S-99-2 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, September 7, 1999 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-98-50, S-98-51 S-99-1(Renumbered from S-98-52) Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. (1) RESOLUTION ON THE DEATH OF PROFESSOR JOHN T. (JACK) EDWARD, DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY 101.1 Prof. D.N. Harpp read a formal resolution on the death of Prof. Edward (Appendix B, attached to the permanent copy of the minutes). The resolution was passed unanimously. (2) MINUTES OF MAY 25, 1999 S-98-50 Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Paquette, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (3) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES There was no business arising from the minutes. (4) ANNOUNCEMENTS 104.1 Dean Shaver said that it has been the tradition of the Faculty of Science to send out announcements concerning awards, promotions, etc. via e-mail. He reminded members that they should inform their chair and/or the Dean of good news, so that such items could be announced. Dean Shaver said that these announcements often appear in the Principal's speeches to the Board of Governors as well as at Convocation. (5) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Sub-committee on Scholarships (for information) S-98-51 105.1 Prof. GowriSankaran, on behalf of Prof. Brown, Chair of the Sub-committee on Scholarships, presented the scholarships report. b) Nominating Committee S-99-1(Renumbered from S-98-52) 105.2 Dean Shaver said the Nominating Committee consisted of the nine elected senators representing the Faculty of Science. 105.3 The Nominating Committee Report listed members for the following committees: (1) The Faculty of Science Standing Committee on Computing (2) Committee on Student Standing (3) Academic Committee (4) Science Chairs' Council (for information) (5) Committee on Materials Science (for information) [approved by Faculty on May 25, 1999] (6) Scholarships Sub-committee (for information) [Chair approved by Faculty on May 25, 1999] (7) Tenure Committee (for information) (8) Leo Yaffe Award Committee (9) Senate Nominating Committee (for information) Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Farrell, that items 1,2,3 and 8 of the Nominating Committee Report be approved. 105.4 Prof. Marley proposed a friendly amendment that Prof. M. Baldwin replace Prof. F. Wilkinson on the Committee on Student Standing. The amended motion carried. (6) DEAN'S BUSINESS There was no Dean's business. (7) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD There were no questions. (8) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE Senate Meeting of April 14, 1999 - Report by Prof. P. Farrell on behalf of Prof. E. Meighen The meeting was short, dealing only with administrative matters submitted by Senate Committees. A formal procedure for the granting of a degree more than 5 years after the completion of requirements was recommended by the Committee on Student Affairs. The document was considerably simplified by modifications proposed by various Senators and then was accepted by Senate. The same Committee also presented the proposed Calendar of Dates for 2000-2001, in which classes will start on September 5th, after Labour Day. The annual report from the Committee on the co-ordination of Student Services was received by Senate and this contained proposals for student services fee increases of 10% for the 1999-2000 year. Senate agreed to forward these to the Board for approval. The last item discussed was a long report from the Committee on Scholarships and Student Aid, which contained 12 recommendations to Senate. These were aimed at increasing available funding, assuring financial support for graduate students, increasing the number of in-course scholarships for undergraduate students and attempting to assist students in financial need. Long discussion on the first two recommendations of this report ensued (these relating to entrance and in-course scholarships for undergraduates) before they were passed with minor amendment. This so exhausted Senators that they voted to return the balance of the recommendations for re-consideration by the Committee! Senate Meeting of May 26, 1999 - Report by Prof. P. Farrell The last Senate Meeting of the 1998-99 session dealt mainly with housekeeping items, together with some discussion of the 1999-2000 budget. A number of new programs were approved, including the replacement of the B. Arch. by a new, 3-semester, M. Arch. I (Professional), to bring our offering into line with those of other N. American Schools of Architecture. A revised definition of a "School" (excluding Summer Schools) was approved, to note that "Schools can be academic units reporting to two or more faculties, and administer one or more inter-disciplinary programs". The amalgamation of the Brace Research Institute with the Centre for Drainage Studies into a new "Brace Centre for Water Resources Management" was approved. Nominations of Senate representatives to a gamut of University and Faculty Committees were made and approved - this is an annual exercise at the last Senate meeting of a year. A revised, flexible policy for deferral of admission to programs that do not have enrolment limits was approved on recommendation of the University Admissions committee in its 1998-99 report to the Senate. Senate moved into Committee of the whole to discuss the 1999-2000 budget - an exercise that generated little enthusiasm and only desultory debate! Concerns were expressed over the University's annual "bad debts" item - ca $20 - 25 Million cumulative and over the reduction in the Faculty Club allocation, while pleasure that the budget included no increase in student registration fees was evident. The University was encouraged to make greater use of fee waivers for foreign students, wherever possible. Senate expressed its "warm and enthusiastic appreciation to Professor Chan for his excellent service as Vice-Principal (Academic)" with applause, and adjourned for the summer. Some discussion followed. (9) OTHER BUSINESS a) Fall Enrolment 109.1 Dean Shaver noted that the Fall enrolment had been steady for the last several years, but now seemed to have increased. In the last three years, the number had ranged from 940 to 960. It was anticipated that the new enrolment would be well over 1000 for the current year. Information on the enrolment distribution (out-of-province, etc.) would be reported at a future meeting. b) Deans' and Vice-Principals' Retreat 109.2 Dean Shaver said that every year in August, the deans and the vice-principals hold a planning meeting. This year's meeting dealt with a request from the Ministry of Education of QuÇbÇc to justify a substantial new investment in the higher education system. The MEQ has requested from all QuÇbÇc universities a series of priority statements indicating what positive results would be obtained from an increased investment in higher education in QuÇbÇc. 109.3 Dean Shaver said there had been a request to make a proposal to change the funding formula to better support research, and that Vice-Principal Heaphy had presented a series of recommended changes. Dean Shaver said that McGill's emphasis would be that it is a research-intensive university conducting an international type of research that attracts excellent people, intellectually enriches QuÇbÇc, and enhances the economic base of the province. This approach would justify the new investment. c) Libraries Account Subscription 109.4 Dean Shaver said that the proposed cuts to journal subscriptions would be substantial, and that many Faculty members were extremely concerned. He himself felt that the situation was a crisis. While there was hope that the CFI initiative or grant or a database for science journals would address professors' needs, this had not yet been shown to work; until another approach had proven itself, the collections should not be demolished. Dean Shaver said he would propose that the cuts be rolled back, and that the necessary money be added to the university's deficit. 109.5 Dean Shaver said the issue was money and priorities, and the Faculty would be asked to make what he called a false choice: either money for libraries or money for new professors or salary increases. Dean Shaver said he felt there was no choice; all would have to be done. He asked members to send their comments by e-mail. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m. Fmn1999Sept.doc