Acadia University Senate
Minutes


SENATE MEETING OF 13 November 2000

A meeting of the Senate of Acadia University occurred on Monday, 13 November 2000, beginning at
4:04 p.m. with Chair I. Wilks presiding and 42 members present.
 
1) Minutes of the Meeting of 
    10 October 2000

It was moved by S. Symons, seconded by G. Pyrcz, that the minutes of 10 October 2000 be approved.MOTION CARRIED.
2) Announcements and   Communications 
    a) From the Chair
     -re regrets

 

Regrets were received from E. Buist, A. Irving, R. Morrison, G. Ness, N. Van Wagoner.I. Wilks welcomed the newly appointed Board of Governors representative, N. Price and read a letter from outgoing Senator, J. Boyd.

 

       -re Research Ethics Board
           membership 
          (001-10-REB) 

The Research and Graduate Studies Committee has nominated E. Johnston to the Research Ethics Board for a three-year term; she replaces D. Symons, who is completing his term (APPENDIX A).  I Wilks asked if there was any objection to this nomination; hearing none, he declared her to be unanimously elected to this position.
 

    b) From the President 
        -re Success of Students in
           Various Competitions
            and Scholarships
 
 
 
 

    - re Faculty Achievements


 

K. Ogilvie noted that a number of Departments and Schools have sent him information regarding the recent successes of their students in various competitions.  He thanked those who had provided this information, congratulated both the faculty for their program achievements and the students for their individual successes.

He expressed his congratulations to S. Roscoe, who will be presented a Claire Benson Award, for distinguished contributions to chemistry by a woman in Canada.   He also acknowledged M. Leiter's role as principle leader in an upcoming seminar, to be held in Finland, sponsored by the Nordic Institute for Advanced Training in Occupational Health.

The President announced that Acadia has again this year achieved high standing in the MacLean’s annual university ranking.  Acadia has placed second overall in its category (“Primarily Undergraduate Universities”), and for the seventh year has placed first in the “Reputational Survey” associated with these rankings.
 

    c) Vice-President (Academic)
         -re Personnel Changes
 
 
 

           -re Patterson Hall
 
 
 

            -re Canada Research Chairs


M. Leiter announced that his executive Assistant, Royden Trainor has left this position.  A search for a replacement will take place.  G. Phillips has joined the office of the V-P (A) to assist the University in developing proposals for funding from a variety of government programs.

He confirmed that the Board of Governors has accepted the proposed renovations of Patterson Hall as a university capital project.  The scope of this undertaking has been explored, and a fundraising plan has been approved.  The renovations will include the addition of a new wing to this building. 

M. Leiter announced that there are three Search Committees currently working on filling Canada Research Chairs.  These committees are headed by T. Regan (environmental policy), D. Stiles (environmental science), and C. MacLatchy (materials science).  The Government has set aside $125,000 for each chair to provide supporting infrastructure.

D. Looker asked about the composition of the Search Committee for a University Librarian.   M. Leiter replied that he was aware of the need for a balance between librarians and faculty members, and that this matter will be considered when constituting the Search Committee. 

   
    d) By-Laws Committee-Role
      of the Senate's Faculty
      Development Committee
      (001-04-LAW)

 

M. Grieve, described the By-Laws Committee’s investigation into the role of the Senate Faculty Development Committee.  He reported that the consensus was for preserving this Committee.  He suggested that it could, for example, be useful in helping to deal with the issue of uniform course evaluations.
 

   e) Senate Ad hoc Committee
      to Review the Role of the
      Senate Library Committee

T. Ashley reported that the Ad hoc Committee to Review the Role of the Senate Library Committee has commenced its meetings.  The issues given to the Committee to study have been found to be quite complex, but it is hoped that most of the work will be completed by the end of December.
 

3) Business Arising from the    Minutes
  a) By-Laws Committee- 
      Proposals for Archive
      Committee (001-08-LAW) 

 
 

It was moved by M. Grieve, seconded by G. Pyrcz, that the By-Laws Committee proposals for changes to the Senate Archives Committee as circulated with today's agenda, be accepted.

B. Moody asked why it was necessary to change the wording to VIII (r) from "one member from the Divinity College" to "one member from the Faculty of Theology" and whether the By-Laws Committee had taken into the account the Report of seven years ago in which the relationship between the Divinity College/Faculty of Theology and the Senate was discussed.  M. Grieve replied that this proposal came from the Archives Committee and previous records/decisions had not been searched for information.

L. McDonald clarified he had two titles - Principal of the Acadia Divinity College in relation to the Atlantic Baptist Convention and Dean of the Faculty of Theology in relation to the academic affairs of the University. 

It was moved by D. Looker, seconded by B. Moody, that this report be referred back to the By-Laws Committee and that the By-Laws Committee look at the report of seven years ago, concerning the relationship of the Divinity College/Faculty of Theology and the Senate. 

MOTION CARRIED.

L. McDonald asked that the By-Laws Committee confer with the Divinity College/Faculty of Theology on this matter.
 

4) New Business
  a) Curriculum Committee-
     School of Engineering
     (001-09-CUR)

 

It was moved by A. Mitchell, seconded by C. MacLatchy, that the new courses from the Ivan Curry School of Engineering as distributed with this agenda be accepted.

MOTION CARRIED.
 

5) Other Business
  a) Notice of Motion - Fall 
      Convocation (001-11-CON)

M. Leiter gave notice of motion regarding the suspension of Acadia University's fall convocation ceremony (APPENDIX B). 
 

6)  Adjournment J. MacLeod moved this meeting be adjourned.  It was 4:40 p.m.