DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

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

Monday, March

2007 at 7:00 pm in Room 3210 WMC

Present:

Stevenson, Michael, President and Chair

Black Sam

Breden, Felix

Brennand, Tracy

Copeland, Lynn

Corbett, Kitty

Dagenais, Diane

Deigrande, John

Dickinson, Peter

Driver, Jon

Easton, Stephen

Ester, Martin

Fizzell, Maureen

Fox, Graham

Francis, June

Gordon, Irene

Gordon, Robert

Gregory, Titus

Harder, Derrick

Haunerland, Norbert

Hayes, Michael

Honda, Barry

Javed, Waseem

Joes, Michel

Krane, Bill

LaBrie, John

Lewis, Brian

Lewis, Glyn

Mathewes, Rolf (representing M. Plischke)

Percival, Cohn

Percival, Paul

Peters, Joseph

Pierce, John

Russell, Robert

Schellenberg, Betty

Shaker, Paul

Shermer, Thomas

Smart, Carolyn

Smith, Don

Vaid, Bhuvinder

van Baarsen, Amanda

Warner, D'Arcy

Waterhouse, John

Zandvliet, David

Open Session

Absent:

Caufield, Sarah

Dunnet, Margo

Gencay, Ramo

Kelly, Vanessa

Li, Wei

Liljedahi, Peter

Louie, Brandt

MacKenzie, Christine

MacLean, David

McArthur, James

Pinto, Mario

Rebman, Rachelle

Weeks, Daniel

Williams, Peter

In attendance:

Fee, Jane

Glasser, Uwe

Harestad, Alton

Jones, John

Schulte, Oliver

Sterling, Lisa

Waddell, Charlotte

Woodbury, Rob

Wrenn, Phyllis

Ross, Kate, Registrar and Senior Director, Student Enrolment

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Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

S.M.

March 2007

Page 2

The

pproval

Agenda

was

the Agendaapproved

as distributed.

•

2. ?

Approval of the Minutes of the O

en Session of Februar

2007

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arisin

from the Minutes

There was no business arising from the Minutes.

Report of the Chair

The Chair reported that Provincial funding for higher education continues to expand. In

addition to the continuation of 25,000 seat accessibility funding for both infrastructure

and enrolment, the Government has committed funding for an increase of 2,500 graduate

student enrolments over four years. Although allocation details have not yet been

determined, it is known that these enrolments will be targeted between science and non-

science (60/40 split) and the seats will be allocated on a competitive basis. The

Government has also established

graduate fellowships and graduate internships which

will fund graduate students and their faculty advisors/mentors on projects linked to

industrial applications.

Although there was a cause for celebration in terms of the attention and weight of

financial resources being allocated to post-secondary education, the Chair wished to

stress that the funding formula still does not include inflation considerations and the

University's budget remains in a certain amount of difficulty.

question Period

In response to an inquiry for a progress update on the Task Force on Faculty Structure

and the construction of the new buildings north of Strand Hall, the following information

was provided.

Following several meetings of the Phase 2 Task Force, a call for proposals was issued to

members of the university community and a one day workshop dealing with the question

of how to better support interdisciplinary research and teaching programs has been

scheduled for March 23, 2007. Several working groups will be formed in the near future

to consider the specific proposals that have been received for reconfiguring departments

and Faculties within the University.

The Arts and Social Sciences building is scheduled for completion in time for the start of

the summer semester but there is some doubt that the contractor can meet that deadline.

The Health Sciences building is scheduled to be completed in May/June 2008 and

appears to be on schedule and on budget.

Reports of Committees

A) ?

Senate Committee on Universit

Priorities

i) ?

Paper S.07-28 - External Review - De

partment

of French

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by J. Pierce

S.M.

March 2007

Page 3

• ?

"that Senate approve the recommendations from the Senate Committee

on University Priorities concerning advice to the Department of French

and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on priority items

resulting from the External Review"

P. Wrenn, Chair, Department of French, was in attendance to respond to questions.

The question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

ii)

Paper S.07-29 - External Review - School of Com

putin g

Science

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Lewis

"that Senate approve the recommendations from the Senate Committee

on University Priorities concerning advice to the School of Computing

Science and the Dean of Applied Sciences on priority items resulting

from the External Review"

U. Glasser, Director, School of Computing Science, was in attendance to respond to

questions.

The question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

iii)

Paper

S.07-30 - External Review - Environmental Science Program

0 ?

