MSVU Senate Minutes -- March 6 2006
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2010-04-15T17:07:35Z
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Senate, Mount Saint Vincent University
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Senate Meeting March 6, 2006
Rosaria Boardroom 7:30 p.m.
Minutes of Meeting
Present: S. Brown (Chair), K. Arbuckle, R. Bérard, D. Bourne-Tyson, J. Britton,
K. Blotnicky, I. Blum, C. Brushett, K. Darvesh, R. Fisher, C. French, F. French,
P. Glenister, J. Gordon, E. Hicks, C. Hill, N. Kayhani, B. King, S. Medjuck, R. Morris,
M. Raven, J. Sharpe, B. Taylor, L. Theriault, P. Watts, D. Woolcott, R. Zuk
Regrets: A. Davis, M. Lyon, A. MacGillivary, R. MacKay, J. Mills, D. Plumb,
M. Whalen, A. Whitewood
Guest: M. Landreville
1. Approval of Agenda
Moved by J. Gordon, seconded by C. Brushett that the agenda be approved as circulated. CARRIED.
2. Approval of Minutes of January 30, 2006
Moved by B. King, seconded by E. Hicks that the Minutes of the January 30, 2006 Senate Meeting be approved as circulated. CARRIED.
3. Business Arising
3.1 Nominations Committee report regarding participation by Librarians on Senate Standing Committees (from November 28, 2005 Senate Meeting)
I. Blum noted that the Nominations Committee had met and were now drafting a report which should be completed by April.
3.2 Revision to By-law 1.1 Senate Membership (Notice of Motion given at January 30, 2006 Senate Meeting)
Moved by C. Brushett, seconded by K. Arbuckle that Senate By-law 1.1, Membership, as it pertains to student representation be revised as follows: six students, comprising the President, the Vice-President Academic, a graduate student, and three Student Council members representing each of the Faculties (Arts and Science, Professional Studies, and Education) according to the Mount Saint Vincent University Studentsâ Union Constitution. CARRIED.
4. Presidentâ s Announcements
The Presidentâ s announcements focused primarily on the Post-Secondary Education Summit held in Ottawa in late February. She noted the Summit was organized by the premiers and territorial leaders and included the following themes: access, quality, workplace skills, research capacity,
lifelong learning, the needs of areas in northern and rural Canada, and participation in the labour force. There were a number of delegates from the Atlantic region and the Summit was well attended with over 300 individuals representing a variety of stakeholders. Discussion occurred regarding the need to restore the level of federal funding for post secondary education to the levels it had been in the early to mid-1990s. How funding should be managed and the notion of a dedicated cash transfer to the provinces for post-secondary education were also discussed as well as international benchmarks to measure success. She noted there is increasing interest in a Canadian measure of quality and accessibility and how they relate to international benchmarks which include a formal accreditation at the institutional level. She acknowledged that it will clearly be a challenge to keep the post-secondary education agenda before the federal government.
5. Question Period
No questions were raised.
6. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
7. Committee Reports (Standing and Ad hoc)
7.1 Senate Executive
S. Brown noted there was nothing to report from Senate Executive.
7.2 Academic Appeals Committee
L. Theriault noted that two students currently have appeals before the committee.
7.3 Academic Policy and Planning
7.3.1 Recommendation from CAPP on the Use of Plagiarism Detection Software
D. Woolcott briefly reviewed the background and rationale for CAPPâ s recommendation on the use of plagiarism detection software. She noted that the Task Force had identified several issues as underpinning their recommendation including such concerns as presumption of guilt, privacy, copyright, intellectual property, and the cost of licensing the software. She noted that the Task Force received written comments and held open sessions which were well attended. The preponderance of opinions received did not endorse the use of Turnitin.com.
During the ensuing discussion the following was noted. In response to a request for examples of specific privacy and copyright issues related to the use of Turnitin.com, it was noted that there are some examples within Canada that have gone before university Senates where students have felt coerced and concerned about their intellectual property rights being violated. There is a misconception that information which is on the internet is also in the public domain, and the use of plagiarism detection software is becoming a much bigger issue with implications for researchers and faculty as well as students. It was acknowledged that the problem of plagiarism needs to be addressed and hence there is a commitment to develop academic integrity programs and to gather information so that the experience over the next three years is well documented when the review of the policy is considered. The response of the Task Force was seen as a positive step by one Senator and another Senator indicated pride in the position being taken and the caution that is being shown.
