Al-Natour, Sameh

Andrews, Ian

Apaak, Clement

Atkins, Stella

Beynon, Peter

Bourke, Brynn

Blackman, Roger

Brokenshire, David

Clayman, Bruce

Copeland, Lynn

D'Auria, John

Driver, Jon

Dunsterville, Valerie

Gerson, Carole

Gordon, Robert

Grimmett, Peter

Haunerland, Norbert

Higgins, Anne

Horvath, Adam

Jackson, Margaret

Kemper, Michelle

Krane, Bill

Love, Ernie

Mathewes, Rolf (representing W. Davidson)

Mauser, Gary

Percival, Paul

Peters, Joseph (representing B. Lewis)

Phipps, Kate

andi, Ranbir

Van Aalst, Jan

Warren, Joel

Wessel, Silvia

Wong, Milton

Yerbury, Cohn

DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

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

Monday, December 2, 2002 at 7:00 pm in Room 3210 WMC

Open Session

Present:

Stevenson, Michael

President and Chair of Senate

Poirier, Guy

In attendance:

Russell, Robert ?

Brockman, Joan

Smith, Don

Dinning, Mike

Tvab, Azam

Kimball, Meredith

Vaisey, Jacques

Waterhouse, John

Weldon, Larry

Zaichkowsky, Judith

Absent:

Aloi, Santa

Chen, Danny

Heath, Ron, Dean of Student Services /Registrar

Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page

Approval of the Agenda

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of November 4, 2002

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arising from the Minutes

There was no business arising from the Minutes.

Report of the Chair

Reference was made to the announcement by the Minister of Advanced

Education regarding funding for the new Technology and Applied Science

Complex to accommodate the expansion of programs in Computing Science and

Engineering Science. Senate was advised that this would complete the full

funding with respect to the Double The Opportunity Program (DTO).

The Chair reported that consultations had begun with respect to the

development of the budget for the next fiscal year. The Chair advised that the

budget has to be built around issues such as the downward adjustment of the

core grant as a result of the three year grant announcement last year; the cost of

inflation and the currency disadvantage of the Canadian dollar when buying

specialized research equipment and books; compensation increases that have

been properly signed with employee groups under compensation guidelines

approved by the preceding Government but not honored by the current

Government, and the restoration of quality in academic programs and in student

services as a result of a long period of budget constraint. All of these factors

represent significant financial problems in terms of the budget and the Chair

indicated that the university community would be widely consulted in the

budget process. In addition, as reported at the last meeting, impacts on

accessibility as a result of tuition fee increases were currently being examined

and the Chair will meet with individual Faculties in order to discuss specific

circumstances.

Ouestion Period

Reference was made to an article published in the Vancouver Sun in which

statements concerning the quality of graduating students' basic skills and

knowledge outside their specialty areas and the introduction of entrance exams

were attributed to the Vice-President, Academic. The Vice-President, Academic

was asked if there was evidence that students were graduating without adequate

skills /knowledge outside their specialty areas; if the University was

contemplating entrance exams; and if he was misquoted what action was being

taken to correct the information.

The Vice-President, Academic advised Senate that there has been considerable

interest and a number of stories by the news on this matter. Although he felt he

had been misquoted, the Vice-President Academic felt that not much would be

gained in seeking either a retraction or by writing a letter to the editor since the

coverage was basically positive for the University.

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 3

6. ?

Reports of Committees

Senate Nominating Committee

1) ?

Paper S.02-80 - Elections

Senate received information that one nomination had been received and that

Maureen Hoskyn, Faculty of Education was elected by acclamation to the

Research Ethics Board for term of office to May 31, 2005. All other vacancies

would be carried forward to the next meeting of Senate.

University Board on Student Discipline/Senate Committee on

Disciplinary Appeals

i) ?

Paper S.02-81 - Annual Report on Student Discipline Matters - 2001/2002

(For Information)

The following persons were in attendance in order to respond to questions: J.

Brockman, Co-Ordinator of the UBSD, J

Peters, Senator and member of SCODA,

M. Dinning, Director, Campus Community Services, and R. Heath, Dean of

Student Services and Registrar.

In response to an inquiry concerning the large number of cases before the UBSD

• in the reporting period, Senate was informed that was the result of a unique

situation in which 46 students from one class (BUEC 333) were referred to the

UBSD. On average, the Committee dealt with approximately nine cases per year.

