SFU
MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF II11 -1 VICH-PRKSIDKNT, ACADHMIC AND PROVOST
University Drive, Burnaby, BC
Canada V5A 1S<5
TEL: 778.782.3925
FAX: 778.782.5876
attention Senate
date
March 20,2013
from
Jon Driver, Vice-President, Academic and
pages
1/ 1
S.13-52
www.sfu.ca/vpacademic
RE:
Provost, and Chair, SCUP
Faculties of Applied Sciences and Arts and Social Sciences: Suspension of Admission and
Dissolution of the Joint Major and Joint Honours in Computing Science and Philosophy
(SCUP 13-11)
At its March 13, 2013 meeting, SCUP reviewed and approved the proposal to suspend admission to the
Joint Major andJoint Honours in Computing
Science and Philosophy in the School of Computing
Science and Department of Philosophy within the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Faculty of Arts and
Social Sciences, effective Fall 2013 and dissolve the program effective, Fall 2014.
Motion 1:
That Senate approve the suspension of admission to theJoint Major andJoint Honours in Computing
Science and Philosophy in the School of Computing Science and Department of Philosophy within the
Faculty of Applied Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, effective Fall 2013.
Motion
2:
That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the dissolution of theJoint Major and
Joint Honours in Computing
Science and Philosophy in the School of Computing Science and
Department of
Philosophy within the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
effective, Fall 2014.
c:
E. Tiffany
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
ENGAGING THE WORLD
SFU
MEMORANDUM
ATTENTION
FROM
RE:
SCUP 13-11
OFFICE OF THE ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC AND
ASSOCIATE PROVOST
University Drive,
TEL: 778.782.4636
avpciotasfu.ca
Burnaby, BC
www.sfu.ca/vpacademic
Canada V5A1S6
Senate Committee on University
DATE
Priorities
Gordon Myers, Chair
PAGES
Senate Committee on Undergraduate
Studies
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (SCUS 13-05g]
February 8, 2013
1/1
I
<kUj>^
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies at its meeting of
February 7, 2013, gives rise to the following recommendations:
Motion 1:
That SCUP approve and recommend to Senate the suspension of admission to
the Joint Major and Joint Honours in Computing Science and Philosophy in the
School of Computing Science and the Department of Philosophy within the
Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences effective
Fall 2013.
Motion 2
That SCUP approve and recommend to Senate the dissolution of the Joint Major
and Joint Honours in Computing Science and Philosophy in the School of
Computing Science and the Department of Philosophy within the Faculty of
Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences effective Spring
20U.
The relevant documentation for review by SCUP is attached.
SIMON F R A S I£R UNIVERSITY
ENGAGING THE WORLD
SFU
FACULTY OF AXTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Department ofPhflowphy
Dcpt ofPh&wopby,WMX4<04
88SBUravernty Dtivc,Bunuby,
BC
Canada V5A1S6
THL 778.7823343
I»AX 778.782.4443
SCUS13-05g(ii)
January 10,2013:
COVERLETTERRE: DISSOLUTION OF JOD^MAIORM COMPUTINGSOENCBAND
PHILOSOPHY
The DepartmentofPhilosophywouldliketo requestthe suspensionof admissionto
and the dissolution ofthe Joint Major and JointHonours in Computing Sdence and
Philosophy. The reason we areputtingforward thesetwo proposals atthe same
time is thatthere are no current students in the program,norhave meirbeen in the
five and a halfyears ithas been in the Calendar.
Background:
When the Joint programwas originallyconceived, it was hoped that becauseThere
is a naturalintellectual affinity between Computing Sdence and Phflosophy/
inducting"the very substantial amountoflogical inference and abstractconceptual
organization required inboth fields,* (S.07.31) and because "An appreciablenumber
ofstudents taking Computing Sdence alreadytake Philosophy courses"(S.0731)
that a JointMajorwould be attractiveto students. Also atthat time, there was a
popular facultymember (Oliver Schulte) who was cross-appointedin Philosophy
and Computing Sdence, and itwas believedthat he mightattract some students into
the joint degree. Unfortunately,the demand did not materialized. Oneplausible
explanation is
that the requirements ofthe Jointdegree were too onerous,and
interested students simplyopted fora Major/Minor combination (in 2009 one
student did complete a full double-major). Also,bythe time the JointMajormade it
through Senate., Professor Schultebadmoved mil-time into ComputingScience.
