S-98-13 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, October 6, 1998 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-98-6 to S-98-12 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. He informed members that Associate Dean Mendelson was unable to attend the Faculty meeting. (1) CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES a) Bachelor of Science S-98-8 201.1 Dean Shaver said that, in the absence of an advisor from SAO, he had been asked to pass on a suggestion that if there were any questions concerning the degree list, departmental advisors or chairs should contact Ms. Sharon Bezeau, Recorder, Student Affairs Office, either by e-mail, sharon@artsci.lan.mcgill.ca, or by phone at local 3384. Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the candidates be recommended to the Senate Steering Committee for the Bachelor of Science degree. Prof. GowriSankaran further moved, seconded by Prof. Farrell, 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-98-9 There were no students recommended for this diploma. C) Diploma in Meteorology S-98-10 There were no students recommended for this diploma. (2) MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 S-98-6 Minute 105.2, Page 2, Robert Nicholls Scholarship 202.1 Prof. GowriSankaran pointed out that the second sentence should read: ... "The scholarship will be awarded to a student with high academic standing having completed at least one year of studies in the Faculty of Science." Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the amended minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Minute 105.3,Page 2, Robert Nicholls Scholarship 203.1 Prof. GowriSankaran and Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Farrell for pointing out a mistake in the description of the Robert Nicholls Scholarship. (4) SEATING OF STUDENT MEMBERS S-98-11 204.1 Dean Shaver welcomed the student members to the Faculty of Science meeting. (5) ANNOUNCEMENTS 205.1 Dean Shaver welcomed Prof. A. Marley, Chair of the Department of Psychology, back from sabbatical leave. 205.2 Dean Shaver said the Faculty would be circulating announcements of achievements, awards and promotions, and that the Faculty really appreciated being informed of such events (Appendix A). (6) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Committee on Student Standing (CSS) S-98-7 (for information) 206.1 Dean Shaver pointed out the CSS report. b) Academic Committee S-98-12 MINOR COURSE CHANGES (AC-98-1) (for information) SCTP(formerly NRCP) AND COURSE/PROGRAM APPROVAL PROCESS (AC-98-2) (for information) AD HOC MAJOR PROGRAM IN BIOLOGY & MATHEMATICS FOR TEACHERS(AC-98- 4) Prof. Drury moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the ad hoc Major Program for Ms. Patricia MacDonald-Elliott be approved. The motion carried. CHEMISTRY New Course 180-6XXD Seminars in Chemistry (AC-98-13) 1 credit Prof. Harpp moved, seconded by Prof. Farrell, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. PSYCHOLOGY 204-797A/B Teaching Methods in Psychology I (AC-98-14) 3 credits Change in course number from 204-697A/B. 204-798A/B Teaching Methods in Psychology II (AC-98-15) 3 credits Change in course number from 204-698A/B. Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Yau, that the above changes be approved. The motion carried. - MSc in Psychology (MA - for information)(AC-98-16) Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Carroll, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. 204-690H Master's Research I (AC-98-17) 15 credits Change in credit weight from 12. Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Barrette, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. SECOND PROGRAMS - Arts Minor Concentrations (for information)(AC-98-7) - Arts Major Concentrations (for information)(AC-98-18) 206.2 Dean Shaver said that decisions concerning the above Arts Concentrations had been made previously by the Faculty of Science. McGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT (MSE) 206.3 Prof. Charles Lin, Department of Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, was present at the meeting to answer questions concerning the MSE domains and course. - Water Environments and Ecosystems Domain (AC-98-8 Revised) Prof. Yau moved, seconded by Prof. Lin, that the domain be adopted. The motion carried. - Atmospheric Environment and Air Quality Domain (AC-98-9 Revised) Prof. Kramer moved, seconded by Prof. Yau, that the domain be adopted. The motion carried. - Environmetrics Domain (AC-98-10) Prof. Lin moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the domain be adopted. The motion carried. New Course 170-451B Research in Panama (AC-98-11) 6 credits Prof. Doig moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. c) Other - Report of the Scholarships Committee 206.4 Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Marley, that Ms. Isabelle Gingras, Honours in Psychology, a Fall graduating student, be awarded the McGill Alumnae Society Prize at Convocation. 206.5 Prof. GowriSankaran said that Ms. Gingras is an outstanding student, with a 4.00 average, which is rare in the Honours Program in Psychology. He said the issue had only just been brought to his attention, and that he thought it would be only fair to give Ms. Gingras an award because in the last ten years there had not been more than two or three such students. He said that if Ms. Gingras had graduated in Spring 1998, she would have been a very strong candidate for the Governor General's Medal. Prof. GowriSankaran said that he had had no time to bring this issue to the Faculty's Sub-committee on Scholarships, and hence he came to Faculty for approval. 206.6 Prof. GowriSankaran added that he normally warns departments during the May Scholarships meeting, that if there are any outstanding students due to graduate in the Fall, departments should try to reserve an award for them, because the prizes and awards are usually given once a year. 206.7 Prof. Marley said that Ms. Gingras had been an exceptional student throughout her studies. She contributed tremendously to the department, in addition to obtaining high grades. For example, during the Summer she tutored for free a Mature Student who could not afford a tutor. Prof. Marley apologized for having missed Ms. Gingras prior to the June convocation. The motion carried. 206.8 Dean Shaver thanked Professors GowriSankaran and Marley for this excellent motion. 206.9 Prof. Farrell asked whether there was a particular reason why this student could not be considered by the Scholarships Sub-committee in Spring 1999, and have a prize awarded retroactively. 206.10 Prof. GowriSankaran said it was quite possible, and that he would take note. 206.11 Prof. Farrell said the reason he raised the issue was because all the other students on the list were being ignored for scholarships; there could well be another very good student on the list. 206.12 In response, Prof. GowriSankaran said it was quite possible. However, there are only a few non-dedicated awards available at graduation in the Faculty of Science. These are the Governor General's Medal, McGill Alumnae Society Prize, Moyse Travelling Scholarship, and Emanual Tavares Prize. These are normally given out by the Faculty of Science Sub- committee on Scholarships. All the other prizes are given on the recommendation of the departments. He said that it is the responsibility of the departments to keep track of who may be graduating in the Fall. It would be very difficult for the Sub-committee on Scholarships to do it. (7) DEAN'S BUSINESS There was no Dean's business. (9) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD 209.1 Prof. Marley said he had heard that there had been an excellent reception for the MSE, and he assumed that the Dean had made some contribution. Prof. Marley thanked Dean Shaver for a wonderful event. 209.2 Dean Shaver said the event had been organized by Karen Molgaard, Administrative Officer for the MSE. It had been an opportunity to introduce the new Director of the MSE, Prof. Peter Brown, to the community, in association with a conference on endangered species, chaired by Prof. David Green. The conference and reception were held in the Redpath Museum. (10) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE* On behalf of Prof. Rigelhof, Prof. Farrell read the report of the Senate Meeting of September 16, 1998 The first meeting of Senate for the 1998-99 Academic year began with a motion on the death of Emeritus Professor Svenn Orvig moved by Dean Shaver. In the session for questions by members, Professor Jonsson asked a question about classroom crowding and safety, and another re Arts Building classrooms. Both were answered by VP Heaphy and neither generated further discussion. The 303rd Report of the Academic Policy and Planning Committee was presented. Senate approved two new undergraduate programs of the MSE: a B. A. in Environment: Environment & Development, and a B.Sc. Major in Environment: Biodiversity and Conservation. The report also featured a report of its Advisory Committee on Educational Equity entitled "Learning from Diversity". The Advisory Committee did not present a report with formal targets or uniform criteria for diversity. Rather, it tried to present a conceptual framework and laid out a set of processes to ensure that McGill continues to learn from diversity. The recommendations, always idealistic, ranged from the practical: Recommendation 18: That the creation of financial assistance for students in financial need be a priority for the next Advancement Campaign. to the politically correct: Recommendation 21: That teaching staff display sensitivity in the classroom to the presence of students, women and men coming from a diversity of backgrounds, including a diversity of racial and ethnic origins, religions, sexual orientations, family compositions, disabilities, linguistic origins and age. to the impractical and slightly silly: Recommendation 20: That each course and each program of study be conceived in part as an occasion to learn from diversity in the following dimensions: 1. The diversity of the student and faculty population; 2. Comparative and critical perspectives on course material emerging from competing theoretical currents, including feminist and minority perspectives 3. The testing and applying of ideas in differing cultural contexts. As Professor Zuckerman pointed out that's hard to do in a course in Quantum Thermodynamics! The report was not presented to Senate for approval but only for reflection and discussion. The annual report of the Sexual Harassment Office was also presented to Senate. *Senate documents are available in the Dean's Secretariat for consultation. (11) OTHER BUSINESS 211.1 Prof. Farrell said that due to the recent fires in the Gym, he did not know whether there would be sufficient seats available during the December examination period. 211.2 Dean Shaver said that in order to accommodate students for final examinations, Prof. Farrell may have to use exam rooms that are normally used by departments; the Chief Invigilator's needs would come first. The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m. josie\facsci\fmn1998of