DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SENATE OF SIMON

FRASER UNIVERSITY

HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1996 AT 7:00

P.M. IN ROOM 3120 WMC

OPEN SESSION

Present: ?

Stubbs, John, Chair

Akins, Kathleen

Absent: ?

Aujia, Angela

Alderson, Evan

Barrow, Robin

Arnason, Kristjan

Beattie, Suzan

Blaney, Jack

Berggren, Len

Blazenko, George

Cleveland, William

Boland, Larry

Dahl, Veronica

Cellik, Peter

Dunsterville, Valerie

Chan, Albert

Giffen, Kenneth

Clayman, Bruce

Hewitt, Kevin

Crawford, Charles

Howlett, Michael

D'Auria, John

Kozminuk, Angela

Dobb, Ted

Lewis, Brian

Emmott, Alan

Mauser, Gary

Etherington, Lois

McInnes, Dina

• ?

Gagan, David

Morrison, Tim

Hansen, Joey

Naef, Barbara

Jones, Cohn

Nip, Harry

Kanevsky, Lannie

Peterson, Louis

Luk, Wo Shun

Ross, Douglas

Marteniuk, Ron

Sanghera, Baiwant

Mathewes, Rolf

Segal, Joseph

Osborne, Judith

Whitbread, Katherine

Percival, Paul

Wickstrom, Norman

Pierce, John

Pinfield, Larry (representing S. Shapiro)

Rawicz, Andrew

Reed, Clyde

In attendance:

Roth, Michael

Brockman, Joan

Ukrainetz, Mark

Gordon, Robert

Warsh, Michael

Jackson, Margaret

Winne, 'Phil

O'Shea, Tom

Wortis, Michael

Selman, Mark

Watt, Alison, Director, Secretariat Services

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M.02/12/96

Page

1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by J

Hansen

"that the proposed Specialist Program in Software

Engineering which is part of Senate paper S.96-73a under

agenda item 5-c-i be withdrawn from the Agenda"

Senate was advised that the Canadian Association of the B.C. Association of

Professional Engineers have questioned the right of the Univrsity to offer

the program with the proposed title 'Software Engineer'ing'.. The intent is to

meet with representatives from the Association to discuss their objections

and bring this item back to Senate in January.

Concerns

were expressed about the withdrawal of this item from the agenda

and the consequences of delaying Senate consideration. There was some

feeling that Senate should debate and consider the academic merits of the

program at this time and, should there be a threat of legal action or an

injunction, in p.lementation could he delayed until the issue was resolved.

Since the objections appeared to be only related to the use of the word

Engineering in the title, brief discussion followed with respect to whether or

not it was possible to use a different word and therefore have the program

debated. Senate was .advised that software engmeeringi

. is a well recognized

discipline within Computing Science and the School felt it was in the best

interest of the students to retain that specific title.

A 'suggested than ge

4:0

the motion as follows was accepted as a friendly

amendment:

"that The proposed Specialist Program in Software Engineering

which is part of Senate 'paper S9673a under agenda item 5-c-i be

held ,over ito the January meeting of Senate"

It was pointed out that the 'Canadian Association of Professional Engineers is

The body whih certifies 5F15's Engineering Science Prqgrarn and that the

proposed delay for consideration 4of,this programis am atter of courtesy to the

Association and provides an opportunity to have .a friendly discussion with

representatives of the Engineering :profession to shear their concerns. It was

,noted That There was istill sufficient time f or the

program,

if approved, to be

indluded in the new Calendar.

Question 'was called, and a wote taken.

MO1ON CARRIED

Flloing this amendmert, the Agenda w

.as pproved as amended.

S.M.02/12/96

Page 3

S2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF NOVEMBER 4.

1996

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

3. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

In response to an inquiry from the last meeting that came forward in

discussion of the Annual Report of SPCSAB, Senate was advised that the

University spent $345,000 on new Entrance Scholarships in Fall of 1995, and

$432,000 in Fall of 1996.

