S-97-13 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, October 7, 1997 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-97-5 to S-97-12 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:04 p.m. (1) CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES a) Bachelor of Science S-97-6 Dean Shaver introduced Ms. Rosa Colaianni, Advisor, Student Affairs Office, to answer any questions. Prof. Moore moved, seconded by Prof. ThÇrien, that the above candidates be recommended to the Senate Steering Committee for the Bachelor of Science degree. Prof. GowriSankaran further moved, seconded by Prof. Moore, that the Dean be given discretionary power to make such changes in the degree list as would be necessary to prevent injustice. The motions carried. b) Diploma in Environmental Studies S-97-7 There were no students recommended for this diploma. C) Diploma in Meteorology S-97-8 There were no students recommended for this diploma. (2) MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 S-97-5 Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. Barrette, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Minute 106.4, Page 2, Enrolment Statistics (S-97-3) 203.1 Associate Dean de Takacsy said that, contrary to what had been reported at the September 9, 1997 meeting (S- 97-3), there had actually been a slight increase in new registration for new Science students (Sept. 1997 - 1006; Sept. 1996 - 990). Associate Dean de Takacsy said that these numbers were down compared with several years ago; there was a slight decrease in new registration for students admitted from CEGEP. With regard to new registration for the University as a whole, Associate Dean de Takacsy said that there was a slight increase. Associate Dean de Takacsy said the exchange programs were apparently becoming more popular: there were 220 exchange students in Fall 1996, and 259 in Fall 1997. 203.2 In response to Prof. GowriSankaran, Dean Shaver said the figures reported above were for incoming students. However, the total enrolment for the university has decreased. There had been a big increase in enrolment of undergraduate students a few years ago; the graduation of these students was now causing a small reduction in enrolment. Dean Shaver said that the total enrolment at the university includes graduate students, and this can be, especially at the Master's level, particularly dependent upon the rate of exit and entry, which can be very dependent upon the job market. The increased job market may have increased the rate of exit, and decreased the rate of entry, for a net reduction. Minute 113.1, Page 4, Other Business 203.3 Prof. Butler said that the Leo Yaffe Memorial Service had been held in Redpath Hall on September 26, 1997. He commented that Redpath Hall was a very good location for holding such events. 203.4 Dean Shaver commended the Department of Chemistry for the excellent organization of the Leo Yaffe Memorial Service, and said that the audience had found it touching to speak to Prof. Yaffe's family. (4) SEATING OF STUDENT MEMBERS S-97-11 204.1 Dean Shaver welcomed the student members to the Faculty of Science meeting, and said their attendance is encouraged. (5) ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. (6) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Committee on Student Standing (CSS) S-97-9 (for information) 206.1 Since there had been no meetings held, there was no CSS report. b) Academic Committee S-97-10 BIOLOGY GENETICS COURSE (AC-97-7) (for information) 206.2 Dean Shaver thanked the Department of Biology and the Faculty of Medicine for ensuring that this course would be available in both the Fall and Winter semesters for 1998-99. SCHOOL OF NURSING 576-308 Women's Health (AC-97-1) 3 credits Change in course description Prof. Zuckermann moved, seconded by Prof. Butler, that the change be approved. The motion carried. New Course: 576-309 Women's Reproductive Health (AC-97-2) 3 credits Prof. Zuckermann moved, seconded by Prof. ThÇrien, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. PSYCHIATRY New Course (First Year Seminar) 555-199A Mental Illness and the brain (AC-97-3) 3 credits Mr. Slotin moved, seconded by Mr. Bales-Kogan, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. c) Other - Faculty Meeting of September 9, 1997, Page 2, Minute 106.2, Nominating Committee (S-97-1) 206.3 Dean Shaver announced that there had been a change in the Report of the Nominating Committee. The new Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences representative on the Faculty of Science Standing Committee on Computing, Workgroup on Technology Committee, would be Mr. Alan Schwartz. (7) DEAN'S BUSINESS There was no Dean's business. (8) REPORT: McGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT(MSE) - Prof. Nigel Roulet, Interim Director, MSE) S-97-12 208.1 Prof. Roulet described the main points of the Report on the MSE, and answered members' questions. The MSE will open in September 1998. (9) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD There were