MSVU Senate Minutes -- September 29 2008
Loading...
Date
2010-04-15T17:55:54Z
Authors
Senate, Mount Saint Vincent University
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Description
1
Senate Meeting September 29, 2008
Rosaria Boardroom 7:30 p.m.
Minutes of Meeting
Present: K. Laurin (Chair), R. Bagg, I. Blum, D. Bourne-Tyson, P. Crouse, A. Davis, K. Dewar,
S. Drain, R. Farmer, M. Forrest, R. Gechtman, P. Glenister, P. Gouthro, J. Jackson, B. Jessop,
N. Kayhani, M. Lyon, A. MacGillivary, B. MacInnes, J. MacLeod, A. McCalla, J. Mills,
S. Mumm, J. Neilson, T. Richards, J. Sawler, J. Sharpe, L. Steele, S. Walsh, P. Watts,
M. Whalen, D. Woolcott.
Regrets: R. Bérard.
K. Laurin welcomed returning senators, new faculty senators (S. Drain, R. Bagg, A.
MacGillivary, J. Mills, and T. Richards), B. Jessop, Acting Vice-President Administration,
Studentsâ Union representatives (J. Jackson and J. Neilson), and L. Cottenden, Senate office
secretary.
1. Approval of Agenda
Moved by R. Farmer, seconded by J. Neilson that Senate approve the agenda with the deferral of
item 9.3 until the Senate Meeting of October 27, 2008. CARRIED.
2. Approval of Minutes of April 28, 2008 and May 7, 2008
Approval of Minutes of April 28, 2008
Moved by L. Steele , seconded by J. MacLeod that Senate approve the minutes of April 28, 2008
with the changes noted below. CARRIED.
Item 7.9.1 â Results of electionsâ should read â Senate elected committeesâ The sentence
following should de removed and inserted in the minutes of May 7 at the equivalent item.
Approval of Minutes of May 7, 2008
Moved by R. Farmer, seconded by J. Jackson that Senate approve the minutes of May 7, 2008
with the changes noted below. CARRIED.
K. Dewar should be listed among those sending regrets rather than those present.
At Item 7.9.1, insert the following list after the heading with a correction to the term begins for D.
Plumb to January 1, 2009:
2
Committee Name Term Begins Term Ends
Senate Robert Bagg
Robert Bérard
Catherine Broom
Kenneth Dewar
Susan Drain
Elizabeth Hicks
Nargess Kayhani
Ann MacGillivary
Linda Mann
Jean Mills
Ian Pottie
Trudie Richards
July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
April 7, 2008
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
July 1, 2008
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
Academic
Policy and
Planning
Randall Fisher (Professional)
Karen MacFarlane (Arts &
Science)
Donovan Plumb (Education)
July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
Nominations Mary Jane Harkins (Education)
Karen Blotnicky (Professional)
July 1, 2008
January 1, 2009
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
University
Review
Michelle Eskritt (Arts & Science)
July 1, 2008 June 30, 2011
University
Review
Librarians
Nezihe Elik (Member at Large)
Peter Glenister (Librarian)
July 1, 2008
July 1, 2008
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
Insert the heading 7.9.2 Senate elected committees
In the table following, correct the Term begins for N. Kayhani to January 1, 2009, and the name
â Benzaquinâ to Benzaquenâ .
Insert as the final sentence of 7.9.2: â P. Crouse noted that there is still one position vacant on the
URC which will be addressed in Septemberâ .
3. Business Arising from the Minutes of April 28, 2008 and May 7, 2008
There was no business arising from the Minutes of April 28, 2008 and May 7, 2008.
4. Presidentâ s Announcements
President Laurin reported on the events to update on Destination 2012, the barbecue on
September 26th and the two follow-up sessions on on October 3rd and October 8th from noon to
1:30 pm in the Rosaria Boardroom.
MSVU is entering year one of a new MOU with the provincial government which provides stable
funding for the next three years. Although MSVU will receive stable funding, the university will
receive a notional number from the government that will give a barometer of MSVUâ s standing in
regards to enrollment. The funding formula is based on enrollments relative to other institutions.
