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DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE
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Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Monday, July 8, 2002 at 7:00 pm in Room 3210 West Mall Centre
.
.
Open Session
Present: Stevenson, Michael
President and Chair of Senate
Apaak, Clement
Atkins, Stella
Bourke, Brynn
Blackman, Roger
Clayman, Bruce
Cowan, Ann (representing C. Yerbury)
Driver, Jon
Duristerville, Valerie
Garcia, Carlos
Gill, Alison
Gupta, Kamal
Harris, Mary (representing L. Copeland)
Haunerland, Norbert
Heaney, John
Hill, Ross
Horvath, Adam
Jackson, Margaret
Jones, Cohn
Jones, John
Kemper, Michelle
Krane, Bill
Lewis, Brian
Meredith, Lindsay (representing E. Love)
Naef, Barbara
Percival, Paul
Peters, Joseph
Russell, Robert
Tyab, Azam
Vaisey, Jacques
Waterhouse, John
Wessel, Silvia
Wortis, Michael (representing W. Davidson)
Absent:
Aloi, Santa
Barrow, Robin
Chan, Albert
Chen, Danny
D'Auria, John
Gerson, Carole
Gordon, Robert
Grimmett, Peter
Higgins, Anne
Jensen, Britta
Mauser, Gary
McArthur, James
McFetridge, Paul
McInnes, Dina
Phipps, Kate
Poletz, Taira
Sekhon, Devinder
Thandi, Ranbir
Van Aalst, Jan
Weldon, Larry
Wong, Milton
Zaichkowsky, Judith
In attendance:
Duguid, Stephen
Hedberg, Nancy
Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services and Registrar
Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat
Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 2
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The Agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of June 3, 2002
Reference was made to the action under Section 7 on page 11 and question was
raised as to whether SCAR had considered the appropriateness of Senate's
action. Senate was advised that SCAR had discussed this matter and concluded
that the moving of the motion was implicit so that the motion to table was in
order and properly approved by Senate.
Following this discussion, the Minutes were approved as distributed.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the Minutes.
4.
Report of the Chair
The Chair reported on the success of the June Convocation ceremonies and
reminded members that the ceremonies are of great significance to students, their
friends and relatives and are very important to the wider advancement of the
University's interest. Senators and faculty were encouraged to attend.
The Chair noted that the Ministry of Advanced Education is pursuing an
'Accountability Agenda' aimed at steering universities by reference to
performance indicators relative to a wide array of political and policy objectives.
Concern was expressed that such a policy would commit universities to
performance in certain areas not determined by Senate or other internal bodies of
governance and, as further information becomes public, Senate will be informed.
The Chair also advised Senate that concerns had arisen about the process
proposed by the Ministry for the allocation of funding for the Leadership Chairs.
The process does not favour mid-range universities such as SFU and UVic, and
efforts are being made to seek some improvement in the allocation formula.
5.
Ouestion Period
On behalf of concerned Engineering students, B. Bourke requested an
explanation as to how the integration of Tech BC into SFU would affect the
labelling of former Tech BC courses specific to Engineering and the accreditation
of the Engineering program at SFU by the professional Engineering Associations.
Senate was advised that the potential issue arose with respect to the use of the
term "Engineering" in the Computer and Communications stream at Tech BC
and whether the use of that term might call into question the accreditation of the
entire Engineering program at SFU. Senate was assured that if there was a threat
to the existing accreditation of SFU's Engineering program, the reference to the
word engineering in the Tech BC context would simply be changed.
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 3
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6. ?
Reports of Committees
A)
Senate Nominating Committee
i) ?
Paper S.02-51— Elections
Senate was advised that Jacques Vaisey was elected by acclamation to the Senate
Nominating Committee and the Committee to Review University Admissions,
and Reza Pourvali was elected by acclamation in the dual position to the Senate
Policy Committee on Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries /Senate
Undergraduate Awards Adjudication Committee. All other vacancies would be
carried forward to the next meeting.
B)
Senate Committee on University Priorities
i) ?
Paper S.02-52 - Establishment of the BC Synchrotron Institute (BCSI)
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors the establishment of the BC Synchrotron institute (BCSI)
as outlined in document S.02-52"
Amendment moved by C. Apaak, seconded by B. Bourke
"that the Board of the BC Synchrotron Institute include a graduate
student"
Opinion was expressed that since the Institute would benefit graduate students
they should be part of the decision making body.
