Acadia University Senate
Minutes


SENATE MEETING OF 11 APRIL 2005

A meeting of the Senate of Acadia University occurred on Monday, 11 April 2005, beginning at
4:10 p.m. with Chair Ian Wilks presiding and 38 members present. 

1)   Minutes of the Meeting of
      14 March 2005
 
It was moved by R. Perrins and seconded by S. Bondrup-Nielsen that the Minutes of Monday, 14 March 2005 be approved. 
 
I. Wilks asked that the following replace the existing statement in the "re Non-Voting Status of Senators" section of the Chair’s announcements: "I. Wilks noted that when the By-Laws Committee brings forward a motion to change the name 'Provost' to 'Vice-President Student Affairs', senators may also wish to consider changing the voting status associated with that position.  If so, the issue may be addressed in an amendment to the By-Laws motion".
 
It was agreed to remove the second sentence of the last paragraph on p. 3 of these Minutes; it was also agreed to change the seventh point of the discussion on graduation ceremonies to "the spiritual aspect of a convocation is a right of passage, not just a ceremony."
 
Other minor grammatical corrections were made to the Minutes.
 
MOTION WAS CARRIED AS AMENDED.

2) Announcements and
   Communications
   a) From the Chair
      -re Regrets
 
 
 
     
 
 

 
 
 
     
      -re Agenda
 

 

 
 

Regrets were received from G. Bissix, R. Cunningham, S. Enman, H. Hemming, G. Iwama, A. Irving, J. Kirk, L. McDonald, and J. Sumarah. 

The Chair acknowledged the presence of the following guests at this meeting: R. Keeling, G. Prycz, S. Donovan, and P. Eirikson (in-coming student VPA); he also welcomed Acting Dean of Research & Graduate Studies, W. Bedingfield; and he expressed appreciation to outgoing student representatives (R. Conrod, A. Nolan, M. Murphy, A. Buote, P. LeGay, and E. Nahm) for their service to Senate during this academic year.  

The Chair noted that handouts were available for today's meeting.  

Additions to the agenda: under item 4) New Business - a) Report from the TIE Committee; b) Motion on membership of REB from R&GS Committee; c) Notice of Motion from the Nominating Committee. It was agreed to add these items to the agenda.
 

Agenda item 3)b) should read "Motion re Senator Orientation".

 b) From the President G. Dinter-Gottlieb thanked everyone who took part in the Strategic Planning exercise today.

  c) From the Vice-President
       (Academic)
 
   
 
 
 
        -re Dean Research and
          Graduate Studies

 R. Nilson thanked W. Bedingfield for taking on the role of Acting Dean of Research & Graduate Studies; and he also thanked P. LeGay, the student VPA, for his input and support this past year. 

He expressed his appreciation for faculty's participation in today's Strategic Planning exercise. 

 

He said that an advertisement has been prepared for the position of Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, and he invited Senators to bring forth names of suitable candidates.  A search committee will be formed in accordance with Board guidelines. A desirable start date for the new Dean would be 1 January 2006.  This may or may not be achievable.

   d) Special Meeting of the
      Senate

 The Chair indicated that a special meeting of the Senate is necessary to deal with the question of "Liberal Education".  The purpose of this meeting would be to discuss the notion of liberal education in general, and to discuss more specifically what sort of criteria should inform the choice of course requirements for degrees.  It was agreed to hold this meeting on Monday, 25 April 2005 in BAC 132, between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m.
 

R. Nilson noted that this issue has been discussed and researched before at this institution.  M. Leiter had in the recent past created a document on these matters which will be distributed to Senators for information; this document could serve a starting point for discussion.

  3) Business Arising from the
   Minutes  
   a) Ad hoc Committee on the
      Graduation Ceremony
      Report - Continued from
      Previous Meeting
      (045-40-CON)

 

 

 

The Chair reminded Senators that this item is continued from the previous meeting; most of the Report’s other recommendations were dealt with at that time.  Recommendations #9, #17, and ##18-23 remain for consideration. 

It was moved by A. Franceschet and seconded by D. Brodeur that Senate accept Recommendations ##18-23 of the ad hoc Committee's Report on the graduation ceremony as attached to the March Minutes.

#18 (amended)

A friendly amendment was made to #18, so that it now reads, "A musical performance by students should close the ceremony (preferably the Alma Mater) in place of God Save the Queen". 

It was moved by H. Hopkins and seconded by P. LeGay that #18 be amended to read, "A musical performance by students should close the ceremony (preferably the Alma Mater) after the singing of God Save the Queen". 

MOTION TO AMEND WAS DEFEATED. 

#19 (minor amendment accepted)

A friendly amendment was made to #19, so that it now reads: "Alumni pins should be presented in a separate ceremony, preferably at the Family Graduate Breakfast". 