For example, if MSVU enrollments decrease and enrollments at the other institutions increase, at
the end of the three-year MOU, MSVU would lose on the operational grant because MSVU will
not have done as well as the other universities. The notional number that the government will
give every year will not impact our funding until we renegotiate a new MOU. Stable funding is
good news; however, we need to keep enrollments up so that at the conclusion of the period
MSVU is in a good place to renegotiate.
3
President Laurin asked M. Whalen to report briefly on enrollment. He indicated that full-time
undergraduates are down 8 per cent, part-time undergraduates down 9.3 per cent, first year fulltime
down 10.4 per cent, full-time graduate studies up 38 percent, part-time graduate studies
down 9 per cent, full-time undergraduate international students up 20 per cent, and graduate
students up 71 per cent. Of more importance are the unit counts which, while forecasting a 5 %
decrease in undergraduate, 0% decrease in B. Ed. and a 2% increase in graduate, currently show
a 9% decrease in undergraduate and 2.3% decrease in B. Ed and 5.5% increase in graduate
studies. The projected shortage of approximately 800 units may improve later in the year.
As Academic Planning is an of issue interest to all faculty, K. Laurin asked D. Woolcott to make
a few brief comments on Academic Planning.
D. Woolcott discussed Destination 2012, Goal One which identifies providing the best quality
experiences for students and staff regarding teaching and research. CAPP is reviewing a
discussion document that was prepared over the summer by the Academic Vice-President and
Deans which may be distributed to the community within the next week to ten days to allow for
active dialogue regarding MSVUâ s future in terms of academic programs. The current plan is
that CAPP will bring forward recommendations to Senate in the early part of 2009.
5. Question Period
K. Dewar asked for a report on the state of discussions concerning the future of Family Studies
and Gerontology and Information Technology and what alternatives are being considered
regarding the future of those programs. The taskforce created to look into IT has no mandate to
consider the degree program in IT.
D. Woolcott indicated that CAPP will be involved with discussions of every program currently at
the university including Family Studies and Gerontology and Information Technology. The
Dean, faculty in those program areas, and an Information Technology task group are working on
ideas and actions on what some future programming might look like. There may be four or five
different options, but this information is unknown until the task group reports to CAPP which is
anticipated by the end of October.
M. Lyon stated that one of the options is to look to see where IT courses are offered currently
across faculty and what kind of courses might be useful to more students in various areas. There
are no options off the table at the moment. In terms of the degree program and its suspension, all
programs will be considered in CAPPâ s documents but no final decisions have been made. In one
program, admissions were suspended because there were two applicants and in another program
there were five applicants and two of those applicants were not intending to attend. MSVU is
currently in a situation where courses are being offered to very small numbers of students over
the next number of years. If programs are to continue in those areas they would have to be
considerably different than the programs are now. However, the task force is not considering a
complete degree program. In Family Studies and Gerontology the taskforce is looking at the way
those programs are offered elsewhere and, in particular, the expansion of the graduate program in
those areas.
K. Dewar asked for clarification that there is no specific discussion about the renewal, the reopening
of enrollments in the undergraduate program in Family Studies and Gerontology, or the
degree programs in Information Technology. M. Lyon replied that there is no discussion at the
moment on continuing complete degree programs.
4
A. McCalla asked how the decision to suspend enrollments in IT and Family Studies and
Gerontology was not equivalent to the closure of the programs. M. Lyon indicated that there are
still students completing the programs and the programs are still in the calendar and they have not
been terminated. However, operationally, MSVU is unable to continue to offer them. There are
serious consequences in continuing to offer programs that require putting resources into courses
with four to eight students consistently over the years. The procedural question is that when the
academic planning document is completed, decisions will come to Senate on any program that is
affected. D. Woolcott suggested that, in the larger context, CAPP is looking at every program,
Family Studies and Gerontology and IT being two programs with which CAPP has serious
concerns and hopes to bring recommendations to Senate by the February 2009 meeting that will
address issues across a variety of programs.
