Faculty Meeting Friday, March 9, 2007

A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, January 12, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in the ATAC Board Room 5035.

 

V. Smith called the meeting to order.

 

 

It was moved by G. Hayman and seconded by M. MacLean that the agenda be approved

with the following additions and changes:

 

Items 4. and 5. will be dealt with at the next Council meeting.

 

Item 9. 

 

i)

Request for a Faculty Ad Hoc Graduate Council.

 

ii)

Senate Meeting Time.

 

iii)

Student Representation on Senate.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

It was moved by G. Hayman and seconded by C. Southcott that the minutes of November 24th be approved.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

Items will be dealt with under the Dean's Report.

 

B. Strang reported.

 

i)         

There has been an announcement regarding growth and replacement positions.  Requests for Women's Studies, Political Science, History and English have been successful while those from Economics and Psychology have not.  In total, Social Sciences and Humanities have lost 3 positions, gained 7, with a net gain of 4.  Some of the successful proposals have conditions imposed, but they generally comply with the intent of the original submission. 

 

The V.P. (Academic) commended the English Department's submission as a model, both for its written presentation and adherence to the Academic Plan.  Many submissions from other academic units did not follow this format. 

 

ii)

 

No names have been received for the international exchange program discussed at the last Council meeting.  Up to five students are eligible for the program. Departments are encouraged to try to seek qualified and interested students.  Details can be obtained through the Research Office.  Names can be forwarded to J. Vogrig, G.B. Strang or Dr. Panu.

 

iii)

 

A meeting of SS&H graduate coordinators and chairs was held earlier in the day.  Graduate growth has resulted in 15 graduate funding packages ($15,000 for M.A. students and $17,000 for Ph.D. students) plus additional money for graduate scholarship to encourage an increase in   enrolment.  It was agreed that an equitable distribution and process should be adopted.  The Dean has been given the final power to determine these things.

 

vi)

 

The Ministry is soliciting nominations for faculty teaching excellence from faculty and students.  Eligible nominees should be full-time faculty members, tenured and teaching undergraduate courses.  Complete details are available on the Ministry website.

 

v)

 

It is unclear as to what will happen with the faculty budget submission.  There will be a budget meeting with the Vice-President (Academic) on Wednesday of this week. 

 

vi)

 

B. Strang and L. Lovett-Doust have met regularly to discuss modular degrees.  There is also close participation with Education. Three departments (Music, Visual Arts and Geography) will not participate at this time.  Modular degrees that accommodate students are moving forward.

 

vii)

 

At the last Senate meeting, it was agreed that February 7^th would be set aside for students to protest the lack of funding for education.  Students should not be penalized by professors on this day for participating in this protest.

 

viii)

 

Funding is in place to assist academics who live in unstable countries in order to provide a safe haven for them until such time that they can safely return back to their home country.  Faculty who know of individuals in this situation can apply for this international exchange which will pay up to $20,000 in U.S. funds. 

 

ix)

 

Meetings are ongoing, but will end shortly.

 

x)

 

The PTR report has been finalized and letters should be sent out by Monday.

 

xi)

 

Three candidate interviews will be taking place during the end of January and early February.

 

To facilitate the interim period after interviews, it is currently not known what arrangements will be made.

 

xii)

 

Approval for Lakehead's proposal has been received from the established Law Schools.  The process now goes forward for approval to the Upper Law Society of Canada and MTCU.

 

xiii)

 

The search for a Vice-Provost of Aboriginal Initiatives is ongoing and applications are being reviewed.

 

xiv)

 

An Engineering decanal review is taking place.  Those who wish to participate should contact the Office of the Vice-President (Academic).

 

xv)

 

The Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning has drafted a report on teaching evaluations.  In the meantime, the Vice-President (Academic) has requisitioned paper forms which will be used for this term's evaluations.  An electronic pilot project will also be done.

 

xvi)

 

The planning process for Orillia is complex.  Department proposals should include Orillia expansion.  Current scholarly teaching at Orillia is a choice between disciplinary and interdisciplinary contracts. 

 

xvii)

 

SS&H enrolment numbers are down by 137 this year.    However, student numbers in the faculty taking classes (including Continuing Education) are up by 157.  It was noted that all Orillia students have been counted in the Science and Environmental Studies Faculty.

 

xviii)

Due to liability concerns, chairs and deans (as supervisors) will be required to participate in a three hour health and safety seminar.  There are two seminar times:  1) the morning of February 8^th or 2) the afternoon of February 12^th.

 

xix

A funding formula needs to ensure that recruitment numbers do not get cut for students seeking a minimum income while completing their graduate studies.

 

It was moved by G. Hayes and seconded by S. D. Stone that Dr. J. McAuliffe and Dr. M. Bedard be approved as Adjunct Professors in the Department of Psychology.

 

                                                                                                            Carried.

 

i)  

 

It was moved by A. Carastathis and seconded by P. Wakewich that the Music changes be approved.

 

                                                                                    Carried.

 

 

i)          Request for Faculty Ad Hoc Graduate Council

 

At a meeting of faculty graduate coordinators and chairs this morning, it was felt that the issue of allocating the additional resources should be dealt with equitably.  A discussion followed.

 

It was moved by P. Wakewich and seconded by J. Leggatt that an ad-hoc graduate council for the faculty of social sciences and humanities be created. 

 

 

The mandate of the council would be the fair and equitable distribution of new graduate resources within the faculty. The committee will be composed of both chairs and coordinators for departments offering graduate programs within the faculty as well as the dean or acting dean of social sciences and humanities.  The council will dissolve upon the completion of resource distribution.

 

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

ii)

 

There was a discussion regarding the time of 4:30 p.m. on Fridays for Senate meetings.  It was suggested that Senate meetings might possibly begin on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

 

It was moved by S.D. Stone and seconded by P. Wakewich that Senate consider an earlier meeting time.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

iii)

M. Granville noted the student day of action on February 7^th.

 

He spoke to Council regarding the wish of Student Council to increase student representation on Senate. 

 

Discussion followed.

 

It was moved by M. Granville and seconded by P. Wakewich that Council support an increase in student senators.

 

                                                                                                Carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at   2:50 p.m.

           

 

E. Auger

A. Carastathis

G. Hayman

D. Ivison

M. Granville

J. Roth

M. MacLean

G. Munro

A. Nabarra

C. Parkes

G. Siddall

C. Southcott

S.D. Stone

V. Smith

B. Strang

P. Wakewich

 

 

G. Colton

T. Dufresne

K. Santerre

B. Stolar

D. West