p
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON FRASER
UNIVERSITY HELD
.
ON MONDAY, MARCH 2, 1992 KLAUS RIECKHOFF HALL, 7:00 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
Present:
Saywell, W.G., Chair
Beattie, S.
Absent:
Barrow, R.
Blackman, R.
Bawa, M.
Boland, L.
Ceroone, N.
Bowman, M.
Choquer, K.
Brown, R.
D'Auna,J.
Bukovac, S.
Dill, L.
Carlson, R.
Evenden, L.
Clayman, B.
Leiss, W.
Covell, M.
Menzies, R.
Dobb, T.
Rae, B.
Etherington, L.
Stewart, M.L.
Giffen, K.
Thomson, K.
Gill, W. (representing J. Blaney)
Toohey, K.
Gray, P.
Waker, A.
Haje, P.
Wotherspoon, A.
Heinrich, K.
Hotter, J.A.
Jones, C.
Lim, K.
Luk, W.
Marteniuk, A.
In attendance:
Mauser, G.
N. Heath
.
McKeown, B.
Morrison, T.
Munro, J.
Nicol, I.
Nielsen, V.
Northcott, P.
Palmer, E.
Palmer, L.
Percival, P.
Pintield, L.
Reilly, N.
Rieckhoff, K.
Saunders, R.
Shannon, D.
Shapiro, S.
Soheili, A.
Smith, S.
Swartz, N.
Verdun-Jones, S.
Wade, S.
Warsh, M.
Winne, P.
Yerbury, J.C. (representing J.L. Hoegg)
Heath, W.R., Secretary
Grant. B., Recording Secretary
0
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ÔiO3i92
Page 2
A
1.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
APPROVAL
OF THF MINIITFS OF THF
OPFN SFSiCFsJ flF
IiAV Q
The Minutes were approved as distributed.
3.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
There was no business arising from the Minutes.
i)
Senate Membership
On behalf of Senate, the Chair expressed thanks to the following Student Senators
B Chan, H Dahl, J Jespersen, I Lindberg, and T Myers who were unable to continue
on Senate, and welcomed to Senate M. Bawa, K. Lim, P. Northcott,S. Smith and P. Gray,
who were elected by acclamation to fill the vacancies.
ii)
Visit of the Minister of Advanced Education. Training and Technology
Referring to the recent campus visit of the Hon Tom Perry, Minister of Advanced
Education, Training and Technology Senate was advised that the Minister had met with a
cross section of different groups on campus and had been shown around campus as
much as possible. During the visit, he announced that the funding for the
West
Mall
Complex had been approved. The University has since gone Out to tender
on
that
building.
5. REPORT OF COMMITTEE
T
S
s!.1ithuTETaT1
0
i)
Paper S.92-18 - Elections
The following are the results of elections conducted at Senate to the undernoted
committees:
Senate Committee on International Students (SCIS)
Four Faculty Members
elected by Senate for no specified terri1óf office.
Elected by acclamation:
L. Bolànd
J. Dean,
N. Reilly
N. Svaitz
One Student Senator
elected by Senate for no specified term Of office.
Candidates:
K. Giffen, H. Protais, S. Wade
Individual receiving the highest number of votes
and declared elected:
S. Wade
One International Student
elected by Senate for no specified tä?m Of office'.
Candidates:
H. Lauprecht, A. Solnordal, W. Tang
Individual receiving the highest number of votes
and declared elected:
H. Láuprecht
S.M.
02/03/92
Page 3
One Lay Senator
elected by Senate for no specified term of office.
•
Candidates:
S. Beattie, A. Wotherspoon
Individual receiving the highest number of votes
and declared elected:
S. Beattie
Senate Committee on Academic Planning (SCAP)/Senate Committee on University
Budget (SCUB)
One Student Senator
to replace T. Lindberg for balance term of office, from date of
election to September 30, 1993.
Elected by acclamation:
T. Morrison
Senate Committee on Continuing Studies (SCCS)
One Faculty Senator
to fill an existing vacancy for balance term of office, from date of
election to September 30, 1992.
No nominations received
Vacant
Senate Library Committee (SLC)/Library Penalties Appeal Committee (LPAC)
One Student Senator Alternate
to replace J. Jespersen for balance term of office,
from date of election to September 30, 1992.
Candidates:
T. Morrison, S. Wade
Individual receiving the highest number of votes
and declared elected:
T. Morrison
iii.Ie71C
Moved by J. Munro, seconded by I. Nicol
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board that the 1992/93
undergraduate enrolment target be 180 FTE above the 1991/92
undergraduate enrolment as outlined in Dr. Wattamaniuk's memo of 29
January, 1992. If the funded Access Program enrolment is less than 500
FTE, then the 1992/93 enrolment target will be reduced in conformity with
the relationship:
Funded Access Enrolment minus 320 = 1992/93 Undergraduate
Enrolment Increase Target
If the funded enrolment target is reduced below 180 FTE, the admission
targets specified in motions 2 and 3 shall be reduced accordingly."
