DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY SENATE

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

Monday, November 3, 2008 at 5:30 pm in Room 3210 WMC

Open Session

Present:

Stevenson, Michael, President and Chair of Senate

Brennand, Tracy

Chapman, Glenn

Collinge, Joan

Copeland, Lynn

Cormack, Lesley

de Castell, Suzanne

Dow, Greg

Driver, Jon

Easton, Stephen

Fergusson, Andrew

Fizzell, Maureen

Francis, June

Gençay, Ramo

Gibson, Eli

Gordon, Robert

Hannah, David

Harding, Kevin

Haunerland, Norbert (representing M. Pinto)

Janes, Craig

Joes, Michel

Jones, John (representing C. Jones)

Krane, Bill

Laba, Martin

Letourneau, Michael

Leznoff, Daniel

Liljedahl, Peter

Mathewes, Rolf (representing M. Pliscbke)

O'Neil, John

Paling, Joseph

Parkhouse, Wade

Patel, Ravi

Pavsek, Christopher

Percival, Cohn

Percival, Paul

Popadiuk, Natalee

Seal, Brent

Shapiro, Daniel

Thompson, Steve

Warner, D'Arcy

Williams, Tony

Ross, Kate, Registrar & Senior Director Student Enrolment

Watt, Alison, Director, University Secretariat

Grant, Bobbie, Recording Secretary

Absent:

Arsenault-Antolick, Haida

Bains, Aman

Bart, Brad

Bocking, Natalie

Golnaraghi, Farid

Hayes, Michael

Lee, Benjamin

Louie, Brandt

MacDonald, Camille

McArthur, James

Peters, Joseph

Russell, Robert

Shermer, Thomas

Tapia, Earl Von

Tiffany, Evan

Vaid, Bhuvinder

van Baarsen, Amanda

van der Wey, Dolores

Wakkary, Ron

S.M 3 November 2008

Page 2

Approval of the Agenda

The Agenda was approved as distributed.

Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of October 6. 2008

The Minutes were approved as distributed.

Business Arising from the Minutes

There was no business arising from the Minutes.

Report of the Chair

Paper S.08-113 - President's Agenda 2008/2009 (For Information)

Reference was made to the data on page 8 concerning the percentage of faculty members

holding research grants, with particular focus on the data for the Faculty of Health

Sciences. Senate was advised that the data was reasonable given that the Faculty was

relatively new and many of the faculty members were hired in stages over the past several

years and would not be expected to be holders of grants at this point.

It was noted that the report had been prepared before the current global economic

turmoil, and the Chair was asked whether any of the priorities in the report had now

changed. The Chair indicated he was still fairly optimistic and committed to the broad

outlines indicated in the agenda since the flow of funds from endowments into the

operating budget is low. However, the rate of change and the degree to which SFU can

invest in new things will be curtailed in the short run.

The Chair also expressed concern about the flow through effects on the general economy

and the impact on government revenues with a corresponding shift in government

priorities. The current budget exercise will respond to the existing situation rather than

the impact of the financial crisis, and the University will have to assess closely the impact

of cuts on students and the student experience which again has been poorly rated in recent

student surveys.

Question Period

A question about University and departmental policy and which policy prevails should

they be in conflict was submitted by A. Fergusson. Without referring to specific details as

to what was at issue, the Chair indicated that all policies should be followed and conflicts

should be brought to the attention of the appropriate university authority.

Reference was made to a case heard by the Senate Committee on Disciplinary Appeals

(SCODA) but it was noted that in that case the apparent conflict between department and

university policy was resolved by the overturning of the department ruling by SCODA.

Senator Gordon reminded Senate that the discipline policies were currently under review

and would likely be presented to Senate for consideration at the January 2009 meeting.

S.M 3 November 2008

Page 3

•

K. Harding also reported that some departments have different procedures for grade

reconsiderations. In particular, even though University policy requires a consultation phase

between the chair, instructor and the student, many departments omit this requirement.

Senate was advised that some of these inconsistencies were brought forward by the SFSS

Ombudsperson at the end of his term. J. Paling suggested that inconsistencies should be

forwarded either to Senate or to the relevant department.

