S-00-34 FACULTY OF SCIENCE Meeting of Faculty Tuesday, February 6, 2001 Leacock Council Room - L232 ATTENDANCE: As recorded in the Faculty Appendix Book. DOCUMENTS: S-00-24 to S-00-30,30A S-00-31 to S-00-33 Dean Shaver called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. (1) ADOPTION OF AGENDA 601.1 Item #7, Dean's Business, to be considered before Item #2, Candidates for Degrees. Prof. Mucci moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the modified Agenda be adopted. The motion carried. (2) Candidates for Degrees a) Bachelor of Science S-00-25 Mr. Wilson moved, seconded by Prof. Moore, that the candidates in the above list be recommended to the Senate Steering Committee for the Bachelor of Science degree. The motion carried. b) Diploma in Environment S-00-26 There were no students recommended for this diploma. c) Diploma in Meteorology S-00-27 There were no students recommended for this diploma. Prof. GowriSankaran further moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the Dean be given discretionary power to make such changes in the degree list as would be necessary to prevent injustice. The motion carried. 602.1 Associate Dean Mendelson thanked the Student Affairs Office and advisors, as well as departmental advisors, for the large amount of work involved in preparing the degree list. (3) MINUTES OF JANUARY 9, 2001 S-00-24 Prof. Brown moved, seconded by Prof. Barrette, that the minutes be approved. The motion carried. (4) BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES - Minute 306.2, Faculty meeting of November 14,2000: Minor in Technological Entrepreneurship for Science Students 604.1 Associate Dean Mendelson explained that the above Minor had been referred back to the Faculty of Management with the recommendation that an ethics course be included. The Faculty of Management had considered the issue, but had decided that all the courses previously listed in the Minor were key courses, and that an ethics course could not be added without increasing the credit weight of the Minor. Thus no ethics course was added. Associate Dean Mendelson moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the Minor program as originally presented be adopted. The motion carried. 604.2 Dean Shaver said he looked forward to a future Academic Committee meeting examining the issue of instituting an ethics course as a general requirement for a B.Sc. (5) ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. (6) REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a) Committee on Student Standing S-00-28 606.1 Associate Dean Mendelson said that as a result of the modifications to the Constitution of the Faculty of Science, the CSS was drawing up procedures for its operation. These would be presented to Faculty for approval. b) Sub-committee on Scholarships - New Scholarship S-00-29 - AstraZeneca Scholarship in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology - Value $4000 606.2 It was pointed out that the word "majoring" should be deleted from the penultimate line of the terms of the scholarship (S-00-29). 606.3 In response to a question as to the department from which the first student to receive the scholarship would be chosen, Dean Shaver said the answer would be reported at a future Faculty meeting. Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that the scholarship be adopted. The motion carried. c) Academic Committee S-00-30, S-00-30A SECTION A: NEW PROGRAMS 1) Ad Hoc Interdepartmental Honours Degree in Cognitive Science AC-00-58(REV) 606.4 Associate Dean Mendelson pointed out that the ad hoc program had been originally approved by the Academic Committee under the name of "...Cognitive Neuroscience." Prof. Paquette moved, seconded by Prof. Marley, that the ad hoc program be adopted. The motion carried. 2) McGill School of Environment - Interdisciplinary Ph.D., M.A., & M.Sc. Program Option in Neotropical Environment AC-00-96 - Program Option Description AC-00-97 - Possible Progression AC-00-139 - Clarifications AC-00-140 606.5 After some questions and answers, Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Brown, that the above be adopted. The motion carried. New Courses Associated With NEO Program Option: Biology 177-640A Tropical Biology & Conservation (3 credits) AC-00-98 Biology 177-641A/B/T Issues in Tropical Biology (3 credits) AC-00-99 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Ms. Sanagan, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. McGill School of Environment 170-610C Foundations of Environ. Policy (3 credits) AC-00-100(REV) McGill School of Environment 170-611A,B The Economy of Nature (3 credits) AC-00-101 McGill School of Environment 170-612A,B,C,L Tropical Environmental Issues (3 credits) AC-00-102 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. Course Change Associated With NEO Program Option: Biology 177-553B Neotropical Environments (3 credits) Change in description AC-00-104 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Baines, that the change be approved. The motion carried. For Information: New Course: Political Science 160-644A,B Tropical Environmental Politics (3 credits) AC-00-103 Course Change: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering 336-550B AC-00-105 Course Change: Sociology 166-565B AC-00-106 New Options for Programs: - M.Sc. Biology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-107 - M.Sc. Geography; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-108 - Ph.D. Biology: Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-109 - Ph.D. Geography: Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-110 - Consultation Documents AC-00-111 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Farrell, that the program options be adopted. The motion carried. For Information (Documents Available Upon Request): Clarifications - Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (FAES) AC-00-141 Possible Progression - FAES AC-00-142 Possible Progression - Arts AC-00-143 M.Sc. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-112 M.A. Geography; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-113 M.Sc. Natural Resource Sciences; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-114 M.Sc. Plant Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-115 M.A. Political Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-116 M.A. Sociology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-117 Ph.D. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-118 Ph.D. Natural Resource Sciences; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-119 Ph.D. Plant Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-120 Ph.D. Political Science; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-121 Ph.D. Sociology; Neotropical Environment Option AC-00-122 606.6 Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Scott, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, for appearing at the Faculty of Science meeting. NEW FIELD SEMESTER McGill SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT Bay of Fundy Field Semester Proposal S-00-30A - Cover Memo AC-00-89 - Background/Description/Rationale AC-00-90 - Consultation Documents AC-00-95 606.7 Prof. Chmura briefly described the field semester proposal. Prof. Chmura moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the field semester be adopted. The motion carried. New Courses Associated with Bay of Fundy Field Semester Proposal 170-466A Research in Atlantic Canada (6 credits) AC-00-91 170-465A Environment and Social Change (3 credits) AC-00-92 Prof. Chmura moved, seconded by Prof. Pasztor, that the courses be adopted. The motion carried. (For Information): 106-407A Understanding Atlantic Canada (3 credits) AC-00-93 Course Changes Associated with Bay of Fundy Field Semester Proposal 183-497 Ecology of Coastal Waters AC-00-94 Changes in title, prerequisite, restriction, course description Prof. Chmura moved, seconded by Prof. Moore, that the changes be adopted. The motion carried. 606.8 Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Chmura. SECTION B: MAJOR PROGRAM CHANGES Chemistry - Major in Chemistry AC-00-169 - Major with Bio-Organic Option AC-00-188 - Major in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry Option AC-00-170 - Major with Materials Option AC-00-171 - Honours in Chemistry AC-00-172 - Honours with Bio-Organic Option AC-00-173 - Honours in Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry Option AC-00-174 - Honours with Materials Option AC-00-175 - Faculty Program in Chemistry AC-00-176 - Faculty Program in Chemistry and Mathematics AC-00-177 Prof. Harpp moved, seconded by Prof. Barrette, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. SECTION C: NEW COURSES New courses for the NEO Program Option are listed under Section A, New Programs. SECTION D: MAJOR COURSE CHANGES Physiology 552-419D Project and Seminar in Immunology AC-00-183 (9 credits) Changes in credit weight (from 6 to 9), course description and hours/week Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Mr. Wilson, that the changes be approved. The motion carried. SECTION E: MINOR PROGRAM CHANGES 1) Mathematics & Statistics - Minor in Statistics AC-00-178 - Major in Mathematics AC-00-179 - Honours in Applied Mathematics AC-00-180 - Honours in Probability and Statistics AC-00-181 Prof. GowriSankaran moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 2) Interdepartmental Honours Program in Immunology AC-00-184 Prof. Baines moved, seconded by Prof. Brown, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. 3) Minor Program in Biotechnology AC-00-185 Prof. Pasztor moved, seconded by Prof. Mucci, that the program changes be approved. The motion carried. SECTION F: Minor Course Changes & Other (For Information Only) 1. Minor Course Changes AC-00-168(Revised) 2. Geography - B.A. Program changes: - Major Concentration in Geography AC-00-182 d) Other (i) Ad hoc Graduate Studies Committee - Prof. B. Lennox S-00-31 606.9 Prof. Lennox briefly described the changes that had been made to the report since Faculty had seen it in December 2000. Prof. Lennox moved, seconded by Prof. Harpp, that the report be adopted. Prof. Marley moved, seconded by Prof. Devroye, that under Recommendation #1, <2 years be changed to <2 years. The amendment carried. Prof. Farrell moved, seconded by Prof. GowriSankaran, that under Recommendation #4, the second sentence should read "This role could..." The amendment carried. The original motion carried. 606.10 Dean Shaver thanked Prof. Lennox and the committee members for their work in preparing the report. He also especially thanked Robyn Wiltshire for her role. (7) DEAN'S BUSINESS - Access to Journals S-00-32 - Principles for Emerging Systems of Scholarly Publishing - Draft Policy Paper S-00-33 607.1 Dean Shaver introduced the above two items. 607.2 With regard to the problems encountered by McGill students attempting to access journal information from outside McGill, Dean Shaver said the issue would be looked into to determine whether this was due to impediments to students accessing McGill information from outside McGill, or due to inadequate site licenses. 607.3 Dean Shaver said that he had brought Document S-00-32 to Faculty to inform members about the general principle of an international online public library. There was some discussion of the document. 607.4 Dean Shaver asked members whether Document S-00-33 should be taken to the taskforce on library issues and possibly form part of a general principle for McGill. Members agreed with this. (8) MEMBERS' QUESTION PERIOD 608.1 In response to a member's question, Dean Shaver said that the University was considering its options regarding the reported reduction in QuÇbec funding promised to universities. (9) REPORT ON ACTIONS OF SENATE Senate Meeting of January 17, 2001 - Prof. N. de Takacsy Senate Steering: Human Resources needs to do a manual survey of current practice with respect to part-time faculty lecturers and course lecturers in the fall of 2000 before the working group set up by Senate can usefully function later this term. APPC report: A common social statistics stream was approved for four MA programs. The M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering to complement the current M.Eng. was approved. Amendments to the Statutes: These were presented for "first reading" and will come back for approval. 