A meeting of the Senate of Acadia University occurred on Monday, 10 April 2000, beginning at
4:05 p.m. with Chair Maurice Tugwell presiding and 37 members present.
 

1) Minutes of the Meeting of  13 March 2000	It was moved by B. Griffith, seconded by P. O'Neill that the minutes of 13 March 2000 be approved. MOTION CARRIED.
2) Announcements and  Communications        a)  From the Chair            -re regrets	Regrets were received from G. Draper, M. Gibson, A. Irving, L. McDonald, R. Morrison, and L. White.
-re Order of Agenda	Items 3)a) and 4)b) were deferred.  With permission of Senators,  item 3)c) was brought to the top of the agenda.
-re Nominating                        Committee - Notice of                   Motion for Senate                 Vacancies                 (990-65-NOM)	P. Corkum, Chair of Nominating Committee, presented a notice of motion for the May meeting of Senate to Senators regarding nominations for vacancies on Senate and Senate Committees for which this committee is responsible.  (APPENDIX A) The Chair advised Senate that approval for the program name change, from Bachelor of Science General to Bachelor of Applied Science (January 2000 meeting of Senate) has been received from the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC). M. Tugwell reminded Senate Committee members that annual  [1999-2000] reports are due to the recording secretary by noon, Thursday April 27th to be included with the agenda for the annual meeting on Wednesday, 10 May 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in BAC 132. K. Ogilvie spoke on the issue of the federal government's program to establish Millennium Chairs at various Canadian universities.  An announcement is expected this week and it is hoped it will be favourable to Acadia.  Rather than the original one, it is hoped Acadia will be awarded three chairs, rather than one as originally indicated. In reply to questions from the floor, the President stated that much effort has been given to obtaining more than the one chair which would put Acadia in a good competitive situation for attracting faculty.  K. Ogilvie also explained that the parameters for the distribution of these chairs would be specified by the government.
b)  From the Vice-President               (Academic)            -re Academic Sector                       Planning Committee                 Report "Planning                 Issues for 2000"                (990-66-ASPC)	M. Leiter informed the Senate that the Academic Sector Planning Committee has completed its report, in conjunction with the three faculty planning committees, entitled "Planning Issues for 2000" dated 24 March 2000.  He gave notice that this report will be brought to the May meeting of Senate for acceptance and had copies available for Senators. He also advised that the Board of Governors had approved the addition of the Director of AITT to the membership of the Academic Sector Planning Committee.   A Web Page is currently being established for the V-P (Academic) and will include minutes of the ASPC.  G. Pyrcz requested that these minutes include some of the argument/discussion of  items considered by this committee.  M. Leiter agreed to take this request to the committee for consideration.
3)  Business Arising from the       Minutes     c) Curriculum Committee -         School of Music         (990-55-CRE)	As agreed, this item was brought forward on the agenda.   It was moved by T. Regan and seconded by G. Pyrcz that this item as attached to the 13 March 2000 agenda be approved. J. Hansen spoke to this item stating the change would be a reduction in the number of ensemble hours per term, required of students.  This does not restrict a student from taking an additional ensemble if it was desired. MOTION CARRIED.
a) Senate Library Committee-         Arts Faculty Council         resolution concerning the         Senate Library Committee         (990-19-LIB)	This item was deferred until the May meeting of Senate.
b) Academic Sector Planning          Committee – Requirements          for Declaring a Major          (990-20-APC)	It was moved by M. Leiter and seconded by D. Retson that students who have the necessary high school credits and a program GPA sufficient for graduating in the degree program for which they are registered may enter any major or specialization in that degree  program. M. Leiter spoke to the motion, saying it has had thorough discussion at various levels of planning committees across the university and this is an effort to reduce barriers to students who wish to move from one major to another within a degree program D. Retson also spoke to the motion, declaring students should be able to choose what they want to study, especially within their program.  Although supported in principle, he had reservations concerning the effect this motion might have on small departments at the university and their survival if this motion is passed. W. McLeod spoke on behalf of the Council for the Faculty of Professional Studies, against this motion on the basis of the limited  enrolment in some programs.  Other arguments against the motion included problems arising due to high demand for a particular program where there were not sufficient faculty to accommodate or enrolment limits set because of safety, environmental, and sports factors.   It was moved by T. Regan and seconded by B. Moody that the motion be amended to replace the words 'in the undergraduate degree program in which they are registered' with 'in an undergraduate degree program'. T. Regan clarified that this allows students who are capable of completing a degree to make decisions, regarding their program and specializations, after they have arrived.  It means that a student from Arts could go into Science or Kinesiology or vice versa. The chair repeated the motion and its amendment and the agreed changes to that amendment which was on the floor at this time - that students who have the necessary high school credits and a program GPA sufficient for graduating in a first undergraduate  degree program may enter any major or specialization. AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION DEFEATED (11/7) It was moved by M. Leiter and seconded by D. Retson that the original motion be edited to read " students who have the necessary high school credits and a program GPA sufficient for graduating in a first undergraduate degree program will not be restricted from entering any major or specialization solely on the basis of GPA”. J. Cayford spoke in favour of the amendment as it would eliminate the situation of a student who has met the graduation requirements for a program without having been admitted to that program. MOTION CARRIED.  (2 AGAINST)
