DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

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

Monday, February

2007 at

5:30

pm in Room 3210 WMC

Present:

Stevenson, Michael, President and Chair

Black; Sam

Breden, Felix

Copeland, Lynn

Corbett Kitty

Dagenais, Diane

Dickinson, Peter

Driver, Jon

Easton, Stephen

Ester, Martin

Fox, Graham

Francis, June

Gencay, Ramo

Gordon, Irene

Gordon, Robert

Harder, Derrick

Haunerland, Norbert

Hayes, Michael

Joffies, Michel

Krane, Bill

LaBrie, John

Lewis, Brian

Percival, Cohn

Percival, Paul

Peters, Joseph

Pierce, John

Pinto, Mario

Plischke, Michael

Rebman, Rachelle

Russell, Robert

Shaker, Paul

Smart, Carolyn

Vaid, Bhuvinder

van Baarsen, Amanda

Warner, D'Arcy

Waterhouse, John

Williams, Peter

Open Session

Absent:

Caufield, Sarah

Deigrande, John

Dunnet, Margo

Fizzell, Maureen

Gregory, Titus

Honda, Barry

Javed, Waseem

Kelly, Vanessa

Lewis, Glyn

Li, Wei

Liljedahl, Peter

Louie, Brandt

MacKenzie, Christine

MacLean, David

McArthur, James

Schellenberg, Betty

Shermer, Thomas

Smith, Don

Weeks, Daniel

Zandvliet, David

In attendance:

Amundsen, Cheryl

Dawkins, Heather

Hibbitts, Pat

Ross, Kate, Registrar and Senior Director, Student Enrolment

Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M.

February 2007

Page 2

A pp roval of the Agenda

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the O

en Session of Januar

8, 2007

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arisin

from the Minutes

There was no business arising from the Minutes.

Report of the Chair

President's Annual Open Forum

Referring to the Annual Open Forum which had been held on January 31, 2007, the Chair

advised that since he had given a lengthy report on the state of the university at that time,

he would not repeat matters but would be pleased to respond to any questions.

ii)

Registrar and Senior Director, Student Enrolment

On behalf of Senate and the University, the Chair welcomed SFU' s new Registrar and

Senior Director, Student Enrolment, Kate Ross, to Simon Fraser University.

5. ?

Question Period

In light of circumstances that occurred during recent adverse weather conditions and the

concerns raised about SFU's safety precautions, Senator Gençay wondered whether it

would be prudent for the University to subject their internal procedures to an external

review. The Vice-President, Finance and Administration advised Senate that existing

policies and procedures are currently under an internal review but there are no plans to

implement an external review. A variety of issues including better communication to all

sectors of the University, a plan to accommodate those who might find themselves stuck

on campus, and control of traffic on the roads were under consideration.

The Chair reported that the University currently has a policy with respect to emergency

preparedness that is, in a sense, externally reviewed because it has to meet Provincial

legislation and integrate with provincial and local government agencies.

Senators were advised that the internal review of procedures was taking place and if

anyone had specific suggestions or comments on this issue, they were invited to submit

them to the Vice-President, Finance and Administration.

6. ?

Reports of Committees

Senate Committee on Universit

Priorities

i) ?

Paper S.07-14 - Institute for the Stud

of Teachin g and Learnin g

in the

Disciplines

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Vaid

"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the

creation of the Institute for the Study of Teaching and Learning in the

Disciplines as a Schedule B Institute reporting to the Vice-President,

Academic"

S.M.

February 2007

Page 3

0 ?

C. Amundsen, Faculty of Education, was in attendance to respond to questions.

In response to questions about the meaning of the word 'Disciplines' in the title, and why

this was being proposed as a Schedule B institute rather than a Schedule A institute,

Senate was advised that 'Disciplines' referred to all the disciplines taught at SFU. Since

the intent of the new institute was to encompass individuals from all faculties and

programs across the university, it was felt that a Schedule B institute was more

appropriate.