A. McCalla asked what criteria would emerge from the strategic plan regarding sustainability of
the programs so that there is no waiting for these criteria to emerge before programs are
evaluated. D. Woolcott replied that the discussion document talks about criteria for sustainability
and viability and will provide a lot of data about the programs, for example, time-series analysis.
The discussion document lays out a framework allowing for recommendations to emerge. The
plan is to provide the community with the document, engage in a dia logue and following that
dialogue then make recommendations that would come forward to Senate.
L. Steele suggested that it might be a good idea to have a discussion regarding the protocol for
suspension of programs and perhaps such a discussion could be placed on the agenda for a future
Senate meeting. D. Woolcott replied that she did not believe the suspension of admissions have
been the subject of Senate decision-making. The suspension of admissions is basically a
management decision. For example, if only two people apply for a program, it is fairly obvious
why a decision would be made that is as dramatic as the ones with which we have been dealing.
T. Richards indicated that she had been a member of CAPP when the external review of Family
Studies and Gerontology was conducted and asked when CAPPâ s report on FSGN might come to
Senate. D. Woolcott replied that CAPP has several reviews that have not come forward to
Senate. One of the reasons CAPP is in the process of reviewing all programs is that there was a
pattern of some common threads running through the review reports and an identification of some
major issues that affect a lot of them. It is the reason for Destination 2012, Goal One, Strategy
One. T. Richards expressed concern that Senate may never see what the external review
recommended and what CAPP recommended. D. Woolcott replied that CAPP will see how this
next process unfolds with the academic planning document because, in some ways, it is taking a
bigger look than the independent reviews did.
6. Unfinished Business
There was no unfinished business.
7. Committee Reports (Standing and Ad hoc)
7.1 Senate Executive
7.1.1 Ratification of election of members of the Academic Appeals Committee and the
University Research Ethics Board
Moved by S. Mumm, seconded by D. Woolcott that Senate approve the election of members of
the Academic Appeals Committee and the University Research Ethics Board. CARRIED.
5
7.2 Academic Appeals Committee
J. Sawler indicated the committee is dealing with a case from last semester involving an alleged
instance of plagiarism.
7.3 Academic Policy and Planning
7.3.1 Memorandum of Agreement and Student Exchange Agreement between MSVU and
Universitat de Vic, Spain
Moved by D. Woolcott, seconded by M. Whalen that Senate approve the MOA and Student
Exchange Agreement between MSVU and Universitat de Vic, Spain. CARRIED.
7.3.2 Memorandum of Understanding between MSVU and Nova Scotia Community College
for transfer credit, Human Services Diploma (Educational Support) to B.A.A. (Child and Youth
Study)
7.3.3 Memorandum of Understanding between MSVU and Nova Scotia Community College
for transfer credit, Human Services Diploma (Residential/Vocational Services) to B.A.A. (Child
and Youth Study)
Moved by D. Woolcott, seconded by M. Lyon that Senate approve the MOU between MSVU and
Nova Scotia Community College for transfer credit, Human Services Diploma (Educational
Support or Residential/Vocational Services) to B.A.A. (Child and Youth Study). CARRIED.
K. Dewar asked if the Child and Youth Study degree program had not been changed in the spring
of 2008. M. Lyon indicated the name-change had not received all the final approvals and D.
Woolcott stated that, once it gets MPHEC approval, an update will be required for the calendar.
K. Laurin reiterated the supportive feeling of the community-at-large regarding the MOUs that
MSVU has with the Nova Scotia Community College. MSVU has had a long-standing
relationship with the Community College and these continued efforts reflect very well on MSVU
in every possible way.
D. Woolcott indicated that there was a slight reduction in the numbers of transfer students this
year as compared to last year but there are still over 200, many of whom would have come from
the Community College.
7.3.4 Report on the Review of the English program
D. Woolcott indicated that the review brought to light many strengths in the English program, in
particular, the strong interest by students in the programs offered and the many faculty recognized
with teaching awards. The focus of the review was on the writing program, an issue on which the
Department had really sought advice, and the Department has already begun to implement many
of the reviewersâ recommendations. CAPP has asked for more study of the writing program by
the establishment of a group that would report to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to
give an even broader perspective on writing across the curriculum. CAPP looks forward to an
update report a year from now.
