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DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

Minutes of a meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on

Monday, February 2, 1998 at 7:00 pm in Room 3210 WMC

Open Session

Present: ?

Blaney, Jack, President and Chair

Barrow, Robin

Absent: ?

Baert, Jessica

Bawa, Parveen

Beattie, Suzan

Berggren, J. Len

Blazenko, George

Boland, Larry

Bowman, Marilyn

Chan, Albert

Cleveland, William

Clayman, Bruce

Giffen, Kenneth

Coleman, Peter

Hassan, Nany

-D'Auria, John

Lewis, Brian - -

Dobb, Ted

Marteniuk, Ron

Dunsterville, Valerie

McInnes, Dina

Emmott, Alan

Nip, Harry

Etherington, Lois

Parmar, Neelam

Gagan, David

Reed, Clyde

Gillies, Mary Ann

Segal, Joseph

Jones, Cohn

Warsh, Michael

Jones, John

Kanevsky, Lannie

Kirczenow, George

Mathewes, Rolf

Mauser, Gary

In attendance:

Morris, Joy

Schoner, Bertram

Naef, Barbara

Ogloff, James

Osborne, Judith

Overington, Jennifer

Percival, Paul

Peterson, Louis

Pierce, John

Russell, Robert

Sanghera, Balwant

Selman, Mark

Tam, Lawrence

Waterhouse, John

Wickstrom, Norman

Winne, Phil

Wong, Tim

Wortis, Michael

Yagi, Ian

Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services and Registrar

Watt, Alison, Director, Secretariat Services

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M. 02/02/98

Page 2

Approval of the Agenda

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of January 5, 1998

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arising from the Minutes

S.98-13 - Changes in Proposed Harassment Policy (For Information)

The Chair reported that the Board of Governors approved the proposed

Harassment Policy with two amendments which roughly paralleled the two

recommendations of Senate. Firstly, the term 'human rights' was replaced by the

term 'harassment resolution', and secondly, under the reporting section 13.1

'findings and reasoning' was included in the reporting process for cases that are

resolved after an investigation is completed. In addition, it was proposed and

agreed that the Vice-President Academic or the President could comment on

cases, as appropriate, throughout the year prior to distribution of the annual

report.

ii)

Paper S.98-14 - Report on first-year level teaching (For Information)

Senate was informed that in addition to points (a) and (b) relating to Point 1 -

Methodology, it was also discovered that Maclean's only counts those instructors

who are teaching a course on the first of September each year. ?

Concern was expressed about the basis of the data chosen for the report to

Senate in regard to Point 2 - Performance by Faculty and it was pointed out that

using the same data entirely different statistics can be arrived at depending on

whether or not Laboratory Instructors are included as faculty. In addition, it

appeared that the category of courses contained errors which were not addressed

in the report to Senate. Chemistry 150 and its corresponding laboratory course

Chemistry 155 was referred to as an example of how misleading the Maclean's

methodology is. The Chem 150 lecture course had 14 tutorial sections but since

there was a common set of lectures this was counted as one course, taught by

one professor. In contrast, the same body of students were divided into 6

laboratory sections. All students did the same work and were graded by the same

Laboratory Instructor, but because the sections were at different times they were

counted as 6 courses. Opinion was expressed that the problem arises in the use

of the Instructional Activity analysis data, which classifies Teaching Assistants as

Instructors. It was suggested that the Registrar's records could better identify

courses and instructors.

Senate was advised that the Vice-President Academic has instructed W.

Wattamaniuk, Director of Analytical Studies to raise SFU's concerns with

Maclean's.

S.M. 02/02/98

Page 3

Report of the Chair

There was no report from the Chair.

Reports of Committees

Senate Nominating Committee

i) ?

Paper S.98-15 - Elections

The following are the results of elections conducted by Senate for the following

Senate committees:

Senate Committee on University Teaching and Learning (SCUTL)

One Undergraduate Student (at-large) to replace Jennifer Overington for term -of

office from date of election to May 31, 1998.

Elected by acclamation: ?

Jessica Stanley

Committee to Review Undergraduate Admissions (CRUA)

One Student (at-large) to replace Tim Van Allen for term of office from date of

election to May 31, 1998.

Elected by acclamation: ?

Jennifer Overington

. ?

Senate Committee on Academic Planning (SCAP)/Senate Committee on

University Budget (SCUB)

One Student Senator to replace Jennifer Overington for term of office from date

of election to May 31, 1998.

Candidates: L. Tam, T. Wong

Elected: ?

Lawrence Tam

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Committee on

Undergraduate Studies

- Undergraduate

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved minor curriculum revisions to

existing courses and programs in the Department of Political Science, as well as

the addition of the following new courses: POL 211, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359.

ii)

Paper S.98-17 - Pro

osed Intensive English for International Students -

Pilot Pro

ram (For Informati

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved a pilot program for Intensive

English for International Students.

S.M. 02/02/98

Page

Concern was raised that no report to Senate was required following completion

of the trial period. Senate was advised that if the result of the pilot program

suggested that a change in the University's English requirements was necessary,

this would come to Senate for approval because it involved a change or an

addition to SFU's admission requirements.

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Graduate Studies

Committee

I) ?

Paper S.98-18 - Faculty of Business Administration - Graduate Diploma in

Business Administration

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by B. Clayman

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors, the proposed Graduate Diploma in Business

Administration as set forth in S.98-18, including the following new

courses: BUS 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556, 557, 558, 559"

B. Schoner, Faculty of Business Administration, was in attendance in order to

respond to questions.

