A meeting of the Senate of Acadia University
occurred
on Monday, 14 November 2004, beginning at
4:12 p.m. with Chair Ian Wilks presiding and 44 members present.
1) Minutes of the Meeting of |
It was moved by MOTION WAS CARRIED. |
2) Announcements
and Communications a) From the Chair -re Regrets -re Visitors -re Senate Membership -re Special Senate Meeting -re Agenda |
Regrets were received from S. Bondrup-Nielsen, P. Cook, G. Dinter-Gottlieb, A. Irving, S. MacDougall, G. Ness, and J. Roscoe. Guests in attendance at this meeting were: Shane Donovan, VP (Academic) Office; Walter Isenor, Chair of Scholarships, Prizes, & Awards Committee; and Matt Calfin, Dean of Students. The Chair welcomed newly appointed Board of Governors representative to the Senate, Andrew Smith. Senators were reminded of the special meeting of Senate to discuss the Strategic Planning Report on The Chair indicated one addition to the agenda: under item 5) Other Business a) TIE 2006-2007 University Timetable. It was agreed to add this item to the agenda. |
b) From the Vice-President (Academic) -re Strategic Planning -re Academic Searches -re Current Events at AU |
R. Nilson expressed appreciation for the feedback on the first draft of the Strategic Plan. This is an evolving document which will eventually be taken to the Board of Governors. He was looking forward to the special meeting of the Senate to discuss and debate this document. He felt that the core of In reply to a question from the floor, the VP(A) confirmed that the Strategic Plan document is the result of a year's input and it is still an evolving one. The "final" report as referred to at the last Senate meeting was that after input received and it was ready to go to the University community. Following input from units on campus, and further debate and discussion, this document will be reviewed. R. Nilson outlined the time line this document will take and confirmed that no academic program will be implemented/adopted/enacted until it has the approval of the Senate. Search committees for the Dean of Arts, Dean of R&GS, Director of the School Business, and Director of the R. Nilson announced the establishment, on campus, of the Ethnocultural Diversity Centre lead by J. Sacouman and the Acadia Digital Cultural Observatory lead by S. Symons. He congratulated both faculty members on the work they have done in establishing these centres. The VP(A) also congratulated In regards to the recent MacLean's Magazine University Rating, the VP(A) was pleased with the results but felt that |
c) From the Chair of Faculty |
P. Corkum reminded Senators that Faculty Council has a scheduled
meeting November 17th beginning at |
d) From the Dean of Theology |
L. McDonald advised that a recent TV show "Dateline" included
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3) Business
Arising From the Minutes a) Faculty of Constitution Amendment (056-11-FAU) |
It was moved by P. Corkum and seconded by H. Wyile that the amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty of P. Corkum spoke to this motion. She noted that the Senate By-Laws Committee reviewed the Faculty Constitution and found that there were numerous conflicts and incorrect wording; therefore, these recommended amendments have been taken to faculty and approved and are now before Senate for approval. MOTION WAS CARRIED. |
4) New Business a) Timetable, Instruction Hours, & Examination Committee-Special Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities (056-12-TIE) |
It was moved by A. Mitchell and seconded by S. Markham-Starr that the report, as circulated (APPENDIX A), from the Timetable, Instruction Hours, & Examination Committee, on special accommodations for students with learning disabilities be accepted. R. Jotcham spoke to this motion, stating that this report confirmed current practice and centred the responsibility in the Registrar's Office. She noted that any special arrangements must have the approval of the faculty member involved. MOTION WAS CARRIED. |
b) Curriculum changes (056-13-DIV) |
It was moved by L. McDonald and seconded by B. Matthews that the curriculum changes as attached to today's agenda be approved. L. McDonald spoke to this motion and explained the difference between these courses and those offered by the Classics Department with similar title. MOTION WAS CARRIED. |
c) 2004-2005 Annual Reports from Senate Committees (045-46-REP) i) Scholarships, Prizes, & Awards Committee |
It was moved by A. Mitchell and seconded by P. Cabilio that the Scholarships, Prizes, and Awards Committee Annual Report for 2004-2005 as distributed for this meeting be received. W. Isenor, of the SPAC, spoke to this report. He outlined the method used to rank and distribute available funds. More monies are necessary to compete with other institutions that are offering entrance scholarships. He felt that there should be monies for all students deserving scholarships, not just the exceptional. He expressed thanks to the BOG who made a half million dollars available so that scholarships were offered to prospective Acadia students in January/February and it actually put this university's enrolment up above others in the Maritimes. Referring to the report, W. Isenor noted that the 2005-acceptance rate was 58% as compared to a previous 34%. As former chair of the SPAC, he felt input and follow-up over the three years of these students' stay at AU would be beneficial. Also, a student representative with a three-year term on this committee was recommended to the SRC. He confirmed that the high school honour courses as well as leadership roles, community work, and athletic participation were taken into consideration in the ranking for scholarships. A. Smith noted that the early offers which went out this year were well organized and well received in the In reply to a request from the floor, W. Isenor agreed to provide Senators with a breakdown of how the monies were disbursed over the various faculties. He also noted that the registrar tracks the performance of those who receive a scholarship. A first year student is required to have an 80% average and subsequence years it is 85%. MOTION TO RECEIVE THIS REPORT WAS CARRIED. |
d) Vice-President (Academic)- Senate Standing Committees & Their Chairs (056-14-VPA) |
The matter of Senate Standing Committees & the Chair for these committees was an initiative from the Vice-President (Academic), who felt that a faculty member should hold the chair position. Those committees in question included the Timetable, Instruction Hours, & Examination; Curriculum; and Honours. Therefore, a notice of motion was given in this direction for the next regular meeting of the Senate. If passed by Senate, this matter would go to the Senate By-Laws Committee for consideration. This move is to place faculty members in the positions of control and authority on these committees. The Chair confirmed that the registrar would continue as a member of the committees. |
5) Other Business a) Timetable, Instruction Hours, & Examination Committee-2006-2007 Timetable (056-16-TIE) |
It was moved by P. Eirikson and seconded by R. Nilson that the proposed 2006-2007 University Timetable as distributed at today's meeting be approved (APPENDIX B). W. Bedingfield asked that the some references to graduate program deadlines be removed from this calendar. R. Jotcham confirmed that Remembrance Day is a statuary holiday. MOTION WAS CARRIED AS AMENDED. |
b) Enabling Power for Fall Convocation (056-17-CON) |
R. Jotcham reported that the enabling power was used to approve and add six names to the graduation list of October 2005. Every case was a result of late arrival of marks. |
7) Adjournment | P.
Cabilio moved this meeting be adjourned.
It was |
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APPENDIX A
Senate Minutes/Item 4)a)/14Nov05 056-12-TIE Recommendations relating to special examinations for students with disabilities: Students with disabilities must meet the same admission standards as all other students. Students who are seeking support services from Once the student’s need has been confirmed by the Director of the Student Resource Centre, the Student Resource Centre and the Registrar’s Office will inform the student’s instructors. The course instructor has the responsibility for the evaluation of each student registered in his or her course. The Student Resource Centre and the Registrar’s Office will assist with alternate arrangements as required. These arrangements may include, but are not limited to providing an alternate location for writing the examination and a proctor to invigilate. This proctor is governed by the regulations that relate to the invigilation of examinations. If the instructor requires additional details regarding the student’s disability, these will be provided in confidence. |
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