SENATE. Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Room 1714, Lifetime Learning Centre, OVC 6:30 p.m.

Transcription

1 Minutes of the meeting held Tuesday, June 3, 2008 Room 1714, Lifetime Learning Centre, OVC 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by the Chair Alastair Summerlee. The following were in attendance: First Last Name First Name Last Name First Name Last Name Name Hussein Abdullah Gordon Kirby Warren Stiver Josef Ackerman John Kissick Elizabeth Stone Brian Allen Bryan Leece Al Sullivan Jim Atkinson Steven Liss William Teesdale Carol Armstrong John Livernois Patricia Tersigni Robert Brooks Susan Lollis Henry Thille Leonid Brown Jan MacInnes Daniel Thomas Donald Bruce Maureen Mancuso Jack Trevors Mary Buhr Harvey Marmurek Glen Van Der Kraak John Cassidy Chris McKenna Anthony Vannelli Julia Christensen Hughes Ross McKitrick Claudia Wagner-Riddle Anthony Clarke Kelly Meckling John Walsh Peter Conlon Medhat Moussa Brenda Whiteside Robert Corry Coral Murrant Chris Whitfield Terry Crowley Lucy Mutharia Ann Wilson Kerry Daly William Nickling Ted Young Serge Desmarais Gard Otis Ali Zaki Icy D Silva Cecelia Paine GUESTS Moira Ferguson Peter Pauls Nancy Sullivan Mark Fortier Eric Poisson John Miles Christine Garneau-Scott Heather Pollock Mark Sholdice Terry Graham David Prescott Joshua Gaber Gayleen Gray John Prescott Tom Malcolmson John Greenwood Peter Purslow Wyatt Carss John Gruzleski Kate Revington Joanne Shoveller Isobel Heathcote Michael Ridley Jonathan Newman David Heppenstall Beren Robinson Arden Hagedorn Laura Hilliard Brad Rooney Jeff Rotman Vicki Hodgkinson Frans Schryer Joel Harnest Kendra Holliday Trevor Smith Alex Szumilas Abdelaziz Houmam Deborah Stacey Dalia Michael Tom Hsiang Ron Stansfield Jessie-Ann Baines Brian Husband Catherine Steeves Alun Joseph 1. Approval of the Agenda The Chair welcomed members and guests to the meeting. It was agreed that the order of the agenda items would be adapted to accommodate the visitors to the meeting. RESOLVED, that the agenda for the meeting of June 3, 2008 be approved as amended. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

2 Speaking privileges were requested for Vice-President Finance and Administration Ms Nancy Sullivan, Assistant Vice-President Finance and Services Mr. John Miles, and Assistant Vice- President Academic Professor Anthony Clarke. RESOLVED, that speaking privileges be granted to Ms Nancy Sullivan, Mr. John Miles, and Professor Anthony Clarke. 2. Remarks from the Chair Noting that this is the last meeting of Senate for the session,the Chair thanked members for their participation over the past year, and especially the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Senate Standing Committee for their leadership. In particular he extended thanks on behalf of Senate to those members who are completing their term or retiring from the University. With sadness, the Chair reported the following deaths and extended the condolences of the University community: Professor David Holmberg, a member of the Department of Clinical Studies passed away on May 13th Staff member Richard Renaud, of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, passed away May 26th Professor Kate Welch, a member of the Department of Pathobiology, passed away today, June 3 rd The Chair reported that Professor Maureen Mancuso has been re-appointed as Provost and Vice President Academic for a second five-year term; Professor Steven Liss has been named interim Vice President (Research), replacing Professor Alan Wildeman who has just accepted an appointment as President at the University of Windsor; and Professor Mary Buhr, former interim dean of the Ontario Agricultural College, has been appointed dean of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan commencing July 1, Congratulations were offered on these appointments. The President was pleased to report the following items: The University was well-represented at this year s YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Awards event. Professor Belinda Leach, student Kate Smolina, and alumna Mary McEwen received honours. The Guelph Jazz Festival, founded by Professor Ajay Heble, has been shortlisted for a 2008 Premier s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. Reports indicate that Professor Heble is recovering well from a recent heart attack Professor Herb Kunze, of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, was named among Ontario's most outstanding university teachers recently by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). The University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) have renewed their partnership through the signing of the OMAFRA contract. The $300-million agreement will further innovative research and education in agri-food, environmental sustainability, and animal and human health. Professor Rich Moccia was congratulated for his outstanding work on completing this agreement. The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is investing more than $620,000 in research projects at the University of Guelph and the regional campuses, including a animal science laboratory at the Kemptville campus; a new soil fertility and plant nutrition facility at the Ridgetown campus; and a digital audio production and performance studio in the School of Fine Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

