APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the West Mall Complex (Room 3210)
Open Session
Present:
Andrew Petter, President and Chair
Acierno, Kyle
Armstrong, Arthur
Black, Sam
Brandhorst, Bruce
Budra, Paul (representing J. Craig)
Chapman, Glenn
Cupples, Claire
Cyr, Dianne
Dhillon, Arinder
Driver, Jon
Easton, Stephen
Eckman, Charles
Fizzell, Maureen
Fontaine, Marc
Francis, June
Garneau-Scott, Christi
Geisler, Cheryl
Gordon, Robert
Kohn, Jordan
Kong, Shuyu
Krane, Bill
Kropinski, Mary Catherine
Leacock, Tracey
Lee, Benjamin
Leznoff, Daniel
Magnusson, Kris
McRae, Jennifer
Moghaddamjoo, Sarah
Myers, Gordon
Nilson Levisohn, Michelle
O’Neil, John
Parkhouse, Wade
Paterson, David
Pavsek, Christopher
Percival, Colin
Percival, Paul
Perry, Tom
Peters, Joseph
Kate Ross, Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
Shelley Gair, Recording Secretary
Pierce, John
Pilarinos, Andreas
Pinto, Mario
Rajapakse, Nimal
Reyeros, Diego
Ruben, Peter
Russell, Robert
Shapiro, Daniel
Warner, D’Arcy
Woodbury, Rob
Wussow, Helen
Absent:
Brennand, Tracy
Chen, Alexander
Golnaraghi, Farid
Hughes, David
Laitsch, Dan
Mann, Geoff
Sahinalp, Cenk
Shaw, Chris
Somers, Julian
Tashakor, Pasha
Taylor, Carole
Yeung, Lorenz
In Attendance:
Lindsay, William
Tiffany, Evan
S.M 12 September 2011
Page 2
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-16219
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Minutes of the Open Session on July 4, 2011
A minor correction was noted in the minutes. The minutes were approved as distributed with this
correction.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the minutes.
4.
Report of the Chair
The chair reported that he had met with incoming first year students, new graduate students and
new faculty and that some exciting events were coming up at SFU.
5.
Question Period
There were no questions submitted for question period.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
i)
Certificates (S.11-104)
Senate received the review on certificates for information. The registrar and director of university
curriculum were congratulated on the quality of the document. A question was raised regarding
the recommendation that certificates with diminishing enrolment be reviewed. Senate was
informed that the policy for discontinuing programs would be followed when determining
whether or not to discontinue a certificate. A concern was raised regarding the recommendation
that proposals for new certificates include evidence of demand and a targeted enrolment plan.
Senate was informed that there is a wide range of evidence that could be used to support the
proposal of a certificate.
It was clarified for Senate that before any recommendations were implemented, they would have
to go through the regular approval process.
ii)
Certificate in Ethics: Theory and Application (S.11-105)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by M. Fizzell
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal
for a Certificate in Ethics: Theory and Application within the Department of Philosophy in the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective Spring 2012.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
S.M 12 September 2011
Page 3
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-16219
iii) Indigenous Research Institute (S.11-106)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by J. Francis
“That Senate approve the proposal for the establishment of the Indigenous Research Institute as
an Institute for a five year term.”
Support for the institute was expressed along with a concern regarding the quality and breadth of
the documentation provided in comparison to other research institute proposals and the steering
committee membership. Senate was informed that past institute proposals were reviewed and
some were found to be less detailed than this document. Senate was also informed that over time
the institute will likely expand and additional members from other faculties will be added.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iv) Library External Review Report (S.11-107)
Senate received the library external review report for information. The dean of library services
was complimented for the professional and thorough review that was conducted.
B) Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
i)
Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.11-108)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved minor revisions to an existing course in the Beedie School of
Business.
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology (S.11-109)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of
Communication, Art and Technology (Interactive Arts & Technology, Communication,
Contemporary Arts).
iii) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Environment (S.11-110)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved new courses and minor revisions to existing courses in the Faculty
of Environment (Resource and Environmental Management).
S.M 12 September 2011
Page 4
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-16219
iv) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Health Sciences (S.11-111)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved a minor revision to an existing course in the Faculty of Health
Sciences.
v)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.11-112)
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
Science (Chemistry, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology).
C) Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC)
i)
Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.11-113)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved a new course and minor revisions to existing courses in the Beedie School of
Business.
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Health Sciences (S.11-114)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved a new course and minor revisions to existing courses and programs in the
Faculty of Health Sciences.
D) Senate Nominating Committee
i)
Elections by Senate (S.11-115)
Senate received a summary of the outstanding vacancies and nominations received for the Senate
committees. The vacancies were brought to Senate’s attention with a request for senators to
encourage colleagues to participate in the governance of the university.
7.
Other Business
i)
Senate Committee on University Honours – Membership (S.11-116)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by P. Percival
“That Senate approve a change in membership for the Senate Committee on University Honours;
the VP Advancement and Alumni Engagement be named as a member ex-officio replacing the
VP External Relations effective immediately.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
S.M 12 September 2011
Page 5
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-16219
ii)
Envision Discussion Paper (S.11-117)
Senate received the envision discussion paper for information. The vice-chair assumed the role of
chair so that a presentation could be made by the president. A discussion followed the
presentation with questions for clarification, suggestions for improvement and supportive
comments.
Clarification was requested in regards to the purpose of the guiding principles and it was
explained that the principles were intended to be viewed as adding to the vision not replacing the
vision. Several senators expressed the opinion that some ambiguous language was unnecessarily
used (i.e. engaged, community, social) and that superlatives were over used. Others expressed
concern with the lack of specific words such as: academic, intellectual, scholar, or ethics. Several
senators expressed a concern over the lack of support for basic research found within the
document. An opinion was expressed that more specific examples and support would help
humanize and strengthen the document. A suggestion was made to write the objectives in a
sharper way to facilitate putting them into action. Several requests were made for clear action
items. Some supportive remarks were that the document described SFU very well, that it would
likely continue to generate ongoing discussions and that the envision process did a good job of
engaging the community.
Senate was reminded that this discussion paper was not an operational planning document but a
vision document that will be given meaning through planning processes and daily work efforts.
iii) Election Report to Senate (S.11-118)
Senate received the election report to Senate for information. A suggestion was made that the
Senate Committee on Agenda and Rules (SCAR) should review the rules around filling vacant
positions on Senate to avoid positions remaining vacant. Senate was informed that the Registrar’s
office was currently reviewing the Senate rules and would be considering this item in that review.
Once the review is complete, the suggested changes will be submitted to SCAR.
8.
Information
i)
Date of the next regular meeting – Monday, October 3, 2011.
Open session adjourned at 9:15 pm and Senate moved directly into the closed session.
Kate Ross
Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
Back to top