S-98-24 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, January 12, 1999 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-98-21 to S-98-23 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:09 p.m. Additional Item to Agenda - Chief Invigilator for Examinations, to be discussed under item #(5), Other Business. (1) MINUTES OF DECEMBER 1, 1998 S-98-21 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (2) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES Minute 404.4, 186-205A/504-205A (AC-98-40/40A) 502.1 Prof. Vali of the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology was present to answer members' questions. He said that at the most there would be three lecturers for the course. Prof. Vali will cover 70% of the course material. 502.2 In reply to a question concerning the absence of prerequisites for the course and the extensive and advanced reading list for a course at the 200-level, Prof. Vali said that the reading list was not required reading, but that he would be putting together course material that students at this level could understand. Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Arkani-Hamed, that the course be adopted. The motion carried. (3) ANNOUNCEMENTS 503.1 Dean Shaver read the list of announcements that had been previously circulated by e-mail. He said that he would like to continue to encourage faculty members to inform their chairs and/or the Dean of these types of awards and of other similar items. (4) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Academic Committee S-98-22 Academic Committee Meeting of November 17, 1998 BIOLOGY 177-208A Introduction to Ecology (AC-98-51) 3 credits Changes in course number (from 177-308B), prerequisite and course title Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. 177-304B Evolution (AC-98-52) 3 credits Changes in course number (from 177-204A), prerequisite and course description Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. Academic Committee Meeting of December 8, 1998 MINOR COURSE CHANGES (AC-98-56) (for information) PHYSICS New Program: - Minor in Physics (AC-98-57) Prof. Harris moved, seconded by Prof. Drury, that the program be adopted. The motion carried. PSYCHOLOGY 204-308A Physiological Psychology I: Fundamentals (AC-98- 59) 3 credits Change in prerequisites Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the change be approved. The motion carried. 504.1 In response to a comment by a member, Associate Dean Mendelson urged departments to review course equivalencies currently listed in the Calendar to check that the equivalencies are still appropriate. 204-318B Physiological Psychology II: Motivation and Learning (AC-98-60) 3 credits Change in prerequisites Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the change be approved. The motion carried. ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC SCIENCES, CHEMISTRY New Course: 195-219A/180-219A Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry (AC-98- 61/61A) 3 credits New Course: 195-419B/180-419B Advances in Chemistry of the Atmosphere (AC-98- 62/62A) 3 credits New Course: 195-619B/180-619B Advances in Chemistry of the Atmosphere (AC-98- 63/63A) 4 credits Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. Marley, that the above courses be adopted. The motion carried. MCGILL SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT - Domain in Earth Sciences and Economics (AC-98-64) Prof. Baker moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the domain be adopted. The motion carried. 504.2 Associate Dean Mendelson reported that there had been a change in the domain after it had been approved at the Academic Committee meeting of December 8, 1998. He said that the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences had recommended and approved the domain, provided that Biology 177-308/208A or 344-205B (page 3, AC-98-64), originally listed as a complementary course, be listed as a required course. He said that the total number of required credits had not increased. 504.3 In reply to a question regarding whether the above change to the domain had been approved by the MSE Curriculum Committee, Dean Shaver said that Associate Dean Mendelson would verify this. - Domain in Renewable Resource Management (AC-98-65) Prof. Carroll moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the domain be adopted. The motion carried. BIOLOGY 177-112B,L Cell and Molecular Biology (AC-98-68) 3 credits Change in laboratory hours Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the change be approved. The motion carried. 177-201B Cell Biology and Metabolism (AC-98-69) 3 credits Change in course description Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the change be approved. The motion carried. 177-358A Canadian Flora (AC-98-70) 3 credits Changes in course description and prerequisites. Prof. Kramer moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. Program changes: - Major Program in Biology (AC-98-71) - Honours Program in Biology (AC-98-72) - Faculty Program in Biology (AC-98-73) - Faculty Program in Biology and Mathematics (AC-98-74) Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Kramer, that the above program changes be approved. The motion carried. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR MCGILL STUDENTS ON APPROVED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (AC-98-66) 504.4 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the current Faculty regulation concerning residency requirements for McGill students on approved exchange programs requires students to do two-thirds of their credits at McGill. He said that in some McGill Science programs students cannot go on exchange programs because their McGill program is so highly structured that, in order to avoid a delay in graduation, they would have to complete over one-third of their credits at the other university. Associate Dean Mendelson said that the purpose of the proposal was to allow departmental approval for students to take the appropriate sequence of courses while away on exchange programs. He said it was perfectly appropriate for departments to pre-approve courses taken as substitutes for courses in the departments' programs. Associate Dean Mendelson said that exchange programs have become popular with students and that the proposal would aid students in going on exchange programs. 504.5 In response to a question, Dean Shaver said that regulations similar to those proposed were very common among other universities. He said that the purpose of the regulation was to ensure that students who receive a McGill degree take McGill courses. Dean Shaver said that by going away, students are gaining international experience. However, he added, it was up to departments to monitor content and quality. Dean Shaver said that it was in a department's interest that content and quality be maintained. After some discussion, Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Associate Dean Mendelson, that the proposal be approved. The motion carried. CREDIT LIMIT ON PROJECT COURSES (AC-98-67/67A) 504.6 Associate Dean Mendelson said that the Academic Committee had approved the general principle of a regulation concerning a credit limit on project courses, but that departments may opt to list exceptions without further Academic Committee approval. Hence, Psychology courses have been added, and the Department of Biochemistry has also asked that courses be listed(AC-98-67A). Prof. Kramer moved, seconded by Prof. Carroll, that the above change be approved. 