SFU
staff
positions.
However,
there is
inadequate
funding
at
the present
time
to
support
the
hiring
of a full
campus security force.
Discussion
turned to
the
issue of a campus
student patrol
service.
R.
Yeomans
explained that this to
be a
very overt operation with students being
used both on a
volunteer
basis
and
on a
paid basis
for patrolling
football
games
and alcohol-
related
events such as
dances.
Through
the
approval
of
a
Challenge
Grant,
a
Criminology
student has
been
hired
to
research
campus student
police and
security
programs
across Canada
in
order
to
assist
in the
development of a
program
for Simon
Fraser
University.
In
reply
to
an
inquiry
about
campus
crime
statistics,
including
assaults on
women,
R.
Yeomans
provided
figures
relating
to
the past
two
years
which
indicated
that
Simon
Fraser
University
is in
fact
a
very low
crime area.
He
informed
Senate
that
he
is in
constant
touch with
Health
Services, Counselling
Services
and
receives a
monthly
report
from the Burnaby
RCMP with regard to
any
reported
crimes.
It
was
suggested
that the Women's
Centre
be
included
in
these
consultations as
they
also
receive
reports
from
people who do not wish to
formally
pursue
the
matter.
In reply to a request for information about the Safe Walk Program, R. Yeomans
explained that the program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and if
persons feel uncomfortable and wish to be escorted, they can phone Security and
one of the patrol persons will be dispatched to walk them from point A to point B.
In response to a concern that this program was not very well advertised, it was
pointed out that the Student Society advertises it in the brochure they publish,
and that it is now being advertised in the Peak and on the TV monitor. It was
suggested that it would be useful if instructors of night classes would inform their
students of the existence of the Safe Walk program.
S.M. 02/04/90
Page 3
. Referring to the written report before Senate, inquiry was made with respect to
the purpose of having well-lit telephone islands in B-Lot and G-Lot. R. Yeomans
advised that the islands will act as a service to patrons in the parking lot in order
to report anything that appears to be suspicious or to make contact should they
have mechanical problems and require a service vehicle.
Concern
about safety
was expressed
with regard
to
the recent
location
near the
Information
Centre of
what appeared
to be a radar trap set up
by the
RCMP,
and
inquiry was made as
to
whether or not
the University had any input
about such
matters.
R.
Yeomans
explained
,
that
while the RCMP does not
require approval to
police the roadways
surrounding the
campus,
the University
does
have
some
input about location
and has in fact
in
the
past
requested
policing of
some
problem areas.
S. Verdun-Jones indicated that the School of Criminology has had opportunity to
work with the new Manager of Traffic and Security and he expressed opinion that
there has been a great improvement in efficiency, consultation and crime
prevention over what existed. a year ago and offered congratulations to R.
Yeomans in this regard.
ii) Referring to the discussion with respect to enrolment limitations on admission
categories and policy directions in this regard, L. Salter read into the Minutes the
following clarification from the original report of the Task Force on University
Size.
"SFU should consider the quotas in all student admission categories, high
school, college transfer, international, mature, etc. to ensure each group of
• students bears an appropriate proportion of the reduction in total enrolment and
that there is a consistency between the standards applied to all admission
categories." L. Salter went on to say that the current members of SCEMP were
polled to ascertain the intention of the Committee when they recommended the
motion approved by Senate at the last meeting. The results of the poll clearly
indicated that SCEMP had no intention of changing policy direction and that their
recommendation was made for one-year only in the context of a reaction to the
funding situation for 1990/91. It was confirmed that further discussions with
respect not only to enrolment numbers but also to proportions of the various
admission groups will take place at SCEMP and SCAP, and will in turn be debated
by Senate in a timely fashion.
R.
Saunders
pointed out that
SCEMP has
already confirmed
that they
have no
argument
with
the validity of
the
principles and that
the
historical evolving
proportions will be
applied next
year if possible.
However, he pointed out that the
Committee
cannot recommend
specific category
breakdowns
until information is
received
from the
Ministry
as
to
what
admission targets
will
be
and
that
this
information
will not be
available for some
Lime.
