Senate Minutes - May 4, 2000

The University Senate met on 4 May 2000 at 1:30pm in Tweedie Hall, I Newbould in the chair.

Present:
I. Newbould, R. Summerby-Murray, D. Cameron, B. Copp, C. Riggs, P. Baker, P. Ennals, I. Cohen, B.A. Miller, J.-G. Godin, K. Hamer, C. Hunter, M. McCullough, S. Lochhead, L. Owen, T. Craig, G. DeBenedetti, D. Tokaryk, G. Tucker, R. Wehrell, D. Mossman, R. Aiken, J. Bates, R. Beattie, M. Blagrave, P. Bogaard, P. Bryden, B. Campbell, E. Dawe, C. Grant, T. Holownia, J. Houtsma, A. Nurse, N. Ralph, J. Read, B. Robertson, J. Stewart, C. Storm, M. Tucker, P. Varma, J. Weiss.

Observers: K. Craft and M. Elton. R. Brüning joined the meeting to present the report of the Review Board.

00.05.1 Approval of the agenda
P. Ennals, seconded P. Baker, moved the approval of the Agenda as circulated. K. Hamer suggested that the items listed under Business Arising be moved to after the approval of degree candidates. C. Hunter objected and urged that the agenda as circulated by approved. On question put, the motion CARRIED.

00.05.2 Approval of Minutes of 22 March and 24 April, 2000
P. Ennals, seconded P. .Baker, moved the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of 22 March and the Special Meeting of 24 April, 2000. The motion CARRIED.

00.05.3 Business arising
(i). Policy on Students with Disabilities
C. Hunter spoke to the Policy as distributed to Senators. Five points of clarification had arisen from Senate’s last regular meeting. Appropriate changes had been made and the present document represented the culmination of the process. C. Hunter, seconded A. Nurse, moved adoption of the policy. On question called, the motion CARRIED.

(ii). Research Chairs
Responding to a question raised at the at the meeting of 24 April, P. Ennals announced that Mount Allison will receive 5 chairs through the Canada Research Chair initiative, an allocation beyond initial expectations. The specific allocation was one Tier 1 chair for 2000-2001 and four Tier 2 chairs over the next 4 years. The last two of these chairs carry a specific requirement that one be allocated to an NSERC scholar and one to a SSHRC scholar. The university has latitude in the placement of the other chairs. Tier 1 chairs carry a value of $200,000 per year in salary and research support and have a renewable 7 year term. Tier 2 chairs are aimed at assistant and associate level faculty and have a value of $100,000 per year for 5 years. The university can also apply to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation for infrastructure support of up to $125,000 for each of these chairs. The university must now develop a research strategy by 1 September 2000 and the first nomination for the Tier 1 position will be made at that point. A result from the nomination is expected by December. Nominees must be international calibre researchers capable of successful evaluation through a peer review process. The same peer review process would be applied to any nominees from within the University. Ennals noted that this initiative represented a major infusion of research monies into the University’s operating budgets and that this appears to be a long term commitment on the part of the federal government that will allow Mount Allison to make net gains in terms of research and teaching. G. DeBenedetti sought clarification that there were five chairs allocated. I. Newbould responded that that was the intention over the period of the initiative, assuming Mount Allison is able to recommend suitable candidates either from within its faculty ranks or by attracting additional scholars. G. DeBenedetti asked whether the allocation of chairs would reflect patterns of enrolments and address any disadvantages in research funding faced by the humanities and social sciences. I. Newbould replied that for universities as a whole, the general formula used to determine the research chair allocation has been based on the numbers of successful researchers in each area. In Mount Allison’s specific case, we will be able to allocate based on our own research strategy except that the last two chairs have to include one ‘NSERC’ researcher and one ‘SSHRC’ researcher. In fact, the small universities have done better in this allocation than anticipated. Those that have not done as well are the larger institutions without medical schools. While the thinking behind this initiative has been the support of major research institutions, the smaller universities with a significant research focus have been able to benefit also, as a result of effective lobbying. In sum, this is a rare event, a major commitment to research by the federal government unprecedented in the past 25 years. B A Miller asked whether the intention was that these appointments be net new positions and A. Nurse inquired whether these researchers would be teaching a full course load. I. Newbould responded by noting that the Tier I appointment was for 7 years with the possibility of renewal and continued funding. The Tier II appointments are for 5 years with one renewal only. The intention is that this involves a continued commitment of funding. The specific balance of research and teaching is up to each institution. There is every indication that most research institutions intend to have these researchers also teaching. G. DeBenedetti asked whether there was earlier discussion of only 3 years’ funding for this initiative. I. Newbould reported that the initial commitment of 1200 chairs over 3 years had now been extended as a result of the federal government setting aside further budget surpluses. B. Campbell expressed concern that the realities of 7 year funding will limit Tier I appointees to those researchers less than 59 years of age. I. Newbould agreed that there are some issues here and that generally people are relatively well settled in the later years of their careers. P. Ennals added that many of these details are still evolving, including limits on the competitive nomination of individuals such that a researcher could be nominated to only one of these chairs.