Moved by D. Woolcott, seconded by R. Zuk that the use of Turnitin.com and any other plagiarism detection software that requires that studentsâ work become part of an external database where other parties might have access to it, be prohibited effective Summer Session I, 2006. CAPP further recommends that a review of this policy be completed three years following its implementation. CARRIED with one Senator opposed.
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7.4 Graduate Studies
I. Blum noted that the Graduate Studies Committee has been meeting regularly but had nothing to report at this time.
7.5 Undergraduate Curriculum
S. Medjuck noted, with pleasure, that the Graduate and Undergraduate Calendars for 2006-2007 had arrived on campus today.
7.6 Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure or Permanence for Academic Administrators (CAPTPAA)
D. Woolcott noted that there was nothing to report at this time.
7.7 Committee on Information Technology and Services
There was no report.
7.8 Library
F. French noted there are three candidates being interviewed for the Systems Librarian position and encouraged people to attend the public presentations, details about which can be found on the Libraryâ s website.
7.9 Nominations
7.9.1 Recommendation and election for Senate Executive
Moved by I. Blum, seconded by F. French, that Senate elect the following candidate to Senate Executive. CARRIED
Committee
Individual Recommended
Term Begins
Term Ends
Senate Executive
Rhoda Zuk
When elected
June 30, 2008
I.Blum noted that it is expected that the Nominations Committee will be bringing a recommendation forward at the April 3, 2006 Senate meeting to fill a current vacancy on Senate. The Nominations Committee is also considering a couple of policy matters that affect the nomination and election process that are in the By-laws.
7.10 Research and Publications
There was no report.
7.11 Student Affairs
C. Hill noted there was nothing to report at this time.
7.12 Committee on Teaching and Learning
B. King noted that Faculty Teaching Day will be on Thursday, August 31, 2006. The focus will be on academic integrity which he suggested is both timely and appropriate.
7.13 Writing Initiatives
B. King reported that the Writing Initiatives Committee had met today and discussed conducting research on writing with areas of emphasis being on entrance levels of writing and possibly exit levels. Shortly a â Bright Ideasâ bulletin will be available.
7.14 Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships
L. Theriault noted the committee is meeting regularly and the main topic of discussion is preparing the entrance scholarship program which will go out as early as possible in April. The 3
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deadline for entrance considerations is March 15, 2006. They are considering how they can spend more time with some of the top scholars prior to offering them scholarships. She noted that the Open Campus day held last Friday was well received.
7.15 University Research Ethics Board
C. French reported that UREB is meeting regularly and is looking at issues regarding liability of Board Members, violations of ethics during the research process, and the development of forms to enable more consistent review of proposals.
8. Other Reports
8.1 Board of Governors
R. Bérard reported on two meetings of the Board of Governors, the first being a regular meeting of the Board held on February 8, 2006 at which time the Board approved the terms of reference for the MSVU Supplementary Pension Plan; received a report to conclude the Presidential Search; approved an Enrolment Report, Audit Committee, Campus Planning and Finance Committee Reports; received new terms of reference for the Governance Committee and received five requests under FOIPOP for which access or partial access was granted. At the February 28, 2006 conference call meeting of the Board, the proposed renovations to the labs in Evaristus were approved as well as a nomination of a Board Member to fill a vacancy on the Board.
8.2 Studentsâ Union
C. Brushett noted that they are now engaged in Student Union elections; efforts are ongoing regarding U-Passes, which remain a possibility for next year, and lobbying for street lights on the Bedford Highway. She concluded her report by noting that the Studentsâ Union had worked diligently on the Turnitin.com issue and is very pleased with the recommendation Senate has approved.
9. New business
Nothing was raised.
10. Items for Communication
The President encouraged Senators to revise their copy of the By-laws to reflect the change that was approved at the meeting. She noted CAPP would communicate the Turnitin.com decision, and that SCOTL would publicize the date for Faculty Day as soon as possible. She noted that the approval of the appointment of Dr. Zuk as a member of Senate Executive had been communicated to her by virtue of her presence at the meeting.
11. Adjournment
Moved by Carol Hill, seconded by K. Darvesh that the meeting adjourn at 8:15 p.m. CARRIED.