APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Monday, April 2, 2012 at 5:30 pm at the West Mall Complex (Room 3210)
Open Session
Present:
Andrew Petter, President and Chair
Acierno, Kyle
Black, Sam
Brandhorst, Bruce
Brennand, Tracy
Chapman, Glenn
Craig, John
Cyr, Dianne
Driver, Jon
Easton, Stephen
Fizzell, Maureen
Fontaine, Marc
Francis, June
Garneau-Scott, Christi
Geisler, Cheryl
Gordon, Robert
Kohn, Jordan
Kong, Shuyu
Kropinski, Mary Catherine
Laitsch, Dan
Leacock, Tracey
Lee, Benjamin
Li, Paul
Magnusson, Kris
McRae, Jennifer
Myers, Gordon
Nilson Levisohn, Michelle
O’Neil, John
Parkhouse, Wade
Paterson, David
Percival, Colin
Percival, Paul
Perry, Tom
Peters, Joseph
Pierce, John
Pinto, Mario
Rajapakse, Nimal
Robinsmith, Stacey
Kate Ross, Registrar and Executive Director, Student Enrolment
Shelley Gair, Recording Secretary
Russell, Robert
Warner, D’Arcy
Woodbury, Rob
Wussow, Helen
Absent:
Armstrong, Arthur
Chen, Alexander
Corbett, Kitty
Cupples, Claire
Dhillon, Arinder
Eckman, Charles
Golnaraghi, Farid
Hughes, David
Krane, Bill
Leznoff, Daniel
Mann, Geoff
Moghaddamjoo, Sara
Palis, Heather
Pavsek, Christopher
Pilarinos, Andreas
Ruben, Peter
Sahinalp, Cenk
Shapiro, Daniel
Shaw, Chris
Somers, Julian
Tashakor, Pasha
Taylor, Carole
Yeung, Lorenz
In Attendance:
Collins, Colleen
Smith, Richard
S.M 2 April 2012
Page 2
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-17125
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Minutes of the Open Session on March 5, 2012
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 expressed congratulations to Senator Francis, who was elected to the Board of
Governors, and Senator Myers, who will be the new Associate Vice President Academic starting
in September.
The Chair shared some good news and comments on the federal budget. It was reported that
funding for the granting councils will remain unchanged for the coming year. Senate was also
informed that the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, which invests in research infrastructure,
has made a five year commitment of $500 million for new research infrastructure starting in
2014. As well, new funding has been allocated for internships through Mitacs, a national, not-for-
profit research organization. It was also reported that the government will be reducing the amount
of tax credits going to Scientific Research and Experimental Development, a federal tax incentive
program that encourages research and development in the private sector, by $500 million. It has
not been determined how this funding will be reinvested but it’s possible that universities may
have some access to these funds. The Chair commented that it appears a clear message was
received and accepted in Ottawa regarding funding for universities and university research.
The Chair expressed appreciation to those students who supported and led the initiative to
increase the student society fees to support the construction of a major activity centre and stadium
on this campus.
5.
Question Period
A question was raised regarding the location of the SFU swimming pool if there is a possibility
that the new student centre will be built there. Senate was informed that the student referendum
was not tied to the centre being in that exact location so there are alternatives. Another question
was raised in regards to what SFU is doing in terms of creating a recreational space for the large
number of students at the downtown campus. Senate was informed that students at the Surrey and
Downtown campus do have access to community facilities but that a greater concern is finding
space for students to study and socialize. To address this concern, the VP Academic is putting
together a planning committee that will be looking at the Downtown and Surrey campuses in
terms of expansion possibilities.
6.
Reports of Committees
A) Senate Appeals Board (SAB)
i)
Annual Report (S.12-56)
S.M 2 April 2012
Page 3
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-17125
Senate received the annual report for the Senate Appeals Board for information. A question was
asked regarding the increase in cases over the previous four years. Senate was informed that more
of the selective withdrawal cases are not being approved at the faculty level which has resulted in
more appeals being submitted to the Senate Appeals Board.