Senate was advised that the Board was envisaged as a Province wide Board with
members drawn from representatives across all of the participating universities.
The original wording did not preclude having a graduate student from amongst
the representatives but having a faculty member and graduate student
representative from each university was not envisaged. Expectations were that
the Vice Presidents Research would be consulted and assist in the identification
of representatives.
A Senator inquired about whether advisory committees or organizational
structures within universities such as user groups would be formed, and from
which representatives could be drawn. Reference was made to the governance
of TRIUMF which was similar and a brief discussion followed. Senate was
advised that each university would have a site director who might choose to
establish user groups but that level of detail was beyond the scope of the
document before Senate.
. ?
Question was called on the amendment,
and a vote taken.
?
AMENDMENT FAILED
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 4
Question was called on the main motion,
and a vote taken. ?
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Paper S.02-53 - Cognitive Science Program External Review
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman
"that Senate concurs with the recommendations from the Senate
Committee on University Priorities concerning advice to the
Cognitive Science Program on priority items resulting from the
external review as outlined in S.02-53"
lkdIoet
Dr. Nancy
HcgborgJ
Co-ordinator of the program, was in attendance in order to
respond to questions.
Senate was advised that the program was originally established as a small elite
program that had attracted a relatively small number of very good students.
Several years ago changes were made to the curriculum which made it more
attractive to students and enrolments increased significantly. The program has
now reached a decision point where either it has to be developed with
appropriate administrative structure and resources or it has to be kept as a small
elite program. The recommendation from the external review which was
supported by the Dean of Arts and SCUP was to move in the direction of a
broader program.
It was noted that the external reviewer was the candidate for the CRC Chair in
the program and question was raised as to a conflict of interest. Senate was
informed that the review took place prior to the candidate being considered for
the CRC and that the reviewer had left it up to the University to determine which
option they wished - either reduction to an elitist program or development into a
larger, broader based program.
In response to an inquiry as to whether it was common to have a single person
on an external review committee, Senate was advised that while departments
normally have three external reviewers, it was not atypical to have only one for a
program review.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
iii)
Paper S.02-54 - Department of Humanities External Review
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman
"that Senate concurs with the recommendations from the Senate
Committee on University Priorities concerning advice to the
Department of Humanities on priority items resulting from the
external review as outlined in S.02-54"
?
0
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 5
.
?
Dr. Stephen Duguid, Chair of the Department, was in attendance in order to
respond to questions.
Brief discussion took place with respect to the recommendation concerning the
J.S. Woodsworth Chair. In response to a concern that the recommendation may
change the sentiment of the Woodsworth Chair. Senate was advised that the
recommendation was simply to advise the department to clarify focation and
precise dutieso f-
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Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
iv) Paper S.02-55 - Motions from the SFU at Surrey Short Term Academic
Planning Committee
Motion 1
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by C. Apaak
"that the SFU Surrey interim administrative structure be
continued"
Question was called, and a vote taken. ?
MOTION 1 CARRIED
Motion 2
• ?
Moved by J
.
Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that Information Technology and Interactive Arts be maintained
as the names of the two program streams at the SFU Surrey
campus"
In response to an inquiry about the effect of recommendations from the long
term planning committee on the motions currently before Senate, Senate was
advised that recommendations from the long term planning committee would
supercede the recommendations from the short term planning committee.
Question was called, and a vote taken. ?
MOTION 2 CARRIED
Motion 3
Moved by J
.
Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that the program name of "Program in Information Technology
and Interactive Arts" be adopted for use as the name of the
program offered at the SFU Surrey campus"
Amendment moved by J. Vaisey, seconded by C. Apaak
"that the following wording be added to the existing motion: and
• ?
that the Computer and Communication Engineering stream be
renamed not to include the word Engineering"
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 6
Brief discussion took place with respect to the appropriateness of the
amendment. The Chair felt that approving the programs would by implication
approve the sub-streams named under them and ruled the amendment in order.