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by I. Gordon

"that Senate approve the recommendations from the Senate Committee

on University Priorities concerning advice to the Environmental Science

Program and the Dean of Science on priority items resulting from the

External Review"

A. Harestad, Program Director, was in attendance in order to respond to questions.

Reference was made to the negative comments about the program which were made by

the external reviewers. The view was expressed that given the constraints on the program,

it was very successful in that enrolments were high. Furthermore, students in the

program were finding no difficulty in securing Co-op placements and appeared to be

highly employable.

A concern was expressed about the process and how the recommendations were arrived

at. Particular reference was made to the recommendation concerning Faculty and

Department structure. It was suggested that the related departments in question should

have fully participated in the process, and that related Faculty Deans should also have

been consulted. It was pointed out that the recommendation encourages these units to

participate in examining the possibility of a different departmental/faculty structure.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

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March 2007

Page

iv)

Paper

S.07-31 - Joint Major and Joint Honors Pro

ram in Computing Science

and Philosophy

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by M. Hayes

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

proposal for a Joint Major and Joint Honors in Computing Science and

Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Faculty of

Applied Sciences"

0. Schulte, Department of Philosophy and School of Computing Science, was in

attendance in order to respond to questions.

It was pointed out that in order to be consistent with requirements in the Department of

Philosophy, the credit hours shown on page

and 6 for the lower division requirements

for both the major and the honors degree, should read

'15'

instead of '16'. 0. Schulte

advised Senate that at the request of SCUP, the 15 had been changed to 16 credit hours. It

was felt that approval of the program should not be held up by this discrepancy but

members of the related departments were asked to follow-up and resolve the issue.

In response to an inquiry, Senate was advised that students completing this joint program

could choose to receive either a B.A. or a B.Sc. degree.

Brief discussion took place about the course requirements and, in some Senators'

opinions, the prescriptiveness of the program.

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Paper S.07-32 - M.Sc. Concentration in Global Health

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by M. Hayes

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

proposal for a new Global Health concentration within the M.Sc. in

Population and Public Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences"

M. Joffres, Senator and Graduate Program Chair, Faculty of Health Sciences, was

available to respond to questions.

Brief discussion took place with respect to how students in the program were funded and

the nature of the global content. Examples were provided of the current placements of

students around the world

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

vi)

Pap

er S.07-33 - Children's Health Polic

Centre

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by M. Hayes

S.M.

March 2007

Page

• ?

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

creation of the Children's Health Policy Centre as a Schedule A Centre

within the Faculty of Health

Sciences"

C. Waddell, Faculty of Health Sciences, was in attendance in order to respond to

questions.

Reference was made to page 4 and clarification was requested as to what was meant by

the term 'affiliate appointments'. Following determination that affiliate appointments

referred to affiliate memberships, inquiry was made as to whether it was appropriate for

the Director alone to approve such memberships. Senate was advised that the intent was

that memberships would be determined in a participatory, democratic process but the

Director would have responsibility for the oversight of the whole process. In response to

an inquiry about the distinction between core and affiliate memberships, Senate was

advised that the intent was to recognize core persons making a full time commitment to

the work and issues related to the Centre and to encourage participation of a wider group

through an affiliate category. It was suggested that those responsible for the Centre

should consider moving to more of a consensus model of membership, rather than the

hierarchical structure of affiliate and core members contained in the present constitution.

Reference was made to the proposed establishment of primary appointments to the Centre

and inquiry was made as to whether there was an intention for the Centre to become a

department. Senate was informed that there was no such intention. Research staff were

considered an essential part of the Centre and a primary association through a full or part

• ?

time job provided support and continuity for faculty and research programs.

A general concern was expressed about the proliferation of centres and institutes being

established without a lot of structure and operational commonality. A suggestion was

made that the Faculty Structure Task Force might look at this issue with a view to

bringing more coherence to the establishment of these units.

Brief discussion took place with respect to the section on funding on page 4. There was

no objection to a suggestion to insert the words "research grants" after the words "peer

reviewed".

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

vii)

Pa p

er S.07-34 - First Nations Universit y -wide Strate g

ic Plan

Prior to moving the motion, Senate was advised that the motion should be amended to

include recommendation to the Board of Governors.

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by A. van Baarsen

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

proposed First Nations University-wide Strategic Plan"

L. Sterling, Special Advisor to the Vice President Academic and Director, Aboriginal

Affairs, was in attendance in order to respond to questions.

S.M.

March 2007

Page 6

Questions arose with respect to the consultation process with First Nations communities.

Senate was advised that Elders, who subsequently consulted with their Chiefs,

participated during the two year consultation period. There was also a meeting with

approximately 100 Chiefs in the Province but the final draft before Senate has not been

circulated to the outside community.