3 Art and Music; and a wind research laboratory in the School of Engineering on the Guelph campus. Professor Rod Merrill, of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, is one of the first recipients of the prestigious Human Frontier Science research grant an international research award - which will provide $1.2 million in funding over three years for novel and innovative research. The University of Guelph has received $2.2 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research for research projects on preventing and treating health conditions such as cancer, viral infections, aging and obesity. As well, Prof. Jan Sargeant, director of the Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses and a faculty member in the Department of Population Medicine in the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), received one of 14 Applied Public Health Chairs awarded nationwide today from CIHR. The award is worth nearly $1 million. The University has received a $3-million commitment from Royal Canin Canada Company to establish the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Endowed Chair in Canine and Feline Clinical Nutrition and support independent research and graduate scholarships at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC). The University of Guelph is receiving nearly $12 million from the Ontario government to improve and upgrade campus buildings and facilities. The funding is U of G's share of a $200-million allocation for campus renewal that was included in the provincial budget. Site work has begun on the new Pathobiology/ Animal Health Laboratory building, part of the OVC strategic redevelopment process Despite the positive announcements from the provincial government for capital funding monies to address campus renewal (from which Guelph has benefited and is grateful), Ontario universities continue to be in dire need of stable and predictable operating grant funding. The Council of Ontario Universities and the Presidents of Ontario Universities continue to advocate on this point. As part of these efforts, Chancellor Pamela Wallin is part of a group of Ontario Chancellors who have joined together to advocate for increased funding for stability. In September, she and other Ontario university chancellors will be meeting with the Minister of Training Colleges and Universities to press this issue. The President expressed appreciation to Chancellor Wallin for her efforts on behalf of the University of Guelph. The fifth annual Wheels in Motion event to raise money for people with spinal cord injuries will take place on campus on June 8, Senators are invited to attend June Convocation which runs from June 9 to 12, 2008 on the Guelph campus, and June 16, 2008 on the Guelph Humber Campus. Faculty members are invited to join the academic process for their respective colleges. Convocation Week will also include the third President s Dialogue event on the theme of "Human Rights and Human Wrongs: Redefining Human Rights in a Time of Crisis" at 10 a.m. in Rozanski Hall. The event is open to the public. Details are published on the university s web site. 3. Reading and Disposing of the Minutes of the Senate Meeting of April 1, 2008 [The minutes of the April 1, 2008 meeting of Senate had been posted on-line with the meeting materials.] RESOLVED, that Senate approve the minutes of the meeting held April 1, Business Arising from the Minutes Professor Serge Desmarais, Associate Vice President Academic, provided a brief oral update on the status of the 21 st Century Curriculum Committee, as requested at the Senate Question Period on April 1, Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

4 He noted that several departments and college are working on curriculum-related initiatives. The second annual Curriculum Symposium has been held, with special emphasis on capstone courses and course credit weighting. The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences and the College of Arts have hosted a forum on the B.A. degree program curriculum. Several Curriculum and Program Committees are underway with curriculum mapping exercises. These are encouraging developments. 5. Reading of Enquiries and Communications There were none. 6. Question Period There were none. 7. Caucus Report Ms Christie Garneau-Scott, CSA Academic Commissioner, presented the report. She reported that Caucus has moved its office on the second floor of the University Centre, and office hours will be posted. The Caucus web site has also been re-developed, and she thanked student Senator Dave Heppenstall for his assistance with that project. 8. Reports of the Standing Boards and Committees Committee on University Planning Professor John Livernois presented the report. [The Report of the Committee on University Planning, dated June 3, 2008, had been posted on-line a) Approval of the revised template for Internal Review/ University Undergraduate Degree Level Expectations (UUDLES) RESOLVED, That Senate approve the revised template for Internal Reviews. b) Approval of Internal Review Reports [Background information for this decision item including proposed recommendations had been distributed with the meeting materials and included links to on-line material for each of the internal review reports.] RESOLVED, That Senate approve the internal review reports for the Department of Animal and Poultry Science, the B.A. Degree Program, the Department of Plant Agriculture, the Department of Computing and Information Science, and the Women s Studies Program. c) Update on the Integrated Plan (including Priority Investment Fund allocations) [The Integrated Plan had been posted on-line with the meeting materials. Senators must use their University login and password to access the report.] Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Maureen Mancuso presented the report. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