A philosophical concern was expressed about the general notion of professional

programs charging higher fees to students who can then make more money

thereby ensuring that jobs go to those people who can afford the higher fees in

the first place. Referring to the 500-level courses, a further concern was

expressed about introductory courses being offered at the graduate level.

It was pointed out that the program is targeted to students who are fully

employed, not students attending full-time at university, and since these students

are likely to benefit by completing such a program, it was felt that charging them

the full cost of the program was justified. Senate was informed that virtually all

graduate programs in Business Administration at the Masters level start off with

introductory 500-level courses. This has been the practice at all universities for

many years.

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Committee on

Undergraduate Studies/Senate Graduate Studies Committee

Paper S.98-19 - Course Audit - Undergraduate/Graduate

Motion #1

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by J. Osborne

"that Senate approve the following Calendar entry for

undergraduate course audit:

S.M. 02/02/98

Page 5

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Audit will be recorded as "AU" on a student transcript if the student

fulfills the requirements agreed to by the student and the

department at the time of registration. Minimally, these

requirements should comprise regular attendance at class meetings,

completion of readings and participation in activities. Audited

courses will not count towards degree requirements."

Discussion ensued with respect to the meaning of 'regular attendance' and

concern was expressed about this requirement when applied to large classes of

students.

It was noted that the proposal was meant specifically for students who want formal

recognition of an audit on their transcript. Since both the student and the

instructor have to reach an agreement as to what constitutes an audit in a

particular course attendance may, or may not, be part of that agreement; -Senate

was advised that most formal auditing is thought to take place at the 300 and 400

level and this motion is expected to cover a small group of students who want

formal recognition on their transcript. Even if this regulation was adopted, it was

hoped that the informal auditing process would continue amongst undergraduate

students and instructors.

Concern was expressed about the audit notation appearing on a student's

transcript and it was pointed out that under current regulations as long as students

• register for audit and pay half the course fees, the notation appears on their

transcript. This proposal attempts to give the instructor the opportunity to

negotiate what is required for an audit in his/her course. Opinion was expressed

that without a well-defined meaning for audit, the notation on a transcript does

not mean anything. However, it was pointed out that under the proposed

regulation more information is available if the instructor were to be contacted to

find out what constituted the audit arrangement for a course.

Senate was advised that a review of Calendars from across Canada showed that

the proposed regulation was standard and that audits are granted in virtually all

institutions for graduate and undergraduate students based on what an instructor

and a student agree upon.

An amendment by L. Tam to replace the word 'should' by 'may' failed for want of

a seconder.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION #1 CARRIED

Note: With the approval of the above change, the following minor procedural

change would occur:

For those students who have registered for "Course Audit", the grade list provided

to the instructor will continue to carry an automatic entry of "AU" but the

instructor may report that the student has not met the agreed conditions for

audit. In such cases, the student's record for the semester will not carry any

would of registration for audit status for that course. An appeal of that decision

would be handled under the grade appeal policy.

S.M.

02/02/98

Page

Motion #2

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by B. Clayman

"that Senate approve the following Calendar entry for graduate

course audit:

Graduate students should be allowed to audit graduate courses,

with the permission of the instructor, the Senior Supervisor and the

Graduate Program Chair of the student's department and such

audits should be recorded as "AU" on the student's transcript, if the

student has fulfilled the requirements agreed to by the student and

instructor at the time of registration. Minimally, these requirements

should comprise regular attendance at class meetings, completion

of readings and participation in class activities. Audited courses will

not count toward degree requirements."

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION

CARRIED

Senate Committee on Continuing Studies

Paper

S.98-20 -

Annual Report (For Information)

Senate received the Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Continuing

Studies

Senate

for information.Committee

on University Budget

i) ?

Paper

S.98-21 -

Annual Report (For Information)

Concern was expressed about the poor quality of information provided by the

administration to SCUB with respect to the non-recurring budget and opinion

was expressed that there appears to be a communication problem between the

administration and SCUB which should be addressed.

G. Kirczenow moved the following Notice of Motion:

"that SCUB establish guidelines to be followed by the administration

in communicating budgetary information to SCUB"

P. Percival, former Chair of SCUB, provided Senate with background information

as to the communication process which had occurred over the past year. He

expressed opinion that senior administrators should be taking advice from a

committee such as SCUB whose membership covers a wide range of interests

and experience and has an overall view of the institution.

The Chair indicated that he would be happy to meet with the current Chair of

SCUB, L. Boland, to discuss some of the concerns, particularly those regarding the

non-recurring budget, which were raised in the report and during debate. He

S.M.

02/02/98

Page 7

expected that the meeting could take place in time for the him to report back to

the next meeting of Senate.

Concern was raised about items of a routine, continuing nature being funded

from the non-recurring budget and discussion ensued in this regard. Discussion

then turned to the issue of early retirement for faculty members and its budgetary

implications.

Following the above discussion, the annual report was received by Senate.

Other Business

Inquiry was made with respect to the status of harassment cases handled under

the old policy in which participants were given an opportunity to have them

reviewed. Senate was advised that the University has employed the services of L.

Smith of the Faculty of Law at UBC and all cases are being considered except for

one.

Information

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

March

2, 1998.

The Open Session adjourned at

8:20

pm and, following a brief recess, moved into

Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, Secretariat Services