S. Drain commented that the Department is very grateful to CAPP because CAPP has brought
back to the department how difficult it is to hear evaluative comments that say â some good points
here, but â ¦â However, the department will take CAPPâ s recommendations under consideration
and consider seriously whether, in pursuit of its learning goals for its students of enhancing
6
reading and writing, the Department should add to its list of pedagogical approaches
something more than reading and writing. The department was concerned with the Deanâ s
and CAPPâ s remarks that there were some things missing from the external review so they
undertook to supply what they saw as gaps in the external review. This seems to the Department
to undercut the whole notion of an external perspective from an external review if, in fact, the
Dean and CAPP supply those things which they considered to be missing. The Department
expects to be ready with an update in one year. With respect to the first three recommendations
from CAPP summarized on page 41 of the document, the Department would like some
clarification from Senate because it is not at all clear how the department should respond. The
first recommendation is for a task group reporting to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to
review the universityâ s approach to the teaching of writing across the curriculum but provided no
terms of reference beyond the general instructions and nothing about membership beyond the
suggestion that the Writing Coordinator be one member. The Department is concerned because
this task forceâ s mandate is not clear. The Department is also unsure if the task force is supposed
to look at all the other places where writing is taught in the university, where students learn
writing such as in a writing centre, and if the task force will include the explicit teaching of
writing studies, writing as a discipline itself , i.e. rhetoric and composition or writing studies, such
as the writing program in the English department; if this is so will be a very large and daunting
task.
K. Laurin commented that, in terms of process, perhaps the concerns are best directed as
conversations with CAPP and perhaps in writing. D. Woolcott stated that it is indeed in the
purview of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to strike a taskforce and assign a mandate.
The task force will welcome the variety of options that the English department is presenting since
CAPP believes this is something that applies beyond the English Department across the
curriculum. S. Drain expressed concern that one of Senateâ s subcommittees will strike a
committee and mandate and Senate will be informed and D. Woolcott indicated that, in striking
subcommittees and task groups, CAPP does not bring those terms of reference to Senate for
approval. However, CAPP will ultimately come to Senate if CAPP is going to make
recommendations and if the task force comes forward to UCC with recommendations to deal with
writing in a different way, certainly those recommendations would come forward to Senate.
CAPP will follow the normal process of bringing forward any recommendations.
S. Drain also expressed concerns regarding the third recommendation establishing a Writing
Oversight Committee. In fact, the Department has acted on this recommendation and set up a
cohesive offering called a Writing Minor, which Senate approved, and there is also a Writing
Advisory Committee reporting to the Department to oversee that cohesive program. Would the
Writing Oversight Committee replace the Writing Advisory Committee or function in addition?
The Department sees as many as four different committees with responsib ilities for writing
oversight at the University: the Writing Initiatives Committee, the Writing Task Force, the
Writing Advisory Committee within the English Department, and this new Writing Oversight
Committee reporting to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. If the Writing Oversight
Committee is indeed meant to oversee the writing program, it seems odd that it report to a
Curriculum Committee rather than being within the department where a program is housed. The
Department is also unsure whether or not the program would take its staffing needs to the
undergraduate curriculum committee.
D. Woolcott replied that as in every review CAPP may choose to modify the recommendations of
external reviewers. CAPPâ s suggestion of a Writing Oversight Committee was not meant as an
addition to the one in the English Department and, rather than disband the current Writing
7
Advisory Committee, the latter could be expanded. The suggested membership of the committee
is broader than in its current state, including faculty from program areas outside of the English
Department because those are important constituents of the program. The expectation is that the
Chair of the English Department will be on the committee. D. Woolcott also stated that CAPP
reports on reviews follow the guidelines of the Universityâ s policy of program review. If the
external reviewers omit anything, CAPP not unusually sets up a group to study something not
covered in the review and which a Department might undertake to review itself.
