S.M. 7 March 2011
Page 2
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved as distributed
2.
Approval of the Minutes of the Open Session of February 7, 2011.
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 that the enVISION process has been launched externally and internally and
that much of his time has been spent meeting with groups including some time in the homes of
students. There were approximately 300 substantive comments submitted in the first 10 days on
the website. The goal is to synthesize all the gathered information into a document by June.
The chair reported that in response to an event that was hosted at SFU that caused some
controversy in respect to free speech, he has issued a statement about respectful debate and free
speech on campus that is posted on his website at the following link:
http://www.sfu.ca/pres/president/petterspeeches/201103.html
Senators were informed that an online survey would be sent out on March 8
th
to gather feedback
from Senators on the topic of moving to a paperless system for the Senate meetings.
5.
Question Period
i)
Grading Policy in Faculty of Health Sciences (For Information)
S.11-26
It was made known to Senate that the Grades report for 2009/10 was now available online on the
Institutional Research and Planning website
[http://www.sfu.ca/irp/Students/grades_report/index.html]. A recommendation was made that
the Grades report be regularly submitted to Senate for information due to the valuable
information it contained. This recommendation was accepted. The Grades report will now be
submitted to Senate as an information item on an annual basis.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
i)
Centres and Institutes Renewal Applications (For Information)
S.11-27
www.sfu.ca/senate/papers/renewal_applications/
)
Norbert Haunerland, Associate Vice-President, Research, was in attendance to respond to
questions.
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on University Priorities, acting under
delegated authority, reviewed and approved the renewal of twelve research centres and institutes
for a five year term. The specific list can be found in senate paper S.11-27.
S.M. 7 March 2011
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ii) Suspension of Admission and Dissolution of Bachelor of Arts Degrees
S.11-28
in Mathematics and Statistics
Paul Budra, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, was in attendance to respond to
questions.
Motion 1
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Ravi Patel
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the suspension of admission
to the Bachelor of Arts Degree programs in Mathematics (major, honours), and in Statistics
(major, honours) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective Summer 2011.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion 2
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Greg Dow
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the dissolution of the
Bachelor of Arts Degree programs in Mathematics (major, honours), and Statistics (major,
honours) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective Fall 2011.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iii) Dissolution of the Extended Minor in Latin American Studies
S.11-29
Paul Budra, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, was in attendance to respond to
questions.
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Steve Easton
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the dissolution of the
Extended Minor in Latin American Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,
effective Fall 2011.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
B) Senate Committee on Enrolment Management and Planning (SCEMP)
i)
Undergraduate Admission Targets for 2011/12
S.11-30
Motion 1
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Ravi Patel
S.M. 7 March 2011
Page 4
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the 2011/12 Enrolment
Plan attached as Appendix A to
Enrolment Information for Senate
.”
Several changes that have affected the numbers in the enrolment plan, were summarized for
Senate. First, there will be an attempt over the next three years to reduce the actual domestic
enrolment back to the funded level that’s provided by the government. Second, co-op terms will
now be counted as fifteen credits instead of three for the purpose of reporting to government.
Third, there is an increase in the Faculty of Environment FTE and a decrease in the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences FTE, resulting from the move of Archaeology to the Faculty of
Environment. Fourth, the FTE in the Faculty of Applied Sciences has been adjusted to reflect the
growth rates in this faculty.
Concern was expressed over the actual admitted number of students exceeding the target numbers.
It was explained that although the standards are set to try and match the target for domestic
students, SFU’s policy is to admit all students, domestic and international, that meet the admission
standards. The question was raised regarding whether motion 2 is really necessary considering
motion 1 approves the enrolment plan in Appendix A which includes the international
undergraduate enrolment projections. Senate agreed, at the suggestion of the chair, to have a
discussion on both motions 1 and 2, since they are connected, before voting on the motions.
A comment was made in support of the Strategic Enrolment Management Council developing a
plan for international enrolment as communicated in senate paper S.11-31 and an opinion was
expressed that until a plan is developed, it is not necessary to set an international enrolment target
because it is directly correlated to the domestic target.