Discussion turned to the issue of funding and review mechanisms. Senate was advised

that the Vice-President Academic agreed to provide funding for a two-year period, and

before funding was renewed, the activities of the Institute would be reviewed prior to

determining whether funding would be continued. The process for review had not yet

been determined but could include an external person in addition to consultation with the

Director of the Institute. It was also pointed out that centres and institutes are required to

complete an annual report, a summary of which is submitted to Senate and the Board of

Governors for information. The annual report for this Institute will be submitted to the

Vice-President, Research by the Vice-President, Academic. In answer to a question

about which other centres report to the Vice-President, Academic, it was noted that the

David See-Chai Lam Centre also reports to the Vice-President, Academic.

In response to questions concerning capacity and space, Senate was advised that capacity

will depend on the research funding that can be attracted, and that appropriate

•

accommodation for the institute will be provided following several departmental moves

to new buildings that will take place towards the end of the Spring semester.

The question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

ii) ?

Paper S.07-1

- Major. Minor and Honors in World Literature

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by J. Pierce

"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors, the

proposal for a Major, Minor and Honors Program in World Literature"

H. Dawkins, Associate Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, was in attendance to respond to

questions.

Referring to page 7, a minor error was noted for the course entitled Human Rights

Literature. It should be listed as WL 204 and not WL

205.

In response to a question about the location of course offerings, Senate was advised that

most of the courses in the program would be offered at Burnaby.

A question arose about students having an opportunity to read selected texts in the

original language, and a concern was expressed that the wording about this on page 6

seemed rather loose, especially since this was felt to be a very appropriate requirement

• for this type of program. Senate was advised that the language requirement and reading

proficiency in another language was targeted to the honors students since it was felt that

this was a good place to start, but the issue would be assessed as the program develops.

S.M.

February 2007

Page

B)The ?

question

Senate

was

Committee

called, and

Undervote

taken.

g raduate

Studies

MOTION CARRIED

•

Paper S.07-16 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty

of Applied Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved new courses, and minor changes to existing

programs and courses in the following areas: Interactive Arts and Technology,

Computing Science.

ii)

Paper S.07-17 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty

of Arts and Social Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved the deletion of non-W version calendar entries for

Writing courses, and changes to the Statistics program in the Faculty of Arts and Social

Sciences.

iii)

Paper

S.07-18 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty

of Business Administration (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved an Undergraduate Honors Semester at Segal

Graduate School of Business, including three new courses; changes to the breadth

requirement for the Major Program, minor changes to Management Science

concentration, and a change of credit hour for an existing course.

iv)

Pa per

S.07-19 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Education (For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved changes to description and prerequisite for existing

courses in Education.

Paper S.07-20 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

y of Health Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved five Co-op Practicum courses.

vi)

Paper S.07-21 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

y of Science (For Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting

under delegated authority, approved new courses, and minor changes to existing

programs and courses in the following areas: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Molecular

Biology and Biochemistry, Physics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, Mathematics, and

Earth Sciences. It was also noted that CIIEM 120 would not be deleted as it was required

for the Mechatronics program.

vii)

Paper

S.07-22 - Second De gree

WOB Requirements

Prior to moving the motion, B. Krane made a minor revision to delete reference to the

review prior to 2011. He explained that an issue had been raised at SCUS by the

representative of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who requested that a time limit

be placed on the action until the matter had been reviewed by the Faculty. Subsequently

S.M.

February 2007

Page

the FASS member advised that there was no objection by the Faculty to the time limit

being removed.

Moved by B. Krane, seconded by J. Waterhouse

"that Senate approve that students admitted to a second degree program

be deemed to have met the Breadth requirements, one of the Q

requirements and one of the W requirements"

An opinion was expressed that without verifying the courses taken in a first degree, there

was no guarantee that the breadth requirements of the core curriculum had been met, and

concern was expressed about giving a blanket exemption based solely on the fact that a

student already had a degree. The Committee felt that within bachelor degree programs at

most institutions, particularly within Canada, students have obtained sufficient exposure

to other disciplines and would have appropriate breadth experience.