4. REPORT OF THE CHAIR

The Chair advised that University Presidents will be meeting with

Ministry officials on Tuesday, December 3rd to discuss funding for an 18-

month period beginning October 1, 1996. Expectations are that the funding

environment will be known very soon and the University is receiving four

months notice as this information would not normally be known until

March or April.

ii)

The Chair advised that the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on.

Planning Priorities, chaired by K. Heinrich, is complete and will be released to

the University community as quickly as possible.

iii)

The Chair was happy to report that Simon Fraser University had

ranked first among the comprehensive institutions in the Maclean's annual

survey for 1996, and he was pleased to note that universities in British

Columbia again stood very high in the Maclean's ranking.

iv)

Congratulations were extended to the SFU's Women's Soccer Team for

winning the NAIA Championship.

5. REPORT OF COMMITTEES

a) SENATE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Paper S.96-71 - Elections

Senate was advised that no further nominations had been received. A.

Gupta has therefore been elected by acclamation to the Senate Committee on

Disciplinary Appeals; all other positions remain vacant and will be carried

forward. The Chair noted that the Nominating Committee is primarily

looking for Student Senators to fill the remaining outstanding vacancies.

S.M.02/12/96

Page 4

b) SENATE COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC PLANNING

i) ?

Paper S.96-72 - External Review - School

Criminology

M. Jackson, Director of the School of Criminology, J

Brockman,

Director of Graduate Programs, and R. Gordon, Director of Undergraduate

Programs were in attendance in order to respond to questions.

Senate was advised that SCAP had discussed the report at length and had

raised a number of issues which have been communicated to the School and

which the School is attempting to address as resources become available.

Concerns were expressed about statements in the report that much research

work which. might be more appropriately channeled through the University

is being carried out independently through external contracts. Concerns were

expressed that university resources are being used in the fulfillment of these

external contracts and a lengthy discussion ensued with respect to how this

process worked. The External Reviewers had expressed a concern that

graduate students might be missing out on opportunities that were being

handled through externally routed research contracts. However, it was noted

that external contracts often assure more hiring of graduate students than

would be possible otherwise, and it was suggested that this could be

considered as a net benefit to the University in lieu of overhead charges.

It was. .noted that as a full-time employees of the University, faculty members

have an obligation to fulfill their teaching and research responsibilities

within the institution and their primary concern should be for the students of

the University. Senate was assured by the Director of the School and by the

Dean of Arts that faculty members within the School are extremely hard-

working and conscientious about their total university obligations.

It was pointed out that this issue is not unique to the School of Criminology

and that it is common for faculty members to take on outside contracts from

Government and from the private sector. Opinion was expressed that this

should be viewed positively for the University as it is a recognition from

society that faculty members are doing their job well and there is a demand

for their expertise. It was suggested that the University required a better

mechanism to monitor this issue on a more systematic basis and needed to

address how to facilitate on-campus handling of these contracts so faculty will

channel them through the University. Senate was advised that since the

Vice-President Research had introduced more flexibility, more individual

contracts are now being done through the University and attempts are being

made to inform external agencies of this possibility. The Outside Activities

Policy which is the most relevant policy with respect to' this issue is under

review and will probably be amended within the next year. Part of the policy

S.M.02/12/96

Page 5

dealing with the reporting of income is in abeyance at the moment due to a

FOl/POP concern.

It was noted that the reviewers expressed concern about undergraduate

students having difficulty in getting upper division courses, and about the

average length of time graduate students took to complete their degrees. It

was pointed out that access has been a problem for some time and in an

attempt to address the issue, the School has opened up access to upper

division courses through various curriculum changes which take effect in

September and the intent is to do more as resources become available.

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Committee on

Undergraduate Studies

Senate's attention was drawn to the one-page handout distributed at the start

of the meeting which summarized courses which had been renumbered but

not noted on Senate papers S.96-73 through S.96-77. Senate was advised that

although these courses were listed within the papers as having revisions, the

renumbering had been omitted. Senate was advised that a total of 23 courses

throughout these documents were deleted and 31 courses added for a net

addition of 8. These figures do not include new special topics or directed

readings courses.