Reports of Committees

Senate Committee on University Priorities

Paper S.08-114 - External Review

- Faculty of Education

Moved by J. Driver, seconded by N. Popadiuk

"that Senate approve the recommendations from the Senate Committee on

University Priorities concerning advice to the Faculty of Education and the

Dean of Education on priority items resulting from the External Review"

S. de Castell, Acting Dean of Education was available to respond to questions.

•

Question was called, and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies

Paper S.08-115 - Annual Report (For Information)

The 2007/2008 Annual Report of the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies was

received by Senate for information.

ii)

Paper S.08-116 - Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Applied Sciences (For

Information)

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

under delegated authority, approved program changes and/or minor changes to existing

courses in the General Studies program and the School of Computing Science.

iii)

Paper S.08-117 - 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 changes to the language requirements in International

Studies.

S.M 3 November 2008

Page 4

iv)

Paper S.08-118 - Change to Calendar Wording for DE Grades (For Information)is

A question about the intent of the change was posed. In particular, whether the DE

notation could now only be used for medical or compassionate grounds, or were

instructors still permitted to award a DE grade pending completion of work to be done.

Senate was advised that the intent of the change was to clarify the use of the DE grade

which has historically been used for medical/compassionate reasons. It was pointed out

that it was common practice for instructors use the DE grade upon request by students to

give them extra time to complete assigned work but it was mentioned that the appropriate

grade in such an instance would be an N. However, it was pointed out that the current

Calendar language permits instructors to use the DE notation to defer submitting a final

mark pending completion of further work by the student.

The Chair of SCUS indicated that it was the Committee's intention to narrow the

definition to medical or compassionate grounds because of the proliferation of DE grades

being submitted and the high administrative costs of dealing with DE grades at the end of

every semester. He reiterated that the appropriate grade in other circumstances would be

an N, and that the DE subsequently converts to an F if no other grade is submitted. It was

stressed that the N grade results in an automatic zero in the weighting system whereas the

DE grade does not and many instructors use DE instead of an N so that students do not

wind up in difficult situations.

Senate was advised that a change made by SCUS to the wording of the proposed Calendar

entry needed to be noted on the Senate paper. In the first sentence, SCUS inserted the

word 'normally' before the 24 hour description, i.e "...from the student

normally

within 24

hours..." The Chair stated that the paper would reflect this editorial adjustment.

Brief discussion took place with respect to the change in wording from the 5' day of

classes of the term immediately following to 21 days. Senate was advised that the length of

time was approximately the same but the proposed wording makes the deadline much

clearer.

An inquiry was made whether SCUS took into account the impact that this change would

have on courses taught by the Centre for Online and Distance Education where papers

frequently arrive late and DE grades are given until papers turn up and can be graded; and

when instructors may need to defer final grades pending an investigation with respect to

allegations of academic dishonesty.

It was suggested that SCUS should be asked to review this issue, consider the comments

made by Senate, and consider the implications that a narrower definition would have.

The Chair of SCUS felt that since the new language did not appear to provide the

clarification SCUS intended, he had no objection to the Committee revisiting the issue.

Therefore the proposed changes to the Calendar wording for DE grades were referred

back to the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies for reconsideration.

S.M 3 November 2008

Page

Senate Nominating Committee

Paper S.08-119 - Elections

Senate was advised that no further nominations had been received and that the names

noted on the Senate paper were elected by acclamation. The outstanding vacancy would

be carried forward.

N. Popadiuk, Chair of the Senate Nominating Committee (SNC) reported to Senate that

since June 2008, the Committee has filled over 96 senate committee positions. On behalf

of the Committee, she expressed thanks and appreciation to

all Senators who have

volunteered to serve on committees and to members of the Senate Nominating

Committee who actively pursue nominations. She also wished to acknowledge and thank

Alison Watt, Secretary to the committee, for her assistance in the committee's processes.

Since the SNC would like to conclude its work, if any Senator was aware of an

undergraduate student who might be interested in serving as an Alternate on SUAAC

(which is currently the last remaining vacancy), they were asked to forward the student's

name to A. Watt.

Other Business

There was no other business.

Information

The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting of Senate is Monday, December 1,

2008.

The Open Session adjourned at 5:55 pm, and Senate moved directly into Closed Session.

Alison Watt

Director, University Secretariat