Highlights from the Jan. 21 meeting of Senate.

Business arising from the minutes

Senate approved the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee to Review the Queen’s University Policy and Procedure for Safe Disclosure Reporting and Investigation, and the recommendation that the composition of the committee as currently proposed be expanded to include two student senators and two faculty senators.

Board report to Senate

Senate received for information a Board of Trustees report from Trustee Louis Tomalty.

Principal’s report

In addition to his written report, the principal provided the following updates:

• Council of Ontario Universities (COU). The principal reported that the COU has submitted a pre-budget position to the provincial government that makes several recommendations, including advocating for financial sustainability; advocating for reinstated and enhanced funding for research and maintaining current per-student funding for teacher education programs; investment in new buildings and deferred maintenance; eliminating the International Student Recovery Program, or at least capping the recovery at the 2013-14 levels; using a portion of funding already allocated to graduate expansion for operating grants to attract top international PhD students; and that government work with universities to streamline and reduce the reporting burden on institutions.
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). The university expects a federal budget could come down before Senate meets in late February. The AUCC and U15 are keeping institutions well informed about efforts to advocate for more research funding for the granting councils, as well as for the indirect costs of research and research excellence.
• Government relations:

- Provincial. Queen’s was one of three universities and two colleges invited to participate in a Google Hangout with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Brad Duguid last month. The purpose was to discuss the potential of Ontario Online, a collaborative Centre of Excellence that will increase the number of online courses being offered by our universities and colleges, as well as to improve collaboration and knowledge-sharing between them. The Hangout session has since been posted to YouTube.
- Federal. The government announced its International Education Strategy last month. While funding for the strategy is not as robust as the university might have hoped, the strategy reflects the vision – as well as many of the recommendations – made by the advisory panel on Canada’s International Education Strategy.

• Homecoming. This year’s Homecoming will take place the weekend of Oct. 17-19.
• The principal also marked the passing of a great Queen’s alumnus, friend and supporter, John Matheson, who played a role in creating the Canadian flag and the Order of Canada, and was a respected war veteran, politician and judge.

Provost’s report

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

Senate moved into Committee of the Whole for a presentation on the Campus Master Plan from Warren Price of Urban Strategies Inc., Queen’s planning consultants. Mr. Price answered several questions regarding the plan, and will be back to present the final plan at the March Senate meeting.

Committee motions and reports

Senate approved:

• A proposal to establish a Graduate Diploma in Risk Policy and Regulation, in the Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts and Science and School of Graduate Studies, effective September 2014, from the Senate Committee on Academic Development (SCAD).
• A proposal to delete all fields in the Faculty of Education master’s program effective immediately, resulting in the master’s program continuing to be offered as a general program without any fields of specialization, from SCAD.
• The Concurrent Bachelor of Music/Music and Digital Media Program with Queen’s School of Music and St. Lawrence College effective September 2014, from SCAD. Queen’s News Centre story
• The appointment of Philip Lloyd to the Senate Orientation Activities Review Board (SOARB), from the Senate Governance and Nominating Committee (SGNC).
• A recommendation to revise the compositions of the SGNC and the Senate Advisory Research Committee, from SGNC.
• A recommendation that copies of the Official Convocation Program be included in the Senate Minutes as the official record of those receiving degrees, diplomas and certificates at the 2013 spring and fall convocations, from SCAP.
• The recommendation that Senate amend the student code of conduct to add hazing as a violation of the code of conduct, and that Senate task the Senate Committee on Non-Academic Discipline to develop a more in-depth document to assist the various non-academic discipline systems in responding to hazing incidents, and require SONAD to present this document to Senate for approval no later than April 2015, from SONAD.

Senate received a notice of motion to approve the recommendation to dissolve the Senate Creative Arts and Public Lectures Committee, from the SGNC.

Senate received for information the SOARB Annual Report and reports from standing committees: SCAD, Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee, SCAP, SONAD, Senate Residence Committee, SGNC, and Senate Educational Equity Committee.

Reports of faculties and schools

Senate received the Graduate Studies Executive Council report and the School of Business Faculty Board report.

Question period

The provost responded to a question regarding the accommodation of more students in QSuccess, a transition program to help first-year students develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills to support their personal and academic success at Queen's. The provost reported that the program has been very positively received and while the university could not accommodate all those who applied to the pilot program, the remaining applicants were offered the opportunity to take part in an online version of the program. After an evaluation of the program is completed, the university will look to whether an expansion of the program is appropriate.

In response to a question about academic freedom with regard to international collaboration, the provost offered, due to the broad nature of the question, to meet in person with the individual who raised it. He noted, however, that Queen’s aims to be at the forefront of ensuring academic freedom through all its partnerships.

Communications

Senate received for information the Naming Procedure for Academic Units, the list of 2012-13 Teaching Awards recipients, the Research Report, and the University Council on Athletics and Recreation Annual Report.