Senate Minutes - September 28 , 2000

The regular meeting of the University Senate took place on 28 September 2000 at 3:00 p.m. in Tweedie Hall.

Members Present:
I. Newbould (Chair), D. Cameron, C. Riggs, N. Grant, P. Baker, B.A. Miller, J. vanderLeest, K. Hamer, C. Hunter, M. McCullough, S. Lochhead, R. Adlam, W. Godfrey, R. Lapp, J. Rogers, G. Tucker, J. Bates, P. Bogaard, D. Campbell, B. McNally, I. Cohen, W. Cross, E. Dawe, A. Fancy, R. Hawkes, N. Ralph, J. Read, C. Storm, M. Tucker, J. Weiss, W. Wilson, B. Carter, L. Morrison, Z. Taylor

Regrets:
R. Summerby-Murray, J.-G. Godin, R. Beattie, B. Fleming, T. Holownia

00.09.01 Appointment of a Secretary
In the absence of the secretary, it was moved (Lochhead/Hamer) that J. vanderLeest be appointed secretary pro tem. Carried.

00.09.02 Approval of the Agenda
It was moved (Hamer/Baker) that the agenda be approved as circulated. Carried.

00.09.03 Introduction of Senators
Since this was the first meeting of the year, and there were a number of new senators, each senator gave his/her name and the constituency represented.

00.09.04 Approval of the Minutes of 4 May 2000
It was moved (Hamer/Baker) that the minutes of the meeting of 4 May be approved as circulated. Carried.

00.09.07 Report from the Late Granting of Degrees Committee
The report of this committee was attached to the agenda. It gave the details of five cases that came before the committee. It was moved (Hamer/Baker) that Senate confirm the actions of the Late Granting of Degrees Committee in recommending the conferral of degrees to the candidates listed in the report. Carried

00.09.08 Report from the Committee on Committees
I. Cohen reported on behalf of the committee, bringing forward the following nominations:

Academic Matters Committee: Ron Beattie (2000-2004); Carrie MacMillan (2000-2004); Andrew Nurse (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Hamer/Baker) that nominations cease. Carried.

Joint Board-Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees: Nancy Vogan (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Read/Miller) that nominations cease. Carried.

Committee on Teaching: Gary Tucker (2000-2002); Suzanne Currie (2000-2002). The librarians will bring forward the name of a representative to be confirmed at a future meeting. The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Miller/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

Committee on Research: Peter Edwards (2000-2004); Ralf Brüning (2000-2004); Karen Bamford (2000-2004); Odette Gould (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Miller/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

Committee on University Planning: Berkeley Fleming (2000-2003); Steve Westcott (2000-2003); Hans vanderLeest (2000-2003). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Hamer/Miller) that nominations cease. Carried.

Senate Library Committee: Bruce Robertson (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Miller/Baker) that nominations cease. Carried.

Scholarships and Bursaries Committee: Janine Rogers (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Miller/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

Senate Advisory Committee on Continuing Education: Paul Berry (2000-2004). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Ralph/McCullough) that nominations cease. Carried.

Senate Agenda Committee: Ronald Aiken (2000-2002); Paul Bogaard (2000-2002). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (McCullough/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

Committee on Disabilities: Stephen Claxton-Oldfield. This is a new committee, for which the recommended length of a normal term is still to be determined by the Committee on Committees. The Committee is also looking for a second faculty member to serve on the Committee. The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Hamer/Baker) that nominations cease. Carried.

Academic Judicial Committee: Jean Helms-Mills (2000-2002). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Miller/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

Academic Appeals Committee: Ralf Brüning (2000-2002); Arti Dhand (2000-2002). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Baker/Miller) that nominations cease. Carried.

University Student Governance Committee: Robert Ford (2000-2002). There is no second faculty member listed, but C. Hunter asked whether Frank Strain was a continuing member. The Committee on Committees will check on this. The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Hamer/Baker) that nominations cease. Carried.

University Appeals Committee: Brian McNally (2000-2002). The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Baker/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

University Judicial Committee: The Committee on Committees had no recommendations at this time. C. Hunter noted that after last year it was recommended that there be two faculty members on this committee rather than only one, so that the workload could be lightened. At the same time such changes in policy, such as the option for automatic payment of fines, should also reduce the workload. He urged faculty members not to be deterred by the reputation this committee has for a heavy time commitment.

K. Hamer asked what the rotating basis was for the three Deans on the Academic Matters Committee. She noted that all three Deans had been taking part. I. Cohen responded that the terms of reference may be an anomaly from the time when there were four Deans. The Committee will review this. K. Hamer also noted the tight deadlines for advertising academic positions. It would be useful if the vacancies in the University Planning Committee could be filled earlier than late September. I. Cohen noted that this was already under discussion. J. Read observed that the Registrar is still listed as a member of Committees. This is another issue that the Committee on Committees and Senate needs to address.