Comment was made that the report was very informative and suggestion was

made that it would be useful if the report were on the Web so that students could

be directed to this information when the issue of academic dishonesty was being

discussed at the beginning of each semester. The Chair indicated that this would

be done.

Reference was made to UBSD case 01-9 and an inquiry was made about the

unusual procedure which was followed in this particular case. Questions were

raised as to why normal procedures were not followed and why the case was not

referred to the Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals.

Since the questions were directed to the President, J. Waterhouse, Vice-President,

Academic took over as Chair at this point.

The President advised that after reviewing the report of the case and the

submission made by the student, an alternate course of action was proposed that

could not subsequently be carried out. Eventually, an agreement was made

with the student because of the unusual circumstances of the case.

. It was noted that the University has well developed procedures to deal with

incidents of academic dishonesty and concern was expressed that the wording of

the summary in this particular case did not give the appearance of openness or

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 4

that justice had been carried out. The authority of the President to overturn the

findings of the UBSD as opposed to changing a penalty recommendation was

questioned and request was made that the policy be reviewed and a response to

this issue be provided at a meeting of Senate in the near future.

M. Stevenson resumed the Chair.

Brief discussion followed with respect to the role of a "tutor" involved in some

cases, and whether or not he/she was also subject to penalties for academic

discipline. Senate was advised that the tutor in these cases was not employed by

SFU so the University had no jurisdiction but if the tutor had been at SFU,

he/she could be disciplined for engaging in academic dishonesty.

Senate's attention was drawn to page 8 of the document and the following

corrections were noted. The first sentence should say that "The Senate

Committee on Disciplinary Appeals dealt with four appeals...." and the last

sentence should read "A summary of the cases...".

On behalf of the University, the Chair thanked the Co-ordinator and members of

the UBSD for the quality of work and their service to the university community

in this regard.

Senate Committee on University Priorities

Paper S.02-82 - New Program: Minor in Gender Studies

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors of the proposal for a Minor in Gender Studies in the

Department of Women's Studies in the Faculty of Arts as outlined

in S.02-82"

M. Kimball, Chair, Department of Women's Studies was in attendance in order

to respond to questions.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

ii)

Paper 5.02-83 - External Review - Faculty of Education

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by P. Grimmett

"that Senate concur with the recommendations from the Senate

Committee on University Priorities concerning advice to the

Faculty of Education on priority items resulting from the external

review as outlined in S.02-83"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 5

• ?

iii) ?

Paper S.02-84 - Dissolution of the SFU-UBC Centre for the Stud

Government and Business

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Clayman

"that Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of

Governors the dissolution of the Schedule B SFU-UBC Centre for

the Study of Government and Business as outlined in document

S.02-84"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

D) ?

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

Paper S.02-85 - Facult y

of Arts - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions

(For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved three new courses, deleted

four courses, and revised existing courses within the Department of French; and

revised an existing course in the Department of Women's Studies.

ii)

Paper S.02-86 - Facult

of Science - Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions

• ?

(For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved revisions to existing

programs and courses in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences,

Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and

Biochemistry, Physics, and Statistics and Actuarial Science.

iii)

Paper S.02-87 - Faculty of Education - Undergraduate Curriculum

Revisions (For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved revisions to existing courses

and programs in the Faculty of Education.

iv)

Paper S.02-88 - Faculty of Applied Sciences - Undergraduate Curriculum

Revisions (For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate

Studies, acting under delegated authority, approved changes to existing courses

and programs in the School of Computing Science and the School of Kinesiology.

E) ?

Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules

i) ?

Paper S.02-89 - Change in membership: SCUP and SCEMP

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 6

Motion 1

Moved by J

Waterhouse, seconded by P. Percival

"that Senate approve the revision of the membership /selection of

the Senate Committee on University Priorities relating to the

positions of Faculty Senator, so that in the event that a Faculty

Senator from a Faculty that is not represented by a Dean, is unable

to attend a meeting of SCUP, the Faculty Dean is authorized to

appoint a replacement"

Senate was advised that some Faculties were represented on SCUP by the

Faculty Dean and if the Dean could not attend the meeting, the Acting Dean

attended in his/her place. Other Faculties were only represented by a Faculty

Senator and under the current procedures if the Faculty Senator was absent there

was no representation from that Faculty. Due to the nature of SCUP's business,

it was felt that it was important that all Faculties be represented and the motion

provided a procedure for a short term replacement if a Faculty Senator could not

attend a meeting. Brief discussion followed.