K. Laurin indicated that the English Department had some very legitimate questions which
clearly need some clarification, perhaps best communicated directly between the English
Department and members of CAPP. S. Drain requested that CAPP withdraw the third
recommendation because it appears to the English Department that CAPP has not understood
what the writing program is or is conflating the writing program with Writing Across the
University. The writing minor is a multi-level program in writing studies and not a service to
other programs in the way that perhaps people wish that the English Department would provide a
service by teaching all students to write. K. Laurin stated that the Senate would make a note of
the request that CAPP withdraw the third recommendation and requested that D. Woolcott follow
up with the English Department to clarify some of the questions.
K. Dewar indicated that, as a member of the external review committee, he objected to comments
made that the reviewers left things out. At the end of the debriefing session, the review teamâ s
understanding was that CAPP was in agreement with the targeted approach of the reviewers. The
omissions that are referred to in the CAPP report are simply matters that were treated quite a bit
more briefly than would otherwise have been the case if there had not been this critical problem
facing the department which the review decided to address. K. Dewar stated that he was not quite
sure a Writing Oversight Committee should supervise a program since it assumes that the
committee that already exists in the Department will no longer exist. Supervising a program in
any department and then reporting to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee directly, seems
odd and presents a matter of interest to Senate both in general as to how reviews are conducted
and the recommendations that come out of them.
D. Woolcott responded that every review team is given a template for its report that is based on
the policy and there is an expectation that reviewers will cover everything that is in the template
and some reviews, like this one, said nothing about certain aspects. If there are perceived
omissions, the Dean or CAPP will take on a role of actually asking for a further review or
comment if there is enough information on which to make some recommendations. The
expectation is that external reviews will actually comment on all elements.
J. Neilson commented on the student feedback session as the report indicated there was a lack of
detail related to student feedback of the English program while also indicating that there was
good enrollment of students in the English program and of students in other programs taking an
English class. He wondered if there was low participation by students or if the validity of the
feedback was not strong and if students were asked to respond. D. Woolcott indicated that the
reviewers met with students but they did not indicate in the report or summarize the nature of the
conversations with students.
7.3.5 Follow-up reports on the Review of IT&S
D. Woolcott stated that CAPP asks for a follow-up report from every program and every
academic support unit that undergoes review in order to provide feedback on progress on the
recommendations.
8
R. Farmer noted there were many irrelevant responses or lack of responses that include â no
change,â â no survey done,â â not done,â and â not brought forward.â D. Woolcott stated that
sometimes reality overtakes a recommendation that might have been generated two or three years
ago. There may be some very specific issues that could come out of this discussion or there could
be more follow-up at CAPP.
K. Laurin suggested that these reviews are helpful for the Vice-President responsible for the area
as an opportunity for the VP to note outstanding issues as a barometer to follow up on.
7.3.6 Academic Program review Schedule update
D. Woolcott stated that there had been some discussions with St. Maryâ s University about the
timing of the review of the joint Masterâ s program in Women and Gender Studies. The
Psychology review was scheduled a year later than originally scheduled after a request from their
department.
A. MacGillivary requested clarification that the external reviews that are to come, from 2009 on,
will fall under the purview of the new academic plan which will be available so that people will
not begin the arduous process of doing an external review with absolutely no guarantee the
program will continue. D. Woolcott differentiated between types of reviews. The academic plan
is an overarching plan and all programs become subject to the period review. If there are changes
to some of the programs as the result of the academic plan, these changes will have to be
reflected, but CAPP will continue to do periodic reviews of academic programs. It is something
CAPP does under the oversight of the MPHEC and is an important part of what CAPP does.
7.3.7 Notice of Motion: Revision to Senate By-law 14.3, CAPP Terms of reference
D. Woolcott clarified that in the By-law distributed to Senate the Dean of Education should be in
the list of members.
7.4 Graduate Studies Program and Policy Committee
There was no report.
7.5 Graduate Studies Scholarships, Assistantships and Awards Committee
M. Lyon indicated that the Committee has met and sent announcements for Tri-Council graduate
scholarships and post-graduate scholarships. On October 9th an information session is scheduled
for students interested in applying for NSERC. The committee is currently reviewing the
applications for the graduate-assistantship awards and the graduate thesis awards.