00.09.09 Report from the Research Committee
P. Baker presented the report of the committee (attached to the agenda) which recommended the following three new members for the Research Ethics Board: Jean Helms-Mills; Stephen Claxton-Oldfield; Rev. Dr. David E. Mercer. Each term is to run until 30 June 2003. The Chair called for further nominations; none being received, it was moved (Baker/Hamer) that nominations cease. Carried.

00.09.10 Report from the Academic Matters Committee
The report of the committee (attached to the agenda) was presented by P. Baker. On the basis of discussion of the committee, it was moved (Baker/Hamer) that the following changes be made to the International Relations program:

1. The removal of the Minor in International Relations from the Calendar.
2. That enrolment in the Honours program be suspended pending further review.
3. That the following new course and calendar description be approved:
History 4951 - Special Topics
Directed study. Permission of the instructor and department required.

N. Baldwin asked why the Minor was being removed. P. Baker responded that the committee examined the new program and Major in International Relations approved last year, and felt that the Minor did not make sense since almost any four courses could make up such a Minor.

W. Godfrey asked why the Honours was being suspended. P. Baker said that the committee could not reach consensus on what the Honours might be. Time is needed to revisit the general question of Honours in the curriculum in general. This does not affect current students in International Relations. A. Miller asked about the effect on students entering the University this year. P. Baker responded that by the time entering students want to declare their intention of completing an Honours in International Relations there will be a new program approved. But with this motion someone entering the University this year could not declare such an Honours now. Someone requesting it now would be told to wait. K. Hamer noted that many Arts and Social Science students do not decide to complete an Honours program until their second and third year. W. Godfrey asked whether there was to be a broader review of Honours programs in the Academic Matters Committee. P. Baker said that he thought that was the intention of the Committee.

00.09.11 Report from the Admissions Committee
The report (attached to the agenda) was presented by P. Baker. In an effort to make the Standards of Performance listed in the Calendar apply to both full and part time students it was moved (Baker/Hamer) that the following changed be made in the Calendar:

1. Under Standards of Performance, that a second sentence be added to the note preceding Calendar Regulation 6.37. That sentence to read: When students have accumulated at least 18 attempted credits, they will be assessed at the end of that academic year.
2. Under Academic Probation, that the first paragraph of Calendar Regulation 6.40 read: Students who have been in Good Standing will be placed on Academic Probation if a) they pass fewer than eighteen credits but obtain a GPA of at least 1.0, or b) they pass eighteen or more credits but with a GPA of less than 1.5. In the second paragraph of Calendar Regulation 6.40, that the words “probationary year” be replaced by “probationary period.”
3. Under Academic Suspension, that the following paragraph be added to the end of Calendar Regulation 6.41: “The terms of Academic Suspension are effective until such time as the student applies for and is granted re-admission to the university. To seek re-admissions for the sutdy session commencing in September, students should complete a Former Student application and the supplementary questionnaire and ensure that the Office of Student Administrative Services receives these no later than June 15 of that year.”

J. vanderLeest asked about part one, wondering if it was possible to accumulate attempted credits. P. Baker agreed to change the wording to read “When students have attempted at least 18 credits”. He thought that students who withdrew from a course would not be viewed as having attempted it. K. Hamer asked if a suspension could last as long as three to five years. P. Baker said yes; to get off suspension a student would need to reapply. K. Hamer noted that there had been isolated cases of students being admitted on probation, and not having met the requirements were then suspended at Christmas of their first year at Mount Allison. In such a case it is not clear how the Calendar applies, and she felt this issue should be considered.

Z. Taylor asked whether students on suspension who took courses elsewhere could not have those course count towards a Mount Allison program at all. P. Baker responded that this was true. Students would need to reapply to have such courses count.

00.09.12 Report from Faculty Council
J. vanderLeest reported on the Meeting of Faculty Council held on 17 September. Although the first meeting was largely one of reports, members of the Faculty Council Executive hope that there will be a number of issues raised at Faculty Council and passed on to Senate, or referred to Faculty Council by Senate for discussion. Reports at the September meeting included P. Ennals on the Canada Research Chairs and Atlantic innovations partnership; I. Newbould on the implementation of the strategic plan and on the campus plan for renovations and buildings; S. Lochhead on preliminary enrolment figures; and R. Polegato on Leadership Mount Allison.

00.09.13 Other Business
P. Bogaard referred back to some of the legal issues raised under the Report from the Admissions Committee. He noted that at one time there had been an ad hoc committee, including a legal advisor, to recommend on such issues. The Chair observed that this was a good idea.

S. Lochhead reporded that she now has more up to date figures on enrolment, including distribution of students by programme and region of origin. A copy of the figures has been given to the Secretary for distribution with the Senate minutes. It will also be circulated to Faculty Council.

W. Godfrey asked whether any progress had been made on recommendations to reform Senate. The Chair said no.