#20 (no amendment)

An area should be created to accommodate photographers.

#21 (no amendment)

The words to O Canada should be printed in the program in both official languages.

#22 (minor amendment accepted)

A friendly amendment was made to #22, so that it now reads, "The graduation reception should be held at the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, if possible". 

#23 (minor amendment accepted)

A friendly amendment was made to #23 to read "Commercial activities should not be included in the graduation reception area."  The intent was to eliminate traffic congestion coming and going to the reception.  The President noted that the sale of matts and frames was desired by many parents of graduates and so the practice should continue. 

MOTION ON ##18-23 AS AMENDED WAS CARRIED. 

Senate now dealt with recommendations #9 and #17. 

It was moved by A. Franceschet and seconded by D. Brodeur that Senate accept recommendations #9 and #17 of the ad hoc committee's Report on the Graduation Ceremony as attached to the March Minutes.

Discussion ensued, with following views expressed:

• There is already a place, such as the chapel, for prayer.  There is also the Baccalaureate Service.  But not all those who attend convocation wish to pray.

• Opening prayer and benediction are traditional components of the Graduation Ceremony.

• Prayer is an exercise some can identify with and others cannot. 

A friendly amendment was made to recommendation #9 so that it would read: "An Invocation will be delivered by an officer of the Graduating Class". 

It was moved by P. Corkum and seconded by S. Markham-Starr that recommendations #9 and #17 be voted on separately.

MOTION TO DIVIDE CARRIED. 

#9 (amended)

Discussion ensued, with the following views expressed:

• Some argued that although it was desirable to have a student representative take part in the ceremony, this should not be at the cost of discontinuing the University Chaplain’s participation. 

• The religious aspect at Acadia University was important and removing public prayers would set the tone and affect more than just a ceremony here at Acadia University. 

• A poll of the University Community should be taken on such a major change as removing religious content. 

It was moved by D. Kruisselbrink and seconded by A. Mitchell that the current wording of #9 be amended to the following: 

9A - A Prayer of Invocation will be delivered by the University Chaplain. 

9B - A brief Address will be delivered by an Officer of the Graduating Class. 

MOTION TO AMEND  WAS CARRIED.

MOTION ON #9 WAS CARRIED. 

#17 (amended)

It was moved by P. LeGay and seconded by D. Duke that the recommendation be amended to read "The Benediction should continue to be inclusive and free of religious affiliation". 

D. Duke argued that the committee's recommendation was misleading, as the Benediction has always been inclusive. 

MOTION TO AMEND #17 WAS CARRIED. 

Although consideration was given to changing "benediction" to "ceremony" in this recommendation, R. Wilson reminded Senators that the wording would not work for the graduation ceremony of the School of Theology, which will continue to be religious. 

It was noted that the intent of this recommendation was to remove religious prayer, not religious content, from the ceremony. 

It was moved by G. Dinter-Gottlieb and seconded by A. Mitchell that Recommendation #17 be amended to read "The Prayer of Invocation and the Benediction should continue to be inclusive and free of religious affiliation". 

MOTION TO AMEND #17 WAS CARRIED. 

It was moved by A. Quema and seconded by S. Markham-Starr that Recommendation #17 be amended to read "The Prayer of Invocation and the Benediction should continue to be inclusive and inter-faith". 

MOTION TO AMEND #17 WAS DEFEATED.
 

MOTION ON #17 AS AMENDED WAS CARRIED.

  4) New Business
   a) Nominating Committee
      Notice of Motion
      (045-41-NOM)

 

The Nominating Committee gave notice of motion for the following nominating report:

a) Chair of Senate (1 year term 2005-2006): Ian Wilks
b) Deputy Chair of  Senate (1 year term 2005-2006): Robert Raeside
c) Executive of Senate (1 year term 2005-2006):
-Susan Markham-Starr from the Faculty of Professional Studies
-Soren Bondrup-Nielson from the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science
-Paul Abela from the Faculty of Arts
d) By-laws Committee (3 year term  2005-2008): Anne Quéma
e) Lay person on Senate (3 year term 2005-2008): Jennie White
f) Faculty Elections Officer (1 year term 2005-2006): Jian-An Peng
g) Secretary to Faculty (1 year term 2005-2006):Herb Wyile
 

Please note that the Committee hopes to bring forward to the May Senate meeting a nomination for Chair of the Senate Library Committee.


I. Wilks noted that the remainder of the agenda items would be dealt with at the May meeting of  Senate.
 

G. Prycz noted that it was beneficial to have those members of reporting committees who may not be Senators be in attendance for issues from their particular committees.

 6) Adjournment

P. Cabilio moved that the meeting be adjourned.  It was 5:55 p.m.

 





_________________________________
D. Murphy, Recording Secretary