504.7 Following a discussion, Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. Francis, that the following amendment be approved. 504.8 Prof. Farrell proposed that document AC-98-67 should read: "Students may normally receive no more than 12 credits for individual project or independent study courses toward a B.Sc. degree." The amendment was approved. The amended motion carried. DESIGNATING MINOR CONCENTRATIONS FOR SCIENCE STUDENTS (AC-98-75) 504.9 Associate Dean Mendelson said that when the principle of allowing Science students to take Arts Minor Concentrations was originally approved, it was agreed that programs would be designated as Minors for Science students. He said that decision raised some academic and administrative problems. Associate Dean Mendelson said that there are Science students taking Arts Major Concentrations, and that these are designated as such on Science students' transcripts. Designating Minor Concentrations on Science students' transcripts would be consistent with this practice. He said that the administrative issue concerned of duplication of tables on MARS and on the Degree Navigator audit system. This could eventually raise problems for departments, students, and the Faculty. After a short discussion, Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the proposal be adopted. The motion carried. (5) DEAN'S BUSINESS - Faculty of Science Research Award S-98-23 505.1 Prof. Baines introduced document S-98-23, concerning the possibility of a Faculty of Science Research Award to recognize outstanding research. 505.2 It was questioned whether such an award was needed. Concerns were raised that there would be a proliferation of awards. It was pointed out that research was recognized by awards from outside granting agencies. One member felt that a lot of work would be involved in the nomination process. Another member felt that a research award would require an external referee. 505.3 It was suggested that perhaps a committee could further explore the idea, as opposed to defining the terms of reference for the research award. Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the Faculty of Science create a committee (either ad hoc or the Leo Yaffe Committee) to draft the terms of reference for a Faculty of Science Research Award and bring these recommended terms of reference back to the Faculty for approval. Vote: 9 For 11 Against The motion was defeated. - CHIEF INVIGILATOR FOR EXAMINATIONS 505.4 Dean Shaver said that Prof. P. Farrell, Chief Invigilator for the Faculties of Arts and Science, had resigned. He said it would be appropriate that the next Chief Invigilator be chosen from the Faculty of Arts; so far, however, no one had been chosen. Dean Shaver raised the issue of whether the Chief Invigilator necessarily had to be an academic, or whether this responsibility could be handled by the Student Affairs Office, perhaps reporting to an academic. Dean Shaver said that he had taken it upon himself to explore options. He asked members for comments, either at the meeting or afterwards. Dean Shaver specifically asked Prof. Farrell for comments. 505.5 Prof. Farrell said he thought that control of the examination system and attempts to ensure exams were conducted in an appropriate manner were academic issues. It had always been believed that there should be a member of the academic staff in control of the formal University examinations. He said that a number of academic issues arise during the examination period, other than issues such as typographical errors, students not showing up on time, etc. He said that the latter issues could be handled by a support staff person, provided that academic staff understood that this was a purely administrative process, and that academic decisions would still have to be made by an academic. Prof. Farrell said that if academic staff were willing to be more involved with examinations, it could work. 505.6 The general sense was that a support staff person could take on the responsibility of the Chief Invigilator for administrative duties only, but would be reporting to an academic. 505.7 It was pointed out that support staff would have difficulty giving orders to professors, and that the academic in charge should be a strong authority, such as the Associate Dean. (6) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD There were no questions (7) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE* Due to lack of time, the report of the Senate Meeting of December 2, 1998, was not read at this meeting. However, Prof. Farrell submitted the report for insertion in the minutes. The meeting commenced with four resolutions on recent deaths. It then continued with a question by Prof. Noumoff regarding "salary adjustments for those in anomalous situations." Vice-Principal Chan replied that there were now few such adjustments necessary as a considerable effort was made in the recent past to address this issue for academic staff. The ongoing process was not yet complete for this year, and no details are currently available. The remainder of the meeting was essentially devoted to the receipt of reports and some discussion of a possible Deficit Budget for 1999-2000. The Ombudsperson's report noted an increase in recorded cases for 1997-1998, with the majority (ca. 40%) originating from students in the Faculty of Arts (including graduate students). Complaints were equally distributed by gender; an increase of over 100% in complaints from Ph.D, students was reported and ca. 60% of complaints pertained to academic matters. Some 40% of cases were dealt with by a single action (advice, meeting, phone-call, referral). The APPC report included a Minor in Chemistry for Science Students and three domains for B.Sc. Major programs in the School of Environment, all of which were approved. Vice-Principal Heaphy presented the audited financial statements for 1997-1998. Modification to the accounting rules governing non-profit organizations have resulted in significant changes to the statements when compared with previous years, most notable being a "reduction" in the accumulated deficit of some $10 million! This reduction arises from the inclusion of cumulative surpluses from miscellaneous operations, the reversal of an accrual for unspent budgets, and pledges receivable as part of the annual operating surplus. Unspent balances will, however, be preserved by the University for their designated Departmental use as part of an "internally restricted" part of the operating surplus. The Vice-Principal continued by discussing possible budget items for 1999-2000, which would either increase or decrease the deficit in the budget for the current year. Such items include a budget cut of ca. 2%, monies for salary increases, increased revenues from business agreements, increased cleaning costs, etc. Little constructive discussion of these items was generated! The meeting concluded with some minor scholarship changes and the Principal's report to the Board. *Senate documents are available in the Dean's Secretariat for consultation. (8) OTHER BUSINESS There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. Josie\Facsci\Fmn1998jf.doc