B)
Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
i)
Proposal to Dissolve the Global Asset and Wealth Management Program (S.12-57)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by D. Cyr
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the dissolution of the Global
Asset and Wealth Management Program within the Beedie School of Business, effective Fall
2012.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
C) Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
i)
Admission Changes in the Beedie School of Business (S.12-58)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Black
“That Senate approve the admission changes to:
- Information Systems in Business and Computing Science Joint Major
- Interactive Arts and Technology and Business Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Business
Administration Joint Major
- Interactive Arts and Technology and Business Bachelor of Science Joint Major
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Business Joint Major
- Business and Economics Joint Honours
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Business Joint Honours
effective Fall 2012.”
A friendly amendment was made on page 8 to replace the words “First Class Honours” with
“Honours with distinction” in order to be consistent with current graduation classifications.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.12-59)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved new courses and revisions to existing courses and programs in the
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Humanities, Sociology and Anthropology, Psychology,
Criminology, EBP, Philosophy, International Studies, Labour Studies, Linguistics, Gerontology,
History).
iii) Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.12-60)
S.M 2 April 2012
Page 4
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-17125
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved revisions to existing courses and programs in the Beedie School of
Business.
iv) Curriculum Revisions - Faculty of Communication, Art & Technology (S.12-61)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved revisions to existing courses and programs in the Faculty of
Communication, Art and Technology (Communication, Contemporary Arts, Interactive Arts and
Technology).
v)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Environment (S.12-62)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved new courses and revisions to existing courses and programs in the
Faculty of Environment (Archaeology, Environment, Geography, Environmental Science,
Resources & Environmental Management).
vi) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Health Sciences (S.12-63)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, approved revisions to existing courses and programs in the Faculty of Health
Sciences.
D) Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC)
i)
General Graduate Regulation 1.3.12 (S.12-64)
Motion
Moved by Wade Parkhouse, seconded by S. Easton
“That Senate approve the changes to GGR 1.3.12 English Language Competence.”
It was clarified for Senate that due to concerns with raising the TOEFL requirements too quickly,
a TOEFL score of 93 will be accepted for now but in the future, it will be increased to align better
with the IELTS score of 7.0. A couple of editorial changes were identified on page 5 and
accepted.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
General Graduate Regulation 1.9.4 (S.12-65)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved revisions to General Graduate Regulations 1.9.4 “Preparation for
Examination of a Doctoral Thesis” effective Fall 2012.
iii) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.12-66)
S.M 2 April 2012
Page 5
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-17125
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved new courses and revisions to existing programs in the Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences (English, Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, History).
iv) Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.12-67)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved a new course and revisions to an existing program in the Beedie School of
Business.
v)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (S.12-68)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved revisions to an existing course and program in the Faculty of Communication,
Art and Technology (Digital Media)
vi) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Health Sciences (S.12-69)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved new courses and revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of Health
Sciences. It was pointed out that the title for HSCI 727 should say “The Immune System II” to be
consistent with the title for HSCI 726.
vii) Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.12-70)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved a new course in the Faculty of Science (Physics).
viii) Graduate Curriculum Revisions – Temporarily Withdrawn Courses (S.12-71)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, approved the temporarily withdrawal of courses identified as inactive by various
faculties across the campus.
7.
Other Business
i)
Election Report to Senate (S.12-72)
Senate received a summary of the faculty election results for positions on Senate and the Board of
Governors. A question was raised from a previous meeting in regards to a membership
discrepancy between the Senate Committee on International Activities (SCIA) report and the
SCIA website. This will be followed up at the next meeting.
S.M 2 April 2012
Page 6
https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-17125
8.
Information
i)
Date of the next regular meeting – Tuesday, May 22, 2012.
Open session adjourned at 5:55 pm and Senate moved directly into the closed session.
Kate Ross
Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
Back to top