Paper S.96-73 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of

Applied Sciences

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by R. Marteniuk

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Applied

Sciences as set forth in S.96-73 as follows:

S.96-73a School of Computing Science - New Specialist Program:

Specialist Program in Multimedia Computing"

Senate's attention was drawn to the list of new courses on Page 15 and request

was made to amend ENSC/ENSC 250 to ENSC/CMPT 250. It was noted that

this appeared to be cross-listing of courses which for many years the Registrar

has stressed that the system will not permit and therefore should be avoided.

Request was made that an inquiry be made as to how ENSC/CMPT 150 and

250 will be handled through the current registration system. It was suggested

that should this represent a cross-listing of courses it would be a departure

from existing policy and SCUS would not have had delegated authority to

deal with it. The Chair of SCAP was asked to investigate and report back, and

if the issue had been dealt with in an

ultra vires

manner, it will be brought

back for reconsideration.

S.-M.

02/12/96

Pagë6

Ouie

''stioh was called,

and a vote iákeh.

MOtIOW CARRIED

Sefláte was adtTised that SCtJS, acting ündei delegated auth6rity

had

approved curriculum revisions as set forth in S 96-73a School of Computing

Scieric, S;96-73b SchOOl of Engineering Sciëhce

and S.96-73c School of

Kifléidlogy.

i) ?

Paper 9-74 Ufidegtadliate Curt küluth Revisions - Facuft of Atts

Moved

D. Gagan, secoridéd by E; Aldersdn

"that Sefiäté aiprdve and tecOmthehd approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Arts, as

set forth m 506-74 as follows

S 96-74b School for the Contemporary Arts - Proposed

NIeW Pograh Minor ih Art arid culture Studis; JOirit

Major iii Art arid ulttité Studies and Antlitopology;

Joint

Major in Art and CultUre Studies and Sociology

S;96-74h DepAitihotit of Fréflch - PropOsed Joirit Màjdt in

Humanities and French

S.96-74iñ Department of Political Science Popded Neiv

Joint Májör Pbgrain Jblht Major iri Political Science and

Economics, ?

Joint Major ih Political Science and

Women's

Studies

S.9674d Department of Sociology/Anthropology -

Proposed Joint Major in Arithropolo and Afchaeologi

S.96-74q Proposed Integfátëd Stridis

Program

within the

BGS Degree"

M. Selfflan, Associate Dean, Continuing Studies, was in attendance in order

tO respond to questions with fegard to S;96-74q Integtated Studies Program.

Reference was made to the Integrated Studies Program and concerns wete

expressed about the d-

of the University designing a degree

program

especially one With less than 120 hours, to improve a person's

marketability;

and

inquiry was made as to how the program would operate. It

was pointed out that the program was' designed to broaden a student's

petspective by blending liberal arid applied studies

iri a

pfograth designed to

meet the needs of a specific group of studerits; Striderits in the program

*ould .

have to maintain good dcadoffik standing and, if a student fails or is

Uñablé to cOmplete a coUrse

arangethents could be

made

•

through other

bfferings for the student to dompiete the requirerrients of the program.

Although the program is made

up of regular courses, the packaging of the

c6ifrses are specifically designed for" these hmdents.

•

S.M.02/12/96?

Page 7

• There was support for the idea that significant education and skills can be

obtained in the workplace and these skills should be acknowledged when

students come into the University with this type of background. It was felt

that such students were capable of handling university level material, and

concern was expressed that the course descriptions in the program appeared

to be watered down. It was pointed out that the academic content of these

courses is equivalent to other SFU courses and that the specific design and

detail of each program requires approval by the Faculty of Arts Curriculum

Committee.

Opinion was expressed that although this was a good proposal, there is a

danger that SFU's Bachelor's degree could be perceived as devalued and

efforts must be taken to ensure no such perception occurs.

Inquiry was made as to whether a group of regular students who may be

having difficulty getting courses within the last two years of their program

could get together and have a program of this type approved. Although this

was possible, it was pointed out that this program does not provide a major

and therefore it is not an alternative for a major/honors program.