5 Professor Mancuso provided an overview of the Integrated Plan and outlined the priorities of the plan for the next five year cycle. She reviewed the rationale for the proposed changes as outlined in the updated plan, and reminded Senate that the Integrated Plan for the university is based on integrated plans developed in the department, college, and administrative units. There were no questions. d) MTCU/University Budget and Multi-year Budget Plan to [Information on the proposed MTCU/ University Budget , and a Council of Ontario Universities Backgrounder on University Operating Grants dated April 2008, had been posted on-line with the meeting materials. Information on the Multi-year Budget Plan to was presented at the meeting.] Professor Livernois reported that the proposed budget and budget plan had been reviewed at the SCUP meeting on May 12, 2008 and comments from SCUP were forwarded to the Board of Governors Finance Committee for consideration at its meeting on May 22, Senate now has the opportunity to provide commentary to the Board of Governors before they consider the budget at their meeting on June 4, Mr. John Miles presented the proposed budget. Professor Mancuso presented the four-year targets for net new revenue and expenditure reduction. In addition to comments seeking clarification of items presented and the basis of the metrics used to make the proposed differential cuts, Senators made the following comments: It was recognized with sincere regret that the lack of funding from the provincial government was the principal reason to precipitate the fiscal challenges but several members of Senate expressed significant concern about the prospect of cuts on the ability to the university to maintain quality teaching and research programs. In particular, there was concern about the impact of cuts on the ability of the university to be able to deliver on the obligations in the OMAFRA contract and research in general. The University was no longer able to make across the board cuts. Although the differential cuts were difficult to implement and accept, they provided the only reasonable option for the University at this stage. The role of the provost, in pressing ahead with the development of the Integrated Plan which forms the basis of the differential cuts, was acknowledged. Areas of the University that were capable of raising additional net revenue, particularly ancillary units, were encouraged to be aggressive and entrepreneurial in raising additional funds to offset the severity of the targeted budget reductions. Caution was expressed to ensure that care was taken in raising additional revenue that it was not solely from students i.e., through tuition, residence or meal plans. Some reservations were expressed about the budget assumptions for revenues in the outer years of the plan there has been little evidence that the government is prepared to fund the inflation in the past. Specific concern was raised about ensuring that student input was taken into account in determining the approach to achieving the targets. It was acknowledged that students should be involved in discussions about the budgetary implications of the reductions and the approaches to achieving the targets, and student senators expressed a wish to be part of the possible solutions. Confirmation was sought about recent increases to administrators' compensation packages. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

6 Comments and discussion on the budget from this evening s meeting will be summarized and provided to Board for their consideration. Board of Undergraduate Studies Professor Jim Atkinson presented the report. [The Report of the Board of Undergraduate Studies, dated June 3, 2008, along with background material, had been posted on-line a) Proposed Certificate in Public Policy and Administration; Deletion of the Diploma in Public Policy and Administration RESOLVED, That Senate approve the proposed Certificate in Public Policy and Administration and the deletion of the Diploma in Public Policy and Administration. b) Deletion of the Computing and Information Science Major and Area of Concentration in the Bachelor of Arts Program RESOLVED, That Senate approve the deletion of the Computing and Information Science Major and Area of Concentration in the Bachelor of Arts Program. c) Deletion of the Computing and Information Science Major in the Bachelor of Science Program RESOLVED, That Senate approve the deletion of the Computing and Information Science Major in the Bachelor of Science Program. d) Addition of Applied Mathematics and Statistics Co-op Major to the Bachelor of Arts Program RESOLVED, That Senate approve the Addition of Applied Mathematics and Statistics Co-op Major to the Bachelor of Arts Program. e) Addition of Plant Sciences Major and Minor to the Bachelor of Science Program Professor Atkinson noted that the addition of the Plant Sciences major and minor included the deletion of the Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology majors. He amended the motion accordingly. RESOLVED, That Senate approve the addition of Plant Sciences Major and Minor, and the deletion of the Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology Majors and Minors to the Bachelor of Science Program. f) Change to Admissions Requirements for the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management (B.BRM) program RESOLVED, That Senate approve the change to Admissions Requirements for the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management (B.BRM) program. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

7 g) Addition of the Undeclared Major to the Bachelor of Commerce degree program RESOLVED, That Senate approved the addition of the Undeclared Major to the Bachelor of Commerce degree program. h) Policy on Graduating with Two Degrees RESOLVED, That Senate approve the revised policy on Graduating with Two Degrees. i) Calendar Review Committee Report [Background material for this item was posted on-line The report was received for information. Executive Committee Report Professor John Walsh presented the report. [The Report of the Executive Committee, dated June 3, 2008, had been posted on-line with the meeting materials.] a) Academic Regalia New Design for Honorary Doctorate Academic [Background material for this decision item, including a photo of the proposed design had been distributed RESOLVED, That Senate approve the proposal for the newly designed academic robe for the Honorary Doctorate. Committee on Bylaws and Membership Professor Peter Conlon presented the report. [The Report of the Bylaws and Membership Committee, dated June 3, 2008, had been posted on-line a) Appointment of COU Academic Colleague RESOLVED, That Senate approve the appointment of Professor Julia Christensen Hughes as COU Academic Colleague for a two year term b) Revised Bylaws for the Senate Library Committee RESOLVED, That Senate approve the revised Bylaws for the Senate Library Committee. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

