APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the West Mall Complex (Room 3210)
Open Session
Present:
Andrew Petter, President and Chair
Brandhorst, Bruce
Brennand, Tracy
Cameron, Rob (for N. Rajapakse)
Chapman, Glenn
Chen, Alexander
Craig, John
Cupples, Claire
Cyr, Dianne
Driver, Jon
Easton, Stephen
Eckman, Charles
Fontaine, Marc
Francis, June
Geisler, Cheryl
Gordon, Robert
Kohn, Jordan
Kong, Shuyu
Krane, Bill
Leacock, Tracey
Lee, Benjamin
Leznoff, Daniel
Li, Paul
Magnusson, Kris
McRae, Jennifer
Moghaddamjoo, Sara
Myers, Gordon
Palis, Heather
Parkhouse, Wade
Paterson, David
Pavsek, Christopher
Percival, Colin
Percival, Paul
Perry, Tom
Peters, Joseph
Pilarinos, Andreas
Pinto, Mario
Reyeros, Diego
Robinsmith, Stacey
Kate Ross, Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
Shelley Gair, Recording Secretary
Ruben, Peter
Russell, Robert
Tashakor, Pasha
Warner, D’Arcy
Wussow, Helen
Yeung, Lorenz
Absent:
Acierno, Kyle
Armstrong, Arthur
Black, Sam
Dhillon, Arinder
Fizzell, Maureen
Garneau-Scott, Christi
Golnaraghi, Farid
Hughes, David
Kropinski, Mary Catherine
Laitsch, Dan
Mann, Geoff
Nilson Levisohn, Michelle
O’Neil, John
Pierce, John
Sahinalp, Cenk
Shapiro, Daniel
Shaw, Chris
Somers, Julian
Taylor, Carole
Woodbury, Rob
In Attendance:
Curry, Joanne
Finegood, Diane
Lear, Scott
Mirhady, David
Verdun-Jones, Simon
S.M 7 November 2011
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1.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Minutes of the Open Session on October 3, 2011
A minor correction was noted in the minutes. The minutes were approved as distributed with the
correction.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
A follow-up question from the previous meeting was raised regarding a possible incorrect
sentence in the minutes from the September 2011 Senate meeting. Senate was informed that the
recording of the meeting was reviewed and it was confirmed that the sentence is correct based on
a statement made by one of the resource people who attended the meeting.
4.
Report of the Chair
The Chair reported on the accreditation visit from the panel for the Northwest Commission of
Colleges and Universities, and expressed his appreciation to those who participated in engaging
with the panel. The initial feedback was favourable and it’s hopeful that SFU will be formally
admitted into the accreditation process in January.
The Chair also reported on the formal opening of Podium 2 at the Surrey campus. This new area
includes research and teaching labs which will enable science courses to be offered at the Surrey
campus. At the opening event, appreciation was expressed to both the provincial and federal
government for their contribution of approximately $10 million, but the need for additional space
in Surrey, given the growth in population, was also highlighted.
The Chair encouraged everyone to participate in the food survey and commented that so far there
has been a lot of feedback. The current food provider contract will be reviewed and the executive
would like the community’s advice and input, as this issue affects students, staff and faculty.
5.
Question Period
A question was submitted by a Senator regarding the upcoming trade delegation trip by the
Premier of B.C. to China and India, and the fact that SFU is listed as one of the sponsors. Senate
was informed that SFU had been planning a trip to India prior to learning the Premier’s office was
doing the same. While participating in the larger trade and education mission, the goals of the trip
are to raise SFU’s profile in India for teaching exchanges, research collaborations, and as a
favoured destination for undergraduate and graduate students. Visits are planned in public
schools, institutions and leading organizations with the objective to strengthen existing
relationships and explore new ones. SFU will not be participating in the Premier’s visit to China,
as a visit to China already occurred in the summer.
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i) Response to Gender Difference Statistics Questions (S.11-126)
Questions were raised regarding the discrepancy in male versus female admit rates and graduation
rates, and what could be done to remedy this difference. Suggestions were made about possible
reasons for this difference and ways to help alleviate these differences. It was pointed out that the
ratio of female undergraduates to male is a concern across North America and an opinion was
expressed that SFU’s student body is a reflection of a greater trend that cannot be solved by issues
of fairness.