Whateverthe reasons,the dear lackof student interestindicatesthat; regrettably, it
is timeto dissolve the program.
Proposalto Suspend Admisswns^
andPhilosophy
1.Impacted Programs:
•
BSc. Joint Major inComputing Science and Philosophy
•
B.Sc Joint Honours inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
•
BX Joint Major inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
•
BA Joint Honours inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
2.Location ofthe program: Burnaby
3.The administrativehomeoftheJoint Major and Honours programs is inthe
School ofComputing Sdence in the Faculty ofAppliedSdences. Courses are offered
primarily from Philosophy andComputing Sdence.
4.Wepropose suspending admission beginning inFall 2013 with an anticipated
final dissolution date ofSpring 2014.
5. Thereason for suspensionisa
lack ofstudentdemand.
TheJoint Major and Joint Honours programs wereapproved by Senate in
February 2007 (S.0731) for astart date ofFall 2007. Inthose5years, no
students have enrolled in the Joint Major or JointHonours program. Our
speculationastothe reason for thelackofinterestisthattherequirements
were too onerous,and interestedstudents opted to simplyto a Major/Minor
combination ratherthan a mil Joint Major.
6. Plan for suspension, induding:
•
The DepartmentofPhilosophyhasconsultedwith the School of
Computing Sdence,which alsoagrees thatthelackof studentdemand
warrants dissolving the program.
• There are no current students to be consulted.
•
OnceapprovedbySenate, a noticewillbe placed on the Philosophy
Department'swebsite alertingstudentsto the upcomingdissolutionof
the Program.
7. DraftCalendar entry detailing suspensionofadmisslonsto me program:
The JointMajor in Computing Sdence and Philosophywill not be accepting
new students into the degree as of Fall 2013. The program wffl no longer
offered as ofSpring 2014.
The Joint Honoursin Computing Sdence and Philosophywill notbe accepting
new students intothe degreeas of Fall 2013. The programwill no longer
offered as ofSpring 2014.
8. Further enquires may be address to: EvanTiffany, Assodate Professorand
Undergraduate Chair, DepartmentofPhilosophy; iffiffanyflsftiiCa; 778-782-4482.
SCUS13-05g(iii]
Proposalto DissolveJoiotI^or/HoikhjibwCompi^
t Impacted Programs:
•
B^c Joint Major inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
•
B£c. Joint Honours inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
•
BA Joint Major inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
«
BA Joint Honours inComputing Sdence and Philosophy
2. Locationofthe program: Burnaby
3. The administrativehome ofthe Joint Major and Honours programsis in the
School ofComputing Sdence inthe Faculty ofApplied Sdences. Courses areoffered
primarilyfrom PhilosophyandComputing Science.
4. Antidpated final dissolution date: Spring 2014.
5. The reason forsuspension is a
lack ofstudentdemand.
The Joint Major and Honours wasapproved by Senatein February 2007
(S.0731) for astartdate ofFall 2007. Inthose 5 years, nostudentshave
enrolled in the JointMajor or Honours program. Ourspeculation as to the
reason for the lack ofinterestis thatthe requirements were too onerous, and
interested students opted to simplyto a Major/Minor combinationrather
than a full Joint Major.
6. Plan for phasing-out ofprogram:
•
The Departmentof Philosophy hasconsulted with the School of
ComputingSdence, whichalsoagreesthatthe lackofstudent demand
warrants dissolving the program.
• There are no currentstudents to be consulted.
•
Onceapprovedby Senate, anoticewillbe placed on the Philosophy
Department'swebsite alertingstudents tothe upcomingdissolutionof
the Program.
• The time-line is to suspendadmissionstartingFall 2013 with a final
dissolution date ofSpring 2014.
7. Further enquires may be address to: Evan Tiffany, Associate Professor and
Undergraduate Chair, Department ofPhilosophy;etfffiMyfofiftLca; 782-4482.
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