C,
S
DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY HELD ON MONDAY,
MAY 11, 1992 KLAUS RIECKHOFF HALL, 7:00 P.M.
OPEN SESSION
Present:
Blaney, J., Acting Chair
S
Bawa, M.
Beattie, S.
Blackman, R.
901 and, L
Bowman, M.
Brown, A.
Carlson, R.
D'Auria, J.
Etherington, L.
Evenden, L.
Gee, E.
Haje, P.
Heinrich, K.
Hoegg, J.L.
Hoffer, A.
Leiss, W.
Lim, K.
Marteniuk, A.
Mauser, G.
McKeown, B.
Menzies, R.
Nicol, I.
Nielsen, V.
Northcott, P.
Palmer, E.
Palmer, L.
Percival, P.
Pint ield, L.
Rieckhoff, K.
Saunders, R.
Shapiro, S.
Stewart, M.L.
Thomas, S. (representing T. Dobb)
Thomson, K.
Toohey, K.
Verdun-Jones, S.
Wade, S.
Winne, P.
Wotherspoon, A.
Heath, W.R., Secretary
Grant, B., Recording Secretary
Absent:
Barrow, R.
Bukovac, S.
Cercone, N.
Choquer, K.
Covell, M.
Dill, L.
Dobb, T.
Gray, P.
Jones, C.
Luk, W.S.
Morrison, T.
Munro, J.
Rae, B.
Reilly, N.
Saywell, W.
Shannon, D.
Soheili, A.
Smith, S.
Swartz, N.
Walker, R.
Warsh, M.
In attendance:
Heath, N.
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Page 2
1.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
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2.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF APRIL 6. 1992
Reference was made to 'Other Business' on page 7, and Senate was requested
to delete the words "and hopefully the Government" from the last sentence.
Following this amendment, the Minutes were approved.
3.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
i)
Paper S.92-30 - Senate Attendance
As a result of a previous inquiry with regard to attendance at Senate meetings,
Senate received Paper S.92-30 for information.
4.
REPORT OF THE CHAIR
There was no report from the Chair.
s1;t.1sIs1lIiI
I)
Paper S.92-31 - Annual Report - Senate Committee on Academic
Planning
The annual report of the Senate Committee on Academic Planning was received
by Senate for information.
ii)
Paper S.92-32 - B.A. Program to be offered at the University College of
the Fraser Valley
Moved by R. Saunders, seconded by S. Wade
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors, the proposed Bachelor of Arts Degree to be offered at
the University College of the Fraser Valley which is contained in
Paper S.92-32"
Reference was made to page one, last sentence of the first paragraph, regarding
the description of the program as being oriented toward both depth and breadth,
and opinion was expressed that this statement was contradictory. De!etion of the
reference to depth and breadth was accepted as a friendly amendment.
Discussion turned to item 6 (literacy requirement) under the Extended Minor
Requirements on page 2 and inquiry was made about the validity of the
Composition Placement Test. Further information was requested with respect to
this test but since this was a requirement of Fraser Valley College, no detailed
information was available.
S
In response to a request for clarification as to what was intended by the label
(reasoning requirement) with respect to item 7 on the same page, Senate was
advised that students are being encouraged to develop critical thinking abilities.
Concern was expressed that some of the courses listed in this section might do
little to develop a student's ability in the area of critical thinking and/or reasoning,
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S.M.11/05/92
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and opinion was expressed that it might be worth further investigation with Fraser
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Valley. It was pointed out that this requirement is currently in place at Fraser
Valley College and in this document there was an attempt to be consistent with
existing language.
Reference was made to the fact that in some instances courses are listed with
Fraser Valley numbers while in other parts of the document SFU course numbers
appear, and opinion was expressed that the document was confusing and
inconsistent. Suggestion was made to delete all reference to the equivalent SFU
course numbers and just list the required Fraser Valley courses since the
information was already contained in the Transfer Guide which students would be
referring to in any event. It was pointed out that the SFU course equivalents
were there simply for information and could be deleted. However, it was pointed
out that having the SFU equivalent courses listed was quite useful for students
transferring from any of the other colleges or from one of the other universities.
A motion, moved by L. Palmer and seconded by E. Palmer, to refer the
document back to SCAP for reconsideration and representation to Senate was
withdrawn temporarily in order to allow further general debate.
Senate was advised that the proposal is an attempt to in an Associate of
Arts credential with our Extended Minors because Fraser Valley College wants to
retain both programs. Consequently there is some deviation from current SFU
degree requirements. The differences occur mainly in the first and second year
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requirements.
Further concerns were expressed that the document appeared to be very
confusing and needed further clarification and additional information before
Senate could take a well-informed vote. R. Brown advised Senate that it was
important that he be able to provide Fraser Valley with some indication that
Senate at least agree in principle with the development of this degree program
and, if Senate was willing to approve in principle, he would undertake to bring the
document back to Senate in a more readable format. Given this undertaking, the
motion to refer was withdrawn with the approval of the mover and seconder.
Amendment moved by P. Northcott, seconded by S. Shapiro
"that Senate approve in principle that the degree be approved, with
corrected and clearer wording of requirements to be brought back
to the June meeting of Senate for approval"
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
iii)
Paper S.92-33 - Advanced Registration for Direct Entry Grade 12 Students
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Moved by R. Saunders, seconded by R. Blackman
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11/05/92
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Page
¼
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors, that students seeking admission on the basis of direct
entry from B.C. secondary schools be given advanced registration
for 92-3, and that the Registrar monitor the effects of this change
and report on the findings to SCUS"
In an introduction to the paper, Senate's attention was drawn to the
memorandum
from A. Blackman, Chairof SCUS which outlined the reasons for
the proposal, and a memo from R. Heath, Registrar which identified Alternative 2
as the preferred method of implementation for an advanced registration. It was
pointed, out that because the registration process with regard to Grade 12
students is approximately six weeks later at Simon Fraser University than at
other institutions, Simon Fraser lacks a competitive edge in recruiting direct entry
high school students.
Opinion was expressed that the proposal would have a detrimental effect on
continuing students at the higher level who still require a few first year credits to
obtain their degree. However, it was noted that upper division students do not
represent a large proportion of students in the 100-level courses, nor in fact do
the Grade 12 students, and SCUS/SCAP felt that advanced registration for
'Grade 12 would have a relatively modest effect in reducing opportunities for
continuing students.
Objection was raised to the proposal because it attracted new students with the
opportunity of advanced registration and the possibility of getting the courses
they want, but after the first semester these same students will receive no special
registration status and may then find themselves with a lower priority and most
likely unable to get some of the courses they want. Opinion was expressed that
the problem could be better solved by changes to the process which would,
provide earlier registration for all students. It was also noted that the University
should be able to provide students with a program that can be finished in a timely
manner, but is unable to do so at the present time because of over-enrolment
problems, and opinion was expressed that the University's problems could be
resolved by approaches other than early registration for new students.
Concerns were also raised that the proposal favoured direct
entry Grade 12
students over other categories of students such as transfer students and mature
students. It was noted that transfer students make up a fairly large proportion of
SFU's incoming students, and opinion was expressed that the proposal implied
that these students were not as important to the University as the direct entry
Grade 12 category.
Discussion turned to points of clarification with respect to the, existing registration
priority system and how the proposed change to it would be implemented. As a
resUlt, it was agreed that reference to Alternative Two which is the method of
implementation proposed would be included in the motion.
Question was called on the motion,
and a vote taken.
MOTION DEFEATED
b)
Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board
i)
Paper
S.92-34 -
Annual Report
S.M 11/05/92
Page 5
.
The annual report of the Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board was
received
by Senate for information.
- i)
I
Paper S.92-35 - Annual Report
The annual report of the Senate Appeals Board was received by Senate for
infor mation.
6.
Other Business
i)
Paper S.92-36 -
Motion re guarantee o
Moved by K. Rieckhoff, seconded by S. Wade
"that Senate establish regulations which will ensure that no new or
- revised courses and programs, or offerings of existing courses and
programs at new locations, including individual offerings of special
topic courses, can be offered unless adequate library resources are
in place, or funds for them guaranteed in the base budget of the
•
Library"
• In order to clarify the motion, K. Rieckhoff requested that the words "direct that
the Chair of Senate" be inserted after the word 'Senate'; there were no objections
to this request.
Senate was advised that the intent of the motion is to improve the current
situation and practice with respect to allocation of library resources and to make
sure courses/programs are not offered without adequate library resources. It was
noted that ownership and/or access to the necessary library facilties must be
guaranteed in order to ensure the academic quality of SFU's courses and
programs, and the motion would direct the Chair and the administration to
establish an effective mechanism to guarantee adequate servicing of courses
and/or programs on and off campus.