L. Salter clarified that there were two separate issues to be considered. Firstly the
issue of targets, and secondly the question of proportions. She felt that general
policy issues relating to proportions and how the university should respond to the
changing proportions of applications being received can be reviewed by
SCEMP/SCAP and debated at Senate in a timely manner before the actual admission
targets are known.
0
4. REPORT OF THE CHAIR
i)
The Chair was sad to report the death of Professor Glen Geen and advised Senate
that a letter has been written on behalf of the University to his family expressing
S.M. 02/04/90
Page 4
deep sorrow and appreciation for the contributions he made as a member of
Simon Fraser University.
ii)
Senate received for information a copy of a letter to the Prime Minister written
jointly by W. Saywell, President, M. Feliman, President, Faculty Association, and R.
Zanatta, President, Student Society expressin
g
concern about changes to the EPF
transfer payments to provincial governments and the effect such changes will
have on the quality of universities and other post-secondary institutions.
iii)
Senate was informed that a sub-committee of the Senate Committee on Agenda' and
Rules has been established to review the question of 'Senate meeting time with a
charge to report back through SCAR to Senate. Members of the Committee are N.
Swartz (Faculty Senator and Chair), J. Partridge (Student Senator), M. Warsh (Lay
Senator), and M.L. Stewart (Faculty Senator).
iv)
The Chair advised Senate that expectations are that the budget will be handed
down from the Government on April 19th.
v)
On behalf of the Student Association, T. Hendrickson wished to extend
congratulations and appreciation to W. Saywell for the additional funding
provided to undergraduate and graduate daycare services.
i)
Senate Committee on Academic Planning
a)
Paper S.90-26 - External Review - Department of Mathematics and Statistics - For
Information
A. Freedman, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was in
attendance as a resource person.
Brief discussion ensued, following which the External Review Report of the
Department of Mathematics and Statistics was received for information.
b)
Paper S.90-27 - External Review - Department of Physics - For Information
M. Plischke, Chair, Department of Physics was in attendance as a resource person.
Inquiries were made about the recommendation in the report to hire new faculty
and upgrade the undergraduate laboratories. Senate was informed that the
Department, and the Faculty of Science as a whole, have prepared growth and
development plans, partly in response to the external review, which will be given
serious consideration in budget allocations.
Reference was made to criticisms with regard to the excessive workload of
teaching assistants in both the Department of Physics and the Department of
Mathematics and Statistics. C. Jones indicated this criticism applied to the Faculty
of Science as a whole and he advised that a task force had been established to
examine this question. As a result, it was concluded that TAs in the Faculty of
Science had a heavier workload than ether graduate students in comparable
departments of other universities across Canada and representations will be made
to the Vice-President Academic to increase allocations for teaching assistantships.
It was noted that while the Department of Physics offered a superb program,
concerns were expressed about the relatively few students taking advantage of
this educational opportunity. In reply to an inquiry as to what action the
Department was taking to broaden the opportunity, M. Plischke referred to the
S.M. 02/04/90
Page
5
high school liaison/recruitment program and indicated that low enrolments in a
-10
Department of Physics are not unique to Simon Fraser University.
Following discussion, the External Review Report of the Department of Physics
was received by Senate.
C)
Paper S.90-28 - Response of the Department of Communication to its External
Review - For Information
M. Laba, Chair of the Department of Communication, was in attendance as a
resource person.
The
Chair reminded Senate of
past
practice to
have
departments/schools who have
been
reviewed
report back to
Senate
to
respond
to
questions
and/or developments
that
may have occurred since
the
review took place.
The response of the Department to its external review was received by Senate for
information.
ii)
Senate Appeals Board
Pater S.90-29 - Annual Report - For Inform
rtcn
F. Riahi, Chair of the Senate Appeals Board, and N. Heath, Secretary of SAB and
Director of Admissions were in attendance as resource persons.
Concern was expressed that readmission appellants did not receive a personal
hearing. F. Riahi explained that following written receipt of the Board's decision,
appellants of such appeals have always been given the opportunity to appear
before the Board and make their case in person should they so desire.