In response to questions about the hiring process and whether leaders in the native

community would be involved in the appointment process, Senate was advised that

SFU's normal appointment procedures would be followed but there was nothing in the

policies prohibiting consultation and input from relevant communities.

Reference was made to the third point of the First Nations Guiding Principles on page

25,

and an inquiry was made as to whether the support mentioned existed or whether this was

a statement of policy. It was pointed out that Senate had approved Appendix B several

years ago as a statement of policy and one of the reasons for moving the Plan forward at

this time and establishing the First Nations office was to take advantage of the various

Government programs being developed around funding for First Nations faculty, students

and programs. An opinion was expressed that any internal grants created by the

University should involve the Senate Policy Committee on Scholarships, Awards and

Bursaries. In response to an inquiry as to whether there were contingency plans should

external funding not be successful, Senate was advised that upon approval of the

document, the office would be established and, as the document indicates,

implementation of the plan would occur over a five year period as funding became

available.

Page 16 of the document referred to facilities development at the Kamloops campus and

the exploration of expanded partnership opportunities with First Nations communities in

the area. An inquiry was made for further information. Senate was advised that there

were ongoing discussions with the Kamloops Indian Band and the Provincial

Government with respect to improving and expanding the facilities at the Kamloops

campus. It was pointed out that SFU's presence in Kamloops was complicated by the

mandate of Thompson Rivers University to provide service to First Nations students but

discussions were underway with TRU with respect to how the two institutions might

cooperate to provide a broader range of programming and service to a wider range of

students in the Kamloops area.

Referring to the issue of resources for First Nations faculty members referenced on page

18, a statement was made that CAUT had identified the need and desire of First Nations

faculty to spend a great deal of time in one-to-one mentorship with their students, and

that this level of involvement could be detrimental to fulfilling requirements for tenure

and a compromise to their teaching position. An opinion was expressed that additional

support resources were required for First Nations faculty appointments, and a suggestion

was made that this might be an issue for the Task Force to review. Senate was advised

that the First Nations Office would act as a resource centre for both faculty and students

and would have a role in the mentorship process.

Speaking to the resource requirements outlined on page 17, a question was raised as to

why it was necessary for the Research and Program Director to be designated as a person

of First Nations heritage. A concern was expressed that having the position so designated

would exclude possible candidates who are well known as experts for their research in

First Nations studies. The Vice-President Academic agreed that the person occupying the

S.M.

March 2007

Page 7

• position of program director should have such expertise and would notnecessatily have

to be of First Nations descent; however, membership in the First Nations community was

absolutely necessary for the community liaison position and it was permissible to make

such a designation under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

Discussion turned to the issue of academic program development as mentioned on page

14 of the document. A concern was expressed about the modification of course content to

meet the needs of any one specific group of people. It was pointed out that the

responsibility for curriculum development resides with academic programs and

departments and ultimately with Senate, and that the First Nations Office was required to

work in partnership and collaboration with academic units with respect to the curriculum.

Senate was reminded that the document was a strategic plan stating general directions

and encouraging certain developments. Specific actions will come forward to Senate at

which time a full debate will take place.

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

The Chair wished to reiterate the earlier point made by R. Russell acknowledging the

University Administration for bringing this initiative forward and to thank the Vice-

President Academic, Lisa Sterling and the Advisory Committee for their work on this

issue.

viii) Pa

per

.07-3

Master's Pro

g ram in Di gital

Media

0 ?

Moved by J. Waterhouse, seconded by B. Lewis

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

proposal for the Master's program in Digital Media"

R. Woodbury, Graduate Program Chair, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, was

in attendance in order to respond to questions.

Discussion ensued with respect to the issue of degree credential. It was noted that the

governing bodies of all four partner institutions - UBC, SFU, BC1T and Emily Carr -

will approve curriculum and grant the degree.

With respect to faculty participation in the program, Senate was advised that the program

was intended to generate sufficient support through tuition fees and general endowment

funds to fund faculty positions at each institution. The initial allocation is one position to

each institution, with the initial program offering making use of current faculty.

An inquiry was raised with respect to the status of students at GNWC. It was pointed out

that students would be housed in a program jointly offered by four institutions and

located at the Great Northern Way Campus. Senate was advised that a detailed

Memorandum of Understanding had been developed covering such areas as human

rights, academic freedom, harassment, faculty hiring, student conduct and appeal

processes. All processes were reviewed and were deemed to be consistent with SFU

•

policies and provide for fair treatment for faculty and students. Brief discussion followed

with respect to the student appeal process.

S.M.

March 2007

Page 8

It was noted that this program has already been advertised and was accepting applications

for September even though the program was

still

going through the degree approval

process. A concern was raised about this trend to pre-advertise.

