MSVU Senate Minutes -- November 25 2002
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2010-04-15T12:35:06Z
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Senate, Mount Saint Vincent University
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Present: S. Brown (Chair), P. Baker, R. Bérard, I. Blum, S. Boyd, B. Casey, K. Dewar, W.
Doyle, S. Drain, R. Farmer, M. Fitzgerald, F. French, P. Glenister, C. Hill, L. Lewis, S. Medjuck,
G. Logan, M. Lyon, J. McLaren, D. Nevo, D. O'Connell, P. O'Neill, S. Perrott, S. Seager, K.
Slack, P. Watts, D. Woolcott
Guest: M. Landreville
Regrets: S. Bruhm, D. Norris, L. Theriault, A. Whitewood
S. Brown welcomed three new Senators to the meeting, R. Farmer, G. Logan and K. Slack
1. Approval of Agenda
S. Brown reported the first ballot for honorary degrees would be held after item 5. Question
Period.
Moved by C. Hill, seconded by S. Boyd approval of the revised agenda. CARRIED.
2. Approval of Minutes of October 28, 2002
The minutes were amended by correcting item 7.9.1., sentence 5 to read " As the Nominations
Committee has exhausted the list of eligible members from this sector to fill this vacancy, the
UREB will have to operate missing one member."
Moved by G. Logan, seconded by L. Lewis approval of the minutes of October 28, 2002 as
amended. CARRIED.
3. Business Arising from the Minutes
There was no business arising from the minutes.
4. President's Announcements
S. Brown reported the Maclean's Canadian university rankings were published on November 11,
2002 and MSVU ranked 12th. This was up from the previous year's ranking of 16th. She noted
that MSVU had put particular emphasis on the scholarships and bursaries area, which received a
ranking of 14th, improved from16th. Other areas of significant movement included the number
of undergraduate full time international students, (to 6th from 15th), and Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Grants, (to 9th from 13th). Maclean's also made a change in methodology
this year in terms of how it measures class size, and in addition to the distribution and number of
classes of a certain size, it now considers the proportion of students likely to experience small
classes in the course of their tenure at the university. Due to this change, MSVU moved to the
top of that category for third and fourth year classes, and to second in the category for first and
second year classes. Overall, MSVU improved on 9 indicators, remained constant on 5 and
declined on 5 indicators.
5. Question Period and Unfinished Business
There were no questions or unfinished business.
6. Honorary Degree Nominations (Confidential)
S. Brown reviewed the procedures for approving honorary degree candidates.
Moved by W. Doyle, seconded by P. Watts to move to in camera. CARRIED.
Moved by D. Woolcott, seconded by D. O'Connell to move from in camera. CARRIED.
7. Committee Reports (Standing and Ad Hoc)
7.1 Senate Executive
There was no report from Senate Executive.
7.2 Academic Appeals Committee
S. Brown read a memo from L. Theriault, which reported the Academic Appeals Committee has
concluded one hearing and received two more appeals from students. These hearings will be
scheduled in the next week. The Committee will also be considering a memo received from the
Committee on Teaching and Learning regarding Prior Learning Assessment appeals.
7.3 Academic Policy and Planning
7.3.1 Program Review Schedule
D. Woolcott reported the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP) has been
meeting regularly and is preparing its report on the Review of Academic Program Reports for the
Departments of Chemistry/Physics and Modern Languages to bring to Senate. She noted the
change in the Academic Program Review Schedule, which had been circulated with the agenda.
Department Chairs had requested that CAPP delay the review of the Department of Mathematics
and Computer Studies and the Department of Information Technology.
7.3.2 Academic Calendar Dates, 2003-2004
D. Woolcott, as Chair of CAPP, presented the proposed list of Academic Calendar Dates for
2003-2004. She explained that in an attempt to meet the number of Mondays required for a
semester and to avoid the confusion of making a Wednesday a Monday, the Committee on
Academic Policy and Planning decided to hold the 2003 fall study day on Wednesday. A
considerable discussion ensued regarding the proposed November 12, 2003 fall study day.
Moved by S. Drain, seconded by L. Lewis that the dates for the fall study break be amended to
call Wednesday, November 12, 2003 a Monday, and make Monday, November 10th and
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 holidays. DEFEATED.
Moved S. Seager, seconded by D. O'Connell that the November 12, 2003 study day be removed
from the list of 2003-2004 Academic Calendar Dates. DEFEATED.
Moved S. Seager, seconded by S. Boyd that November 10 and 11, 2003 be holidays on the
understanding that all Monday Only classes be 10 minutes longer, e.g. 2 hour 40 minute classes
rather than 2 hour 30 minute classes. DEFEATED.