00.05.5 Candidates for Degrees
L. Owen made two revisions to the circulated list of degree candidates [attached as an appendix to the file copy of these minutes], adding the name Christine Elizabeth Brawley to the BA list and deleting the name Daryl Aaron Graham from page10. I. Newbould reminded Senate that the name Jason Joseph Abraham on page 9 had been approved at an earlier meeting.

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts, First Class Honours with Distinction, to the degree candidates listed from Bridget Frances Beatrice Algee to Anna K. Sheridan. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours to the degree candidates listed from Shona Claire Bezanson to Andrew Gregory Theobald. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours to the degree candidates listed from Michael David Allison to Elaine Lara Weldon.
CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Distinction to the degree candidates listed from Megan June Macdonald to Jill Suzanne Taylor.
CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Arts to the degree candidates listed from Karen Jean Abbott to Karla Marie Young.
CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded E. Dawe, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Music with Distinction to the degree candidates listed from Ginger Lorraine Belliveau to Jennifer Helen Cosman. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded E. Dawe, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Music to the degree candidates listed from Jillian Elizabeth Margaret Bostick to Jeannie Gail Wedge.
CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded T. Holownia, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction to Stephanie Leah Davidson. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded E. Dawe, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts to the degree candidates listed from Anita Pearl Bartlett to Deborah Grace Russell.
CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Bryden, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Honours Certificate in History to Christopher Norman Popma. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded P. Baker, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Certificate of Bilingualism to the candidates listed from Geoffrey George Agombar to Christian P. Richard.
CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Master of Science to Michelle D. Dobrin and Gregory John Peel. CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours with Distinction to the degree candidates listed from André MacLean Bernard to Karen Margaret Thompson. CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours to the degree candidates listed from LuAnn S. Dietrich to Phillip Adam Karpowicz. CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours to the degree candidates listed from Nadia Aumeerally to Aaron Joseph Lea Webb. CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science with Distinction to the degree candidates listed from Daniel Alexander Jardine to Jodi Elizabeth Miller. CARRIED

It was moved by J-G. Godin, seconded R. Aiken, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science to the degree candidates listed from Janet Heather Aucoin to Jane Elizabeth Yardley.
CARRIED

It was moved by P. Baker, seconded N. Ralph, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Commerce, First Class Honours with Distinction, to Renée Danie Durepos, Greg Scott MacDonald, and Ted William Rutland. CARRIED

It was moved by P. Baker, seconded N. Ralph, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Commerce with Honours to Joseph Patrick Avery and Jill Patricia Sadler. CARRIED

It was moved by P. Baker, seconded N. Ralph, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction, to Shannon Maureen Casey and Evy Ringgo. CARRIED

It was moved by P. Baker, seconded N. Ralph, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Commerce to the degree candidates listed from Haley Melissa Adams to Thijs-Jan Witty.
CARRIED