A concern was expressed that there was no student representation within the governing

structure of GNWC, and an inquiry was made as to whether GNWC students would

belong to any society or student group. Senate was advised that opportunity for students

to participate on the academic governance and program committees has been built into

the process, and that students would be free to organize themselves. However, since there

were no students at the present time no action has occurred.

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

B) ?

Senate Graduate Studies Committee

Paper S.07-36 - Annual Re

ort (For Information)

It was noted that when last year's annual report was presented to Senate, it was agreed

that in future details of Post-Graduate Scholarships and Canada Graduate Scholarships

would be included in the SSHRC data. This had not been done. The Chair requested the

Dean of Graduate Studies to note the request and bring the relevant information back to

Senate.

Secretary's note. The additional information requested has been provided by Dr. Driver

as follows:

In 2006, 47 SFU students held doctoral awards from SSHRC. Of those 32 students held

SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships, and 15 students held SSHRC CGS Doctoral Scholarships.

Following this discussion, Senate received the 2006 Annual Report of the Senate

Graduate Studies Committee for information.

ii)

Paper S.07-37 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of App lied Sciences (For

Information)

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

delegated authority, approved the deletion of courses, new courses, and minor changes to

existing courses and programs in Engineering Science, Resource and Environmental

Management, Communication, Kinesiology, and Computing Science.

iii)

Paper

S.07-38 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of Arts and Social Sciences (For

Information)

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

delegated authority, approved minor changes to existing courses and program

requirements in the following areas: Latin American Studies, Philosophy, English,

Economics, and Urban Studies.

iv)

Paper S.07-39 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of Business Administration (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

programs in Global Asset and Wealth Management, Financial Risk Management,

Management of Technology, and Master of Business Administration.

Moved by J. Driver, seconded by B. Vaid

S.M.

March 2007

Page

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

changes to the Master of Business Administration"

Senate was advised that the revised MBA program replaces the Specialist MBA program

previously deleted by Senate.

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

Paper S.0740 - Cuniculum Revisions - Faculty

of Education (For Information)

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

delegated authority, approved a new course and minor program changes to the

Educational Psychology program.

vi)

Paper S.0741 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

y of Science (For Information)

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

delegated authority, approved new courses and minor program changes in Earth Sciences,

Physics, and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.

B) ?

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

Paper S.0742 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of App lied 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 Interactive Arts and Technology, Computing Science,

Engineering Science, and TECHOne.

ii)

Paper S.07-43 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of Arts and Social 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 courses

and programs in Philosophy, Political Science, and International Studies.

iii)

Paper S.0744 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Business Administration (For

Information)

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

under delegated authority, approved minor changes to existing courses and programs in

the Faculty of Business Administration.

iv)

Paper S.07-45 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

y of Education (For Information)

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

under delegated authority, approved a list of W designated courses in the Faculty of

Education.

Paper S.0746 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Health Sciences (For

Information)

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

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

in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

S.M.

March 2007

Page 10

vi)

Paper S.07-47 - Curriculum Revisions - Facult

of Science (For Information)

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

under delegated authority, approved a prerequisite change for MATH 310.

vii)

Pa p

er S.07-48 - Co-Op Courses

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

under delegated authority, approved the addition of the sentence:

Credits from this course

do not count towards the credits required for an SFU degree

to the calendar course

description for all Co-op designated courses.

Senate Librar

Committee

i) ?

Paper S.0749 - Annual Re

port (For Information)

Senate received the

2005/06

Annual Report of the Senate Library Committee, including a

report from the Library Penalties Appeal Committee, for information.

Senate Committee on A

enda and Rules

i) ?

Paper S.07-50 - Interpretation Clause for Polic

B10.06 - Presidential Search

Committee

Moved by P. Percival, seconded by M. Hayes

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

new section be added to Policy B 10.06 Presidential Search Committee as

follows:

Interpretation

Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures

shall be referred to the Chair of the Board of Governors and the Vice-

Chair of Senate, who will jointly make a decision which shall be final."

Question was called, and a vote taken. ?

MOTION CARRIED

Senate Nominatin g

Committee

i) ?

Paper S.07-51 - Elections

Senate was advised that no further nominations had been received. Due to the shortness

of time, vacancies will not be carried forward until the June Senate meeting at which time

regular elections will be take place. Senators were advised that the Senate Nominating

Committee was starting to canvass people for committee positions starting in June for

next year and that an email will be sent out shortly outlining the positions available.

7. ?

Other Business

There was no other business.

Information

The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, April 2, 2007.

The Open Session adjourned at

8:55

pm and Senate moved directly into Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, University Secretariat