Since verbal assurances had been given to Senate earlier that any difficulties
arising from the use of the word Engineering would be dealt with, the
amendment was accepted as friendly
with the motion now reading,
"that the program name of "Program in Information Technology
and Interactive Arts" be adopted for use as the name of the
program offered at the SFU Surrey campus, and that the Computer
and Communication Engineering stream be renamed not to include
the word Engineering"
Question was called, and a vote taken. MOTION 3 AS AMENDED CARRIED
Motion 4
Moved by J
.
Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that the Information Technology and Interactive Arts
undergraduate streams as currently constituted be considered
Bachelor degree level offerings and merit an SFU Bachelor's degree
credential"
In light of motions 5 and 6, question arose as to the necessity of the motion 4.
Senate was advised that motion 4 simply established the level of the programs
and addressed one of the terms of reference of the Short Term Planning
Committee.
Moved by P. Percival, seconded by M. Wortis
"that Motion 4 be tabled"
Qu
e
sti
o
n
was called, and a vote taken. ?
MOTION TO TABLE FAILED
An inquiry was made as to whether Faculty Curriculum Committees in Science
and Applied Sciences and SCUS were consulted in the assessment of these
degree programs. Senate was informed that the process followed had been
initiated through Senate with Senate approval. The Short Term Planning
Committee included representatives from academic units that had an interest in
and a knowledge of the programs and, because of the need to act with dispatch,
the recommendations of the Short Term Planning Committee were referred to
SCUP where, once again, there was opportunity for faculty and unit input.
Questi
o
n
was called, and a vote taken. ?
MOTION 4 CARRIED
S
L.]
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 7
Motion 5
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that those students who were admitted to Tech BC prior to 2002
and who successfully complete the program requirements in the
Information Technology program stream will be awarded the BSc
(Information Technology)"
P. Percival advised that there was a large amount of documentation missing
from the material distributed to Senate which he felt was very pertinent to the
consideration of Motions 5 and 6. Senate had been alerted to this problem prior
to the meeting and copies of the missing documentation were available from the
Secretary of Senate. He urged Senators to review the material prior to making a
decision.
Concern was expressed that the Tech BC programs do not in general satisfy SFU
requirements for an SFU B.Sc. degree and opinion was expressed that labelling
them as B.Sc. might dilute the value of the SFU B.Sc. degree. However, it was
noted that Tech BC students had, in good faith, enrolled at Tech BC for B.Sc.
degrees and it was suggested that those students should be treated with some
generosity. Suggestion was made that the degree name should be amended as a
way of distinguishing it as a special circumstance.
0 ?
Amendment moved by M. Wortis, seconded by P. Pericval
"that the degree name in the above motion be changed to B.Sc.
(Information Technology, Tech BC)"
The intent of the amendment was to apply to all students currently enrolled at
Tech BC.
Concern was expressed about the inclusion of the location as part of the degree
name. Reference was made to a similar process when SFU offered degrees with
Fraser Valley. Comment was made that because of the sensitivity of the issue
and concerns that many people have with respect to the name of the degree, it
was felt that labelling it as a special case would help to diffuse the concerns.
D. Brokenshire, a Tech BC student and member of the Short Term Planning
Committee was invited by Senate to participate as a resource person.
D. Brokenshire informed Senate that Tech BC students would not have any
objection to the name being on the degree but he did not understand the
necessity for making a distinction when a review of a student's transcript would
clearly indicate that the student took part of their studies at Tech BC. He felt that
adding the location and making such a distinction might result in the degree
being viewed as a lesser degree.
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 8
Brief discussion followed with respect to the nature/names of degrees from
other institutions and it was suggested that there was a fairly uniform
understanding of what constituted a B.Sc. degree.
J .
Waterhouse expressed opinion that SFU had an ethical obligation to help
students through to the degrees they signed up for. However, he acknowledged
the deep feelings of colleagues that the amount of coverage, not the quality of
coverage, was insufficient to warrant the granting of a Science degree and, in the
spirit of compromise,
the amendment was accepted as
a
friendly amendment.
Question was called on the motion,
and a vote taken. ?
MOTION 5 AS AMENDED CARRIED
Motion 6
Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman
"that those students who were admitted to Tech BC prior to 2002
and who successfully complete the program requirements in the
Interactive Arts program stream will be awarded the B.Sc.