A request by R. Saunders to insert the words "including ownership and/or
access" after 'library resources' was accepted as a friendly amendment.
Concern was expressed that the motion, if approved, would place a barrier to any
upgrading, refinement and adjustment to existing curriculum or degree programs,
and opinion was expressed that this would be detrimental to the efficient
administration of a Department, Faculty or School. It was pointed out, however,
that the motion would not prevent curriculum development or approval of new
courses/programs on their academic merit; it would merely place a barrier on the
implementation of those revisions without appropriate access and ownership of
the necessary resources. Opinion was strongly
stressed that the final decision
on what is "adequate"
with respect to library resources must rest with the
. faculty/department offering the course. it was noted that substantial curriculum
revisions are always véttèd by the Library and that the problem appeared to be
that nothing much happens with that statement. It was suggested that if the
motion received approval, the regulations produced should include
a process
S.M. 11/05/92
Page 6
whereby something definite will be done with the library statement and this
should not result in the freezing of SFU's present curriculum.
The following suggestions by R. Brown were accepted as friendly amendments:
I) insertion after the word 'regulations' - "and procedures for implementation of.
these regulations"; ii) insertion after the word 'establish'
- *and bring to Senate,
for approval,"; iii) deletion of the word 'base' before the word 'budget'.
An amendment by L. Boland to insert in the fourth line between 'unless' and
'adequate' the following "adequate space is available and" did not receive a
seconder.
Reference was made to the large number of reports and committees which have
dealt with Library issues recently and especially to the reports of the Library
Review Committee and the External Review Committee. It was also pointed out
that there are committees, such as the Faculty of Arts Users Committee and an
implementation committee, reviewing recommendations and suggestions from
these reports and question was raised as to whether there needed to be yet
another body established to look into essentially the same issues. It was hoped
that the expertise and available work which has already been done in many of
these
,
reports would be taken into consideration in the establishment of the
proposed regulations and that the main goal of the motion is to strengthen and
provide more weight to the current practice with respect to allocation of library
resources.
Concern was expressed that the term 'resources' was too broad and suggestion
was made that the definition should be more specific to include not only books
but space and library personnel as well.
Senate was reminded that the concept of 'adequate' is a relative term because
what is adequate for a course to be offered on campus may not be adequate for
the course to be offered elsewhere. Everything can not be viewed in the same
way, and it was stressed that whatever regulations are established and whatever
procedures are put in place, they must be flexible enough so that the kind of
creative energy which has gone into programs such as the Prison Education
Program and the Native Education Program is not lost.
•. .
At the request of the Chair, the Secretary of Senate read the motion, as amended
prior to the question being called:
"that Senate direct that the Chair of Senate establish and bring to
Senate, for approval, regulations and procedures for
implementation of these regulations which will ensure that no new
or revised courses and programs, or offerings of existing courses
and programs at new locations, including individual offerings of
special topics courses, can be offered unless adequate library
resources (including ownership and/or access) are in place, or
funds for them guaranteed in the budget of the Library"
aQnud
esta ivoon
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wtaas
kecan.
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MO
.
TION (A
.
S AMEN
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DED)
.
CARRIED
•
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S.M. 11/05/92
Page 7
7.
Notices of Motion
The following notices of motions were received from P. Haje
"that senate approve an election or appointee to chair the senate
committee on international students instead of appointed chair from
Faculty of Business Administration because of conflict of interest.
Pursuant to inquiry (RE: Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Business
Administration - and - The Human Rights Act of B.C."
2.
"that senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors to
provide access of computer services to all Simon Fraser University prison
educational programs"
3.
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors to elect
the President of Simon Fraser University instead of government
appointment when the position is vacant"
4.
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors that the
President of Simon Fraser University pay rent to his or her
accommodation as other Simon Fraser University residents"
5.
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors that sons
and daughters of professors attending Simon Fraser University pay their
.
equal share in tuition just like any other students"
6.
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors to
abolish the differential fees for international students as recommended by
U.B.C. Task Force Report"
8.
Information
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, June 1,
1992.
Following a brief recess, the Assembly moved into Closed Session at 8:50 p.m.
W.R. Heath
Secretary of Senate
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