Moved D. Woolcott, seconded by S. Drain approval of the Academic Calendar Dates for 2003-
2004 as recommended by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning. CARRIED.
7.4 Graduate Studies
M. Lyon reported the Graduate Studies Committee has been meeting regularly and is looking at
preparing a common application package for students. The committee is also looking at a process
for awarding graduate scholarships.
7.5 Undergraduate Curriculum
S. Brown noted the following undergraduate curriculum proposals had been circulated for
information and included minor changes to programs. None of the changes were moved forward
for approval at the meeting.
7.5.1 Undergraduate Curriculum Proposals
7.5.1.1 Biology
a) Change to existing course
i. BIOL 3312 - New Course Name
7.5.1.2 Chemistry & Physics
a) Change to existing courses
i. CHEM 1011 - New Prerequisites
ii. CHEM 2401 - New Calendar Description
iii. CHEM 2402 - New Calendar Description
iv. CHEM 3501 - New Prerequisites
7.5.1.3 Linguistics
a) Change to existing courses
i. LING 3371, New Prerequisites and New Calendar Description
ii. LING 3384, New Prerequisites and New Calendar Description
iii. LING 3372, New Prerequisites
7.5.1.4 Modern Languages
a) Change to existing courses
i. FREN 3371, New Prerequisites and New Calendar Description
ii. FREN 3384, New Prerequisites and New Calendar Description
iii. FREN 3307, New Prerequisites
iv. FREN 3312, New Prerequisites
v. FREN 3313, New Prerequisites
vi. FREN 3316, New Prerequisites
vii. FREN 3324, New Prerequisites
viii. FREN 3325, New Prerequisites
ix. FREN 3372, New Prerequisites
x. FREN 3397, New Prerequisites
xi. FREN 3398, New Prerequisites
xii. FREN 4403, New Prerequisites
xiii. FREN 4404, New Prerequisites
xiv. FREN 4408, New Prerequisites
xv. FREN 4409, New Prerequisites
7.5.1.5 Sociology/Anthropology
a) Change to existing course
i. SOAN/FSGN 3320, (currently SOAN 3321) Change to course number and Calendar
Description
7.5.2 Undergraduate Curriculum Proposals (for approval)
7.5.2.1 Biology
a) New Course
i. BIOL 3330, The Flora of Nova Scotia (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by S. Boyd the addition of BIOL 3330. CARRIED.
S. Drain questioned whether there was a lab component to this course because the documentation
was not clear. It was recommended that the words "laboratory required" be added to the course
description. P. Glenister agreed to write to the department Chair to express Senate's concern that
students understand there is a lab and field trip component to this course.
7.5.2.2 Chemistry & Physics
a) New Courses
i. CHEM 3011, Directed Study in Chemistry (0.5 units)
ii. CHEM 3012, Directed Study in Chemistry (0.5 units)
iii. CHEM 3015, Special Topics in Chemistry (0.5 units)
iv. CHEM 3016, Special Topics in Chemistry (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by S. Boyd the addition of CHEM 3011, CHEM 3012, CHEM
3015 and CHEM 3016. CARRIED.
7.5.2.3 Education
a) Change to existing courses
i. EDUC 5432, New Course Number (currently EDUC 5439) and new Calendar Description
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by M. Fitzgerald the changes to EDUC 5432. CARRIED.
ii. EDUC 5433, New Unit Value, New Prerequisites and new Calendar Description
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by R. Bérard the changes to EDUC 5433. CARRIED.
b) Deletion of existing course
i. EDUC 5439 (due to restructuring of the numbering sequence)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by M. Lyon the deletion of EDUC 5439. CARRIED.
7.5.2.4 Family Studies and Gerontology
a) Change to existing program
i. Addition of a calendar description of the honours degree, the application process, and
eligibility criteria
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by J. McLaren the addition of a calendar description of the
honours degree, the application process and eligibility criteria for Family Studies and
Gerontology. DEFEATED.
There were several changes recommended to the proposed calendar description of the honours
degree, which included: Suggested new wording on page 72, paragraph 1, final sentence "The
student must carry the project to its conclusion in order to be awarded credit for the course";
suggested new wording on page 73, paragraph 1, "Requirements for acceptance into the honours
degree are a GPA of 3.0 in the last 10 academic units with a grade of at least C in all of these
units." It was also suggested that the second paragraph of the calendar description be re-written
for clarity. There was some question about what average would be needed to graduate with an
honours degree.
Moved by I. Blum, seconded by M. Fitzgerald that the calendar description be sent back to the
Committee for clarification and revision and re-submitted to Senate for approval at the January
20, 2003 meeting. CARRIED.
