DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

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

Monday, December 7, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 3210 WMC

Open Session

Present: ?

Blaney, Jack, President and Chair

Berggren, Len

Boland, Larry

Bowman, Marilyn

Burton, Lynn Elen

Chan, Albert

Cheng, Winnie

Clayman, Bruce

Coleman, Peter

Copeland, Lynn

D'Auria, John

Dunsterville, Valerie

Emerson, Joseph

Emmott, Alan

Finley, David

Fletcher, James

Gagan, David

Heaney, John

Jones, Cohn

Jones, John

Kirczenow, George

Marteniuk, Ron

Mathewes, Rolf

Morris, Joy

Osborne, Judith

Percival, Paul

Perry, Thomas (representing J. Pierce)

Peters, Joseph

Peterson, Louis

Reader, Jason

Russell, Maya

Russell, Robert

Waterhouse, John

Wortis, Norman

Absent:

Akins, Kathleen

Beattie, Suzan

Dhillon, Khushwant

Giffen, Ken

Gillies, Mary Ann

Harris, Robert

Kanevsky, Lannie

Lewis, Brian

Mauser, Gary

McInnes, Dina

Naef, Barbara

Ogloff, James

Overington, Jennifer

Sanghera, Balwant

Segal, Joseph

Veerkamp, Mark

Warsh, Michael

Weeks, Daniel

Wickstrom, Norman

Zazkis, Rina

Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services and Registrar

Watt, Alison, Director, Secretariat Services

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M.7/12/98

Page

Approval of the Agenda

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of November 2, 1998

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arising from the Minutes

Reference was made to the previous meeting's consideration of the Burnaby

Mountain Community Corporation, and Senate was advised that Board of

Governors has now approved the constitution and membership of the Board and

the Advisory Committee.

Report of the Chair

The Chair was happy to report that Simon Fraser University had again placed

number one in the Maclean's ranking for the third year in a row. Although there

was some skepticism with respect to the criteria used by Maclean's, the Chair

stressed the importance in the ranking of such factors (as measures of excellence)

as student achievement, faculty productivity, faculty receipt of national prizes, and

the general reputation of SFU in the community. The Chair was also delighted to

have cosponsored with the Student Society an event in the Pub last Thursday to

celebrating this honour.

The Chair reported that Gail Anderson, Biological Sciences and Criminology, was a

speaker at the Vancouver Institute on 5 December. She spoke to a full house and

gave an outstanding lecture.

Reports of Committees

Senate Committee on Academic Planning

I) ?

Paper S.98-95 - Diverse Qualifications Admission Policy -

Recommendation for extension

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by

Osborne

"that Senate approve as set forth in S.98-95, that the Diverse

Qualifications Admission Policy be extended by five years to Fall

semester 2004, with a review to occur in 2003"

When the policy was initially approved, concern was raised about how much staff

and faculty time would be required to administer the policy. It was noted that the

documentation before Senate indicated that because the numbers were so low,

there was insufficient data to draw firm conclusion about the success of the policy,

and inquiry was made as to whether there was any quantitative measure of the time

involved to process the applications. The processing procedure was briefly

explained and a total of approximately 24 hours per semesterly consideration of

applications was estimated although it was pointed out that it varied by semester.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

S.M. 7/12/98

Page 3

ii) ?

Paper S.98-96 - Faculty of Science - Centre for Environmental Biology

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by C. Jones

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors, as set forth in S.98-96, the proposed Centre for

Environmental Biology within the Department of Biological Sciences"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

b) ?

Senate Committee on Academic Planning/Senate Undergraduate Studies

Committee

i) ?

Paper S.98-97 - Undergraduate Calendar Revisions - Faculty of Applied

Sciences

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies,

acting under delegated authority, approved curriculum revisions in the following

Schools:

School of Computing Science: Deletion of CMPT 103, 112, 402, 468, 493;

Enrolment Limitations - addition of a statement regarding not awarding

credit for missing prerequisites; Changes to Upper/Lower Division

. requirements; Changes to the Certificate Program and the Specialist Program

in Multimedia Computing; Changes due to the course deletions; and minor

changes to existing courses.

School of Kinesiology: Change of admission requirements; Deletion of KIN

141; New courses: KIN 381, 444, 445; and minor changes to -existing

courses.

ii) ?

Paper S.98-98 - Undergraduate Calendar Revisions - Faculty of Arts

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by

Reader

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors, as set forth in S.98-98, the proposed Certificate Program

in Community Economic Development"

In response to an inquiry as to why an additional administrator was required,

Senate was advised that while the proposed Certificate complemented the current

program it would have separate sets of regulations thus requiring separate sets of

advising and processing. The Centre for Community Economic Development was

very small and did not have the flexibility to absorb new tasks. However, any

additional administrative costs would be absorbed within the Faculty's current

budget.