8 c) Changes to the Bylaws of the Board of Undergraduate Studies RESOLVED, That Senate approve the changes to the Board of Undergraduate Bylaws. d) Senate Committee and Board Memberships (including Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Student Petitions; Chair and Vice-Chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee) [Background material for these decision items, including proposed recommendations had been distributed Corrections to the materials were noted. Nathan Lachowsky is the undergraduate student appointed to the Senate Priorities and Planning Committee. Gayleen Gray and Nathan Lachowsky are proposed to be Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Honorary Degree Committee. On motions duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED, That Senate approve the Committee and Board memberships for RESOLVED, That Senate approve Moira Ferguson and Omid Shaybani as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Student Petitions (respectively). (The motion was corrected to read as below), RESOLVED, That Senate approve Gayleen Gray and Nathan Lachowsky as Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Honorary Degrees (respectively). e) Announcement of the Walter Vaughan Medal Winner 2008 Professor Conlon announced that the winner of the Walter Vaughan Medal 2008 is Student Senator Revlon Stoddart of the University of Guelph Humber. He offered his congratulations to Ms Stoddart on behalf of Senate. f) Update on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Review of the Senate Standing Committees [Background material for this item was posted on-line The report was presented for information. g) Senate Membership [The Senate Membership list for was posted on-line The list was presented for information. h) iclicker update Professor Conlon provided a brief oral report on the use of iclickers at Senate. Following feedback from Senators at the last meeting of Senate, the committee has decided not to pursue the use of iclickers for use at Senate meetings at this time. Board of Graduate Studies Professor Bob Brooks presented the report. [The Report of the Board of Graduate Studies, dated June 3, 2008, had been posted on-line with the meeting materials.] Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

9 a) New Program: Graduate Diploma in Marketing Research RESOLVED, That Senate approve the Graduate Diploma in Marketing Research. b) New Program: Masters in Planning (MPlan) RESOLVED, That Senate approved the Masters in Planning. c) Appointments to the Graduate Faculty List March 31, 2008 and April 21, 2008 [Background material for this information item was posted on-line d) Course Additions, Deletions and Changes [Background material for this item was posted on-line These reports were presented for information. Professor Brooks noted that this will be the last Senate meeting attended by Dr. Isobel Heathcote, Dean of Graduate Studies. On behalf of Senate, he expressed appreciation to Dr.Heathcote for her dedication to the graduate studies program and her service to Senate and the University Community. Senators responded with applause. Dr. Heathcote noted that this is also the last Senate meeting for Professor Brooks, and thanked him for his years of service to the Board of Graduate Studies. Research Board [The Report of the Research Board, dated June 3, 2008, had been posted on-line with the meeting materials.] a) Invitation to Provide Input and Commentary on the revised University of Guelph Strategic Research Plan 2008 [Background material for this item was posted on-line The report was presented for information. Senators were reminded to provide their comments via the website. Committee on Student Awards and Financial Accessibility Professor John Kissick presented the report. a) Announcement of the Winegard, Forster and Governor General s Gold, Silver and one Bronze Medals Winners 2008 Professor Kissick announced the award winners for 2008, and offered congratulations on behalf of Senate: Winegard Medal: Ms Shelly Burton, a student in Bio-medical Science, in the College of Biological Science. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10

10 Forster Medal: Dr. Peter Anderson, Ph.D. from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, in the College of Biological Science. Governor General s Gold Medal: Ms Anna Allen, MSc (Chemistry), of the College of Physical and Engineering Science. Governor General s Silver Medals: Ms Elisabeth Fatila, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, in the College of Physical and Engineering Sciences; Ms Ekaterina (Kate) Smolina, Bachelor of Science in Bio-medical Science, in the College of Biological Science Governor General s Bronze Medal: Mr. Devon Core, Veterinary Technician Diploma program at the Ridgetown campus The Chair indicated that a motion was required to move in camera for the next three items. On a motion duly made, seconded, and carried, it was RESOLVED, That Senate move into closed session. Non-Senators retired from the meeting. CLOSED SESSION Executive Committee Report [Background information for this item was included in the Closed Session meeting materials.] a) Nomination for Honorary Fellow Committee on Bylaws and Membership [Background information for this item was included in the Closed Session meeting materials.] a) Election for the Member-at-Large to chair the Senate Priorities and Planning Committee Honorary Degrees Committee [Background information for this item was included in the Closed Session meeting materials.] a) Nominations for Honorary Degrees Senate returned to Open Session. 9. Other Business The Chair noted that Professor Terry Crowley, Chair of the Senate Committee on Open Learning, will be retiring after this Senate session. On behalf of Senate, he thanked Professor Crowley for his many years of service to Senate and the University Community. 10. Adjournment The meeting was duly adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Minutes of the Senate meeting held Tuesday, June 3, of 10