As a point of clarification, Senate was informed that the category indicated as
'sustained', refers to decisions made, in favour of the student.
In reply to an inquiry as to the proportions approved in each category, F. Riahi
provided the following statistics: 18 out of 39 selective retroactive, withdrawals
were sustained; 29 out of 64 retroactive withdrawals were sustained, and indicated
further figures were available should anyone be interested.
- Discussion then turned to the process of selective retroactive withdrawals and F.
Riahi and N. Heath provided information as to the procedures followed and the
types of cases appearing before the Board.
It was
suggested
that
the
work of the
Board might be reduced somewhat
if
the
University
community
was
informed
of
rons
which
the
Committee
had
in
the
past judged to be sufficient
to
sustain an
appeal.
F.
Riahi explained
that a booklet
containing
guidelines
and
information
about
the
type
of questions
that a
student
has
to
successfully
answer
to
have
their
appeal
succeed
is
already
published
and,
in
fact,
is
in
the
process
of being
rewritten
and
clarified by
one
of the
student
members on the Senate Appeals Board.
Following this discussion, the Annual Report of the Senate Appeals Board was
received by Senate.
.
'
iii)
Senate Undergraduate Admissions 'Board
Paper S.90-30 - Annual Report - For Information
R. Saunders, Chair of the Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board, and N. Heath,
Secretary of SUAB were in attendance as resource persons.
Referrin g
to pa
g
e 2, the Advanced Interpreter Education Pro
g
ram, concern was
S.M. 02/04/90
Page 6
expressed with regard to a non-credit program containing a credit component
and inquiry was made as to the approval process of such programs. J.L. Hoegg
is
provided background information with regard to this specific program and
explained that non-credit programs receive approval by the Senate Committee on
Continuing Studies.
Referring to the appended evaluation statistics for 1989, inquiry was made as to
whether or not the percentages were considered to be satisfactory and how they
compared to similar figures in other universities. Although information with
regard to comparative figures with other universities was not available, N. Heath
indicated that the number of SFU students in academic difficulty has been
decreasing. He went on to say that Analytical Studies was in the process of
preparing a report on retention which he felt would highlight some of the
reasons for non-continuance and contain an analysis by category of admission.
Senate's attention was drawn to the fact that the category of 'academic warning'
no longer exists and that it will be interesting to compare figures next year with
respect to the number of students who are required to withdraw because that
middle process is no longer available.
-
6.
i)
Paper S.90-31 - Notice of Motion - C. Green
Since he had not had time to present a rationale for the notice of motion submitted
at the previous meeting, C. Green requested that the motion be tabled to the next
meeting of Senate.
In reply to concerns about whether
• or not the content of the motion fell within
the purview of Senate, it was pointed out that under the University Act Senate can
make recommendation to the Board of Governors on any matter it considers
appropriate.
The Chair expressed opinion that the motion be tabled to SCEMP for consideration
prior to discussion on the floor of Senate. In reply to an inquiry from C. Green as
to whether this would then come forward to the May meeting of Senate, R. Heath
explained that following consideration by SCEMP it would then be brought
forward to SCAP and that unless SCAP had a special meeting there would not be
enough time to forward it to the May meeting of Senate.
C. Green requested that the motion be tabled for discussion at the May meeting of
Senate and stated that he would provide a rationale to accompany the motion.
It was suggested that since the matter would be brought forward for discussion at
the next meeting of Senate, Senators should be provided with information
concerning the availability of space, teaching assistants, labs, and scholarship
support, as well as details on the rationale which led to the original
recommendation approved by Senate at the last meeting.
The Chair accepted the request to table the motion for discussion at the May
meeting of Senate.
8.
NOTICES OF MOTION
There were no notices of motion.
S.M. 02/04/90
Page 7
9.
INFORMATION
.
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, May 14, 1990.
Following a brief recess, the Assembly moved into Closed Session at
8:25
p.m.
W. R. Heath
Secretary of Senate
•1
.
0
