APPROVED BY SENATE

Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on

Monday, November 5, 2012 at 5:30 pm at the West Mall Complex (Room 3210)

Open Session

Present:

Andrew Petter, President and Chair

Black, Sam

Brandhorst, Bruce

Brennand, Tracy

Budra, Paul (for J. Craig)

Burley, David

Cameron, Rob (for N. Rajapakse)

Chapman, Glenn

Corbett, Kitty

Cupples, Claire

Cyr, Dianne

Driver, Jon

Easton, Stephen

Eckman, Charles

Flodr, Sarah-Sophia

Francis, June

Geisler, Cheryl

Gordon, Robert

Hall, Angie

Haunerland, Norbert (for M. Pinto)

Hedley, Nick

Jozaghi, Ehsan

Kessler, Anke

Kropinski, Mary Catherine

Kwon, Caleb

Laitsch, Dan

Leacock, Tracey

Leznoff, Daniel

Palis, Heather

Parekh, Nimisha

Paterson, David

Percival, Colin

Percival, Paul

Perry, Tom

Pierce, John

Pilarinos, Andreas

Quarmby, Lynne

Robinsmith, Stacey

Ruben, Peter

Kate Ross, Registrar and Executive Director, Student Enrolment

Shelley Gair, Recording Secretary

Schellenberg, Betty

Somers, Julian

Tingling, Peter

Warner, D’Arcy

Wussow, Helen

Absent:

Chen, Alexander

Delgrande, Jim

Elle, Elizabeth

Golnaraghi, Farid

Kopahi, Moe

Leivdal, Joseph

Li, Paul

Lundgreen-Nielsen, Jens

Madoc-Jones, Geoff

Magnusson, Kris

McRae, Jennifer

Myers, Gordon

O’Neil, John

Parkhouse, Wade

Pavsek, Christopher

Sakhrani, Rohan

Shapiro, Daniel

Shaw, Chris

Szeto, Hendson

Taylor, Carole

Wilson, Meaghan

Woodbury, Rob

Zhang, Kevin

In Attendance:

D’Andrea, Catherine

Legris, Louise

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1.

Approval of the Agenda

The agenda was approved as distributed.

2.

Minutes of the Open Session on October 1, 2012

The minutes of the open session on October 1, 2012 were approved as distributed.

3.

Business Arising from the Minutes

i)

CAUBO Data – Academic and Administrative Expenses (S.12-150)

Senate received data regarding academic and administrative expenses in response to a request for

this information at the October Senate meeting. A question was raised as to why some of the

totals in this report are different than totals taken from the 2011/2012 financial statements. Senate

was informed that CAUBO defines the data that it collects from universities and the definitions

are standardized across universities for the purpose of comparisons. This standardization will

result in discrepancies depending upon the difference between our definitions and their

definitions.

4.

Report of the Chair

The Chair welcomed two new student Senators to their first meeting of Senate, Caleb Kwon and

Ehsan Jozaghi, and then provided an update on several items.

The Chair reported that the Research University Presidents made a presentation to the Legislative

Standing Committee on Finance and Administration on a proposed three part strategy to invest in

more student spaces across the post-secondary system, to provide more financial support for

students, and to commit to funding for research and research infrastructure. It was also reported

that the submission gained some notice in the media. Senators were challenged to get involved by

not letting this issue fade between now and the upcoming election in this province.

A presentation was also made at the standing committee with respect to the need for a

government commitment on expanding the SFU Surrey campus. A commitment was made in

2006 by government to double the size of the Surrey campus by 2015 but nothing has happened

and the demand for spaces in Surrey continues to grow. The standing committee does not make

decisions on behalf of the government but it does make recommendations.

In regards to the job action taken by CUPE and TSSU, the Chair reported that negotiations are

continuing and that the goal from the university’s point of view is to try to achieve fair

settlements. Contingency plans are being developed should the negotiations not be successful.

The Maclean’s university rankings were released recently and SFU continues to be ranked

number one within the comprehensive category. The reason for this ranking was based on the

strength of faculty research, faculty awards, student awards, and reputational standing.

5.

Question Period

There were no questions submitted for question period.

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6.

Reports of Committees

A)

Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)

i)

Motion

Moved by J. Driver, seconded by J. Pierce

“That Senate approve the Action Plan for the Department of Archaeology that resulted from

its External Review.”

The department of Archaeology was congratulated on the positive review. A concern was raised

in regards to the hardship a small department experiences when a faculty member moves to an

administrative position for a significant length of time and a request was made for the

development of a policy to provide for this type of situation. The Vice-President Academic

expressed reluctance in developing a policy because in some situations the impact on the

department may be relatively small but he did commit to addressing this particular situation in

Archaeology with the Dean of Environment.

A question was raised regarding the options available for students that cannot financially afford a

field school. Senate was informed that a field methods course, based on the Burnaby campus, is

now offered as an option for students who are not able to attend a field school. Senate was also

informed that often a comparable field school is offered in Canada at the same time as an

international one. A Senator, who is also a member of the Senate Policy Committee on

Scholarships and Awards, pointed out that currently there are bursaries available for international

field schools but not for field schools in Canada and that this appears to be a deficiency.

Question was called and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

ii)

External Review Update for the Cognitive Science Program (S.12-152)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on University Priorities reviewed the

External Review Update Report for the Cognitive Science Program within the Faculty of Arts and

Social Sciences.

B)

Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)

i)

Motion

Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Easton

“That Senate approve the changes to the BC 12 Admission Criteria for the School for the

Contemporary Arts within the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.”

Question was called and a vote taken.

MOTION CARRIED

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ii)

Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.12-154)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under

delegated authority, added new courses, and made revisions to existing courses and programs in

the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Concern was raised regarding the reinstatement of HIST 316 when the course was recently

temporarily withdrawn in 2010. Senate was informed that courses in this area could not be

offered over the past few years due to the death of a faculty member and now that a limited-term

faculty member is available to teach this course, a decision was made to reinstate it so that it

could be offered again.

iii)

Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology (S.12-155)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under

delegated authority, added new courses, and made revisions to existing courses and programs in

the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.

iv)

Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.12-156)

Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under

delegated authority, made revisions to existing courses and programs in the Faculty of Science.

i) Annual Report (S.12-157)

Senate received the 2011/2012 annual report for the Senate Library Committee for information.

A question was raised regarding whether or not the budget is adequate to provide students with

disabilities the kind of technology that allows for equal access to resources. Senate was informed

that the budget was increased to maximize use of new technologies to support students but that a

needs assessment hasn’t been done recently. The Dean of Library Services will provide some

further information at a future meeting.

D) Senate Nominating Committee (SNC)

i) Senate Committee Elections (S.12-158)

Senate received a revised summary from the Senate Nominating Committee of nominations

received and outstanding vacancies for positions on Senate committees that are elected by Senate.

7.

Other Business

i) Election Report (S.12-159)

Senate received a report for information showing the results of a recent faculty election to Senate.

8.

i)

Date of the next regular meeting – Monday, December 3, 2012.

Kate Ross

Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment