Faculty Council Meeting

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES COUNCIL MINUTES
September 30, 2016

A meeting of the Faculty Council was held on Friday, September 30th, 2016, at 1:00 pm in ATAC Board Room 3004/OA 3041.

Introduction of New Faculty Members:  
I. Lemée introduced two new faculty members in the Department of Languages, Dr. Julie Tennier and Dr. Morgan Faulkner.

Announcement of Assistant Dean:
D. Jobin-Bevans announced Dr. Rhonda Koster as the new Assistant Dean.

1.
Approval of Agenda
 It was moved by I. Lemée and seconded by A. Guttman that the agenda be approved.
        Carried.

2.
Approval of Minutes
It was moved by A. Guttman and seconded by A. Carastathis that the minutes from Friday, May 13th, 2016, be approved.
        Carried.

3.
Business Arising from the Minutes
None.

4.
Dean’s Report

Faculty Council
Friday, September 30, 2016
OUF
Let me begin by offering my sincere thanks to faculty members who participated in the OUF over this past weekend. Preliminary reports concerning numbers are positive for Lakehead, and we are hopeful that this will mean strong applications towards the months of December and January. Please watch for information concerning recruitment activities throughout the coming months. A document outlining the key events for faculty engagement was distributed earlier in September, so please make yourself aware of these dates and encourage your faculty to volunteer. This process is critical to the improvement of student enrollments for the coming academic year.

VP International
Just by way of a quick mention of the status of the search for the next VP International, at a meeting of the SAC on Wednesday morning, the Provost stated that the University was in the final stages of negotiation with the recommended candidate and that there will be an announcement in the next week or so to the University community.

Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities Search
As many of you will have already noticed, the Provost’s office has engaged a search firm and recently invited the University community to comment on the position of Dean for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. She also mentioned at the meeting of the SAC that the search committee has been struck, and that the committee will hold their first meeting during the last week of October. The Provost was hopeful that interviews for the position will be held early in the winter term.

Sabbatical Applications
Just a reminder to faculty who are eligible for a sabbatical leave during the 2017/18 academic year that sabbatical requests are due into my office by the end of the afternoon today, September 30. As a further reminder, if you have been asked or intend to defer your leave, you still are obligated to submit your application by the deadline date.

Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM)
Academic units, in coordination with the Office of the Provost and Institutional Analysis, have begun work on a SEM project with a gradual rollout affecting some units beginning this academic year, and continuing throughout the current year with a full launch in September 2017. Chairs/Director in our faculty will be asked to actively engage in this process, which is scheduled to rollout in September 2017. There will be additional details to follow over the coming months.
5.
Departmental/School Reports
i)  Indigenous Learning
It was moved by R. Robson and seconded by A. Guttman that the Calendar changes for Indigenous Learning be approved.  (2016-SOC-5808 - New Cross-Listed Course)
         Carried.

ii)  Interdisciplinary Studies
It was moved by M. Stevenson and seconded by A. den Otter that Dr. Hugh Stevenson be appointed as Professional Associate to the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies for a four year period beginning July 1, 2016.
             Carried.
M. Stevenson presented the following Calendar changes for information only:  2016-SOC-5869; 2016-SOC-5870.

iii) Languages
It was moved by I. Lemée and seconded by T. Puddephatt that the Calendar changes for Languages be approved.  (2016-SOC-5819; 2016-SOC-5820)
             Carried.

iv)  Political Science
It was moved by P. Cain and seconded by I. Lemée that the Calendar changes for Political Science be approved.  (2016-SOC-5885; 2016-SOC-5886; 2016-SOC-5887; 2016-SOC-5888)
             Carried.

v)  Social Justice Studies
The Calendar changes for Social Justice studies were tabled until the next Faculty Council meeting.

6.
Other Business
i)  Adjunct Professors
M. Stevenson asked B. Eccles for additional information regarding Contract Lecturers as External Adjuncts and suggested that we continue on an “ad hoc” basis.  D. Jobin-Bevans stated that this was important for Contract Lecturers with Ph.D.’s to be able to apply.  A. Guttman said in order to supervise graduate students, they must go through the process of becoming a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
D. Jobin-Bevans suggested that in order to speed up the process for adjunct approvals for those wanting to apply for SSHRC grants, an electronic vote could be used with the information and accompanying motion be circulated to all faculty members and the return email serve as the “ballot” for approval.  It was decided that this option was acceptable.

[Two applications had been received from the Department of Sociology and the Department of Visual Arts.  After the Faculty Council meeting, on Friday, 14 October, electronic ballots were distributed to eligible faculty members for the two individuals in question.

T. Puddehpatt moved a motion (seconded R. Koster) that Dr. Kevin Willison be appointed as an External Adjunct Professor to the Department of Sociology for a four-year period commencing July 1, 2016. 

R. Martin moved a motion (seconded by R. Koster) that Dr. Andrea Terry be appointed as an External Adjunct Professor to the Department of Visual Arts for a four-year period commencing July 1, 2016. 
After balloting closed on Monday, 17 October, both motions carried.]

ii)  Processes for Courses with Low Enrolment
D. Jobin-Bevans stated that those courses with low enrolment and not required should be replaced with something else.  The option to close a section is better for winter courses as there is more time.  Those stipends saved could be used for course releases for faculty members.  The procedure might be to look at low enrolled courses with these options.  Discussion followed regarding the use of remaining stipends for research.  
iii)  Program Offerings Specific to Criminology and Media Studies in Orillia and Mirroring in Thunder Bay
D. Jobin-Bevans stated that students had been led to believe that the Media Studies and Criminology degrees were available at both campuses.  They had been misinformed, as they can only be taken at the Orillia campus. It was noted that academic advisors should have the correct information.  A brief discussion followed.
iv)  Issues with Research
T. Puddephatt stated that he had issues with research dollars, as there was no separation of salaries and other expenses.  It was easy to overspend as there was no monitoring of the account.  Others mentioned the same experience.  D. Jobin-Bevans stated that the information is not always available when you need it.  It was suggested that people might speak with the Office of Research to express their concerns and to have the process reviewed.

7.  Next Faculty Council Meeting:  October 28, 2016 on ATAC 3004/OA 3041.
8.
Adjournment
 It was moved by R. Koster and seconded by A. den Otter that the meeting be adjourned.
             Carried.

ATTENDANCE
 Thunder Bay Campus
R. Martin
R. Robson
J. Tennier
M. Faulkner
I. Lemée
A. Guttman
A. Carastathis
P. Cain
R. Maundrell
T. Puddephatt
R. Koster

Orillia Campus
M. Stevenson
A. den Otter

REGRETS
R. Harpelle
B. Vernier
J. Roth