Highlights from the January 14 meeting of Senate

At the beginning of the meeting, Principal Daniel Woolf presented the T. Geoffrey Flynn Advancement Champion Award to Robert Reid, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and head of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology.

Principal’s report

Principal Woolf provided a written report to Senate.

In his additional oral report, Principal Woolf provided the following updates:

• Initiative Campaign. Principal Woolf and Tom Harris, Vice-Principal (Advancement), reported that the momentum of the campaign launch this past September is starting to pay dividends. Strong fundraising results for the final few months of 2012 are the result of a higher university profile and key meetings with various alumni and friends. For the current fiscal year, the university has raised more than $50 million, compared with just $18 million by this time last year. Notable donations include several large gifts totalling more than $10 million. 
• Awards. The principal congratulated Keith Banting (School of Policy Studies) and Jacalyn Duffin (School of Medicine), who were both named Royal Society of Canada fellows, one of the highest honours for Canadian academics, last fall. The principal also congratulated the winners of the 2012 Queen’s Prizes for Excellence in Research, Rena Upitis (Faculty of Education) and Praveen Jain (Electrical Engineering).

Provost’s report

Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), provided a written report to Senate.

In his additional oral report, Provost Harrison provided the following updates:

• Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning). Jill Scott (Languages, Literatures and Cultures) has been appointed as the new vice-provost of teaching and learning. The provost noted that funding for this position will come from the redeployment of existing funds within the Provost Office budget.
• Principal’s Commission on Mental Health. Laeeque Daneshmend, Deputy Provost, will be coordinating implementation of the recommendations of the Principal’s Commission on Mental Health.
• Strategic Framework. The provost provided an outline of the draft strategic framework, a document which will provide a foundation to address the university’s priorities.

Question period

Senate discussed a question from Senator Petra Fachinger regarding improving communication between Senate and the Aboriginal Council of Queen’s University (ACQU). The provost responded in a written statement, and also noted during the meeting that he has met with Marlene Brant Castellano, Co-Chair, ACQU; she will discuss the matter with the ACQU.

Senate discussed a question from Senator Mark Jones regarding the status of the Bachelor of Fine Art program. The provost responded to the question, which was referred to Alistair MacLean, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science, in a written statement.

Reports of Committees

Senate approved:

• A policy revision to the Student Appeals, Rights, and Discipline (SARD) document from the Senate Committee on Academic Procedures (SCAP)
• A proposal to establish a PhD in Environmental Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the School of Graduate Studies.
• A recommendation to elect several members to committees from the Senate Nominating Committee.
• The renewal of the Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre for an additional five-year period from the Senate Advisory Research Committee (SARC).
• The renewal of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research for an additional five-year period from SARC.
• An amendment to Senate Rules of Procedure under Minutes 23 (1) and 23 (3) from the Senate Operations Review Committee (SORC).

Senate received:

• A notice of motion of a revision to the Research Integrity Policy from SARC.
• A notice of motion to amend several Senate Rules of Procedure including meeting organization and meeting schedules, from SORC.
• The annual report on Orientation 2012 from the Senate Orientation Activities Review Board (SOARB).

Communications and reports submitted to Senate

Senate received information on the provisional approval to establish the Water Research Centre.

Senate received information on sessional dates from SCAP.

Jennifer Medves, Member, University Council Executive Committee, provided an update on the consultations to date with elected councillors on the reform of University Council. She alerted Senate that, as current members of council, they will be consulted directly on the plan for reform in the coming months and that a vote on council reform will occur in late spring. She also spoke of the likely reduction in size of council to approximately 40 members; the proposed advisory role to the principal and senior administrators; and the role of councillors as active promoters of Queen’s externally.

Senate received a list of the 2011-2012 Teaching Awards winners. Queen’s News Centre story

David Grace, Board of Trustees, provided an oral report regarding the Board of Trustees Report to Senate.

David Gordon provided an update and answered questions regarding the Campus Planning and Development Committee’s report to Senate.

Senate received the Senate Research Report.