K. Laurin indicated that in 2008 MSVU was successful in seven of nine applications for NSERC
student awards. M. Lyon added that the six students nominated for SSHRC awards were all
successful and there was also a SSHRC doctoral scholarship awarded. A. Davis indicated that
profiles will be coming in future issues of Research Matters. M. Lyon noted that these
announcements wait until after the Minister makes them which, this year in particular, was
exceptionally late.
K. Laurin stated that these accomplishments need to be proudly displayed and promoted at every
opportunity. A. Davis suggested that getting over the barriers in order to get the word out to the
broader community is difficult but ongoing.
9
7.6 Undergraduate Curriculum
There was no report.
7.7 Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure or Permanence for Academic
Administrators (CAPTPAA)
There was no report.
7.8 Committee on Information Technology and Services
P. Crouse stated the Committee met on September 26th and learned that the storage for e-mail
accounts has increased to 500 megabytes and that users can now request increases for their e-mail
accounts in increments of 250 megabytes at a time to a maximum of two gigabytes. The
committee has been reviewing e-mail policy which should be ready later this semester. The
website is undergoing revision with the goal is to eliminate duplicate information in multiple
places. The Public Affairs Office under R. McIsaac is overseeing a redesign initiative for the
website with a focus on prospective students and are working toward a portal to focus on access
to network resources. Wiring and hardware improvements are still to be completed in SAC.
As IT&S has been asked about ways to save paper and as P. Crouse is also on the Senate
Nominations Committee, the IT&S committee has requested that she take the research regarding
e-voting to the Senate Nominations Committee to see how paper-saving and the integrity of the
voting process might be combined.
7.9 Library
R. Bagg reported that the committee met in September and discussed the regular meeting for
departmental library representatives for an information session and information exchange.
7.10 Nominations
7.10.1 Election of faculty member of Senate to Vice-President (Administration) Search
Committee
P. Crouse stated that there was no name ready yet to put forward.
7.10.2 Vacancies on Senate -elected committees
Moved by P. Crouse, seconded by R. Gechtman that Senate elect the following individuals to fill
vacancies on the identified committees. CARRIED.
Committee Nominee Term Begins Term Ends
Graduate Studies Program
& Policy
Dr. Ilya Blum When elected June 30, 2011
Library Dr. Della Stanley When elected June 30, 2011
Student Discipline Appeals Prof. Ned Kelleher
Dr. Andrea English
When elected
When elected
June 30, 2011
June 30, 2011
Academic Appeals Prof. Beverly Williams When elected June 30, 2011
10
Moved by P. Crouse, seconded by I. Blum that Senate appoint Professor Ned Kelleher as Chair
of the Student Discipline Appeals Committee. CARRIED
7.11Research and Publications
7.11.1 Notice of Motion: Revisions to By-law 14.8, Research and Publications
Committee
7.11.2 Revisions to the Policy for Integrity in Research and Scholarship
Moved by A. Davis, seconded by M. Forrest that the â Policy for Integrity in Research and
Scholarshipâ (approved by Senate May 2000) be deleted and replaced with â Guidelines, Policies
and Procedures for Integrity in Research and Scholarshipâ as distributed. CARRIED with
modifications noted below
A. Davis stated that the Committee reviewed the existing â Policy for Integrity in Research and
Scholarshipâ in light of both the Tri-Council expectations regarding such policies in Canadian
universities and in reference to existing policies in universities of various scales across Canada.
The final draft was sent to Tri-Council membership who provided feedback.
The document is intended to provide procedures in the event there is a violation of the norms of
scholarship and research integrity. It is intended to state the commitment of MSVU to the
standard normative practices and understanding concerning research and scholarship and integrity
and to insure an arms-length relationship from the point of view of the administration of the
university with respect to any allegation of scholarly or research misconduct.
Page i, delete â Table of contentsâ immediate below the heading â Table of contentsâ and correct
the page number of â Scan of Procedure and Practices in Other Universitiesâ to â Appendix 1â .
Page 4, Section 2.1.4 should end with a period not a semi-colon.
