Highlights from the April 28 meeting of Senate

Consent agenda

Senate received:

• A report from the Senate Committee on Academic Development (SCAD)
• A report from the Senate Committee on Academic Procedures (SCAP)
• A report from the Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee (SCPRC)
• A report from the Senate Governance and Nominating Committee (SGNC)
• A report from the Senate Committee on Non-Academic Discipline (SONAD)
• A report from the Queen's University Planning Committee (QUPC)
• The Senate Research Report
• Winter term non-academic disciplines reports from the Alma Mater Society, the Society of Graduate and Professional Students, and Athletics and Recreation

Principal’s report

In addition to his written report and schedule highlights, Principal Daniel Woolf provided the following updates:

• Principal Woolf and Vice-Principal (Research) Steven Liss will be travelling to Singapore and Japan in May in order to build academic relationships and foster research partnerships with universities in the region. They will also participate in the opening of the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules, a research institute at Japan’s Nagoya University, where Queen’s professor Cathleen Crudden (Chemistry) is a Research Professor.
• The federal budget contained good news for universities with the announcement of more than 1.5 billion to support research, including over 1.33 billion to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Queen’s was specifically mentioned in the budget for the impact of its CFI-funded pipe-liner project with the City of Hamilton.
• The provincial budget clearly showed the province is commitment to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, especially through Campus Linked Accelerators and other funding. It also announced continued funding to the Ontario Online Initiative.
• The Advisory Committee on Divestment of Fossil Fuels continues to seek input from the Queen’s community, and the deadline to provide views has been extended to September 17 to ensure all interested stakeholders have an opportunity to participate.
• Consultations on the Richardson Stadium project will continue through the fall, including public meetings.
• The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Working Group has held ongoing consultations, including a campus climate survey. The working group is preparing a progress report for final policy and procedures.
• Principal Woolf encouraged faculty members to attend this spring’s ceremonies.

Provost’s report

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

• As of April 24, Queen’s had received 31,000 applications, an increase of 1% over the same date last year. There has been strong growth in applications from international and aboriginal students.
• The first class of the new, four-semester consecutive B.Ed. program is underway.

Committee motions and reports

Senate approved:

• Enrolment Targets for 2015-16 and 2016-17, as contained in the Strategic Enrolment Management Group report and recommended by SCAD
• The proposed biotechnology specialization plan in Biology and a joint degree/diploma in biotechnology in conjunction with St. Lawrence College, on the recommendation of SCAD
• The amalgamation of the Schools of Drama and Music in the Faculty of Arts and Science, to create a School of Drama and Music, effective July 1, 2015, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of SCAD
• A major modification to the Bachelor of Science General in Life Sciences in the Faculty of Arts and Science, on the recommendation of SCAD
• A motion to encourage the Faculty of Arts and Science to develop an intensive laboratory course that, in conjunction with CHEM 113 and 114, would be equivalent to CHEM 112.
• Renmin University, Beijing, China, as a location to deliver the Queen's Master of Finance Program, on the recommendation of SCAD
• Significant changes to the faculty delivering the Queen's Master of Finance program at Renmin University, Beijing, China, on the recommendation of SCAD
• The introduction of a graduate field in "International Business" in the MSc and PhD programs, Queen's School of Business, on the recommendation of SCAD
• A combined BCom/JD degree program in the School of Business and Faculty of Law, on the recommendation of SCAD
• A motion for examinations to be scheduled on Sundays during the final examination periods, on the recommendation of SCAP
• The new hood for the Master of Science (Anatomical Sciences), on the recommendation of SCAP
• The renewal of the Centre for International and Defence Policy for an additional period of five years, effective May 31, 2013, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of the Senate Advisory Research Committee (SARC)
• The renewal of the Centre for Studies in Democracy and Diversity for an additional period of five years, effective January 20, 2014, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of SARC
• The renewal of the Institute for Intergovernmental Relations for an additional period of five years, effective September 9, 2014, subject to ratification by the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of SARC
• Nominations as recommended by SGNC
• Amendments and additions to sections 1a, 5, and 17 of the Senate Policy on Student Appeals, Rights, and Discipline, as recommended by the Senate Committee on Non-Academic Discipline
• Amendments to the Orientation Week Policy Manual, on the recommendation of the Senate Orientation Activities Review Board

Senate received:

• A report on generally available split transcripts, from SCAP
• The final assessment report and implementation plan, Department of Drama, from the Senate Cyclical Program Review Committee (SCPRC)
• The final assessment report and implementation plan, academic programs in the Department of Public Health Sciences, from SCPRC
• The final assessment report and implementation plan, UNENE Master's of Nuclear Engineering, from SCPRC
• A notice of motion to approve the proposed changes to Senate's Rules of Procedure regarding the obligatory leave and removal of senators and Senate committee members, from GNC

Reports of Faculties and Schools

Senate reviewed reports from:

• The School of Graduate Studies
• The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
• The Faculty of Arts and Science

Question Period

• Provost Alan Harrison provided a written response to a question regarding the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization
• Susan Mumm, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, provided a written response to a question regarding the appointment of associate deans
• Provost Harrison provide written response to questions regarding short-term academic accommodations

Communications

Senate received:

• The Student Life Centre Annual Report 2014-15
• A report on new senators