Moved by C. Crawford, seconded by A. Chan

"that the motion be divided to enable consideration of the

Integrated Studies Program as a separate issue"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION TO DIVIDE CARRIED

Concern was expressed about a perceived proliferation of Joint Major

programs and inquiry was made as to why they were needed when these

programs already have Double Majors and Major/Minor options already

available. It was noted that departments in the Faculty of Arts were trying to

consider their curriculum in relationship to curriculum programs in other

departments and attempting to make a combination of curriculum visible

and attractive to students with blended interests. It was also pointed out that

double majors normally require many more hours, whereas a joint major is

specifically designed to be completed within the 120 hours.

Question was called on the following motion:

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Arts, as

set forth in S.96-74 as follows:

1) S.96-74b School for the Contemporary Arts - Proposed

New Programs: Minor in Art and Culture Studies; Joint

Major in Art and Culture Studies and Anthropology; Joint

Major in Art and Culture Studies and Sociology

S.M.02/12/96

Page

S.96-74h

Humanities

Department

and French

of French - Proposed Joint Major in

S.96-74m Department of Political Science - Proposed New

Joint Major Programs: Joint Major in Political Science and

Economics; Joint Major in Political Science and Women's

Studies

S.96-74o Department of Sociology/ Anthropology -

Proposed Joint Major in Anthropology and Archaeology

MOTION CARRIED

Question was called on the following motion:

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Arts, as

set forth in S.96-74 as follows:

S.96-74q Proposed Integrated Studies Program within the

BGS Degree"

MOTION CARRIED

Senate received information that SCUS, acting under delegated authority,

approved revisions as set forth in S.96-74a Community Economic

Development; S.96-74b School for the Contemporary Arts; S.96-74c School of

Criminology; S.96-74d Department of Economics; S.96-74e Department of

English; S.96-74f Family Studies Certificate; S.96-74g First Nations Studies;

S.96-74h Department of French; S.96-74i Department of Geography; S.96-74j

Department of History; S.96-74k Humanities Program; S.96-741 Department of

Linguistics; S.96-74m Department of Political Science; S.96-74n Department of

Psychology; S.96-74o Department of Sociology/ Anthropology; S.96-74p

Department of Women's Studies.

iii) ?

Paper S.96-75 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of

Business Administration

It was noted that many corequisites have been changed to prerequisites and

opinion was expressed that students currently in the program have difficulty

getting courses and this particular change will restrict a student's choice even

more. It was pointed out that the intent of the Faculty was to streamline

pathways and simplify course requirements to enable students to complete

their requirements in approximately four semesters instead of the present six.

However, there appeared to be some uncertainty about whether or not

Business had actually changed corequisites to prerequisites and it was

suggested that this matter be referred back for confirmation.

Moved by L. Boland, seconded by A. Chan

S.M. 02/12/96

Page 9

"that Paper S.96-75 be referred back to the Senate Committee on

Undergraduate Studies"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION TO REFER CARRIED

iv)

Paper S.96-76 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of

Education

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by P. Winne

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Education

as set forth in S.96-76

i) ?

Addition of B.Ed. Specialization in Mathematical

Sciences"

T. O'Shea, Faculty of Education, was in attendance in order to respond to

questions.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Senate received information that SCUS, acting under delegated authority,

approved revisions of a minor nature as set forth in S.96-76.

Paper S.96-77 - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of

Science

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the curriculum revisions for the Faculty of Science as

set forth in S.96-77 as follows:

i) ?

S.96-77a Department of Biological Sciences - Introduction

of Streams in Biological Science Curriculum"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Senate received information that SCUS, acting under delegated authority,

approved revisions as set forth in S.96-77a Department of Biological Sciences;

S.96-77b Department of Chemistry; S.96-77c Earth Sciences Program; S.96-77d

Environmental Science Program; S.96-77e Department of Geography; S.96-77f

Department of Mathematics and Statistics; S.96-77g Department of Physics.

S.M.02/12/96 *

Page 10

OTHER BUSINESS

Senate was advised of the recent election of T. Morrison to the North

Vancouver School Board.

INFORMATION

• The next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate will take place on Monday,

January 6, 1997.

The Assembly moved directly into Closed Session at 9:10 pm.

A. Watt

Director, Secretariat Services