1) Amendment to article 1.3.4.1 regarding the advisory committee to select a Principal: the two students would be designated as one from SSMU and one from PGSS. 2) Addition to article 3.4.3 to allow new appointments at the level of full professor without the need for a statutory selection committee. Science Constitution: The proposed amendments to the constitution of the faculty of Science were approved. (May I extend my personal congratulations to the Associate Dean for successfully undertaking a much needed reform that at least one of his predecessors had thought too risky to tackle.) Report of the Bookstore Committee: Professor McSweeney reported that only 70% of the textbooks ordered for the winter term were on the shelves at the beginning of term. This was partly due to late orders by some professors, but mainly to a credit hold on orders by Chapter's Text Books (different from the parent company Chapter's). Vice- Principal Yalovsky outlined the steps that are being taken to avoid a recurrence. IP Policy: Vice-Principal Belanger brought the Intellectual Property policy back to Senate. This was again discussed in committee of the whole, with little added to what had already been said last year. The policy will be presented for debate and approval at the next meeting of Senate. Senate Meeting of January 31, 2001 - Prof. G. Brown The meeting opened with a report from the Steering Committee that dealt with, among other items, a suggested wording of a change to the statutes. This change concerns the # of votes necessary to approve nominations for honorary degrees. According to the current statutes, an honorary degree is not granted "if seven members of the Senate shall vote against it". The proposed wording stipulates that the degree will not be granted "if one-third of the members present and entitled to vote shall vote against it." It is felt that this change is more consistent with the original intent of the statutes. At the time the statutes were drafted, the Senate was much smaller than it is at present. This was presented to Senate for its information only. A motion of recommendation to the Board of Governor's will be voted on at the next meeting. The Principal had earlier announced that he would have to leave the meeting early. At this point the chair was turned over to Professor Farrell. Vice-Principal BÇlanger was then invited to present a Proposal for a Policy on Intellectual Property. As you know, this document has been under discussion for over a year now. Considerable progress has been made in recent months towards a resolution of the problems with earlier versions, and remaining outstanding issues were discussed at length at the last meeting of Senate. The purpose of the Vice-Principal's presentation at this meeting was to get approval for something at least very close to the final form of the Policy. The Vice- Principal began his presentation by pointing out several additional changes that were made in his proposed policy in response to points made at the last meeting. There were really two key changes. Now, although ownership is joint between the inventor and the university, the inventor retains the right not to commercialize. In addition, although there is still an obligation for the inventor to work with OTT on a plan to commercialize an invention, the final choice between OTT and other commercialization plans now rests with the inventor. A brief discussion followed the Vice-Principal's presentation. With the provision that a few additional clarifying changes in wording be made, the policy was voted on and approved. The Vice-Principal (Academic) then presented a report from the Academic Policy and Planning Committee. Two new Programs were approved, a Minor in Entrepreneurship in the Faculty of Agriculture and our Minor in Education for Science Students. Senate also approved the merger of several departments in the Faculty of Education into a new administrative unit, entitled the Department of Integrated Studies in Education. The next item was the presentation of the calendar of dates for 2002-2003 by the Dean of Students. Fall term classes will begin on September 4 and end on December 4, both Wednesdays. Exams will begin on the 6th and end on the 20th of December. Winter term classes will begin Monday January 6 and end Friday April 11, with exams running from the 14th through the 30th of April. Study week will extend from the 24th through the 28th of February. The Dean of Students then presented the Report of the Committee on Student Discipline. The report mentions the cases of violation of the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures that were reported to the Dean of Students. 98 such cases were reported between September 1, 1999 and August 31, 2000, up from the 78 reported the preceding year. The Disciplinary Officers associated with individual faculties adjudicated most of these and only eight were heard by the Committee on Student Discipline itself. Most of the offenses (about 80%) were of an academic nature, primarily cheating and plagiarism. It was pointed out that the number of non-academic offenses, e.g. physical abuse and harassment has been steadily increasing in recent years. The meeting concluded with the report of the Senate Nominating Committee. Statutory Selection Committees were approved as was a change in the terms of reference for the Academic Policy and Planning Committee. (10) OTHER BUSINESS The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.