The issue of having writing and quantitative requirements for a second degree program at

all was raised, especially for students who complete a first degree at SFU and have

already satisfied the WQB requirements, and a suggestion was made that any further

WQB requirement for those students be waived. Senate was advised that the intent was

that any student taking a second degree, including students whose first degree was from

SF0, must take additional WQB requirements. It was noted that the first students subject

to graduation requirements with WQB were admitted in Fall 2006 and therefore they

would not graduate until 2010 or 2011 at the very earliest and perhaps a review around

2011 would be appropriate.

In order to clarify the Q requirement, a suggestion to change the wording from 'one of

the Q requirements' to 'three credits of Q requirements' was accepted as a friendly

amendment.

Brief discussion ensued about the writing requirement. It was pointed out that one of the

W requirements must be an upper division course within the student's discipline so if a

student engaged in a second degree in a different discipline from the first, exposure to a

discipline specific upper division writing course would be beneficial.

An amendment was moved by T. Brennand, seconded by B. Krane

"that the phrase - one of the W requirements - be changed to read: the

lower division W requirement"

The vote was called on the amendment.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

An amendment was moved by P. Dickinson, seconded by J. Waterhouse

"that the phrase "and that this be reviewed prior to 2011" be reinserted in

the motion"

The vote was called on the amendment.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The motion, as amended, was read prior to a vote being taken.

"that Senate approve that students admitted to a second degree program

be deemed to have met the Breadth requirements, 3 credits of the Q

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February 2007

Page 6

requirements, and the lower division W requirement, and that this be

reviewed prior to 2011"

The question was called, and a vote taken. MAIN MOTION, AS AMENDED, CARRIED

Senate Graduate Studies Committee

Paper S.07-23 - Chan

e to Terms of Reference - SGSC

Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Easton

"that Senate approve the addition of the following sentence to the Terms

of Reference of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee: To consider and

decide on policy recommendations concerning graduate course

registration, course and program withdrawal procedures, and on the

administration of graduate records"

The question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

ii)

Paper S.07-24 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty

of App lied Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under

delegated authority, approved two new courses and a minor change to an existing course

in Interactive Arts and Technology.

iii)

Paper

S.07-25 -

Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of Arts and Social Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under

delegated authority, approved new courses and minor changes to existing courses and

program requirements in the following areas: Linguistics, Sociology and Anthropology.

iv)

Paper S.07-26 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty

of Health Sciences (For

Information)

Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under

delegated authority, approved the deletion of four courses, two new courses, and minor

revisions to existing courses in Global Health.

D) ?

Senate Nominatin

Committee

i) ?

Paper S.07-27 - Elections

Senate was advised that no further nominations had been received. Peter Tingling

(Faculty Member position) and Derrick Harder (Undergraduate Student position) were

therefore elected by acclamation to the Senate Committee on Academic Integrity in

Student Learning and Evaluation (SCAISLE); Amanda van Baarsen (Student Senator

position) was elected by acclamation to the Electoral Standing Committee (ESC); and

June Francis (Senator position) was elected by acclamation to the Senate Committee on

Continuing Studies (SCCS). Balloting to elect one Student resulted in the election of

Naava Smolash to the Research Ethics Board (REB): The remaining vacancies will be

carried forward to the next meeting.

[Secretary's note: Naava Smolash could not take

S.M.

February 2007

Page 7

her position on the REB because of a teaching conflict, so the candidate with the next

highest number of votes, Karen Tse, was declared elected]

Other Business

i) ?

Declaration of Vacancy - Senate Membership

Senate was advised that due to resignation, two Student Senator positions were currently

vacant. Since there was insufficient time to hold a by-election, the positions will remain

vacant for the balance of the term of office.

Information

The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, March

2007.

The Open Session adjourned at

6:15

pm and Senate moved directly into Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, University Secretariat