APPROVED BY SENATE
Minutes of a Meeting of the Senate of Simon Fraser University held on
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm at the West Mall Complex (Room 3210)
Open Session
Present:
Andrew Petter, President and Chair
Black, Sam
Brandhorst, Bruce
Burley, David
Cameron, Rob (for Nimal Rajapakse)
Chapman, Glenn
Collins, Colleen (for Daniel Shapiro)
Cupples, Claire
Driver, Jon
Fairey, Elaine (for Charles Eckman)
Flodr, Sarah-Sophia
Francis, June
Geisler, Cheryl
Hall, Angie
Hedley, Nick
Jozaghi, Ehsan
Kessler, Anke
Laitsch, Dan
Leacock, Tracey
Leivdal, Joseph
Liljedahl, Peter (for Wade Parkhouse)
Magnusson, Kris
McFetridge, Paul (for John Craig)
Myers, Gordon
O’Neil, John
Palis, Heather
Parekh, Nimisha
Paterson, David
Pavsek, Christopher
Percival, Colin
Percival, Paul
Perry, Tom
Pilarinos, Andreas
Pinto, Mario
Quarmby, Lynne
Robinsmith, Stacey
Ruben, Peter
Schellenberg, Betty
Somers, Julian
Tingling, Peter
Warner, D’Arcy
Kate Ross, Registrar and Executive Director, Student Enrolment
Kris Nordgren, Recording Secretary
Absent:
Antle, Alissa
Birmingham, Elina
Brennand, Tracy
Chen, Alexander
Corbett, Kitty
Cyr, Dianne
Delgrande, Jim
Easton, Stephen
Elle, Elizabeth
Golnaraghi, Farid
Gordon, Robert
Kopahi, Moe
Kropinski, Mary Catherine
Kwon, Caleb
Leznoff, Daniel
Li, Paul
Lundgreen-Nielsen, Jens
McRae, Jennifer
Pierce, John
Sakhrani, Rohan
Shaw, Chris
Szeto, Hendson
Taylor, Carole
Wilson, Meaghan
Zhang, Kevin
Wussow, Helen
In Attendance:
Boysel, Mary
Lastoria, Dean
Rahilly, Tim
Steele, Stephen
S.M. May 21, 2013
Page 2
1.
Approval of the Agenda
The agenda was approved as distributed.
2.
Minutes of the Open Session on April 8, 2013
The minutes of the open session on April 8, 2013 were approved as distributed.
3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
The Chair confirmed that the correct wording of the response to the question regarding S.13-39
SCEMP Enrolment Plan, whether GPA cutoffs could be or would be included in the future, was
“would be” and not “could be”.
4.
Report of the Chair
The Chair, on behalf of Senate, expressed appreciation to the following Senators whose terms of
office expire on May 31, 2013: Sam Black, Bruce Brandhorst, Dianne Cyr, Mary-Catherine
Kropinski, Paul Li, Alexander Chen, Angie Hall, Joseph Leivdal, Jens Lundgreen-Nielsen,
Heather Palis, Nimisha Parekh, Andreas Pilarinos, Stacey Robinsmith, Rohan Sakhrani, Hendson
Szeto, Meaghan Wilson, and Kevin Zhang.
The Chair reported that it was too early to discern the direction of the newly re-elected provincial
government with respect to post-secondary education. The Chair indicated he will continue to
advance the Opportunity Agenda and SFU’s particular needs for investment in infrastructure at
the Burnaby campus and for meeting the growing demand for space in Surrey.
The Chair reported that SFU participated in the Global University Network conference in
Barcelona. The Chair indicated SFU’s presentations were well received, highlighting SFU’s
work in the Downtown Eastside, the SFU Public Square and the strategic mission and
commitment to community engagement.
The Chair reported on three areas of the strategic vision: research, students, and community.