J. Munro requested that the above motion be amended so that the figure of 180 be
changed to 130, and the figure of 320 be changed to 370 and explained that the revisions
were necessary because the average course load of students had increased and fewer
students dropped courses between the end of third week and the end of week 7 which is
the point when the Ministry of Advanced Education examines the numbers and
determines access funding. This has resulted in 50 more FTEs than originally projected.
S.M. 02/03/92'
Page 4
Senate was also reminded that it would be necessary to adjust the targets in accordance
with the approved access funding when it is finally received.
Opinion was expressed that the proposal before Senate was dnven by funding rather
than by a desire to provide the best possible education. Opinion was expressed that
students, under the Access Program, were not being served adequately and that further
increases in size should not be undertaken until sufficient resources were available to
provide the quality of education students deserve. It was pointed out that the motion, in
effect, calls for a reduction in enrolment if funds are not forthcoming and an increase only
to the level which will be adequately funded. Further opinion was expressed that the
budget situation was very difficult at the present time and that without Access funding the
situation would be aggravated.
Referring to the fact that the University has always exceeded enrolment targets in the past,
inquiry was made as to what would be the result of actually taking in less students than
budgeted for and suggestion was made that perhaps the estimates should be somewhat
more conservative. It was unknown if the University would have the funding withdrawn in
the same year or in the following year if fewer students were registered but losing the
funding in the same year would present a major problem. Senate was reminded that
when the targets have been exceeded, the University has received funding for the extra
students registered, but in the following year.
Opinion was expressed that managing enrolment was not the only way to deal with a
difficult budget situation and suggestion
was
made that Simon Fraser University should
exercise leadership and come up with some new and imaginative ideas for
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funding and resources
0
Question was called on Motion #1 as amended,
and a vote taken.
MOTION #1 AS AMENDED CARRIED
Moved by J. Munro, seconded by I. Nicol.
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board the admission targets
for 1992/93 as outlined in Dr. Wattamaniuk's memo of 29 January, 1992"
Senate's attention was drawn to the numbers at the tope of page 2 of Dr. Wattamaniuk's
memorandum which represent the targets by semester. Brief discussion followed.
Question was called on motion #2
and a vote taken.
MOTION #2 CARRIED
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Moved by J. Munro, seconded by S. Wade
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board the admission targets
.
S.M. 02/03/92
Page 5
by admission category for Fall 1992 and Spring 1993 as outlined in Dr.
. Wattamaniuk's memo of 29 January 1992, and further, that SOAP be
delegated authority to adjust these targets based on the enrolment
experience in the Summer 1992 and Fall 1992 semesters, consistent
with the University's commitment to the Access funding program"
Senate's attention was drawn to the information at the bottom of page 2 of Dr.
Wattamaniuk's memorandum and Senate was reminded that this motion sets out the
proportion of new students that will be admitted in the three major categories of
admission; i.e. B.C. Grade 12, B.C. College, and Other which includes university transfer,
degree holders, mature students and several other categories.
Suggestion was made that future considerations of this question should include
information and data with respect to how the different categories perform relative to each
other in areas such as retention rates, graduation rates and grade point average. Opinion
was expressed that this type of information would be helpful in making decisions with
respect to targets among the categories. Senate was reminded of previous debates on
this issue in which a strong interest was shown in maintaining the historical proportions
among the three major admission categories and it was pointed out that the number
represented in the motion was an attempt by SCEMP and SCAP to follow Senate's sense
of will in this matter.
Discussion ensued with respect to specifics within the 'Other category and N. Heath,
Director of Admissions joined the meeting in order to respond to inquiries. Senate was
• advised that there are no formal guidelines with respect to proportions of the different
categories within 'Other, and that the most notable change over the years has been an
increase in the admission of degree holders and a decrease in the number of mature
students admitted. Reasonable attempts have been made to maintain some reasonable
equity across the 'Other' categories.
Brief discussion followed with respect. to the cut off GPA and Senate was referred to Table
1 which showed the admission GPAs for Grade 12 and B.C. College which have been in
place since 1986-87.
Question was called on Motion #3,
and a vote taken.
MOTION #3 CARRIED
Moved by J. Munro, seconded by S. Wade
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board the admission targets
for admission to the Faculty of Science for Fall 1992 and Spring 1993 as
outlined in Dr. Wattamaniuk's memo of 29 January 1992"
Objection was raised to the motion which, if approved, would make the Faculty of Science
admission requirements lower than that of the University, and opinion was expressed that
•
this creates a perception outside of the University that the Science program has inferior
students and inferior standards of admission. It was pointed out however that students
S.M. 02/03/92
Page 6
6.
seeking direct admission to the Faculty of Science must acquire their GPA from a very
specific and demanding set of high school courses. Senate was assured that because of
the way the Grade Point Average is to be calculated, the admission standards within the
Faculty of Science have been maintained. Senate was also reminded that historically
grade point average minimum requirements were the same across the University and
stood at 2.5 for High School and 2.0 for Colleges but because of capacity limitations, the
GPA minimum had increased. Opinion was expressed that it appears to be reasonable
for the Faculty of Science to maintain those historical GPA minima because they are able
to accept students at that level.