It was moved by J.G. Godin, seconded P. Varma, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Engineering Certificate to those degree candidates listed from John William Creighton to Aaron Joseph Lea Webb.
CARRIED

It was moved by J.G. Godin, seconded B. A Miller, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Honours Certificate in Computer Science and Mathematics to Christopher Lee McAloney. CARRIED

It was moved by K. Hamer, seconded J. Weiss, that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Certificate of Bilingualism to Marie-Claude Rachelle Basque. I. Newbould asked how proficiency in English was assessed in the case of French being a student’s mother tongue. J. Weiss replied that this proficiency is evaluated by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. On question put, the motion CARRIED

00.05.6 Report of Review Board
R. Brüning presented the report of the Review Board, outlining the relevant criteria defined by the Calendar regulations. After an outline of the cases and recommendations from Faculty Council, J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Arts degree, First Class Honours with Distinction to Tatrina Kylie Finley. CARRIED

J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction to Carla Dawn Ralph. CARRIED

J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Arts degree, First Class Honours with Distinction to Rebecca Laurene Rush. CARRIED

J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction to Jane Elizabeth Yardley. CARRIED

J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Science degree, First Class Honours with Distinction to Daniel J. Harrison. CARRIED

J. Houtsma, seconded K. Hamer, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the Bachelor of Science degree with Distinction to Nadia Maria Robichaud. R. Beattie noted that equating a GPA of 3.658 with 3.7 depends on what sort of units you are using. He argued that rather than automatically rounding up these figures, discussion should proceed on a case by case basis. A. Nurse asked what was meant by R. Brüning’s suggestion that the last two years’ stronger academic performance had been a factor in the Review Board’s deliberation on this case and R. Brüning presented the transcript of the student. J. Read urged that Senate review the method of recording GPAs so as to avoid coming up with conclusions that are more accurate than the data that go into determining the GPA. P. Ennals noted that the Committee on Academic Matters had looked at this and had asked Student Administrative Services to ensure that transcripts reflect GPAs to 1 decimal place. On the question put, the motion CARRIED.

B. A. Miller, seconded C. Hunter, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the degree of Bachelor of Science with Distinction to Stephanie Christena Sajatovich. CARRIED

C. Hunter, seconded J. Houtsma, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to award the Bachelor of Science degree with First Class Honours to Julianne Susan Mayo. K. Hamer noted that the recommendation from the Review Board was made largely on the basis of the GPA rather than consultation with the relevant department. On question put, the motion CARRIED.

J. Houtsma, seconded B.A Miller, moved that Senate act on the recommendation of Faculty Council to grant the degree of Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours to Shauna Leanne Blois. CARRIED

R. Brüning noted that the Review Board had considered also the cases of Sarah Danielle Pressman and Lisanna Sullivan as candidates for First Class Honours in the B.Sc. and B.A. respectively but had not brought forward recommendations to Faculty Council. J. Houtsma moved that Pressman be granted the degree of Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours and that Sullivan be granted the degree of Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours. Failing to find a seconder, the motion
FAILED.

R. Brüning reported that the Review Board had considered also the cases of B.Sc. candidates Julie Anne Belliveau for First Class Honours with Distinction, Erin Dawn Kempt for First Class Honours, Susan Andrea Thompson for Honours and Stephanie MacQuarrie for Honours, as well as B.A. candidate Aimee Holmes for Distinction, and B.F.A candidate Meghan MacCulloch for Distinction. No recommendations from Faculty Council were forthcoming on these candidates.

In response to a further question, R. Brüning noted that Stephanie MacQuarrie, marginal for honours, had received a strong recommendation from the department but that no recommendation had been received from Faculty Council. J. Read, seconded B.A. Miller, moved that MacQuarrie be granted the degree with honours on the grounds of an improvement through the programme with the final year more than meeting honours standards. On question called, the motion FAILED.

R. Brüning further reported that there were seven cases of incomplete degrees considered by the Review Board. No recommendations were made by Faculty Council on these candidates. B. A. Miller asked whether any of the candidates whose degrees were incomplete failed one course in their final year. R. Brüning replied that there was only one of these cases with a strong transcript.