Brief discussion ensued with respect to the replacement of a 400-level seminar

course with courses involving a lecture, tutorial and distance education and inquiry

was made as to who would be teaching these courses. Senate was advised that

CED had a very small core of CFL faculty and depended on sessional and limited

term appointments. It was noted that this practice was consistent with many other

S.M. 7/12/98

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Certificate and PBD programs across Faculties. Reference was made to the

Maclean's

about the introduction

ranking with

regard

new courses

to courses

whose

taught

offering

by Faculty

would

and

depend

concern

was

sessional

raised

appointments.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies,

acting under delegated authority, approved curriculum revisions in the following

Departments/Schools/Programs:

Department of Archaeology: Change of requirements - Minor program and

Joint Major in Anthropology and Archaeology; New course - ARCH 226;

and minor revisions to existing courses.

Asia Canada Program: Minor program - change to optional courses, upper

division and language requirements; Certificate in Chinese Studies - change

of description and program requirements; Change to Chinese and Japanese

language course placement regulations; New course - ASC 205; and minor

revisions to existing Asia Canada, Chinese, and Japanese courses.

Canadian Studies Program: Changes to course list for Canadian Studies

program and Certificate in French Canadian Studies; New courses - CNS

392, 481; and minor revisions-to existing courses.

Community Economic Development: Course deletion - CED 400; New

courses - CED 201, 301; Change of description - PBD program; and minor

revisions to existing courses.

School for the Contemporary Arts: Course deletions - FPA 141, 216, 228,

242, 258, 264, 314, 315, 382, 384, 423, 424, 429, 439, 448, 449, 458,

459, 469; New courses - FPA 226, 357; Change of requirements to Major,

Minor, Joint Major and Extended Minor programs; minor revisions to

existing courses.

0 School of Criminology: Course deletions - CRIM 100, 102, 415; New

course - CRIM 315; Change of requirements - Major program; Editorial

changes to the General Certificate in Criminology and Joint Major in

Criminology and Sociology/Anthropology; and minor revisions to existing

courses.

Department of Economics: Program changes to Major, Joint Major, Honors

and Joint Honors programs; Calendar statement re Exchange and Visiting

Students; New course - ECON 325; and minor revisions to existing courses.

Family Studies Certificate: Addition to courses on Optional List

Department of Geography: Change to Section B and C list - Geography BA

Major Program; Addition of Environmental Science and Resource and

Environmental Management to list of Departments from which Faculty of

Arts breadth requirements may be selected; and minor revisions to existing

courses.

Gerontology Program: Minor revisions to existing courses

Department of History: New courses - HIST 215, 308, 309, 365, 382, 384,

409, 421, 422; Course deletions - HIST 314, 380, 381, 383, 408; and minor

revisions to existing courses

I) ?

Humanities Program: Course deletion - HUM 376; Change to Calendar

description of the Minor program; and minor revisions to existing courses

Integrated Studies Program: New courses - GS 420-429

1191

Latin American Studies Program: Co-operative Education option - Calendar

statement; minor revisions to existing SLAS and LAS courses

S.M. 7/12/98

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Department of Philosophy: Minor revision to an existing course

Department of Political Science: New courses - POL 327, 356, 436; Course

deletion - POL 425; and minor revisions to existing courses

Department of Sociology/Anthropology: Change of requirements - Major,

Minor, PBD in Ethnic and Intercultural Relations, and Joint Major in

Criminology and S/A programs; and minor revisions to existing courses

Department of Women's Studies: New courses - WS 207, 208

c) ?

Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules

Paper S.98-99 - 1999/2000 Schedule of Dates

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by J. Osborne

"that Senate adopt the Schedule of Dates for 1999/2000 as set out in

Schedule 2"

Opinion was expressed that the reading days should be scheduled later than Week

7, perhaps Week 9 or 10, because a much greater amount of material would have

been covered by then and students would have a better opportunity to prepare for

their final exam.

It was noted that the proposed reading break had been scheduled as a result of

consultations with the Student Society following a referendum on the issue in their

electoral process.

Amendment moved by J. Morris, seconded by

Reader

"that Schedule 2 be deleted and replaced with Schedule 1"

Opinion was expressed that Schedule 2 added a fair amount of extra time to the

process which was felt to be unjustified since not a lot was accomplished on the

last day of classes, and therefore preference was expressed for Schedule 1.

It was pointed out that although the extra class day may not be as important to

classes that meet several times a week, it was crucial for courses that meet on

Monday only once a week, because the loss of that one day resulted in the loss of

one week's worth of work.

It was pointed out that both Schedules benefited only some students and in order to

benefit the majority of the student body, a reading break should be a week in

length.

Question was called on the amendment,

and a vote taken.

AMENDMENT FAILED

Question was called on the main motion,

and a vote taken.