Page 5, line 8 should read: â â ¦ parties, including the student(s) trainee(s), will sign an agreement
stating that the Policy â ¦ â .
Page 9, Section 5.1.3 requires a final period.
Page 13, delete the last paragraph.
7.12 Student Affairs
There was no report.
7.13 Committee on Teaching and Learning
P. Watts reported that the committee has met and reviewed the feedback from Faculty Day, held
on August 28th. The AAU teaching showcase will be held October 25th at UNB in St. John with
the theme â Teaching to Engage and Retain.â The committee also reviewed the descriptions of the
Instructional Leadership and the Innovative Teaching awards to bring them into parallel layout
and presentation.
7.14 Writing Initiatives
S. Drain reported that the Writing Initiatives committee met twice and has adopted the theme of
â Collaborative Writingâ as the focus for the year, with a session coming on September 30th. The
11
committee will follow up this theme in a distance presentation during the winter term and will be
looking at other aspects of writing collaboratively with Western Carolina University.
7.15 Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships
There was no report.
7.16 University Research Ethics Board
M. Forrest reported the committee has met and will be looking for more community members.
8. Other Reports
8.1 Board of Governors
K. Dewar reported there were several meetings of the Board of Governors: May 29th, June 26th
and September 25th. There have been updates on planning for the teaching and learning centre
whose projected costs for the centre have been rising, possibly reaching upwards of $20 million.
There was discussion and adoption of a naming policy to govern what level of donation would
make one eligible for having particular areas named for the donor. The single most important
item of business over this series of meetings was the approval of the three-year financial plan
incorporating existing enrollment projections and their reliability. The most recent presentation
was given by D. Woolcott made an interim presentation at the meeting of September 25th
awaiting the AAU statistics due on October 1st.
Another matter discussed at some length was the creation of a strategy implementation reserve
policy to manage the universityâ s financial reserves and particularly to use a portion of them for
achieving efficiencies with strategic initiatives such as one-time investments aimed at improving
specific services, such as student admissions and improvement and the universityâ s infrastructure,
such as IT&S hardware or the Universityâ s website.
8.2 Studentsâ Union
J. Neilson reported the Student Union raised $40,000 from a very successful Frosh-Week and
$20,000 of this amount went to Shinerama surpassing the goal of $15,000. The Studentsâ Union
is very active with its charity work and awareness campaigns, such as the current Breast-Cancer
Awareness campaign and the Lung Association Councilâ s planned event for early February 2009.
On September 28th, J. Neilson attended the AIDS Walk and the Studentsâ Union won an award
for raising the most money by a Student Union.
The Union now has a full-time food and beverage manager.
The Union is continuing to address crosswalk safety. The eye-level lights are operational and the
Union has been making enquiries regarding the installation of sound-emitting devices at crosswalk
lights in an effort to increase safety for MSVU visually-impaired students.
Students are in the second year of the U-pass program. The Union has also initiated a responsible
drinking campaign in coordinating with the NS Liquor Commission and starting in October.
The Union hopes to adopt a sustainability policy to use less paper, recyclable cups/mugs and
dealing with environmentally responsible companies.
Studentsâ Union elections are underway for the final council positions for SRC. The Union just
concluded a referendum on the Canadian Federation of Students but there are no results to report
as the CFS is challenging the referendum.
8.3 Destination 2012
12
R. Farmer reported the committee continued to meet throughout the summer. Six strategies were
identified and, although not complete, are in a format that is useable, readable and available
online. The fifteen remaining strategies have been subdivided with four sub-working groups
including a coordinator, a faculty member and a representative from the other constituencies. The
four sub-groups are responsible for one goal and will be meeting over the coming months to
format the remaining.
9. New Business
9.1 Annual Reports of Senate Committees
Moved by A. Davis, seconded by J. MacLeod that Senate receive the reports. CARRIED.
K. Laurin highlighted Table 4 the Entrance Scholarship Program of the Undergraduate
Admissions and Scholarships Committee report to demonstrate how well MSVU is doing in
providing scholarships, i.e. accessibility, which is Goal Four of Destination 2012. This year,
MSVU has given in excess of $1.3 million in scholarships, the number of which has tripled in the
last five years.