Amendment moved by J. D'Auria, seconded by R. Russell

"that the words 'faculty member' be inserted prior to the word

'replacement' in the last sentence"

Opinion was expressed that faculty members had slightly different ways of

viewing issues from administrators and the intent of the motion was to ensure

that the replacement was a faculty member rather than another administrator. It

was noted however that Deans were faculty members and many of the issues

before SCUP required background knowledge of the issues within the Faculty.

The Dean would be in the best position to have that knowledge or to find an

appropriate replacement.

Question was called on the amendment,

and a vote taken. ?

AMENDMENT FAILED

Question was called on the motion,

and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Motion 2

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by R. Blackman

"that Senate approve the revision of the membership of the Senate

Committee on Enrolment Management and Planning to include the

Associate Vice-President, Academic as a non-voting member"

Question was called, and a vote taken.

? MOTION CARRIED

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 7

• ?

ii) ?

Paper S.02-90 - Proposed Policy R20.05 - Non-Ionizing Radiation Safety

(For Information)

Senate received information with respect to the proposed policy on Non-Ionizing

Radiation Safety and the type of sources covered by the policy. A senator

inquired about why the Safety Officer would be a nonvoting member of the

University Radiological Safety Committee (URSC). Senate was advised that the

URSC dealt mostly with policy related issues and since the Safety Officer was

essentially an administrative appointment with duties to carry out procedures

mandated by the policy, it was important for him/her to attend meetings as a

resource person but in terms of decision making it made more sense for the

person to be a non-voting member.

7. ?

Other Business

i) ?

Paper S.02-91 - President's Agenda (For Information

The Chair explained that this information was required in terms of the policy

governing the performance appraisal of the President and the documentation

before Senate was an update of the fuller policy statement on the President's web

page and presented to Senate last year.

One Senator asked why there was no reference to the Burnaby Mountain

• Development. The Chair explained that although he sits on the Board of

Directors and represents the University's interest in that capacity, the issue was

not strictly speaking his agenda. The management of the affairs of the Simon

Fraser UniverCity Community Corporation and the trust that will hold the

income from the development for the benefit of the University has been fixed by

agreements between the Corporation and the Board of Governors.

Reference was made to the paragraph concerning faculty renewal through

Leadership Chairs and Canada Research Chairs and a comment was made that

all new faculty renewals should be treated equally, rather than some being given

special status.

Referring to the statement about senior administrators becoming more involved

in external fundraising concern was expressed that this would give them less

time to carry out their administrative responsibilities. The Chair expressed his

belief that the senior academic leadership of the University should be actively

engaged in external fundraising but that this should not in any way compromise

their ability to fulfill their administrative duties. He felt that the Deans are best

positioned to provide the advocacy needed on the academic content of projects

and programs within Faculties and that the most effective fund raising was done

on a team basis which included the academic leaders of an institution.

Discussion turned to the improvement in student services. The Chair expressed

• his belief that the University has not provided sufficient residence

accommodation in relation to growth in student population and hoped to go

forward beyond the project currently underway to build a new undergraduate

S.M. 2 December 2002

Page 8

student residence. With respect to facilities for Athletics and Recreation, the

Chair reiterated his concern that facilities have not matched the growth in

student numbers and he believed efforts should be made to explore possibilities

and budgetary options to improve the state of recreation and athletic facilities on

campus.

In response to an inquiry about improved student financial assistance, the Chair

explained that one of his priorities was to lobby the Government for grant

improvements, especially full funding for the Government's New Era

commitments. Continued efforts were being made to convince the Government

to restore funding and honour the commitment that higher education would be

protected against a decline in funding. With respect to student financial

assistance, the Chair stressed that one of his top objectives was to sustain and

improve student financial assistance with respect to bursaries and scholarships

so that tuition increases do not negatively impact accessibility. Consequently,

one of the priorities of fund raising must be to secure funds from private sources

that go to the improvement of financial assistance endowments.

ii)

Paper S.02-92 - Notice of Senate Vacancy (For Information)

Senate received information that Alison Gill would be absent from Senate until

August 2003 and that a by-election to seek a replacement for the period of her

leave would be necessary.

8. ?

Information

The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate will take place on

Monday, January 6, 2003.

The Open Session adjourned at 8:20 pm. Following a brief recess, Senate moved into

Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, University Secretariat