SENATE SUMMARY
MEETING OF DECEMBER 5 , 2011
1.
Trip to India
The Chair reported on the trip to India that was taken with the Vice-President External Relations,
Vice-President Research, Dean of Business, Dean of Applied Sciences and two faculty members.
The trip was considered successful in that the three main objectives were achieved along with
opportunities for relationship building with the provincial government. The objectives included
building on relationships around research, potential student exchanges and internships with other
educational institutions; looking for opportunities for students in respect to private sector entities
in India; and looking at student recruitment with the hope of diversifying the international
student population at SFU.
2.
Skybus (Gondola) Project
The Chair reported that there should be more information from Translink regarding the skybus
project, also known as the gondola project, sometime in the next month. The business case shows
that by running a gondola type of service from Skytrain to the top of the mountain, it would
reduce costs over the life of the project, reduce the environmental footprint from diesel bus
service, and be a more reliable service. The Chair’s personal view is that this could make a major
difference to this campus and that people of this institution should support this project.
3.
External Review of the Department of Earth Sciences (S.11-143)
Senate approved the Action Plan for the Department of Earth Sciences that resulted from its
External Review.
4.
New Program: Certificate in the Linguistics of Speech Science (S.11-144)
Senate approved and recommended to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal for a
Certificate in the Linguistics of Speech Science in the Department of Linguistics within the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
5.
New Program: Extended Minor in World Literature (S.11-145)
Senate approved the Full Program Proposal for an Extended Minor in World Literature within
the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-12682
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6.
Report of Committee to Review EAL Supports (S.11-146)
Senate received the report of the committee to review EAL (English is an additional language)
supports for advice. One of the key findings was that the EAL population at SFU is a complex
one that encompasses both the international and domestic population at SFU. In general,
Senators were impressed with the report and felt that it dealt with a serious issue in a clear and
substantive way.
7.
Undergraduate Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.11-147)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved the following curriculum revisions effective Summer 2012:
a)
Political Science
- Course (Q designation): POL 451
8.
Graduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.11-148)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved the following curriculum revisions effective Summer 2012:
a) International Studies
- Course (title): IS 888
- Course (deleted): IS 889
b)
Linguistics
- Program (time limit, requirements): MA
- Program (time limit, requirements): PhD
- Course (units, title, description): LING 890
- Courses (new): LING 891, LING 894, LING 895
- Courses (title): LING 803, LING 850, LING 855
c)
Philosophy
- Program (admission, requirements, non-thesis option): MA
- Program (admission): PhD
d)
Sociology and Anthropology
- Program (requirements): MA
e)
Urban Studies
- Course (prerequisite): URB 696
9.
Graduate Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Education (S.11-149)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved the following curriculum revisions effective Summer 2012:
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a) Education
- Program (requirements): Counselling Psychology MA
10.
Senate Committee on Continuing Studies Annual Report (S.11-150)
Senate received the 2010/2011 Annual Report for the Senate Committee on Continuing Studies
for information.
At the Fall 2010 meeting the Committee:
• ratified the Annual Report to Senate for 2009/10
• approved a proposal for a Certificate in Human Resources Management
• approved a proposal for a Certificate in Journalism
• approved a proposal for a Certificate in Public Relations
• approved Continuing Studies Non-credit Certificate and Diploma Graduates
At the Spring 2011 meeting the Committee:
• approved a proposal to rename and redesign the Certificate in Business Analysis to
Certificate in Applied Business Analysis
• approved a proposal to rename and revise the Diploma in Rehabilitation Management to
Diploma in Rehabilitation and Disability Management
• approved a proposal for the revision of the Certificate in Restorative Justice
• approved Continuing Studies Non-credit Certificate and Diploma Graduates
11.
Senate Nominating Committee (S.11-151)
A revised Senate paper distributed prior to the start of the meeting, showed positions that were
elected by acclamation and vacancies that would be carried forward to the next Senate meeting.
12.
Election Report to Senate (S.11-152)
Senate received the results of student and faculty elections to Senate during the Fall 2011 term.
The approved Senate minutes will be available online following the next Senate meeting. For more detailed
information on each Senate item, please refer to the December 2011 Senate documents at
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-16707
If you have any questions regarding this summary, please contact Shelley Gair, Senate Assistant, at 778-782-3168
or shelley_gair@sfu.ca.
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