(Interactive Arts, Tech BC)"
Opinion was expressed that students completing the Interactive Arts (IA)
program should be satisfied with a BA degree from SFU and inquiry was made
as to their point of view on this issue. Senate was advised that current Tech BC
students felt that since they did not sign up for a BA degree and since there was
more Science in their program than many SFU BA degrees they should be
awarded a B.Sc. degree.
Senate was advised that the original motion from the Short Term Planning
Committee was to grandfather the senior students from the IA program with a
Bachelor of Science and to require the remaining students in second and first
years to take additional Science to meet SFU's requirements if they wished to
obtain a Bachelor of Science, otherwise they would receive a Bachelor of Arts.
This was changed by SCUP and concern was expressed that it may set a
precedent for the long term recommendations. Speaking on behalf of the Dean
of Science, M. Wortis wished to state for the record that the Dean wanted to
make it absolutely clear that the Faculty of Science did not in any way expect this
to be a precedent for the long term. The issue would have to be revisited and
discussed but in the short term it was felt that as a matter of fairness students
who enrolled in good faith at Tech BC should be treated with generosity. The
amended name more than sufficiently differentiates it from B.Sc. degrees at SFU
and takes into consideration the special concerns of this unique circumstance.
Brief discussion followed with regard to the Science content of the BA in
Computing Science degree in the Faculty of Applied Sciences as compared to the
Science content in the Interactive Arts Program. Senate was advised that both of
the programs at SFU Surrey have less Science than the Bachelor of Arts in
Computing Science. ?
0
S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 9
• It was reiterated that students had enrolled in good faith in a program that they
believed would lead to a B.Sc. degree and now that SFU has assumed
responsibility for that program, SFU had an obligation to those students who are
now members of SF0 to provide them with the degree they signed up for.
A question was raised as to the status of students enrolling in the IA program in
September 2002 and what degree they expect to receive. Senate was informed
that students have been advised that they have entered a baccalaureate level
program with the final disposition to rest with Senate following
report/recommendation from the Long Term Planning Committee.
Assurance was sought, as a matter of record, that the contents of program
requirements and appropriate degree credentials considered by the Long Term
Planning Committee would receive a full review through
department/schools / Faculty curriculum committees and SCUS / SCUP. B.
Krane, as Chair of the Long Term Planning Committee provided Senate with that
assurance.
Question was called and a vote taken.
?
MOTION 6 CARRIED
C)
?
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
i)
Paper S.02-56 - Revised Procedures, Criteria and Guidelines - WE
• ?
Proposal
Moved by R. Blackman, seconded by A. Horvath
"that Senate approve the changes to the existing procedures,
criteria and guidelines for withdrawal under extenuating
circumstances outlined in the proposal as set forth in S.02-56,
effective Fall Semester 2002"
Noting the change from Fall 2003 to Fall 2002, inquiry was made about
notification to students about the change. Senate was advised that students
would be alerted to the change.
Question was called, and a vote taken.
?
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Paper S.02-57 - School of Resource and Environmental Management
Curriculum Change (For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved a change in prerequisite for
REM 445.
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S.M. 8 July 2002
Page 10
iii) ?
Paper S.02-58 - Faculty
of Science - Undergraduate Curriculum Changes
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved one new course, deleted one
course and approved minor changes to Certificate programs in the Department
of Statistics and Actuarial Science, and approved a new course in the Department
of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
D) ?
Senate Graduate Studies Committee
i) ?
Paper S.02-59 - Faculty of Science -
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting
under delegated authority, approved three new courses in the Department of
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry; approved one new course and minor
revisions to an existing course in the Department of Mathematics; approved a
change of degree requirements with respect to the number of credit hours
required from 700 level courses in the Department of Earth Sciences; and
approved the temporary withdrawal of one course in the Department of
Biological Sciences.
7.
Other Business ?
0
i) ?
Paper S.02-60 - Election of a Fourth Convocation Senator
The following is the result of balloting in the election of a fourth Convocation
Senator.
Candidates: P. Beynon, A. Businskas, M. Hancock, A. Kontzamanis, J
.
O'Flynn
and D. Smith.
Elected: ?
Peter Beynon
8.
Information
The date of the next regular meeting of Senate is Monday, September 16, 2002.
Open Session adjourned at 9:00 pm; the Assembly moved directly into Closed Session.
Alison Watt
Director, University Secretariat
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