First, he reported that three SFU researchers, Fiona Brinkman, Cenk Sahinalp, and Steve Jones,
will be leading collaborative bio-informatics research projects, supported by grants from Genome
Canada. Also, two SFU researchers, Mark Brockman and Andrew Blaber, will receive funding
from the France-Canada Research Fund to carry out joint collaborative research projects. Second,
the Chair reported on the recent Symposium on Teaching and Learning held at the Burnaby
campus, which brought together SFU faculty, staff and students for workshops on such topics as
experiential learning. Finally, the Chair reported on the recent announcement of $750,000 in
funding from TD Bank for a community engagement centre, to be housed at the Surrey Public
Library near the SFU Surrey campus.
5.
Question Period
i)
Response to Questions from Senate (S.13-71).
A series of questions were submitted by a Senator in April 2013 regarding: the number of
Aboriginal students at SFU; funding for Indigenous Service Programs and other Aboriginal
strategic initiatives; GPA, degree completion rates, and retention rates of Indigenous students;
and faculty resources. The Office for Aboriginal Peoples provided a report to Senate in response
to the questions.
Several questions were asked and comments made regarding the potential causes for the gender
gap between male and female Indigenous students in terms of total numbers and degree
S.M. May 21, 2013
Page 3
completion rates. Senate was informed that efforts have been made to partner with Aboriginal
communities, to recruit male applicants, and to ensure applicants have the prerequisites and are
prepared to come to university in general.
A comment was made that the document omitted the $100,000 per year for scholarships, awards
or bursaries, which is allocated to increase need-based support for indigenous undergraduate
students.
A question was asked whether the comparable retention rates of all students could be provided.
Senate was informed that this information would be provided.
A question was asked regarding enhanced access to the Centre for Students with Disabilities and
Academic Advising for Indigenous students. Senate was informed that funding was used to
develop programs that were jointly administered between the centres.
The Chair acknowledged and thanked William Lindsay, the Director of the Office of Aboriginal
Peoples, for the report and thanked Tim Rahilly, Associate Vice-President, Students, for attending
the Senate meeting as a resource person.
6.
Reports of Committees
A)
Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP)
i)
Minor in French Language (S.13-72)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by B. Schellenberg.
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal for a
Minor in French Language in the Department of French within the Faculty of Arts and Social
Sciences, effective Fall 2013.”
Two corrections were noted and made to the document prior to the question being called.
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
ii)
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in Contemporary Arts (S.13-73)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by J. Francis.
“That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the Full Program Proposal for a
Post Baccalaureate Diploma in the School for the Contemporary Arts within the Faculty of
Communication, Art and Technology, effective Fall 2013.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iii)
Dissolution of the Nanomed Canada Research Network (S.13-74)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Black.
S.M. May 21, 2013
Page 4
“That Senate approve the proposal to dissolve the Nanomed Canada Research Network as an
Institute and that the functions be absorbed into the operations of 4D LABS, effective
immediately.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
iv)
Establishment of the Chronic Pain Research Institute (S.13-75)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by P. Ruben.
“That Senate approve the proposal for the establishment of the Chronic Pain Research Institute as
an Institute for a five year term.”
Question was called and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
v)
Consolidated 2010 – 2013 Academic Plan Progress Report (For Information) (S.13-76)
Senate received the Consolidated 2010-2013 Academic Plan Progress Report for information.
vi)
External Reviews for 2013 – 2014 Academic Year (For Information) (S.13-77)
Senate received the list of external reviews and external review updates that are scheduled for the
2013-2014 academic year for information.
vii) SCUP Annual Report 2012 – 2013 (For Information) (S.13-78)
Senate received the SCUP Annual Report for the period of April 1, 2012 - March 31, 2013.for
information.
An error was noted on the second page of the report.
viii) Evaluation of Educational Goals (S.13-40)
Motion
Moved by J. Driver, seconded by S. Robinsmith.