7.5.2.5 Philosophy/Religious Studies
a) New Courses
i. RELS 2201, Evil (0.5 units)
ii. RELS 2202, Good (0.5 units)
iii. RELS 2205, Sacred Writings (0.5 units)
iv. RELS 3313/WOMS 3313, Women, Culture and Food (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by P. Baker the addition of RELS 2201, RELS 2202, RELS
2205 and RELS 3313/WOMS 3313. CARRIED.
b) Deletion of existing courses
i. RELS 2231, Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures (0.5 units)
ii. RELS 2232, Introduction to Christian Scriptures (0.5 units)
iii. RELS 3330, Contemporary Christianity (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by S. Drain the deletion of RELS 2231, RELS 2232, and RELS
3330. CARRIED.
7.5.2.6 Sociology/Anthropology
a) Deletion of existing course
i. SOAN 3321, Community and Change (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by P. Baker the deletion of SOAN 3321. CARRIED.
7.5.2.7 Women's Studies
a) Change to existing program
i. Addition of the option of an Advanced Major and Advanced Major Certificate for students
pursuing a four-year degree without a thesis.
The following amendments were recommended to the Advanced Major description:
Page 98, remove the word "interdisciplinary" twice in the description; Page 99, delete the phrase
"listed under the appropriate program entry" under Advanced Major Certificate.
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by P. Baker addition of the option of an Advanced Major and
Advanced Major Certificate for students pursuing a four-year degree without a thesis, as
amended. CARRIED.
7.5.2.8 Psychology
a) New Course
i. PSYCH 4415, Social Cognition (0.5 units)
Moved by S. Medjuck, seconded by J. McLaren the addition of PSYCH 4415. CARRIED.
7.6 Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure or Permanence for Academic
Administrators (CAPTPAA)
There was no report.
In order to facilitate the second ballot for honorary degree candidates the meeting moved in
camera.
Moved by S. Drain, seconded by D. O'Connell to move to in camera.
Moved by G. Logan, seconded by D. Woolcott to move from in camera.
7.7 Committee on Information Technology and Services
I. Blum reported the Committee has met twice and is working on a three-year operation plan,
under the Blueprint process. The Committee plans to discuss a list of policy issues dealing with
various aspects of computer access and the way different software and other components are
included in the available system.
7.8 Library
There was no report.
7.9 Nominations
I. Blum reported there had been another call for nominations for two more vacancies on the
Canada Research Chairs Selection Committee and URC. The Nominations Committee has two
nominees for each of the committees. He also reported the Committee has decided to make one
final attempt to find a humanities representative on the UREB. There are also no nominees for
the Faculty Council Executive.
7.10 Research and Publications
P. O'Neill reported the Research and Publications Committee met on October 30 and November
12 to review internal grant applications. To date 8 had been approved and 4 were pending.
7.11 Student Affairs
There was no report.
7.12 Committee on Teaching and Learning
There was no report.
7.13 Writing Initiatives
There was no report.
7.14 Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships
S. Brown read a memo from L. Theriault indicating that the Bursary process was unfolding with
a passed deadline of November 8, 2002. More than 350 applications had been received and
award levels would be determined at the Sub-Committee's next meeting. The Sub-Committee is
also reviewing the impact the Entrance Bursary process is having on the In-Course bursaries.
7.15 University Research Ethics Board
There was no report.
8. Other Reports
8.1 Board of Governors
R. Bérard reported the Board of Governors had met on November 5, 2002. There were four items
he wished to refer from that meeting:
1. Approval was given for the appointment of an external investment manager for investing the
University's endowment funds.
2. The Board approved the re-appointment of C. Hill.
3. There was a report from the campus planning committee indicating that construction on the
new residence was 4-5 weeks behind schedule, but on budget.
4. The Board approved a motion supporting implementation of phase 2 of the development plan.
8.2 Students' Union
L. Lewis reported that the Student's Union Annual General Meeting would be held in the next
week. As well, MSVU students were participating in a number of Christmas fund raising drives
such as Christmas Daddies and the Metro Food Bank.
9. New Business
9.1 Selection of Honorary Degree Candidates (Confidential Business)
Moved by D. O'Connell, seconded by L. Lewis to move to in camera.
Moved by L. Lewis, seconded by D. O'Connell to move from in camera.
10. Items for Communication
S. Brown indicated that courses approved, as well as academic calendar dates, would be
communicated through the calendar.
11. Adjournment
Moved by L. Lewis, seconded by D. O'Connell adjournment of the meeting at 9:35 p.m.