M. Whalen indicated that the average entering-grade has increased in the last two years, up a full
percentage point this year, which is an indication of the quality of students.
S. Drain noted that the second table on Page 4 of the report is missing a heading, Table 3, In-
Course Scholarship Program. She added that students have expressed a need for increased incourse
awards, especially to recognize those students who have increased their scholarly abilit ies
during their time at MSVU.
9.2 Annual Report of Nancyâ s Chair in Womenâ s Studie s
S. Mumm reported that the committee is currently reviewing applications for the next Nancyâ s
Chair in Womenâ s Studies.
9.3 Presentation on Learning 2.0â D. Bourne-Tysonâ deferred
9.4 Fall 2008 Graduation List
Moved by A. McCalla, seconded by S. Mumm to move in camera. CARRIED.
Senate approved the following degrees, diplomas, and certificates as follows:
Certificate in Accounting M. Lyon/A. Davis
Certificate in Business Administration M.Lyon/A. Davis
Certificate in Information Technology M. Lyon/R. Farmer
Certificate in Marketing M. Lyon/J. Jackson
Certificate of Proficiency in French S. Mumm/A. Davis
Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management M. Lyon/A.
MacGillivary
Diploma in Business Administration M.Lyon/A.
MacGillivary
Degree of Bachelor of Arts S. Mumm/K. Dewar
Degree of Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts S. Mumm/A. McCalla
(Peace and Conflict Studies)
13
Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Advanced Major) S. Mumm/S. Walsh
Degree of Bachelor of Applied Arts (Child and Youth Study) M.Lyon/P. Gouthro
Bachelor of Applied Arts (Information Technology) M. Lyon/R. Farmer
Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration M.Lyon/R. Bagg
Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration M. Lyon/A.
MacGillivary
(In Association with Bermuda College)
Degree of Bachelor of Business Administration M. Lyon/A.
MacGillivary
(In Association with The University of St. Martin)
Degree of Bachelor of Public Relations M. Lyon/S. Walsh
Degree of Bachelor of Science S.Mumm/I. Blum
Degree of Bachelor of Science (Advanced Major) Psychology S. Mumm/M. Forrest
(with Distinction)
Degree of Bachelor of Science Applied Human Nutrition M.Lyon/S. Walsh
(Dietetics)
Degree of Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management M. Lyon/A.
MacGillivary
Degree of Bachelor of Education J. Sharpe/J. MacLeod
Degree of Bachelor of Education J. Sharpe/S. Walsh
(In Association with Nova Scotia Teachersâ College)
Degree of Bachelor of Education J. Sharpe/M. Forrest
(In Association with Erdiston Teachersâ Training College)
Degree of Bachelor of Education J. Sharpe/S. Walsh
(In Association with St. Josephâ s Teachersâ College)
Degree of Master of Applied Human Nutrition M. Lyon/A. Davis
Degree of Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition M. Lyon/D. Woolcott
Degree of Master of Education J. Sharpe/J. Jackson
Degree of Master of Education in Curriculum Studies: J. Sharpe/P. Watts
Teaching English as a Second Language
(In Association with Saint Maryâ s University)
Degree of Master of Arts in Child and Youth Study M. Lyon/B. Jessop
Degree of Master of Arts in Education J. Sharpe/R. Bagg
Degree of Master of Arts in Family Studies and Gerontology M. Lyon/A. McCalla
Degree of Research Master of Arts J. Sharpe/S. Walsh
Degree of Master of Arts in School Psychology J. Sharpe/J. Neilson
Moved by S. Mumm, seconded by D. Bourne-Tyson that Senate permit the Registrar to add an
individualâ s name if the requirements are completed prior to the Convocation ceremony and,
further, to adjust any studentâ s distinction status if so warranted. CARRIED.
10. Items for Communication
Signing of MoUs
Publicization of the Guidelines, Policies and Procedures for Integrity in Research and Scholarship
Posting of Graduation list
11. Adjournment
Moved by J. MacLeod to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m.