“That the quality of academic programs at SFU be enhanced through the following practices and
processes:
1. each academic unit will develop a public statement of educational goals for each academic
program prior to its next external review, commencing with reviews in the spring term of 2014;
2. commencing with reviews scheduled for spring term 2015, each academic unit will include in
the self-study for the external review an evaluation of the success of the unit in meeting the
educational goals of its program(s), using methods and evidence selected by the academic unit;
3. resources for the development and evaluation of the statement of educational goals will be
provided by the Vice-President Academic, together with assistance from relevant support units;
4. SCUTL will oversee these processes, and will report annually to Senate on their
implementation and impact;
5. a thorough evaluation of the costs and benefits of the above practices and processes will be
made for Senate in 2017 after the third year of implementation, and Senate will determine
whether and on what basis they should be continued.”
S.M. May 21, 2013
Page 5
An amendment was proposed by Senator P. Percival, and seconded by Senator T. Leacock, to
change the wording of the first line of the motion to read “That the following practices and
processes be implemented with the goal of enhancing the quality of academic programs at SFU”
Question was called on the amendment and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
A question was asked regarding how much control the departments would have to determine the
method of measurement and what would be the reaction of the Administration if the external
review process drove the departments toward more rigid measurement methods. Senate was
informed that the proposal was to ensure the departments would keep control over the data
collected and the way in which their achievements were measured, as appropriate for their own
discipline.
A question was asked regarding the preliminary self-assessment. Senate was informed that it
would likely take some time for the departments to develop their self-assessment process and that
the first departments to develop their methods would not have the full data nor a data collection
process they might need to evaluate, so that they would conduct a preliminary self-assessment.
A question was asked whether this proposal and the forum of learning outcomes and assessment
that will arise from this proposal will meet the requirements of the NWCCU. Senate was
informed that SFU is developing a process that respects the diversity of the disciplines, that
acknowledges the limitations of a learning outcomes approach, and that departments that want to
use a learning outcomes approach can do so.
A question was asked regarding the potential for the provincial government to intervene in this
process. Senate was informed that it is much harder for external agencies to intervene if SFU has
an established process for articulating and measuring educational goals.
Question was called on the motion as amended and a vote taken.
MOTION CARRIED
B)
Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS)
i)
Curriculum Revisions –– Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (S.13-79)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, added new courses and made revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of
Arts and Social Sciences (Linguistics; and Humanities).
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.13-80)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, made revisions to existing courses in the Beedie School of Business.
iii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Environment (S.13-81)
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, made revisions to an existing course in the Faculty of Environment
(Geography).
iv)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.13-82)
S.M. May 21, 2013
Page 6
Senate received information that the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies, acting under
delegated authority, made revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of Science (Biomedical
Physiology and Kinesiology).
C)
Senate Graduate Studies Committee (SGSC)
i)
Graduate General Regulation 1.9.2 (For Information) (S.13-83)
Senate received editorial changes to Graduate General Regulation 1.9.2, Preparation for
Examination of Master's Thesis, for information.
ii)
Curriculum Revisions – Beedie School of Business (S.13-84)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, added new courses and made revisions to existing courses and programs in the Beedie
School of Business.
A question was asked regarding the lack of prerequisites in the new course proposals. Senate was
informed that the courses are part of a cohort program and are taken in the order in which they are
offered, but the order could be made clearer.
A question was raised regarding whether the faculty confirmed that they could cover the costs in
the Library Report. Senate was informed that the faculty responded to the Library that the
resources were not required.
iii)
Curriculum Revisions – Faculty of Science (S.13-85)
Senate received information that the Senate Graduate Studies Committee, acting under delegated
authority, made revisions to existing courses in the Faculty of Science (Biomedical Physiology
and Kinesiology; and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry).
7.
Information
i)
Date of the next regular meeting – Monday, June 10, 2013.
Open session adjourned 8:11 pm and Senate moved directly into the closed session.
Kate Ross
Registrar & Executive Director Student Enrolment
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