An
amendment
was moved by Kris Magnusson and seconded by Paul Percival, to add the words
“domestic undergraduate” to motion 1 as follows:
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the 2011/12
domestic
undergraduate
Enrolment Plan attached as Appendix A to Enrolment Information for
Senate.”
Concern was raised that if domestic targets are separated from international targets, this would
fundamentally challenge the whole approach that underlies the enrolment plan. Senate was
informed that the 2011/2012 projected budget for the university has been determined by the
numbers contained in this enrolment plan.
The amendment was withdrawn by the mover.
It was explained to Senate that the 17.5% is an attempt to realistically estimate the number of
international students and create an operational budget, approved by the Board, which will support
these students. The expectation is for international student FTEs to be similar to this year with
additional growth expected from Fraser International College.
A question was raised regarding the revenue difference between domestic and international
students. Senate was informed that all the revenue generated from international students comes
from tuition, which is higher to account for the deficiency of government funding and associated
costs of capital and support services for international students. Excess revenue that is generated
S.M. 7 March 2011
Page 5
from having more international students than estimated can be distributed but cannot be pre-
allocated as part of the operating budget.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion 2
was not moved due to an agreement by Senate that the motion was redundant.
Motion 3
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Ben Lee
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the 2011/12 DOMESTIC
undergraduate admission targets to each Faculty, by semester and basis of admission category
as indicated in Table C1 in Appendix C.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion 4
Moved by Bill Krane, seconded by Nimal Rajapakse
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the 2011/12
INTERNATIONAL undergraduate admission targets to each Faculty, by semester and basis
of admission category as indicated in Table C2 in Appendix C.”
An
amendment
was moved by Colin Percival and seconded by Arry Dhillon, to change the
word “targets” to the word “projections” as follows:
“that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the 2011/12
INTERNATIONAL undergraduate admission
projections
to each Faculty, by semester and
basis of admission category as indicated in Table C2 in Appendix C.”
A discussion followed regarding this amendment. Senate was informed that in most faculties if a
student meets both the university and faculty requirements, they are admitted but in the case of
the Business faculty, admission is based on a broad-base standard and they attempt to admit exactly
the numbers that correspond to the targets in the table. So, the word “target” is appropriate for the
Faculty of Business Administration.
A
friendly amendment
was proposed by Arry Dhillon and accepted by the mover to change the
wording from “projections” to “targets and projections”.
Question was called and a vote taken on amendment.
AMENDMENT FAILED
Question was called and vote taken on motion
MOTION CARRIED
S.M. 7 March 2011
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ii) Direction to Strategic Enrolment Management (SEM) Council
S.11-31
(For Information)
Senate was informed that the SEM council will be considering entry requirements and whether
they should stay linked to the domestic standards or whether an established separate set of criteria
should be used, in addition to a variety of other issues related to the management of international
admissions and enrolments. This group will report to SCEMP and then to Senate.
A request was made to consider student representation on the SEM council. The request was
accepted and a response will be reported to Senate after consideration has been made.
C) Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
i)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
S.11-32
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved a new course in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
ii) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Business Administration
S.11-33
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing courses and programs in the Faculty of
Business Administration.
iii) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Communication, Art and
S.11-34
Technology (For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved a new course and minor revisions to existing courses and programs
in the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.
iv) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Education (For Information)
S.11-35
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of Education.
v)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Health Sciences
S.11-36
(For Information)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved minor course revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of Health
Sciences.
S.M. 7 March 2011
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vi) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (For Information)
S.11-37
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved a new course and minor revisions to existing courses and programs
in the Faculty of Science.
7.
Other Business
i)
Accreditation Update (For Information)
S.11-38
Senate received an update of progress being made in following the process of accreditation by the
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities as information.
8.
Information
The date of the next meeting of Senate is Monday, April 4, 2011 in the West Mall Complex
(Room 3210).
Open session adjourned at 8:52 pm and Senate moved directly into the closed session.
Kate Ross
Registrar and Secretary of Senate