no questions. (10) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE* Prof. Farrell - Senate Meeting of September 17, 1997. This meeting concerned itself with essentially one item of business, Revisions to the Regulations Concerning Complaints of Sexual Harassment. Better definitions of Sexual Harassment were proposed, the role of the Assessors divided into 3 areas of responsibility and a 'feeding-in' to the appropriate grievance or disciplinary procedure of any case where the Principal considers that such action is necessary was approved. In the case of Academic Staff, this latter means that access to a hearing is now guaranteed in such cases. A number of minor amendments from the floor were approved- -though not all that were proposed. Changes to the Academic and Support Staff for the quarter ending May 31st were reported and minor changes to the Librarian Staff. Prof. Butler - Senate Meeting of October 1, 1997. 1. Dean Shaver presented resolutions on the recent deaths of two members of the Department of Chemistry: Professor David J. Simkin and Professor Leo Yaffe. 2. A motion to amend the Agenda was defeated. Professor Farrell had asked the Principal for a ruling on the appropriateness of discussing the Report of the Workgroup on the Management of the McGill Bookstore on the floor of Senate. 3. There was some discussion about the questions asked by student Senator Newell concerning sexual harassment cases involving anonymous e-mails. V.P. (Academic) Chan stated that irrespective of the type of sexual or other form of harassment, every effort would be made to try to trace the identity of the respondent. 4. A motion by Professor Noumoff, seconded by Professor Zuckermann, to establish the position of an "academic" ombudsperson for an 18-month trial basis, failed. 5. V.P. (Academic) Chan presented the 292nd Report of the Academic Planning and Priorities Committee. i. A Report to Senate on the First-Year Seminars was received. It is proposed to introduce more of these seminars in the future since they seem to be well received by the students. The limited number of students enrolled in the courses did cause some concern. (At this point, the Principal had to leave and Professor Farrell assumed the Chair). ii. The new multi-track program in the Faculty of Arts was approved by Senate much to the satisfaction of Dean Miller. iii. Several other graduate diplomas and certificates were approved. 6. The report of the Senate Nominating Committee was approved. The recommendations were for several statutory selection committees for Promotion to Full Professor and a few Senate committees, e.g., Professor Harpp will be a member of the committee to select the Director of the Center for University Teaching and Learning. 7. The contentious item on the report of the Workgroup on the Management of the McGill Bookstore was presented next by V.P. Heaphy. Professor Duff, the Chair of this workgroup, had been given speaking rights for this occasion. This item, which concerns the possible management of the McGill Bookstore by Chapters, is still on the floor of Senate because, towards the end of the unresolved (but clearly split) discussion, the absence of a quorum was noted and the Senate meeting was promptly adjourned at 5:39 p.m. *Senate documents are available in the Dean's Secretariat for consultation. (11) OTHER BUSINESS 211.1 Prof. Farrell said with respect to the December examination timetable, that some faculty may be unhappy with the seating, as students will be spread across many different rooms. He said there are more examinations this coming December than in the past, but not more seats, and that while he had done his best there would be some problems, and he thought people should be aware of them. The timetable would soon be available on infoMcGill, and a hard copy would be published as well. 211.2 Prof. Farrell said there is a need to have at least one faculty member on duty in the Arts Building and in the Gym for each exam session. He said it would be nice to have one member from the Faculty of Arts and one from the Faculty of Science to assist him during the December examination period, as well as during the Spring 1998 period, and then possibly look after the examinations from then on; Prof. Farrell himself would like to retire from the position of Chief Invigilator. He informed members that there was a minuscule honorarium for this service. 211.3 Mr. Bales-Kogan said that SUS Infopoint terminals are currently being used by students from all faculties. As of the following week, user names will be implemented for members of the Faculty of Science (students and staff). This will be free. The SUS will be selling user accounts to non-Science students and faculty. 211.4 Prof. Butler informed members that a fund had been set up in Prof. Simkin's memory. He said he was pleased to announce that enough money had been raised to endow a scholarship account, in order to offer a prize to a Physical Chemistry graduate student. The meeting adjourned at 3:56 p.m. f:\usr\josie\facsci\fmn7Of