I. Newbould thanked R. Brüning and the Review Board for their report, noting the difficulties of this task.

I. Newbould asked Leonard Owen to come forward and made a presentation on the occasion of Mr Owen’s retirement. Noting that L. Owen had been at Mount Allison since 1968, apart from fours years in Saskatchewan, I. Newbould conveyed Senate’s good wishes for the future.

J Read asked about the asterisks on the list of candidates and moved, seconded by B.A. Miller, that they be removed from the Convocation programme. In discussion, C. Hunter pointed out that the asterisks indicated students who have been awarded the University Leadership Certificate at the Class Banquet, not the President’s Leadership Award. The process was open to the community and these students epitomise academic, cultural, athletic and community leadership. It is entirely fitting that these be included, in the same manner as other prizes listed in the programme. R.Beatttie noted that with such a large number of students showing asterisks, it appeared to set aside unfairly those who had not received the certificate. P. Varma asked whether students were aware that this information would appear in the programme in this manner. C. Hunter replied No. P. Varma suggested including this information in an addendum to the programme. A Nurse sought clarification on who determined the allocation of this certificate. Were candidates turned down? C. Hunter replied that a committee of six people was struck by the Dean of Students and there were some candidates turned down. Faculty were informed of the process in late February. Given permission to speak, M. Elton noted the importance of the certificate but urged the use of an addendum to the programme. P. Ennals supported the initiative of the Dean of Students, viewing this as one way in which we recognise the ‘whole person’ at Mount Allison and seeing the inclusion of an asterisk marking successful candidates as entirely appropriate. G. Tucker disagreed, urging that the senior class banquet be considered as a better venue than Convocation for this recognition. K Hamer noted that in the past, new ways of reporting student achievement have been discussed, including adding to the transcript. While supporting the principle of recognition, the process needs more refinement as part of the way in which our institution recognizes achievement. C. Hunter asked about procedure and whether the motion on the floor would have status as a recommendation of Senate. I. Newbould responded that the motion, if passed, would stand as a recommendation of Senate with the clear intention that the Convocation programme reflect the will of Senate. The Registrar would therefore take the decision of Senate under advisement. On question called, the motion CARRIED.

G. DeBenedetti, seconded R. Wehrell, moved that Senate reaffirm its recommendation to the Board of Regents to appoint Michael Thorpe Professor Emeritus. The mover noted that this issue had been considered three times without the Board acting on Senate’s recommendation and that Senate should re-affirm its wishes. C. Storm urged Senate to send a message to the Board that it is not Thorpe who is being affronted here but the university and its record of excellence. Noting that Thorpe is an excellent scholar who has the respect of his colleagues and students, C. Storm hoped that the Board will be willing to act on this recommendation. On question put, the motion CARRIED.

G. De Benedetti, seconded R. Wehrell, moved that upon the Board of Regents appointing Michael Thorpe as Professor Emeritus, that Senate recommend that Charles Scobie be re-invited to accept his appointment as Professor Emeritus. I. Newbould inquired what process was envisaged and who would do the inviting. R. Wehrell indicated that the motion would provide an opportunity for the Board to re-invite C. Scobie to accept the appointment as Professor Emeritus. D. Cameron sought clarification of the principle by which C. Scobie had declined and I. Newbould reported that it was his understanding that it was over the issue of Thorpe not being appointed. G. DeBenedetti indicated that the point of the motion was to urge the Board to act on Senate’s recommendation and to provide a mechanism for C. Scobie to take up his appointment. D. Cameron pointed out that other faculty appear to have been able to take up appointments with emeritus status more recently. On question called, the motion CARRIED.

The Secretary of Senate will write to the Executive of the Board conveying this decision.

J. Read asked about the status of a series of proposals made to Academic Matters in 1997. P.Ennals responded that Academic Matters has considered the proposal for a minimum GPA and will continue to work on these items over the summer.

J. Weiss called to Senate’s attention the 30th anniversaries of violence at Kent State and Jackson State Universities.