d)  Governance of Acadia          University (990-63-GOV)	It was moved by D. Looker and seconded by R. Davies  Whereas the Senate is one of the two governing bodies of Acadia University, and  Whereas the Senate is explicitly named in the "Act Respecting Acadia University" and Whereas the recent "Report on a Proposed Governance Structure" approved by the Board of Governors has serious implications for the governance of Acadia University, Be it resolved that the Senate of Acadia express its concern and disappointment that there was no formal involvement of or consultation with Senate in the development of the Report, as was done in previous reports on Acadia's governance. MOTION CARRIED. It was moved by D. Looker and seconded by R. Davies that the Senate of Acadia request that no further action be taken on the Report unless and until such time as Senate has had an opportunity to study the proposed changes in light of Senate's stake in good governance. R. Davies felt that the consultation process conducted by the stake holders did not consult widely with the community.  He felt that the Board had decided to move into a ‘Policy Governance’ mode without entering into any detailed discussion of their new mode of operation with the other body in the university that was entitled by law to discuss and develop educational policy at Acadia University. MOTION CARRIED. It was moved by D. Looker and seconded by R. Davies that the Senate of Acadia form an ad hoc committee to consider the Report and make recommendations to Senate about what actions Senate should take with regard to the Report. MOTION CARRIED. It was moved by D. Looker and seconded by R. Davies that the Senate Nominating Committee form the above ad hoc committee with a Senator from each of the Faculty of Arts, Professional Studies and Science, and a student Senator from the incoming student senators .  As stated in the previous motion, this committee is to consider the Report and make recommendations to Senate as soon as possible Discussion was held regarding the composition of this ad hoc committee and whether it should include a representative from the School of Theology, from administration, and from the Board of Governors. MOTION CARRIED.
4)  New Business       a)  Provost report on          substance abuse at                Acadia University          (990-67-MISC)	This item originated at the Senate meeting of 13 December 1999.   Provost Paula Cook gave an oral report on substance abuse at Acadia University as follows. “Use of alcohol on campus is not unique to Acadia.  A recent report on university drinking indicates that 87.2% of university students in Atlantic Canada indicated that they drink alcohol.  The national average was 88.3%.  The study goes on to indicate that 80% of the students surveyed didn’t feel that campus environments were “alcohol-saturated” and wanted no strict controls. Our approach with students on our campus is to work with our students to create a safe environment and provide education, support and healthy alternatives to activities which promote the excessive use of alcohol.  Changing the drinking habits of students is a cultural change which must be led by students. We have instituted the following programs (most of them within the last 3 years): Welcome Week – Living in Community and Healthy Relationships Student leaders are involved in the student retention process and well informed about activities which might cause students to withdraw from Acadia Varsity Athletes – Expansion of drug seminar to include overview of the privileges and responsibilities associated with participating in varsity athletics at Acadia Residence – Acadia provides sections of residences which are substance free Alcohol Related Activities – Acadia ensures that students are aware of the activities involving alcohol which are not supported or sanctioned Academic Year – Encouraging participation in intramural and club activities.  Strict enforcement of policies with regard to substance abuse in residence.  Referral to Crosby Centre for those students who are experiencing difficulty. For next year, we have instituted two new Welcome Week programs initiated by Acadia students: Overview of Welcome Week – to familiarize students with what activities are not alcohol related so that they might opt out of the unauthorized student activities.  There will be Welcome Week leaders whose purpose is to seek out and encourage students to refuse to participate in activities in which they feel uncomfortable. Results: - Acadia students report that Welcome Week is more welcoming.  We have observed that a number of the old informal initiation activities no longer exist. - Retention rate of first-year students is on the rise: 83.5% in 1999 compared with 80.5% in 1998 and 74.4% in 1988.  Acadia’s retention rates compared with other universities in the region are 76% at both Mount Allison and St FX and 74% at Dalhousie. - Alcohol related judicial charges have dropped from 58 in 1997-98 to 38 in 1998-1999. - Students are emerging as leaders with regard to substance abuse: discouraging students from participating in harmful events.  Lesley Noseworthy’s article in Athenaeum for example.  Lesley says “The people who are least concerned about student safety are the students.”
a)  Acadia Student Union           report on substance abuse          at Acadia University          (990-67-MISC)	On behalf of the ASU, Stew Langille read a verbal report on substance abuse at Acadia University (APPENDIX B). Senators commended both reports, which gave information and facts on substance abuse at Acadia University both from an administrative and student point of view.  Further discussion outlined what is planned for the future to improve upon efforts already attempted.  Appreciation was expressed for the effort put forth on these reports.   J. Eaton asked if sexual assault cases related to alcohol abuse are being addressed.  P. Cook identified the 'Healthy Relationships Sessions' with students as specifically dealing with this topic and feedback from students indicates this seminar is a benefit.  P. Cook confirmed that the sale on campus of off-campus drinking activity tickets is banned but very difficult to police.
b)  Curriculum Committee -         Faculty of Arts         (990-64-CRE)	This item was deferred.
5)  Adjournment	W. McLeod moved this meeting adjourn.  It was 5:40 p.m.