In response to an inquiry as to whether or not a student who qualifies for admission to the
Faculty of Science would also be acceptable if applying to the university in general,
Senate was advised that it is intended that a student who does not meet the minimum cut
off level for the University general admission but does quality for admission to the Faculty
of Science, will be offered the opportunity for admission to the Faculty of Science. It was
noted that once admitted a student could change to a different Faculty but opinion was
expressed that this would be minimal because of the demanding set of Science
requirements needed for admission to the Faculty of Science in the first place.
Question was called on Motion #4,
and a vote taken.
MOTION #4 CARRIED
IC1tf.r,iiiiiii
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Suggestion was made that future annual reports contain information and data on visa
student enrolment by program. Senate was advised that this information was currently
available and that it would be included in future reports.
Concern was expressed that the average age of completion appeared to be somewhat
high and inquiry was made as to how SFU compares to other universities across Canada.
Senate was reminded that this figure is affected by students in the Faculty of Education,
for example, who come back after spending time in their profession and by the time it
takes for degree completion and that if completion time was reduced the average age
would also be reduced. Data in this area arecurrently being gathered by the Western
Canadian Association of Graduate Schools and would hopefully be available next year.
Following discussion, the Annual Report of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee was
received by Senate.
Other Business
i)
Paper S.92-17 - Motion re funding level for SFU Library Acquisitions
Moved by S. Wade, seconded by G. Mauser
"that Senate of Simon Fraser University believes that the funding level for
Simon Fraser University Library acquisitions should be increased to
approach the goal recommended in Challenge 2001 - The President's
.
S.M. 02/03/92
Page 7
•
Strategic Plan and in the Report of the University Library Review
Committee"
Senate was advised that the motion was intended to remind the University of its
commitment to the academic goals as set out in the documents referred to in the motion
and to express Senate's support in principle.
It was noted that while everyone believes that funding levels should increase not only for
the Library but for all aspects of the budget, concern was expressed about supporting an
increase in one line item of the budget without knowing which other line items would be
reduced. Opinion was expressed that Senate has contributed to the dilemma in the
Library by approving new programs and courses without ensuring that sufficient library
resources for these new incentives are available. It was pointed out that in the current
difficult budget situation, special interest groups such as the Faculty Association, Staff
Association, Unions and Students are attempting to protect and speak up on behalf of
their respective areas of concern and it seems reasonable that Senate, which has
responsibility for the Library, should support and speak on its behalf.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
.
Moved by J. Munro, seconded by S. Bukovac
"that Senate establish an ad hoc Senate Committee on Instructional
Methods and Organization with the Terms of Reference and Membership
as set out in S.92-21"
Senate was informed that it was felt the establishment of a committee of this nature was
important in light of the substantial growth at SFU over the past several years and the
considerable difficulties the University has experienced in adjusting operations to meet
this growth. Senate's attention was drawn to the proposed terms of reference of the
Committee.
Following discussion, various revisions to the terms of reference were accepted as
friendly amendments. The revised terms are:
Terms of Reference
1.
To review the patterns of enrollment growth from 1987 to the present and into the
future, and to assess the costs and benefits of that growth.
2.
To evaluate current and alternate instructional methods, organization, and incentives
for instructional excellence and renovation to improve the University's instructional
quality and cost-effectiveness.
3.
The Committee will seek input from across the University in its deliberations. In
particular, Faculty Deans will be asked to report on the situation facing their own units.
4.
The Committee will be a sub-committee of the Senate Committee on Academic
Planning. It will report to SCAP before September 15, 1992.
S.M. 02/03/92
Page 8
With
regard to membership, the Chair indcatéd his intent to consult With the President of
the Faculty Association with respect to the two members to be appointed by the President
and it was ts hope that one of these members will be the President of the Faculty,
Association.
Amendment moved by L. Boland, seconded by G. Mauser
"that Item 1 under Membership be amended to read 'Four faculty
members and two students (one undergraduate and one, graduate),
elected by Senate"
Question was called on the amendment,
and a vote taken.
AMENDMENT CARRIED
Question was called on the main motion as amended
and a vote taken
MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED
It was noted that, although the report did not include SFU's involvement in some of the
CIDA programs, it was very useful to have information on the type of agreements the
University is involved in and the identity of the personnel associated with these
agreements. Because of its expanding involvement in international activities of this kind
and in order to maintain control, suggestion was made that the University should have
proper guidelines as to the purpose and criteria to be used in establishing relationships of
this nature and that perhaps a
S
e n
ate Committee could be established to oversee the
implementation of such a policy. The Chair indicated the administration would undertake
to prepare a draft policy for Senate consideration, including the question of whether or not
it was desirable to establish a committee.
iv) K. Giffen drew Senate's attention to the fact that March 21, 1992 is International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Senators were asked to support, in
whatever way they can, the elimination of racial discrimination.
8.
Information
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, April 6, 1992.
The Assembly moved directly into Closed Session at 9:00 p.m.
W.R. Heath
Secretary of Senate
1 7_^