It was requested that the Gender Difference Statistics report be received by Senate on an ongoing
basis. Senate was advised that this would be taken into consideration.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
i)
Honour Program in Humanities (S.11-127)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by J. Craig
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal
for an Honours Program in Humanities in the Department of Humanities within the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences.”
Clarification was requested in regards to the description for Hum 401 in Appendix B which
includes courses that are not in the calendar. Senate was informed that those courses have either
been replaced or eliminated and will be evaluated for similar course content to Hum 401. Senate
was assured that wording and course numbers will be corrected when the processing occurs for
the calendar and degree audit.
A question was raised regarding the statement that no additional funding for staff or faculty
would be required when there appears to be newly approved courses. Senate was advised that
these courses are a result of some course restructuring and renumbering that has already occurred.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies (S.11-128)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by R. Russell
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal
for a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies (Major, Minor, and Honours) within the Faculty of
Communication, Art and Technology.”
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A friendly amendment was accepted to change the wording in the second last line on page 9, in
the upper division requirements, from “12 upper division credits” to “12 additional upper division
credits.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iii) Community Health Solutions (S.11-129)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by P. Ruben
“That Senate approve the proposal for the establishment of the Community Health Solutions as an
Institute for a five year term.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iv) SFU Strategic Vision (S.11-130)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Easton
“That Senate concurs that the statement of Vision and Goals has been developed from a
comprehensive and inclusive process, and fairly reflects both the aspirations and the mission of
Simon Fraser University.”
The Associate Vice-President Academic assumed the role of chair so that the president could
participate more fully in the discussion. Senate was informed that the proposed strategic vision is
the result of feedback from Senate, as well as other consultations, on the discussion paper. Some
of the changes were highlighted for Senate. Support for the document was expressed along with a
few additional suggestions. Senate was informed that some of the wording may be modified to
change the voice so that claims that haven’t yet been obtained are not stated as fact.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
B)
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
i)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Applied Sciences (S.11-131)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting
under delegated authority, approved a new course and minor revisions to existing courses in
the Faculty of Applied Sciences (Engineering Science).
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.11-132)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting
under delegated authority, approved new courses and minor revisions to existing courses
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and programs in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Asia-Canada program, Economics,
Explorations program, English, International Studies, First Nations Studies, Liberal Arts,
Sociology and Anthropology, Psychology).
iii) Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.11-133)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting
under delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing courses and programs in the
Beedie School of Business.
iv) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (S.11-134)
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 (Communication,
Publishing program).
v)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Education (S.11-135)
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.
vi) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.11-136)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting
under delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing programs in the Faculty of
Science (Biological Sciences).
vii) Curriculum Revisions – Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue (S.11-137)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting
under delegated authority, approved minor revisions to existing courses in the
Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue.
C) Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC)
i)
Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.11-138)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under
delegated authority, approved some changes to the calendar language in the Beedie School
of Business.
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ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.11-139)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under
delegated authority, approved new courses and minor revisions to existing programs in the
Faculty of Science (Mathematics).
D) Research Ethics Board (REB)
i)
Annual Report (S.11-140)
Senate received the 2010/2011 Research Ethics Board annual report for information.
A question was raised about the lack of faculty representation on REB. Senate was advised
that due to the responsibility and workload required by members of the REB, it is difficult
to find faculty members willing to participate. It was also advised that there is a desire to
change the process and a review will be taking place.
E)
Senate Library Committee (SLC)
i)
Annual Report (S.11-141)
Senate received the 2010/2011 Senate Library Committee annual report for information.
A question was raised regarding the reasons for the Library Penalties Appeal Committee not
meeting between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011. Senate was advised that this was likely
because issues were resolved at a lower level so there was no need to call a meeting.
F)
Senate Nominating Committee (SNC)
i)
Elections by Senate (S.11-142)
A revised Senate paper, distributed prior to the start of the meeting, showed positions that
were elected by acclamation, required voting, and vacancies that would be carried forward
to the next Senate meeting. It was noted that there were two positions which would be voted
on in the coming week.
7.
Other Business
There was no other business.
8.
Information
i)
Date of the next regular meeting – Monday, December 5, 2011.
Open session adjourned at 8pm and Senate moved directly into the closed session.
Kate Ross
Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
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