MAIN MOTION CARRIED

S.M. 7/12/98

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ii)

Paper 5.98-100 - Calendar Committee - Membership and Terms of

Reference

Moved by D. Gagan, seconded by J. Morris

"that Senate approve the membership and the terms of reference -

Calendar Committee - as set out in S.98-1 00"

Amendment moved by J. D'Auria, seconded by A. Chan

"that at least one member of the Committee be a member of Senate"

Opinion was expressed that there should be good communication between this

committee and Senate and having a Senator on the committee would serve this

purpose. It was pointed out that the Registrar was a member of Senate and could

keep Senate informed of the committee's activities. It was noted that the

amendment might create some logistical difficulties in that there may be no Senate

members on either SCUS or the SGSC. Clarification of the amendment was

requested and brief discussion took place.

Moved by

Reader, seconded by L. Bo and

"that the issue be referred back to the Senate Committee on Agenda

and Rules for reconsideration"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION TO REFER CARRIED

Discussion ensued and the following concerns were raised. The Chair indicated

that the comments would be forwarded to SCAR for consideration.

- Concern was raised as to the autonomy of the committee and suggestion

was made that the under Item 2 of the Terms of Reference the words 'if

appropriate' and 'information, advice or' be struck so that the sentence

would read "To consider potential changes to established practice, and refer

to Senate for approval recommendations relating to content or

presentation."

- Reference was made to item 3 of the Terms of Reference, and suggestion

was made that Senate should approve the calendar of dates rather than just

the principles on which it was established

iii)

Paper S.98-1 01 - Working Group - Policy 1 10.1 0 (For Information)

Senate was advised that Tina Loo was not available to serve on the Committee and

that the membership issue would go back to SCAR for resolution by the next

meeting of Senate.

d) ?

Senate Library Committee and Library Penalties Appeal Committee

i) ?

Paper S.98-102 - Annual Report (For Information)

In response to an inquiry about the Collections budget, Senate was advised that

although additional funds had been received from the University, the increase in

the cost of journals had been greater and the Library was forced, on two occasions,

- /

S.M. 7/12/98

Page 7

to cut back on purchases. It was noted that this situation was not unique to SFU. It

- ?

had become a tremendous problem for university libraries world wide.

Brief discussion followed with respect to the size of the cuts and the process

followed to determine which journals would be cut. With respect to the overall

university-wide budget allocations, the Chair indicated that the same process as last

year would be followed which included consultation with departments and areas

concerned.

6. ?

Other Business

Senate was advised that undergraduate students were experiencing difficulties in

registering for lower level courses in certain programs because these programs were

restricting registration at the lower levels in order to give preference to their own

majors. Specific reference was made to Computing Science 150 and

201

which

had turned away non-Computing majors even though the courses were not yet full

because the spaces left had been designated for majors in Computing Science.

Until now, preferential registration for Majors only applied to upper level courses

and concern was expressed about the practice at the lower levels. It was noted that

the University now admitted students directly from Grade

as majors and course

spaces needed to be available for them. It was pointed out that programs like

Computing Science are inundated with applications and just the demand from

students who wish to be majors, irrespective of the demand for service teaching,

could not be accommodated. Senate was advised that additional funds had been

• provided to Computing Science to provide course spaces in high demand courses

like Computing 150 and

201

so that students from all Faculties would have an

opportunity to enrol in those courses. The registration statistics provided for

Computing Science 150 and

201

were disputed by

Peters from Computing

Science and he indicated he would check on the numbers and report back to

Senate. Concern was expressed that Senate may not have been fully aware of this

particular consequence of the direct admission policy at the time the policy was

approved.

Opinion was expressed that the direct admission policy in Applied Sciences

resulted in very high quality students and allowed departments like Computing

Science to compete with UBC for the best students. Even if the policy were not in

place, Computing Science and other high demand programs would still have

difficulty fulfilling the demand for their courses. It was noted that programs like

Computing Science could double or triple in size at this time but because

additional access funds were not available to create extra spaces, there would

always be a percentage of students who would not have access to certain courses,

even prerequisite courses.

Opinion was expressed that priority registration in lower level courses appeared to

circumvent the University's policy on the registration priority number system, and

although there may be good arguments to restrict registration in lower level

courses, the principle should be debated by Senate.

. The Chair suggested that the Registrar, together with the Dean of Applied Sciences,

report back to Senate in terms of whether or not the direct admission policy

provided for priority registration and whether departments, in general, were

conforming to policy with respect to registration priority.

S.M. 7/12/98

Page 8

7. ?

Information

The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate has been rescheduled

from January 4, 1999 to Monday, January 11, 1999.

The Open Session adjourned at 8:00 pm. Following a brief recess, the Assembly moved

into Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, Secretariat Services