Highlights from the February 12 meeting of Senate

At the beginning of the meeting, Principal Daniel Woolf extended his congratulations to the student candidates in recent elections, including two senators: AMS President-elect Eril Berkok and Undergraduate Student Trustee-elect Andrew Aulthouse.

Principal’s report

Principal Woolf provided a written report to Senate.

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

• Government relations. The new provincial cabinet includes a new Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Brad Duguid. Queen’s is still in a wait-and-see position on the proposed strategic mandate statement submitted last fall and it is expected that dialogue with universities will continue in the spring. The university hopes to extend an invitation to campus to new Ontario Premier and Queen’s alumna Kathleen Wynne, Arts’77. Principal Woolf recently met with MP Gary Goodyear for a last push in the pre-budget period for maintaining or increasing curiosity-driven research funding. The principal also had a recent meeting with Canadian Senator Hugh Segal, who is leading an initiative to publicize good news about research stories at Canadian universities.
• Internationalization. The principal reiterated the importance of internationalization, which the university must embrace in order to prepare students for the global environment in which they are going to live and work.
• University Council reform. The principal encouraged senators to familiarize themselves with the issues, as the vote in the spring will be particularly important. The recommendation will be to remove most senators except for one, possibly two, as representatives.

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:

• New budget model and budget pocess. The model and an update on budget planning will be presented at the March meeting of Senate.
• Decanal searches and renewals. The work of the advisory committees is progressing well. More information regarding these searches and renewals is available on the provost’s website.
• New University Registrar. The university welcomes John Metcalfe, who began his new position February 4.

Question period

Senate discussed a question submitted by Senator Pamela Murphy to the Academic Planning Task Force (APTF) regarding surveys. Chris Moyes, Chair, APTF, provided a written response.

Senate discussed a question submitted by Senator Petra Fachinger regarding the Queen’s National Scholars program. Provost Harrison provided an oral and written response.

Reports of committees

Senate approved:

• The revised Queen’s University Senate Policy on Research Integrity from the Senate Advisory Research Committee (SARC).
• Several changes to Rules of Procedure of Senate from the Senate Operations Review Committee (SORC).
• A recommendation to elect several members to committees from the Senate Nominating Committee.
• The Senate Policy on Certificate and Diploma Programs and the recommendation to rescind the Senate policy entitled Certificate Programs at Queen’s University, from the Senate Committee on Academic Development (SCAD).
• A recommendation to include copies of the Official Convocation Program in the Senate minutes from the Senate Committee on Academic Procedures (SCAP).

Senate received:

• A notice of motion to amend Section 5 of the Rules of Procedure to include a new subsection regarding the matter of attendance, from SORC.
• The Course Variants Report from SCAP.
• The Report to Senate from SCAD.

Motions

Senate received:

• A notice of motion on constitutional amendments regarding fraternities from the Alma Mater Society (AMS) to be presented at the March meeting of Senate
• A notice of motion on suspension of admissions to an academic program from Senator Terry Bridges, which was presented at the February Senate Meeting. The motion stated:

That until Senate has approved the procedure for the suspension of admissions to an academic program as mandated by Senate and referred to SCAD in January 2012 (Minutes, p. 7), no suspensions of admissions to academic programs and/or plans shall be made without prior consideration and approval by Senate.

The motion was passed.

Communications and reports submitted to Senate

Senate received

• The University Council Reform Update
• A Campus Master Plan Update. David Gordon, Director, School of Urban and Regional Planning, led senators in a 15-minute discussion related to campus planning.
• An update on honorary degree recipients for spring convocation
• The Senate Research Report
• The 2010-2011 Human Rights Office Report.

Senate deferred a discussion on the International Strategy to the March meeting.

Matters referred to standing committees

Senate referred a proposal to establish the endowed Faculty Professorship, to be known as The Allied Nevada Professorship in Surface Mine Planning and Design, to SCAD.

Other business

Senator Jordan Morelli read a response from Campus Equipment Outfitters regarding concerns that inappropriate jacket bars were being sold at the store. Senator Morelli informed Senate that Campus Equipment Outfitters actively turns down any requests for bars that are directly related to drinking on campus, in classrooms, or any other illegal activity. Kim Woodhouse, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, also spoke to the issue, advising that this is not strictly an engineering student phenomenon and that a campus-wide effort to discourage the wearing of these badges would be appropriate.